Topic outline

  • Welcome!

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    impression

    candidates

    electoral system

    campaign issues

    media

    your state

    election lingo
    • Book icon
      TEACHING NOTES: U.S. Election Project Book

    • 📊 Eingangsbefragung

      Hilf uns, das Projekt mit einer kurzen, anonymen Befragung zu verbessern. Vielen Dank für deinen Einsatz! 

    • 👋 Welcome to an exciting journey with the U.S. Embassy School Election Project! Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of U.S. politics as you adopt a U.S. state and become a virtual citizen. Over the next few weeks, you'll become an expert on your chosen state's population and make predictions about how it will vote on Election Day. Get ready to explore, learn, and engage in a real-world election experience!

  • 1. First Impressions of Your State & Who Would You Vote for? 

    Map of US States

    CC-BY-SAGigllio83 / Wikimedia

    • Section 1 is about getting a first impression of your state, your own voting preferences, and the campaign issues. Filling in a presidential election quiz will help you and your classmates to find out which candidate represents your views.

    • 🇺🇸 Task 1.1 Explore your state

      In this task, you will explore your state to gain a deeper understanding of its political landscape and how it might influence the upcoming election. Follow the steps below to guide your research and analysis.

    • 💭 Task 1.1.1 Overall impressions of our state

      • Take a look at the wikipedia page of your state and explore your state in general. Try to understand what the people living there might think and feel about the upcoming election.

    • 📊 Task 1.1.2 First impressions of the political scenario
      Take a look at the wikipedia page of your state to find out how many electors your state will send to the electoral college and what the voting behavior was like in the past. During the course of the project you will study the current situation in more detail.

    • Forum icon
      First Assumptions Forum
      Discuss your ideas with your classmates (and potential American partners) in the Forum: First Assumptions.
    • Wiki icon
      Project Journal Wiki
      Keep your ideas, impressions and hypotheses in mind while working on the project. You can take notes and document your work in the Project Journal.

      Refine your ideas gradually. At the end of this project, your task will be to make an informed prediction about how your state will vote on Election Day.

    • 🇺🇸 Task 1.2 Explore your political preferences in the upcoming U.S presidential election!

      In this task, you will explore your own political preferences and see how they align with the candidates in the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Even though you can't vote, your opinions are valuable.  

      Take part in the presidential election quiz on OpenCampaign's website to discover where you stand on the political spectrum and which candidate aligns with your views. This interactive quiz presents a series of thought-provoking questions designed to help you understand your political views (note: At the time of completing the course, Biden was still listed as a candidate in the quiz. Nevertheless, the results will give you an indication of which party your political views most closely align with). 

    • Choice icon
      Anonymous Poll - who vould you vote for? Choice
      After submitting your answers, you will see a personalized result that indicates where you stand on the political spectrum and which candidate aligns most closely with your views. Fill in this anonymous poll to see who your class would vote for. 

      Finally, in small groups discuss …

        • your class result
        • striking statements: choose three statements (e.g. “…”) that were most striking to you. 
        • the tool: is the quiz an appropriate tool for deciding who you should vote for? (appropriate to decide who you should vote for)

      Of course you do not have to share your individual results. 


    • 📚 Additional Resources

      🎧 Are you interested in what youth voters think about the candidates? Listen to the following podcast by Courtney Flynn Martino.

      💻 To gather more information on the 2024 U.S. Election, take a look at the presentation by Courtney Flynn Martino from the Bertelsmann Foundation and at the Infographic.


  • 2. The Candidates 

    Elefant and Donkey

    chayka1270 / pixabay

    • Section 2 is about the two candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald J. Trump. Learn about their biographical background, their public personas, and their perception by the American public. 
    • Folder icon
      SWOT Analysis Folder

      🕵️‍♀️ Task 2 SWOT Analysis

      In this task, you and your classmates will take on the role of campaign managers for either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. Your goal is to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the opposing candidate. 

      Imagine working side-by-side with Donald Trump or Kamala Harris...

