*** This is an optional blog post for extra credit *** Due by Friday, Dec. 4 at 5pm
I hope this will be a fun one. Write a blog post that encourages citizens to DO something for your candidate (vote, work a phone bank, volunteer, give money, etc.) Essentially you are writing an ad for your candidate and campaign. Tell people why they should do the thing you want them to do for this particular candidate/campaign. I would include persuasive messages from your candidate him/herself and enthusiasm. Humor is welcome, if that's the route you want to take. Basically, what is it about your particular candidate that people will care about and want to rally behind? Then use those things to get volunteers/voters/donors/etc.
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Monday, November 23, 2015
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Blog #10: Agenda Setting
Last blog -- Hurrah!
Spend some time doing an in-depth analysis of your candidate's webpage's "Issues" page/section/etc. (Note: If your candidate has suspended his campaign, find someone else in the same political party to look at.) Based on the layout of the page, amount of information, etc., argue about which issues are on your candidate's main agenda and why?
Next, look at one of the candidate's opponents in his/her own party. How is the agenda similar? How is it the same? What do you think the reasons are for these differences/similarities (hint: You may want to look at the "Issues" page for your candidate's political party.) Do you think your candidate is effectively setting his/her agenda? Why or why not?
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Spend some time doing an in-depth analysis of your candidate's webpage's "Issues" page/section/etc. (Note: If your candidate has suspended his campaign, find someone else in the same political party to look at.) Based on the layout of the page, amount of information, etc., argue about which issues are on your candidate's main agenda and why?
Next, look at one of the candidate's opponents in his/her own party. How is the agenda similar? How is it the same? What do you think the reasons are for these differences/similarities (hint: You may want to look at the "Issues" page for your candidate's political party.) Do you think your candidate is effectively setting his/her agenda? Why or why not?
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Monday, November 9, 2015
Blog #9: Press Coverage
Conduct a Google news search of the most recent news about your candidate. What sorts of stories are being written about your candidate right now (or most recently)? What types of media outlets are covering your candidate the most?
From what you can tell, who is generating the news -- your candidate and his/her people or the media? Why do you think that? Do you think the media is writing about your candidate in a way that will set them up well for the 2016 presidential campaign? Why or why not? What kinds of coverage should your candidate be seeking moving forward in the 2016 election season?
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Blog #8: Pop Culture and Politics
For this week, try to find a representation of your candidate from outside the campaign, preferably one that is in pop culture and/or opinion-based. This could include your candidate as a character in a Saturday Night Live sketch, a representation of your candidate in a "Bad Lip Reading" sketch, an opinion piece (be it on television or written by a newspaper columnist) about your candidate or a satirical webpage or video.
How does this artifact describe your candidate? What does it say about your candidate? If you think of pop culture and satire as a caricature of your candidate, what features (be they physical or otherwise) are exaggerated? How does this artifact push back against the image the candidate seems to be wanting to create for him/herself (see your own blog #2 post.) Do you think this artifact effectively shapes/changes the image the candidate is trying to project?
If you have trouble writing enough about one artifact, you may choose two, just make sure you link to or embed these artifacts in your blog!
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
How does this artifact describe your candidate? What does it say about your candidate? If you think of pop culture and satire as a caricature of your candidate, what features (be they physical or otherwise) are exaggerated? How does this artifact push back against the image the candidate seems to be wanting to create for him/herself (see your own blog #2 post.) Do you think this artifact effectively shapes/changes the image the candidate is trying to project?
If you have trouble writing enough about one artifact, you may choose two, just make sure you link to or embed these artifacts in your blog!
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Blog #7: Polarization and Bias
Find two media stories written or delivered on television about your "candidate" -- one from what you would consider a "liberal" media outlet and one from what you would consider a "conservative" outlet.
What are the major differences in how your candidate is portrayed, if there are any? Based on the research you've done about your "candidate" so far, what seems accurate? What seems generous? What seems unfair? If a person were to see only one of these stories, what would they know and what would be concealed about this "candidate"? How do you think these characterizations contribute to polarization in society and in our political system, specifically?
