primarywatchinstructions

AP GOVERNMENT
Primary Watch:

Each group must produce a 250-word piece biographical piece (Track Record), a 250-word campaign/election analysis (Racing Report), two original, accurate, and cited illustrations with captions (The Numbers), and three photo images with captions (Photo Finish). Name all MS Word files candidate last name_type_author, for example: romney_track_record_gaburo

Track Record and Racing Form:

The Track Record is a 250 word piece that informs the reader on the candidate’s biography, ideology, and stand on the issues. What offices have they held, what experiences do they have? What legislative or administrative accomplishments do they have? They’re all conservative Republicans, so what’s their more unique policy stance(s), programs, promises?

The Racing Form is a 250 word piece that analyzes your candidate’s spot in the race at the moment. Where does he/she stand in the polls? Who is their base (which voters)? What is the candidate’s strategy? What should the candidate do next or in the long run to win the nomination? Consider the context of the primary calendar and how these early states differ.

For both Track Record and Racing From, include and attribute at least 2 quotes, statistical data, and your own analysis/slant. Once drafted, place an original title atop the MS Word doc followed by a byline of the author/editor(s). Single-spaced, bloc paragraph, 12pt Arial font. List and hyperlink the sources at bottom: Author/Organization, Date. Submit to proper folder on Moodle and email group members this document by Sunday Night.

Rubric:

	Originality and Uniqueness of piece
	Proper, concise, enjoyable writing to the appropriate audience
	Minding the details (correctly formatted, with original title, names, sources)
	Submitted to Moodle and emailed to group members by Sunday night.

Photo Finish

Snapshots and captions of the candidate and their place in the campaign. Designer shall find, copy, crop/adjust, and credit 4 photos of your candidate or related to your candidate that conveys something unique about them. A political cartoon is also an option. Editor offers 2 alternatives. Submit to Moodle by Sunday night. On Monday discuss the six photos and decide on 3. Collectively draft and edit the captions (1-3 sentences). Cite the source in 10pt Arial font below the picture, include the Organization/Photographer and URL. The caption sentence(s) are 12pt Arial.

Rubric:

	carefully selected, high quality images that clearly reveal the character or subject of the image
	sources cited
	original captions informative, thought provoking, and accurate
	Submitted to Moodle and emailed to group members by Sunday night

The Numbers

Two original illustrations (graph, table, chart) that reveal something unique about the candidate, the election, or the voters.

Designer finds and analyzes 2 data sets (consider FEC reports, media measurements, detailed poll results, air time) and cites these by organization and URL. Editor finds and presents 2 additional data sets. On Monday, decide on best 2. Editor then assesses the credibility of the sources and fact checks each with one other online source (list as second source under caption). Create the chart (DO NOT SIMPLY PASTE) in an MS Word Document, double check the citation(s), and carefully phrase the accompanying captions.

Rubric:

	Clearly conveys unique data, formatted and clear
	Student created chart and entered data, not merely pasted
	source(s) cited
	Relevant and memorable captions
	Submitted to Moodle and emailed to group members by Sunday night.

The Tip Sheet

The Tip Sheet is simply a table that sums up candidates and where they stand by numbers and short phrases. We will fill it in as we go. For now, copy this table and fill it in with accurate, up-to-date data, and sources.

Candidate	Recent Polls	$ Raised (individuals, PACs)	$ Spent total, Iowa, NH, SC)	Cash On Hand	Endorsements	Baggage	Cash on Hand

Deadlines

Thurs/Fri (Jan 5 & 6): All students arrive with one, full sheet of notes from a total of at least 4 sources and ready to deliver on the candidate/topic. Authors and Editors arrive with ideas/main points/slant for the written pieces (Track Record, and racing Form). Designers and Image Editors arrive with 3 carefully selected or created illustrations with caption ideas.

Sun Night (Jan 8): Authors, Designers, and Tip Sheet person--Moodle the MS Word Doc, whether a written piece or illustrations, with student names, roles, and original title atop the page. Name the file “candidate last name_type_author,” for example, cain_racing form_stricker.

Let's Start by finding and reading 2 reliable news sources online about your candidate. Then convene and decide roles and mark your calendars, discuss initial ideas. By Thursday, check 2-3 additional sources, more articles and at least one other authority from the Web Resources below. Also, copy and paste this table into a word doc. As you find these bits of information, list and cite them.

Web resources:

Wilkinson on Local Primaries | All Eyes On Ohio | Mr. Gerhardt's Iowa Horse Race (Slate) | National Horse Race

To better understand political writing, consult the US News-World Report Handout, any online newspaper on online politics web site. Here are the primary resources for the project:

Trusted Prognosticators: Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball | Charlie Cook | Stu Rothenberg.

Experienced Journalism in Early States: Des Moines Register | New Hampshire Union-Leader | South Carolina

Political Experts: National Journal | http://www.c-span.org/ | PBS Newshour

Follow the Money: The Federal Elections Committee

Polls: Real Clear Politics, Gallup, Zogby | Pew Research Center

Election Officials and Records: Iowa | New Hampshire | South Carolina | Florida

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/12/28/the-iowa-caucus-procedure/

http://www.theiowacaucus.com/Iowa-caucus-history-results.php