      As their campaign manager, your job is to ensure their success in the upcoming election. You’ll make key decisions and guide the campaign’s direction. Analyzing the opponent's strengths and weaknesses is crucial. Think creatively and strategically about how to position your candidate for victory. Be thorough, professional, and respectful in your approach.

      Good luck, and may the best candidate win!

      This is what you need to do:

      1. Research: Gather information about the opposing candidate from various sources, including their campaign speeches, public appearances, media coverage, and voter sentiment.
      2. SWOT Analysis: Use the provided worksheet to analyze the opposing candidate's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Consider their background, policies, public image, and campaign strategy. 
      3. Presentation: Present your SWOT analysis to the class in a creative and engaging manner. Highlight key insights and strategic recommendations for your candidate's campaign.
      4. Discussion: Participate in a class discussion where each group shares their findings and strategies. Reflect on how understanding the opposing candidate's strengths and weaknesses can shape campaign decisions.


      📝 Individual Writing Task: Write a short text in which you reflect on the importance of strategic planning in political campaigns and the role of a campaign manager in shaping election outcomes. Explain how the SWOT analysis helped you understand the dynamics of the campaign and the competition.

    • 📚 Additional Resource

      To gather more information on the candidates, take a look at the presentation "What’s in the cards?" by Prof. Mark J. Rozell. 

  • 3. The Electoral System 

    grafic of US Election System

    Discover the full version of this captivating graphic, available for download here. To dive deeper into its fascinating details, we highly recommend watching the accompanying video explanation on YouTube. 

    • In this section, you will explore how America elects its presidents. Understanding the electoral system is important because it shows the relevance of each stage in the election cycle and explains why individual states play a central role in determining the outcome. By the end of this section, you'll have a solid foundation in the U.S. electoral system and a deeper appreciation for the strategic importance of winning individual states. Let's get started!
    • H5P icon
      INTERACTIVE VIDEO: Electing a US President H5P

      🎥👀Task 3.1 Electing a US President

      In this task, you will learn about the election system in the United States through an interactive video and a partner activity. Follow the steps below to complete the assignment.

      1. Watch the video for an introduction to the electoral system of the United States of America.  
      2. As you watch, you will be asked questions and given a few tasks to complete. Take notes during the video to help you answer these questions. 
      🛟 You can adjust the speed of the video, pause it at any time, and of course you can always go back and review the information if needed. 
    • 🧩 Task 3.1.1 Partner Activity - Information Gap
      1. The following activity is based on screenshots from the video. Divide into pairs, with one partner assigned as partner A and the other as partner B. Each partner should only focus on their respective version of the activity. 
      2. Watch the video for a second time. Take notes on what you see in each image. 
      3. Then, take turns discussing the screenshots with your partner and check their answers.

      Are you ready? Click on Partner A or Partner B to start. 

    • 🎮Task 3.2 Win the White House

      Get familiar with the intricacies of the American political system through this game! By playing you will learn about the electoral process, the significance of key states in presidential elections, and the strategies involved in running a successful political campaign.

      Instructions:

      1. Access the game through the following link: Win the White House Game.
      2. Once you're on the game's page, familiarize yourself with the instructions and mechanics. Your task is to run a simulated presidential campaign. 
      3. Throughout the game, make strategic decisions about where to campaign, which issues to prioritize, and how to allocate your resources effectively. Pay attention to the electoral map, understanding the importance of swing states and how winning or losing certain states can affect the overall outcome of the election. 
        Take at least 20 minutes to understand the strategies in the game.
      4. Once you are finished, answer this questionnaire. 

    • 🇺🇸 Task 3.3 The Electoral System and Your State

      Throughout this section, you've gained valuable insights into how the United States elects its leaders and deepened your understanding of the American political process. Before you move on to the next section, take a moment to reflect on your newfound knowledge. 

      Connect your understanding of the electoral system with the state you've been assigned and answer the following three questions.

        1. Who has your state voted for in past elections? 
        2. Is your state a swing state or a safe state for either party?
        3. If your state is a safe state, which political party has your state voted for in past elections?

      📚 For this task, it may be useful to look at the fact sheet for your state. 


      ✏️ We recommend adding your answers to your Project Journal. 