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
What are the major differences in how your candidate is portrayed, if there are any? Based on the research you've done about your "candidate" so far, what seems accurate? What seems generous? What seems unfair? If a person were to see only one of these stories, what would they know and what would be concealed about this "candidate"? How do you think these characterizations contribute to polarization in society and in our political system, specifically?
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Blog #6: Advertising Strategy
Find some advertising done by your candidate in some other campaign. Try to find at least 3-5 (you can use more) television or online ads (preferably from only one campaign, whatever year/office that might be.)
What strategies do you see present in these ads? (You can pick them apart ad by ad, or look at the group of ads as one advertising campaign, your choice.) Are they attack ads or candidate-positive? Image ads or issue ads? Any incumbent or challenger strategies present? Gender strategies or differences? Give some analysis for why you think the strategies that you have identified were chosen.
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
What strategies do you see present in these ads? (You can pick them apart ad by ad, or look at the group of ads as one advertising campaign, your choice.) Are they attack ads or candidate-positive? Image ads or issue ads? Any incumbent or challenger strategies present? Gender strategies or differences? Give some analysis for why you think the strategies that you have identified were chosen.
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Blog #5: Polling
Polls have been coming out predicting the candidates for the 2016 presidential election for awhile now. Try to find some polls that include your candidate. Based on your candidate's inclusion (or exclusion) from these polls, what story do they tell? Is your candidate a front-runner, or does s/he have a mountain to climb? More importantly, what can we really learn from polls more than one year before the election? Use your knowledge of polling (based on your reading ... and maybe a little research!) to write about your informed opinions on this topic.
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Blog #4: Debates
Find a video of your candidate participating in a debate. Try to pick a 10-minute segment of the debate that features your candidate as prominently as possible. This could be from a recent Republican debate, or from a office your candidate ran for in the past -- this does NOT have to be a debate for presidential candidates. (Post a clip on your blog so your audience can familiarize themselves with this debate.)
Critique/analyze your candidate's performance. What did s/he do well? What did s/he do poorly? If you were a campaign advisor giving advice to the candidate, what things would you suggest s/he do differently? In the 2016 campaign, what issues would you suggest your candidate emphasize and choose to talk about most during the debates?
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Blog #3: Online Presence
Spend some time evaluating your candidate's current online presence. Does s/he have a website? What social media platforms is s/he participating on right now (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc.)? How active is your candidate on each of these platforms? Are there any viral videos or important online sites about your candidate (that the candidate and/or campaign/staff didn't create?)
Write about what you find. Then based on what your findings are, come up with a plan for what your candidate needs to do to boost his/her online presence for 2016. What should s/he be doing now? What will need to be done in the future?
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Write about what you find. Then based on what your findings are, come up with a plan for what your candidate needs to do to boost his/her online presence for 2016. What should s/he be doing now? What will need to be done in the future?
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Blog #2: Candidate Image and Issues
Your second blog should tell us about your candidate's image and issue stances.
First, what do you think your candidate's public image is currently? Are there things s/he should try to cultivate as part of his/her image to be more successful? Make an argument.
Secondly, do a quick SWOT analysis for your candidate. What are his/her major strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in 2016?
Finally, Describe the issue positions of your candidate. What issues do you think your candidate will highlight? What issues should they highlight in 2016? What are they running on? What issues become focal?
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in the assignment sheet on Blackboard.
First, what do you think your candidate's public image is currently? Are there things s/he should try to cultivate as part of his/her image to be more successful? Make an argument.
Secondly, do a quick SWOT analysis for your candidate. What are his/her major strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in 2016?
Finally, Describe the issue positions of your candidate. What issues do you think your candidate will highlight? What issues should they highlight in 2016? What are they running on? What issues become focal?
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information is provided in the assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Blog #1: Tell Us About Your Candidate
Your first blog post should tell us about your candidate. Who is s/he? What is his/her background? What is her/his political experience? Why is this person qualified to be the next president of the United States? What is essential to know about this person to understand his/her 2016 campaign?
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information will be provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
Your blog posts should be approx. 500 words. They should include links, images, multimedia, etc. when appropriate (which is probably always -- what better way to keep your audience interested?) More information will be provided in an assignment sheet on Blackboard.
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