The Candidate PBL Unit 1

Civics/ELA

We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can

build our youth for the future.

-Franklin D. Roosevelt
 How can we encourage young voters to participate
actively in the political process? What duties do we have
as individual citizens to form beliefs and opinions on how
our country should operate?

Supporting Questions
What is the relationship between citizens and the government?
What role does the media have in politics?
What is the goal of political parties?
How do persuasion and propaganda sway our political beliefs?
What is the most important influence on our understanding of politics?
What duties do we have as citizens to participate in the political process?
 Your
Challenge
Congratulations on your decision to run for the upcoming Presidential Election! This is process is
going to take full dedication from yourself and team of campaign professionals (Campaign Manager,
Marketing Director, and Public Relations Manager). Each group is going to consist of 4 members,
including the candidate. Each group will be responsible for running every aspect of their campaign
from soliciting donors to public appearances to live debates. Your ultimate goal will be to create the
perfect candidate to win ticket nominations for their respective parties (Democrat, Republican, or
Independent). One group from each party will be placed on the ticket. Once the winning campaign
is determined (based up performance in class, debates, ads, votes, etc.), that campaign will be
responsible for picking their Vice Presidential candidate from the remaining groups. The process will
then continue to the final ELECTION DAY campaign! The process wont be easy, and there may be a
few SPEED BUMPS along the way, but you will be learning exactly what it takes to operate in the
realm of POLITICS.!
 Primary Assignments
Assign Roles/Group Contracts
Create Your Candidate Profile
Post Primary Assignments
Core Beliefs/Stances
Running Mate Announcement
Political/Professional Background
Create New Ad, Post on Website/Social
Candidate Website & Social Media Platforms Media, Written Press Release
Candidate Headshots Media Day Debate #2 Notes
Candidate Speech #1: Running Announcement Candidate Speech #2: Election Day Speech
Media Campaign Ad President & VP
30 Second Commercial/Promo Project Reflection
Billboard (Poster)
Road Signs (Flyer)
Media Day Debate #1 Notes
Candidate Speech #2: Stump Speech
Unit Lessons

Political Socialization & Culture

Politics & the English Language
The Media & Politics
Political Scandals 101
Media Bias in Politics
Political Candidates 2016
What Makes a Good VP?
Why Do We Vote?
DATES to remember
Primary Election Groups
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4
Nick F Kaitlyn Davis Emily C. Matthew T.
Jason Y Paula N. Jarad M. Jordan D.
Andy C Elina R. Jordan M. Christian M.
Edward M. Liz F. Joey W. Nathan D.
Rygil Z. Kelsey G. Nina Rashawn M.

Group 5 Group 6 Group 7 Group 8 Group 9

Gabby V. Jasmine N. Mikey A. Vincent D. Tyler H.
Ashley C. Lyndal F. Kylee Y. Page A. Dylan H.
Rosie D. Gracie M. Carlos A. Hannah G. Kellen F.
Michelle S. Bruna Kayley N. Zhen W. Nicole T.
Matthew C. Samara B. Draven F. James C. Chris D.
 Day One checklist
____PBL Review (Contracts, Driving Questions, Group Collaboration, etc.)
____ Introduce Project
____ Announce Groups
____ Group Ice Breaker
Personality Styles
____ Create Group Contract (General)
____ Identify Group Roles
President
Campaign Manager
Marketing Director
Social Media Director*
Public Relations
____ Exchange Contact Information (Google Doc)
This should be shared w/ Traynham & Cody
 Day two checklist
____ Warm Up
____ Identify Group Roles
President
Campaign Manager
Marketing Director
Social Media Director*
Public Relations
____ Group Contracts
____ Exchange Contact Information (Google Doc)
This should be shared w/ Traynham & Cody
____ Political Socialization & Culture
____ PBL Workday #1: Create Your Candidate
____ Exit Slip/Edmodo Reflection
Candidate Development
In a Google Doc (shared with ALL group members SCHOOL EMAIL), work together to develop your
groups candidate. In addition, you should SHARE your Google Doc with Ms. Traynham and Mr. Cody.

Identify: Name, Age, Hometown, Biography, Political Party

Complete the Core Beliefs Statement
(you will develop single-statement sentences for the major issues of the election)

Healthcare Homeland Security

Taxes Oil/Energy Policy
Economic Crisis Death Penalty
Global Warming Welfare
Immigration Drugs
Education Religion in Public Schools
Gay Rights/Marriage Term Limits for Senators
Abortion Patriot Act
Gun Control NSA Domestic Surveillance
Social Security Minimum Wage/Equal Pay
 Group Roles
President
Campaign Manager
The campaign manager oversees all aspects of the campaign including day-to-day operations, the hiring and management of staff, the coordination and
implementation of the fundraising operations and ongoing coordination with the candidate. They are also responsible for creating and managing the
campaign budget. Campaign managers must have excellent organizational skills, be level-headed, have good interpersonal skills and not be afraid of
raising money. Campaign Mangers will be the lead on all projects and ensure that everyone remains on task to reach the common goal.

Technology
This information technology manager coordinates and manages all aspects of the campaign with regard to technology web site, database, computer
infrastructure, etc. The IT managers responsibilities might range from maintaining the web site to developing the database to providing a computer
network for the staff. This person needs to have a broad knowledge of technology, computers and software and be able to work in a rapid-paced
environment. In larger campaigns the web site and data responsibilities would likely be split. This person may also work w/ AV equipment.