    • 📚 Additional Resources

      If you're interested in staying up to date with the latest developments in the U.S. election and want to refresh your knowledge, we recommend listening to the following podcasts: 

  • 4. The Campaign Issues 

    Grafic of people with puzzle and a question mark between them

    Source: webtechexperts/pixabay.com

    • In the previous section, you played the online game "Win the White House," where you not only learned about the U.S. electoral system but also encountered various campaign issues. Now, in this section, we will take a closer look at the key issues for the 2024 election. You’ll research specific issues and investigate the candidates' profiles to find out their stance. By exploring the campaign issues, you will gain a deeper understanding of the main concerns of American voters. This will help you to make a more informed decision about the upcoming election.

    • H5P icon
      DOCUMENTATION TOOL: Campaign Issues H5P

      🇺🇸 Task 4.1 The Campaign Issues and Where the Candidates Stand

      In this activity, you will explore the key issues in the 2024 election and understand the stances of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on these topics. By researching and discussing these issues, you'll gain insights into the major concerns of American voters and how the candidates plan to address them.

    • 🎙️ Task 4.2 Campaign Chatter

      After studying the campaign issues and the positions of the candidates, it's time to express your thoughts on a chosen campaign issue by recording an audio statement. 

      1. Open or download the Campaign Chatter Worksheet. 
      2. Complete the task and record a 1 to 2-minute audio statement on your chosen campaign issue. 
      3. Share your audio recording with your classmates. You can use the following database to upload your statement.
    • Database icon
      Campaign Chatter Database

  • 5. The US Elections and the Media 

    Grafic: with people and different Devices

    Source: WebTechExperts / Pixabay

    • In this section, we will take a closer look at the US Election in the media. You’ll research presidential campaign adds and deal with the topic of elections in the age of AI. By exploring these topics, you will gain a deeper understanding of the media's influence on the voters.  

    • 📺 Task 5.1 Campaign Ads

      In the following tasks, you will explore what makes a campaign ad effective by watching, discussing, and analyzing both historical and current political ads. This will help you understand how the candidates want to be seen by the public, explore the strategies used in political ads and uncover how campaign ads are used to influence voters.  

    • H5P icon
      VIDEOS: Campaign Ads H5P
      🎥👀 Task 5.1.1 Watching Old Campaign Ads
      • Watch the campaign ad videos above (about 5 min. in total). 
      • Based on these examples, what do you think makes a good campaign ad? Take detailed notes. 
      • Select one commercial you find particularly compelling to focus on in more detail. Watch it again and take notes on why you think it is effective.
    • 🤓 Task 5.1.2 Learning to Analyze Ads

      For this task, pair up with a classmate and share your notes from the previous task. 

      1. Discuss what you believe makes a good campaign ad in general.
      2. Then, introduce your selected commercial to your partner and explain why you think it is a good example of an effective campaign ad.
      3. Next, discuss your findings in class.
      4. As a class, agree on two commercials from the list to watch and analyze together. You will watch each commercial four times, focusing on a different aspect each time. 
      5. Fill out the Television Commercial Analysis Chart during the four viewings, one column for each viewing. 

    • 📈 Task 5.1.3 Analyzing Political Ads of the 2024 Campaign

      Get together with a partner and take a look at political ads from the 2024 campaign.

      1. Visit the YouTube channels of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, and select one ad from each candidate
      2. Analyze these commercials together using the Television Commercial Analysis Sheet.
      3. Then, present your analysis of one commercial to another pair and listen to their analysis of a different campaign commercial. 
      4. Discuss whether you agree on their analysis and add any additional thoughts to your analysis sheet if necessary. 
      5. Finally, have a few pairs present their analysis to the whole class and discuss the results critically.

    • 👾 Task 5.2  Elections in the Age of AI: Navigating the Deepfake Dilemma

      Get ready to dive into the fascinating and sometimes unsettling world of artificial intelligence (AI) in politics. In this activity, you will explore how AI is changing elections and what that means for voters. You will investigate the impact of AI-generated content, such as robocalls and deepfakes, and develop strategies to navigate and critically assess the new technology.  







      This deepfake image was created by AI. 


