Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra features stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework, or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write an 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: Debates May Impact Close Presidential Election, 09/29/04
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec04/debates_9-29.html

Initiating Questions:

1. Have you ever had to debate or argue your position or opinion? What did you like or dislike about the experience?

2. Who do you think is winning the race to be the next president? Why?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. When will President Bush and Senator Kerry debate? What is the theme of each debate? When will the vice presidential candidates debate?

President George Bush and Senator John Kerry will first square-off Thursday in a debate on foreign policy moderated by the NewsHour's Jim Lehrer. The second debate, October 8, will focus on domestic policy and the third, October 13, will be a town hall format. The vice presidential candidates face each other October 5.

2. According to Andrew Kohut, when are debates most important?

"Generally debates are decisive when it's a close race or when the lead has gone back and forth," says Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Center for the People and the Press. "This is a high-stakes election. This could be one of the defining moments of the campaign, if not the defining moment of the campaign."

3. Describe an 18th Century debate that gathered a lot of attention.

In 1858, however, U.S. Senate candidates in Illinois candidates Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas changed the course of political campaigning, inaugurating a series of debates. The seven clashes, which became known as the Lincoln-Douglas debates, occurred only after Lincoln doggedly followed Douglas to many of his campaign events, shouting from the crowd for a debate.

4. What was significant about the presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy? How did technology impact the outcome?

The debate had been closely fought on the ideas, but for those who had watched on television, Kennedy clearly won, helped by his cool demeanor compared with Nixon, who appeared pale and sweaty without makeup.

"I was listening to it on the radio coming into Lincoln, Kansas, and I thought Nixon was doing a great job. Then I saw the TV clips the next morning and he was sick," said former Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole in a 1999 interview with Jim Lehrer. "He didn't look well. Kennedy was young and articulate, and sort of wiped him out."

5. What do analysts think about the role of debates, according to the article?

Many analysts believe candidates can ward off political attacks, alter or affirm their public image and reach a wider audience through debates.

"The public looks for clues about the candidates that tell them who they are, what they're like, and if there are questions about their character, they get resolved," says Kohut.

6. What role have third party candidates played in presidential debates?

Third party candidates such as Ralph Nader have criticized the structure of the debates, which have not allowed for a third party candidate since Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996. According to the Commission on Presidential Debates, which runs the debates, candidates must receive 15 percent support or higher in five selected national public opinion polls to participate.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. What role has technology had in the development of presidential debates? Note some significant examples. Are all of these developments good? Why or why not? How might technology impact debates of the future?

2. Do you think third party candidates should have a more significant role in the presidential debates? Why or why not?

3. Rate the debaters! Using the NewsHour Extra's Watching the Presidential Debates activity, decide whom you think won the first 2004 presidential debate, President George Bush or Senator John Kerry.

Write a 500-800 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org]. Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.