Communications Director/Press Secretary

The communications director is in charge of all of the campaigns interactions with the media. They build relationships with the press, communicate with
the media as the key spokesperson, set up interviews and identify media opportunities for the campaign. They may help write and develop campaign
literature, draft speeches for the candidate and create copy for the campaign web site. The communications director should have prior experience and
contacts with the media, be a good writer and communicator, and be a pro-active thinker and strategist.

Marketing & Social Media Director

This person is in charge of creating the marketing strategies that will go out to the public, and they will be the ones who talk to the media and make
student announcements. They will be the voice of the campaign, and will need to work closely with all members of the group. This person is also
responsible for use of Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. Tasks may include, but are not limited to: announcement writing, setting up interviews, creating
campaign posters/slogans, designing campaign t-shirts, etc.
Day three checklist

____ Warm Up
____ Political Socialization & Culture
-Review & Discussion
____ PBL Workday #1: Create Your Candidate
-Identify Background
-Identify Political Stances (see handout)
-Determine Political Party
____ Group Conference w/ Traynham or Cody
____ Exit Slip (Peer Review)
Day FOUR checklist

____ Warm Up
-Create Your Candidate Finalization
____ Art of Persuasive Writing
-Review Ethos, Pathos, Logos Handout
-Review Persuasive Writing Technique
-Complete Handouts
____ Group Conference w/ Traynham or Cody
____ Wrap Up (Reminders)
 Day five checklist
____ Warm Up
____ Candidate Website
*Suggested sites will be Weebly or Wix (whichever your group prefers and is familiar with).
You need to research and find at least 4 candidate websites and draw inspiration for what
you should include in your own. Put these in a Google Doc and share them with myself and Mr.
Cody. Identify why you think that it is a good example of a candidate website. For example, you
will have a welcome page, bio page, political views page, etc. You will be adding to this along with
way. Setup just the bones of your page today.
____ Headshots
____ Speech #1
*This speech is to announce your candidacy & identify your major values or beliefs.
You want to get the public EXCITED and HYPED for your campaign! Your speech should be at
least 5 minutes long, but no longer than 10 and include persuasive techniques. You dont
need to identify ALL of your beliefs, but you should pick your top 5 and address those, with
reasoning. You should complete this written portion in a Google Doc.
____ Wrap Up/Peer Review (Edmodo)
 Day six checklist
____ Warm Up
____ Guest Speaker
-Agenda Setting
____ Speech & Website Group Work
____ Wrap Up
 Day seven checklist
____ Warm Up
____ Speech & Website Group Work
-You should submit the links to these assignments in the assignment box
on Edmodo. Your website and speeches will be review by Mr. Cody & Ms.
Traynham over the weekend. In class on Monday, you will be given
suggestions for revision on your speech/website during your one-on-one
meeting.
____ Introduction of Social Media PR Assignment (Daily)
____ Wrap Up
Social Media & PR Artifact
For the remainder of this project, your group will be responsible for soliciting votes and putting your
candidate in the public eye.!
You are responsible for this day forward posting AT LEAST once a day for your candidate on your
social media pages. A example of what you can post would be an encouraging quote that supports
your candidates political views, a relevant news article about politics w/ a brief opinion/
statement, OR a selfie/picture with a potential voter that you have talked to about your cam-
paign/beliefs (project).
You may choose to post something else, those are just a few ideas, HOWEVER, your candidate with
your help must talk to AT LEAST three (3) people per week (students, teachers, admin, etc.)
about your campaign and why your group deserves their vote. You must take a picture with this
person that you speak with and post it on your social media with your campaign hashtags.
Campaigns are all about putting your candidate out there in the PUBLIC EYE! Use social media to
your advantage by using it in a positive, appropriate manner.
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS = 1 PER DAY CANDIDATE SELFIE POSTS = 3 PER WEEK
DATES to remember
 Day seven checklist
____ Warm Up (On Edmodo)
____ Begin working on Campaign Marketing artifacts.
-Find 3 examples of campaign road signs, billboards, and videos
-Post them into a Google Doc BEFORE beginning your own ads.
-You need 3 flyers (Must include candidates name, slogan, and office)
-You need to create 1 poster (billboard) that will be displayed
-This must include candidate name, slogan, and a 3 taglines of major
beliefs (basically VERY short sentences)
-Begin developing 30-second campaign video.
-Include pictures of the candidate (unless candidate is physically IN
the video)
____ Meetings w/ Cody/Traynham
____ Wrap Up (Edmodo Peer Review)
 Day eight checklist
____ Warm Up (On Edmodo)
____ Come up with some sort of chant that your group will do at the end & beginning
of your candidates speech.
____ CONTINUE working on marketing ads & prepare for speech
-You need 3 flyers (Must include candidates name, slogan, and office)
-You need to create 1 poster (billboard) that will be displayed
-This must include candidate name, slogan, and a 3 taglines of major
beliefs (basically VERY short sentences)
-Begin developing 30-second campaign video.
-Include pictures of the candidate (unless candidate is physically IN
the video)
____ Candidate Announcement Speeches
____ Wrap Up
 Day nine checklist
____ Prepare/Present Final Speeches (Mikey, Nick, and Page)
____ Edmodo Poll
____ Speech Reflection (Improvements, Positives, etc.)
____ CONTINUE working on marketing ads & prepare for speech
-You need 3 flyers (Must include candidates name, slogan, and office)
-You need to create 1 poster (billboard) that will be displayed
-This must include candidate name, slogan, and a 3 taglines of major
beliefs (basically VERY short sentences)
-Begin developing 30-second campaign video.
-Include pictures of the candidate (unless candidate is physically IN
the video)
____ Wrap Up