    • H5P icon
      INTERACTIVE LISTENING: Robocalls and the election H5P

      🤖 Task 5.2.1 What a Robocall with Former President Biden's AI-generated Voice Could Mean for the 2024 Election

      Imagine AI not just predicting election results, but also swaying who wins and loses. In the following task, you will listen to a radio interview with Miles Parker on NPR about how robocalls could influence the US election 2024. 

    • 📝 Task 5.2.2 Comment on Manipulation through AI
      Think about how AI can change images and voices. Now, imagine deepfakes flooding your social media during elections.

      Comment on the possible manipulation through AI. In your comment, address the following questions:
        1. Influence on voters: How could robocalls, deepfakes and other AI manipulation influence the opinions of voters? Think about the impact of these technologies on you and your peers.
        2. Regulating AI-generated content: How can we ensure elections remain fair and free from manipulations? What preventive measures would you suggest to prevent misuse of AI? (For further ideas look into what TeenWise, a teen fact-checking network, recommends; "Is this legit? Fact checks")
      (Optional): 
        • Analyse and assess the impact of AI on politics using an example of your own. 
        • Do you know a specific case where AI has already influenced political decision-making processes? What lessons can be learned from this?


      🛟 How to… 

      For assistance in structuring and writing your comment, please refer to the following guide. Starting on page 35, it outlines the key components of a comment and provides tips for effective writing. 


      Writing Guide

      Click here for further information!

    • Database icon
      Upload your comment HERE Database

    • 🤭 Task 5.3 Memes in the US Election

      Memes have become a powerful force in shaping political discourse and public opinion. In this task, you will gain insights into the role of memes in modern politics, explore how they might influence voter perception, and develop critical thinking skills in analyzing their visual rhetoric. 
    • H5P icon
      INTERACTIVE VIDEO: Memes H5P

      🎥👀 Task 5.3.1 How Do Internet Memes Shape Our Politics?

      The following video addresses internet memes created and shared by candidates and voters in previous elections. 

      1. Watch the video learn more about memes and their impact on politics.  
      2. Throughout the video, interactive questions will pop up. These questions are designed to help you reflect on the key points discussed in the video. Take notes during the video to help you answer the questions.
      🛟 You can adjust the speed of the video, pause it at any time, and of course you can always go back and review the information if needed. 


    • 📚 Additional Resource

      In the previous video task, you learned about memes in the 2012 and 2016 elections. But how will they affect the 2024 election? To learn more about this, we encourage you to listen to the podcast below.

    • 📈 Task 5.3.2 Rhetorical Analysis of a Meme
      In this activity, you will discuss the messages, stereotypes ideologies, and audiences of memes.

      1. Gather in small groups and look at different memes addressing the US election. You can find memes nearly everywhere on the internet; they can be images on your social media feed or even a viral video. If you would like to get an impression of the 2020 memes, you can click here. 
      2. As a group, choose one meme that you find particularly interesting. Discuss why you find this meme compelling and worthy of analysis. 
      3. Before you start your analysis, get familiar with key concepts of memes by reading this handout. 
      4. Use this worksheet to perform a rhetorical analysis of your chosen meme. Analyze how the meme conveys messages, stereotypes, ideologies, and targets its intended audience.

  • 6. Predicting the Outcome of the Election in Your Adopted State 

    grafic: vote america

    Source: pixabay

    • Section 6 is the most important section of the project: Here you will return to the focus on your adopted state, get to know its history, culture, population, and local news media. Is your state going to turn red or blue? Make a well-researched prediction and participate in the school competition. 

    • 🔮 Task 6.1 Predict Your State's Vote

      In 2024, as in most election cycles, the race for President of the U.S. is going to be neck-and-neck. In this task, you'll take a closer look at your adopted US state - its culture, voting history, political discourse, demographics, economy, local media, and more. By becoming its 'virtual citizen', you'll understand who lives there, their economic situation, what influences their political decisions, and how they might vote on Election Day.

      This task isn't just about gathering facts; it's about making informed predictions based on your research and discussions with your peers. So, are you ready to gaze into the crystal ball and predict the future?

