PROJECT: THE AMERICAN PARTY SYSTEM The American political culture speaks to its people’s values and debates. Our political climate supports the deep-seated idea that every person deserves representation. Since Americans don’t all share the same views, how can everyone be represented? Within our political system, we have two main political parties: the Democrats and the Republicans. Each party has a platform built on two opposing ideas of government. But, there are also a slew of minor parties. The minor parties have a tremendous, although indirect, impact upon the platforms of the major parties. In order for the major parties to compete with each other, they must take into consideration the needs and issues of the minor parties. Although the number of voters within a minor party may not be enough to cause their presidential candidate to win a majority of the votes in the Electoral College, the voters can use their grouping to entice the candidates of the larger parties to address the minor party’s political philosophy. Thus, the details of the Republican and Democrat platforms are rewritten to include portions of the minority party’s stance, in hopes of swaying more voters towards the larger parties. Politics often include debates as a way of negotiating important issues. In these debates, there is always a claim and counter claim. The oral arguments are important, as they offer information that might persuade the reader into a different line of thinking. For this project, you will be delivering a speech in an effort to influence your parents’ or guardians’ voting during the next election. BEFORE YOU BEGIN Examine the Prompt Before you begin, look closely at the prompt and determine what information you have been asked to find. You may want to make a checklist that includes the subject, a list of requirements, and any open-ended questions the prompt expects you to answer. Take Notes Plan plenty of time for your research. When you start your investigation, relax and jot down all the sources you find along the way. You never know which source you may need more information from when you start writing. Write down interesting information and facts that support your answers to the prompt questions. Remember, every bit of evidence in your notes may not make it into your research paper. However, when writing your first draft, too much information is better than too little when it comes to your notes. Notes do not need to be perfect, but they need to withstand the test of time. Would you still be able to read and understand your notes if you had to stop researching for a few days? Could you relocate the original source if you needed extra information for your final draft? If not, slow down, write neatly, and add more details to your notes. Make sure your notes are in your own words. This will help you to avoid plagiarism when you begin writing. If you do like a quote, make sure you include quotation marks in your notes, or else you might accidentally use those words as your own. Claim Since you are writing a speech as a part of an oral argument, you must gather information about both sides. Remember, every argument has at least two sides, but when it comes to politics there can always be more. The main sides are called claim and counter claim. Your claim should state exactly why you and others should support a specific political party. For this argument, the speech should contain a claim section supporting a political party to which you most closely align. Counter Claim The counter claim must offer the views of an opposing or minor party. The counter claim section should offer facts in a straightforward fashion, but you should pick a party that contradicts your opinion. In an argument, you will want to point out the limitations of the opposing party’s beliefs. The counter claim section will indicate what you perceive as mistaken assumptions or missing issues of the opposing party. It is important that you find facts to back up all of your opinions for each side. THE DRAFTING PROCESS Craft a Thesis After you have a clear understanding of the prompt and have completed the majority of your research, you are ready to formulate a thesis. Your thesis is your main point or opinion about your favorite party and the party within the counter claim. It should be one sentence stating your point of view. Make sure your thesis directly answers the questions asked within the prompt and presents the subject of your body paragraphs. Write with Your Audience in Mind All writers must consider the reason they are writing and the audience for whom they are writing. Each time you write for school, your audience is ultimately your instructor; so make sure you address the entire prompt. Sometimes the prompt will ask you to focus on a certain audience. For example, today’s prompt suggests that you focus on your parents or guardians. This means that some of the information you offer will be understood. Because of your assigned audience, you will not have to explain that ultimately, the United States only has two main parties. However, let’s imagine you were writing to a foreign exchange student. In the latter scenario, you would have to clarify the party system because your audience may not know the information. As you plan your speech, remember your purpose and audience; both can change the type of information you include. Begin Your Outline When you understand your prompt, it’s time to begin an outline of your speech. An outline helps you organize your ideas into a logical flow. Start by writing short answers to all the questions within the prompt. You may combine answers that go together into one sentence. Each sentence should be addressed in a separate body paragraph. Each body paragraph must support your sentence with details from your research. Use your notes and pick at least 4 pieces of information that will support your answer in the most logical way. Remember, transitions and linking phrases will help. The last section of your speech is called the conclusion. This is the place to include your thesis, personal insights gained from your research, and to suggest the reader take action on the new information. This section can also recap the bits of information your paper contained. For this project, the conclusion should contain a fairly strong personal opinion about the party system. Although it sounds odd, your introduction might be the last section you organize. Remember, the introduction must be entertaining. You need to encourage your audience to listen. Try tempting them with the best facts, or create a scenario that will cause them to think. For this project, you might want to thank them for their attendance and time. At the end of your introduction paragraph, you must include your thesis statement. DIRECTIONS Today, you will develop a speech that will persuade a voter to vote in alignment with a particular political party. Use details from your investigation to support a central idea and opinion. Develop and strengthen your writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, and rewriting. Develop the topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. You will need to follow the rules of grammar by using correct punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. Although your speech was created to be verbally presented, you will need to turn in a written copy. Before uploading your final draft, make sure you have included several transitions, which are words or phrases that will link sections of the text one to another. Prompt Using the Internet, libraries, and/or local election offices, write a speech to be delivered to your parents or guardians. You will ask your parents or guardians to vote in line with a certain political party. Within your speech, create a catch phrase that will make your speech memorable. Try using a simile or metaphor. Your oral argument must explain the philosophy and goals of two parties. What does each philosophy say about the role of government, about man’s inherent goodness, and man’s rights vs. responsibilities? What political change has been brought about by the party? The speech must contain a claim and counter claim. Give a brief history of the parties, including the year the parties were formed and the reasons for their creation. List any recent victories the parties might have achieved, such as putting some of its members in the Senate or House of Representatives or having a particular law passed by Congress. You may create graphics, a slide show presentation, or other media to support your central idea. Your written speech must be at least 500 words. Before completing your final draft, please look at the written rubric. If your teacher is asking you to present your speech to the class, please look at the presentation rubric. QUESTIONS 1.Using your research skills, list at least four minor political parties within the United States. For each party, describe the general platform and the party’s main objective. Your response should be approximately 100 words. 2.Which parts of an essay are also in a speech? introduction conclusion claim counter claim 3.After editing, please upload your written speech. Remember to include any supporting graphics or media.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Examine the Prompt

