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fandomhigh2006-01-24 03:33 pm
professor-lyman.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2006-01-24 03:33 pm
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Political Campaigning (Tuesday, January 24, 4th period)
Josh was shaking his head over the results of the Canadian national election when the political campaigning students came into the classroom.
"First things first--Rory, how many days do we have until election day?" Josh grinned and looked around the room. "How did your work on campaign strategy turn out?" he asked. "Do you all now have brilliant and exciting plans to turn into me?" He raised an eyebrow. "Tell you what. I'm feeling benevolent today. So let's say the very, very, very rough campaign strategies aren't due until Thursday. One per group. However, they must also be turned in with your new message grids, which is what we're talking about today."
He scrawled Message on the board. "Please don't get message confused with slogan. The slogan is the thing you slap on yard signs and bumper stickers. The message is the centerpiece of your strategy. It's the answer to 'why do you want to be elected?'" He grinned. "This, obviously, is a big deal. We'll be spending more time on this on Thursday as well, but today we're going to be working on message grids.
He passed out papers with the information about Tester, Morrison and Burns that they had turned in for homework a few weeks back, then drew a big cross on the board.
"Okay. Message grids. In the top left hand corner, write the characteristics, qualities, issue positions and accomplishments that you want the voters to know about you. In the top right corner put those same things that you want them to know about your opponent. In the lower left, try to figure out what your opponent would want the voters to know about him. And then in the lower right, try to decide what your opponent would want the voters to know about you." He smiled at the class. "Each group will have to make two grids. For Morrison and Tester, one for how you'll defeat the other guy in the primary, and the other for how you'll beat Burns in the general election. For Burns, one for each Democratic candidate."
He sat down at his desk. "You know the drill by now. Break into groups, discuss, bother me if you have questions. I'm gonna sit here and wonder what the hell Canada was thinking yesterday."
"First things first--Rory, how many days do we have until election day?" Josh grinned and looked around the room. "How did your work on campaign strategy turn out?" he asked. "Do you all now have brilliant and exciting plans to turn into me?" He raised an eyebrow. "Tell you what. I'm feeling benevolent today. So let's say the very, very, very rough campaign strategies aren't due until Thursday. One per group. However, they must also be turned in with your new message grids, which is what we're talking about today."
He scrawled Message on the board. "Please don't get message confused with slogan. The slogan is the thing you slap on yard signs and bumper stickers. The message is the centerpiece of your strategy. It's the answer to 'why do you want to be elected?'" He grinned. "This, obviously, is a big deal. We'll be spending more time on this on Thursday as well, but today we're going to be working on message grids.
He passed out papers with the information about Tester, Morrison and Burns that they had turned in for homework a few weeks back, then drew a big cross on the board.
"Okay. Message grids. In the top left hand corner, write the characteristics, qualities, issue positions and accomplishments that you want the voters to know about you. In the top right corner put those same things that you want them to know about your opponent. In the lower left, try to figure out what your opponent would want the voters to know about him. And then in the lower right, try to decide what your opponent would want the voters to know about you." He smiled at the class. "Each group will have to make two grids. For Morrison and Tester, one for how you'll defeat the other guy in the primary, and the other for how you'll beat Burns in the general election. For Burns, one for each Democratic candidate."
He sat down at his desk. "You know the drill by now. Break into groups, discuss, bother me if you have questions. I'm gonna sit here and wonder what the hell Canada was thinking yesterday."