    • 💬 Task 6.1.1 Class Discussion

      1. Based on the information you have reviewed so far in this course, decide whether your state will most likely vote for Democrats or Republicans, or whether it is unclear.
      2. Use the guiding questions below to formulate an initial prediction. We recommend documenting the answers to each guiding question and your overall prediction in the Project Journal.
      3. Finally, share your thoughts and predictions in class. Listen to your classmate's insights and consider different perspectives. 

      ❓Guiding questions

      • Has your state voted solidly for one of the two parties in the past or is it rather a swing state?
      • Is your state the traditional ‘home state’ of any of the two candidates?
      • What do the state’s demographics tell you about the people living there?
      • What is the current economic situation in your state?
      • Are some campaign issues more (or less) important in your state than elsewhere in the U.S.?
      • How do local news media report on the election campaign?

    • 🕵 Task 6.1.2 Group Research

      1. Form expert groups, for example on state history, local media, elected representatives, economy, education, and other relevant areas. 
      2. Use the State Fact Sheet and other resources to gather information on your specific topic. 
      3. Take detailed notes and be prepared to briefly present your findings to your classmates.


      🛟 How to... 

      If you need support in preparing and conducting your research in resources other than the State Fact Sheet, we encourage you to review this Research Guide. 


      Research Guide


    • 💬 Task 6.1.3 Presentation

      1. Each group presents their findings in class (decide on an appropriate procedure). Show your classmates what you've discovered and explain how it might affect the state's voting behavior.
      2. After all groups have presented, continue the discussion from above (Task 6.1.1). Integrate all findings and update your initial prediction for the state's election outcome.


      🛟 How to... 

      To help you prepare and deliver your presentation, we recommend using the following Presentation Guide.


      Presentation Guide


    • 📊 Task 6.2 Submit Your Prediction

      Now that you've analyzed and discussed the factors influencing your state's election outcome, it's time to make your class prediction and submit it. 

      1. If you have not already done so, come together as a class to make a joint prediction for the election outcome in your adopted US state.
      2. Submit your class's prediction via the DATABASE: Ballot box & competition in the Virtual Town Hall. 
      3. Include a brief rationale (up to 100 words) explaining the most significant reasons for your projected outcome. 

      ❗️Please note: If your wish to complete the TASK 6.3 Participate in the Student Competition and submit your own product to the student competition, please wait to submit your prediction and product together. Details about the student competition will be provided in the following task. 


    • 📊 Endbefragung

      Hilf uns, das Projekt mit einer kurzen, anonymen Befragung zu verbessern. Vielen Dank für deinen Einsatz! 

    • 🏆 Task 6.3 Participate in the Student Competition


      Congratulations on reaching the final stage of the U.S. Embassy School Election Project 2024!

      Now, it's time to put your knowledge and creativity to the test. Make your prediction for your state's election outcome and create a well-researched and creative product to enter into the nationwide school competition. 

    • 💡 Design a creative product

      After finalizing your prediction, produce a creative product that illustrates your class's prediction. 

      1. Take a look at the possible types of products to get an idea of what might work for you and your classmates. 
      2. As a class, decide on one product that you would like to create for the competition. 
      3. Before you begin, familiarize yourself with the competition criteria. When you are finished, we recommend that you review the criteria again to make sure you have considered all of them.
      4. Submit your final prediction and your creative product via the DATABASE: Ballot box & competition in the Virtual Town Hall by the deadline.


      Important Note: When using artificial intelligence in the creation of your products, please refer to these AI guidelines, paying special attention to the rules regarding labeling the use of AI applications and the sections on copyright. 

    • File icon
      Student Competition - Products and Criteria File

      Here you will find all the important information about the Student Competition. 

      IMPORTANT: You will also find the criteria for your product in this document. Please read it carefully. 

    • 🗓 The deadline for your competition entries is Monday, October 21, 2024, 23:59 CEST. 


      Representatives of participating courses will have the opportunity to present their prediction at a concluding student meeting organized by the U.S. Embassy or Consulates and their partners. (These events are by invitation only; more details will be posted on Teach About U.S. in October.)

  • 📝 Election Lingo and Course Forum