Before you begin, look closely at the prompt and determine what information you have been asked to find. You may want to make a checklist that includes the subject, a list of requirements, and any open-ended questions the prompt expects you to answer.

Take Notes

Plan plenty of time for your research.

When you start your investigation, relax and jot down all the sources you find along the way. You never know which source you may need more information from when you start writing.

Write down interesting information and facts that support your answers to the prompt questions. Remember, every bit of evidence in your notes may not make it into your research paper. However, when writing your first draft, too much information is better than too little when it comes to your notes.

Notes do not need to be perfect, but they need to withstand the test of time. Would you still be able to read and understand your notes if you had to stop researching for a few days? Could you relocate the original source if you needed extra information for your final draft? If not, slow down, write neatly, and add more details to your notes.

Make sure your notes are in your own words. This will help you to avoid plagiarism when you begin writing. If you do like a quote, make sure you include quotation marks in your notes, or else you might accidentally use those words as your own.

Claim

Since you are writing a speech as a part of an oral argument, you must gather information about both sides. Remember, every argument has at least two sides, but when it comes to politics there can always be more. The main sides are called claim and counter claim. Your claim should state exactly why you and others should support a specific political party. For this argument, the speech should contain a claim section supporting a political party to which you most closely align.

Counter Claim

The counter claim must offer the views of an opposing or minor party. The counter claim section should offer facts in a straightforward fashion, but you should pick a party that contradicts your opinion. In an argument, you will want to point out the limitations of the opposing party’s beliefs. The counter claim section will indicate what you perceive as mistaken assumptions or missing issues of the opposing party. It is important that you find facts to back up all of your opinions for each side.

