SUMMARY

With the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention, both parties now have their official presidential nominees, and the race to Election Day begins in earnest. For her series, America at a Crossroads, Judy Woodruff takes us back to both convention floors, where she spoke to Republican and Democratic delegates for a sense of how they see the road ahead and the divide between the parties.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

KEY TERMS

delegate — an individual selected by political parties to represent the votes for that party in a state at political conventions.

political convention — the formal end of the primary process, in which delegates choose presidential nominees for parties including Democrats and Republicans.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Where were the national conventions for each party?
2. What are some of the differences in perspective from Democratic and Republican delegates?
3. Who are some of the people interviewed in this segment, and what are their backgrounds?
4. How have divisions grown in the U.S., according to the delegates interviewed?
5. Why might lowering the temperature of political rhetoric be difficult, according to Judy Woodruff?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

Though this segment focuses on differences between Republicans and Democrats, what are some of the similarities in the perspectives expressed by the delegates in these interviews? Do you think these similarities might represent a path forward for less division? Why or why not?

Media literacy: Why do you think Judy Woodruff focused on delegates for this piece? Do you think she would have been given any different answers if she'd spoken to voters outside the conventions? Do you think answers might be different from elected officials such as members of Congress?

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

FOR MORE

What students can do: As a class, discuss — What are the different visions for the future of the U.S. as represented by the delegates in the video above?

• As a class, you might also want to take a look at this episode of the teen podcast On Our Minds, the first in a season dedicated to the election. As you listen, make note of the similarities and differences in the responses of those interviewed to the question "What does America mean to you?" Then write your own response to the question as a short essay.

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