http://professor-lyman.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2006-01-24 03:33 pm

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."

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
Angel waited for Rory and Alanna to join him. Per ususal he was drawing nothing in particular in his notebook.

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] auroryborealis.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
Rory scooted her desk over, and chewed on her pen, lost in thought.

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
Angel gave a nod of hi.

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] auroryborealis.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
"Mm."

That would be 'hi.'

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
Angel silently pushed his coffee cup over if Rory wanted to share it.

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] auroryborealis.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
Rory gave a wane smile.

"Thanks. I'm okay, though. Just had my third cup."

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
"ACJ kicking your ass too?"

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] threeweapons.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
Alanna came over to join her group. Something black and furry was sticking out of her bag. Something that really resembled the tail of a small, black cat.

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] auroryborealis.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
"Is there a Faithful in your bag?" Rory asked.

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] threeweapons.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
Alanna did her best innocent expression and tried to tuck Faithful's tail away. "No! Why would Faithful come to class with me?"

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
"Hey, Alanna," Angel said. "Hey cat who isn't Faithful."

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] threeweapons.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
Alanna blushed. "Hey Angel." "Angel." The bag purred happily. Alanna politely nudged it. It coughed.

"So, um, what are we working on?"

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
"Strategy and something that looks like the paperwork they try to confuse you with at car dealerships."

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] threeweapons.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
Alanna blinked. "Huh?" Definetly not one of her better days.

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
Angel gave her a look of sympathy. "Rory and I aren't firing on all cylinders either."

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] threeweapons.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
Alanna looked up at him, beyond confused. "Speak English?"

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
Angel handed her his coffee.

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] threeweapons.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
Alanna flashed Angel a smile. Or perhaps a grimace. The line is blurry. "Thanks, coffee works too."

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
"Still feeling after effects of the spell?"

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] threeweapons.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
Alanna shook her head. "As annoying as that was, it went away pretty quickly. This is long and annoying in its own way." She blinked, realizing she was making very little sense. "Um, can't sleep. Or, I sleep, I just kinda can't sleep normally." She ended lamely.

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Because of the spell, or is this a new thing?"

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] threeweapons.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
Something flickered behind Alanna's eyes. "Old thing. Pre-coming to Fandom old." She scoweled. "It's...complicated."

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
Angel nodded, and didn't pry any further.

Re: Group discussion: Angel, Rory, Alanna

[identity profile] auroryborealis.livejournal.com 2006-01-25 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Something like that."