Post 4 - Due Friday, November 2nd

So there have been 4 presidential debates and there has been lots of discussion of what the moderators did and didn't do. If you could have asked the presidential candidates any one question (make it about public policy and relevant please) what would it have been? What would you want a presidential candidate's answer to be (ie. what you think is the right answer regardless of whether any one candidate running this year would say that)? What is your prediction for how Obama and Romney would have answered your question? Base your answer on reading their positions and previous answers to this question or similar questions. You will need evidence to support how you think they'd answer your question. I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll say. ;) PS. This is the 2nd to last blog post of the tri.

Response to post 3 - Due Friday, 10/26

If you are in period 3 respond to someone in period 5. If you are in period 5 respond to someone in period 3. Address whether you agree or disagree with their take on the issue of voter identification. Use at least one source to agree or disagree with them. Please write a complete paragraph and be sure to be specific to who you are responding to and what specific point or argument in their post you are addressing. We shouldn't have to go back and read their post in order to understand yours. This is due by class on Friday, 10/26.

Post #3: Due Friday, October 12th

Nationally there is a discussion about voter identification and registration. Last week a Pennsylvania court ruled that their voter id law will not be fully in effect for this year's election but didn't strike it down. In Minnesota we are in the middle of a heated debate about whether to change the state constitution to require a voter id. To prepare for your upcoming elections essay we are going to discuss and debate one of the key questions on the ballot this fall should MN require a state photo identification in order to vote? In your post examine the arguments given in the media and by interest groups for and against requiring voter ids. Make an argument either for or against the question. Be sure to back up your argument with data, with a quote, or a story. Your post is due by class time on Friday October 12th. Your post should be a minimum of one paragraph long and should have a minimum of 3 sources. Sources can be interest group or political party websites - not just news stories. You do not have to limit your debate to Minnesota's constitutional amendment question because it's a national issue. I hope you'll enjoy this topic. Many of you will be voting in your first election and I want you to be prepared! (To respond to this click where it says "Comments:" in yellow below here.

Response to Post 2 - Due October 5th

Pick someone's post to respond to from post 2.  Watch the ad or speech they fact checked and commented on.  Then respond to the following questions:

-Is the ad or speech persuasive to you (independent of the fact checking info)?  
-Does the fact checking make the ad/speech more or less persuasive to you?
-What do you think would be the best way to make sure that candidates run truthful advertisements or speeches without infringing on freedom of speech?

Hint:  Some of you wrote super short posts for post 2 and should put forth more effort on this one.