Teacher Process
1. For this activity you will split the students into groups of 4.
2. Use the video provided to investigate the Kennedy/Nixon debate.
3. First, play the video and minimize the screen so you can hear but not see the video.
4. While listening to the debate, take notes on who you think won the debate and why.
5. Watch this video of the actual debate. While watching the video the students need to come up with ideas supporting why they believe either Kennedy or Nixon won.
6. After watching the video, break the groups in half, and each pair will create an opinion article about the debate. This article will proclaim either Nixon or Kennedy as the winner of the debate. One pair from the original group will write an article supporting the idea that Kennedy won the debate. The other pair will write an article supporting the idea that Nixon won the debate. The students will use their notes, the transcript, and the video to support your argument in the article.
7. After typing the articles, the two groups will come together and share their work. This will give them time to read the other article and come up with a response to their article.
8. After this activity, have the students come together and debrief the activity. Some questions that may be asked include:
1. Do you think television played as big a role in the 1960 debate as the "experts" claim? Why or why not?
2. What do you think the participants could have done to minimize the effects of the television?
3. What role do you think the television and media play in today's presidential debates and elections?