Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra feature 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: Candidates Pick Up Steam in Run-up to Presidential Primaries, 11/5/07
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec07/primary_11-05.html

Initiating Questions:

1. What is a presidential primary?

2. When is our state's primary?

3. Which candidates do you think have the best chance of being nominated in the 2008 election?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. Why do states want early primaries?

Several states are battling for early presidential primary dates, hoping to exert more influence in an election that boasts the second largest number of candidates in U.S. history.

2. Why is the New Hampshire primary considered so important?

During a primary, citizens vote directly for a primary candidate from their party, making New Hampshire the first real voter test in the presidential election.

"The last 13 presidents elected, 11 of them won the New Hampshire primary before winning the White House," political analyst and columnist Mark Shields told the NewsHour in October. "That's how influential it has been."

3. Which states violated party rules and scheduled their primaries in January?

Florida moved its primary to Jan. 29 in violation of Democratic National Committee (DNC) rules and the DNC has threatened to take away the state's nominating votes in the national convention.

Michigan ignored national party rules by scheduling its primary even earlier, on Jan. 15.

4. Why is New Hampshire waiting to schedule its primary?

New Hampshire has refused to announce a primary date until Michigan's date is settled. Some have even speculated the New Hampshire primary could be moved to December of 2007.

5. Who are the leaders in the Democratic race?

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton has established herself as the leading Democrat to beat, winning 44 percent of the support in a national Newsweek poll released Nov. 3. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama was second with 24 percent support from those surveyed, and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards earned 12 percent.

6. How did Clinton's campaign respond to attacks during a recent debate?

Clinton's campaign later posted video of the forum, pointing out how the rest of the candidates in the debate were ganging up on her.

7. Why is it difficult to choose a dominant leader in the Republican race?

Jim VandeHei, executive editor of Politico.com, told the NewsHour the Republican race is still wide open.

"Unlike the Democratic race, which really has come down to Obama versus Clinton, you could sketch out a plausible scenario where any of five candidates … could win the nomination," he said.

8. What problem has Rudy Giuliani faced in this race?

Giuliani's popularity has stemmed largely from his response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks as mayor of New York City, while his liberal pro-choice and gun control stances are viewed as negatives by some Republicans.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. What are some of the big issues that voters are focusing on in this election?

2. Which candidates do you think have the best chances of winning the Democratic and Republican nominations? Why?

3. Research the primary system in the United States. Some people have argued for a national primary in which all states hold primaries on the same day. What are the pros and cons of this proposal? Do you think it is a good idea? Why?

Write a 300-500 word essay on either 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.