|
Story: Debates
May Impact Close Presidential Election, 09/29/04
Reading Comprehension Questions: 1. When will President Bush and Senator Kerry debate? What is the theme of each debate? When will the vice presidential candidates debate?
2. According to Andrew Kohut, when are debates most important?
3. Describe an 18th Century debate that gathered a lot of attention.
4. What was significant about the presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy? How did technology impact the outcome?
5. What do analysts think about the role of debates, according to the article?
6. What role have third party candidates played in presidential debates?
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. |