THE DRAFTING PROCESS

Craft a Thesis

After you have a clear understanding of the prompt and have completed the majority of your research, you are ready to formulate a thesis. Your thesis is your main point or opinion about your favorite party and the party within the counter claim. It should be one sentence stating your point of view. Make sure your thesis directly answers the questions asked within the prompt and presents the subject of your body paragraphs.

Write with Your Audience in Mind

All writers must consider the reason they are writing and the audience for whom they are writing. Each time you write for school, your audience is ultimately your instructor; so make sure you address the entire prompt.

 

Sometimes the prompt will ask you to focus on a certain audience. For example, today’s prompt suggests that you focus on your parents or guardians. This means that some of the information you offer will be understood. Because of your assigned audience, you will not have to explain that ultimately, the United States only has two main parties. However, let’s imagine you were writing to a foreign exchange student. In the latter scenario, you would have to clarify the party system because your audience may not know the information. As you plan your speech, remember your purpose and audience; both can change the type of information you include.

Begin Your Outline

When you understand your prompt, it’s time to begin an outline of your speech. An outline helps you organize your ideas into a logical flow.

Start by writing short answers to all the questions within the prompt. You may combine answers that go together into one sentence. Each sentence should be addressed in a separate body paragraph. Each body paragraph must support your sentence with details from your research. Use your notes and pick at least 4 pieces of information that will support your answer in the most logical way. Remember, transitions and linking phrases will help.

The last section of your speech is called the conclusion. This is the place to include your thesis, personal insights gained from your research, and to suggest the reader take action on the new information. This section can also recap the bits of information your paper contained. For this project, the conclusion should contain a fairly strong personal opinion about the party system.

Although it sounds odd, your introduction might be the last section you organize. Remember, the introduction must be entertaining. You need to encourage your audience to listen. Try tempting them with the best facts, or create a scenario that will cause them to think. For this project, you might want to thank them for their attendance and time. At the end of your introduction paragraph, you must include your thesis statement.

DIRECTIONS

Today, you will develop a speech that will persuade a voter to vote in alignment with a particular political party. Use details from your investigation to support a central idea and opinion. Develop and strengthen your writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, and rewriting. Develop the topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.

You will need to follow the rules of grammar by using correct punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. Although your speech was created to be verbally presented, you will need to turn in a written copy.

Before uploading your final draft, make sure you have included several transitions, which are words or phrases that will link sections of the text one to another.

Prompt

Using the Internet, libraries, and/or local election offices, write a speech to be delivered to your parents or guardians. You will ask your parents or guardians to vote in line with a certain political party. Within your speech, create a catch phrase that will make your speech memorable. Try using a simile or metaphor. Your oral argument must explain the philosophy and goals of two parties. What does each philosophy say about the role of government, about man’s inherent goodness, and man’s rights vs. responsibilities? What political change has been brought about by the party? The speech must contain a claim and counter claim. Give a brief history of the parties, including the year the parties were formed and the reasons for their creation. List any recent victories the parties might have achieved, such as putting some of its members in the Senate or House of Representatives or having a particular law passed by Congress. You may create graphics, a slide show presentation, or other media to support your central idea.

Your written speech must be at least 500 words.

Before completing your final draft, please look at the written rubric. If your teacher is asking you to present your speech to the class, please look at the presentation rubric.

QUESTIONS

1.Using your research skills, list at least four minor political parties within the United States. For each party, describe the general platform and the party’s main objective. Your response should be approximately 100 words.

2.Which parts of an essay are also in a speech?

introduction

conclusion

claim

counter claim

3.After editing, please upload your written speech. Remember to include any supporting graphics or media.

For each party, describe the general platform and the party’s main objective. Your response should be approximately 100 words.

2.Which parts of an essay are also in a speech?

introduction

conclusion

claim

counter claim

3.After editing, please upload your written speech. Remember to include any supporting graphics or media.