Reading, Comprehension, Discussion, and Debate
The United States is facing a critical election in 2024, as former president Donald Trump is running again against the incumbent Joe Biden. The outcome of this election will have profound implications for the world, as Mr Trump’s policies and actions could undermine democracy, human rights, and global stability. The world faces a grave risk in 2024, as former President Donald Trump could return to power and damage democracy, human rights, and global peace. He has shown no respect for the electoral process, the rule of law, or the common good. His policies and actions would be driven by vengeance, isolationism, and unpredictability, which would harm America and the world. Source: The Economist.
Lesson plan
- Warm-up: Ask students to share what they know about the current situation in the United States, such as the political parties, the candidates, the issues, and the challenges. Write down some keywords on the board.
- Reading: Divide the students into groups of four and assign each group a section of the article to read. Ask them to summarize the main points of their section and write them down on a piece of paper. Then, have each group present their summary to the rest of the class and answer any questions.
Watch the video above.
And answer these questions:
- What are the four criminal trials that Donald Trump is facing?
- What is the defense strategy that Trump’s lawyers are using in these trials?
- What is the significance of the release of the “RICO tapes”?
- What is the status of the civil fraud trial against Trump and his company?
- What are the potential consequences of these trials for Trump?
Comprehension questions from the article
- According to the article, what is the main concern about a potential second term for Donald Trump as President of the United States?
- What is the author’s opinion of Mr. Trump’s understanding of America’s interests and his willingness to engage in transactional diplomacy?
- What specific examples does the article cite to illustrate Mr. Trump’s approach to foreign policy?
- How does the article describe the potential impact of a Mr. Trump victory on America’s role in Europe?
- What is the article’s assessment of the likelihood of Mr. Trump winning the 2024 presidential election?
- Why does the article suggest that a second term for Mr. Trump would be “different” from his first term?
- What is the author’s overall message about the potential dangers of a Mr. Trump presidency in 2024?
- What evidence does the article provide to support its claim that Mr. Trump poses a significant threat to global stability?
- What potential consequences does the article warn about if Mr. Trump were to be elected President again in 2024?
Debate:
Divide the students into two teams and assign them a position: either for or against a second Trump term. Give them some time to prepare their arguments and evidence. Then, have them debate in front of the class, following the rules of a formal debate. The teacher or a student can act as the moderator and judge the debate based on the quality and relevance of the arguments, the use of evidence, and the respect for the opposing team.
Essay questions
- How would a second Trump term affect the U.S. role in the world and its relations with allies and adversaries?
- What are the main challenges and risks that a second Trump term would pose to the U.S. democracy and institutions?
- How would a second Trump term impact the U.S. economy, environment, and public health?