Lesson Plan: The Importance of Political Debates; Trump-Harris debate

Objective:

Students will understand the role of political debates in democratic societies, recognize significant historical debates, and analyze the potential impact of the upcoming presidential debate.

Introduction

1. Warm-up Discussion: Ask students what they know about political debates and why they think they are important in elections.
2. Objective Overview: Explain the goals of the lesson.

Part 1: Importance of Political Debates:

1. Presentation:
   • Explain how debates provide a platform for candidates to present their policies, challenge their opponents, and engage with the public.
   • Highlight the role of debates in reducing political polarization by fostering a structured exchange of ideas.
2. Class Discussion:
   • Discuss how debates can influence voter decisions, especially when candidates are relatively unknown or the race is close.

Part 2: Significant Historical Debates:

1. Presentation:
   • Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858): Discuss how these debates shaped public opinion on slavery and propelled Abraham Lincoln into the national spotlight.
   • Kennedy-Nixon Debates (1960): Highlight the first televised presidential debates and their impact on the election outcome.
   • Reagan-Carter Debate (1980): Explain how Reagan’s performance helped him secure a decisive victory.
2. Activity:
   • Divide students into groups and assign each group a historical debate to research. Have them present vital points and the impact of their assigned debate on the election.

Part 3: September 11th 2024 Presidential Debate :

1. Presentation:
   • Provide an overview of the debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
   • Discuss the significance of this debate in the current election cycle, especially given the dramatic changes in the campaign landscape.
2. Class Discussion:
   • What are the key issues they discussed? How might this debate influence voter opinions?

Watch the debate here:

1. Candidate Strategies:
   • Donald Trump: Known for his unconventional debate style, Trump is expected to focus on painting Harris as an out-of-touch liberal while emphasizing his own policy achievements and vision for the future.
   • Kamala Harris: As the first woman, Black person, and person of South Asian descent to serve as Vice President, Harris will likely highlight her prosecutorial skills and the accomplishments of the Biden administration, while addressing any criticisms head-on.

Significance:

This debate is particularly significant as it provides a rare face-to-face confrontation between the two candidates, allowing voters to directly compare their policies and leadership styles. With early voting set to begin soon, the debate could have a substantial impact on voter opinions and the overall election outcome..

For more detailed information, you can check out the following links:

• ABC News overview of the debate
• PBS News analysis of what to watch in the debate
• Sporting News guide on how to watch the debate

After the debate

Watch the debate and use this rubric to score. Divide the class into groups of 3 or 4 and use this scoring rubric. Assign the two candidates equally between the groups.

Debate Performance Scoring Rubric

1. Content and Arguments

• Excellent (5): Presents clear, well-structured arguments with specific policy proposals
• Good (4): Arguments are mostly clear, with some policy details
• Average (3): Arguments are present but lack depth or specificity
• Poor (2): Arguments are vague or inconsistent
• Very Poor (1): Fails to present coherent arguments

2. Use of Evidence

• Excellent (5): Consistently cites relevant facts, statistics, and expert opinions
• Good (4): Often uses evidence to support claims
• Average (3): Occasionally provides evidence
• Poor (2): Rarely supports claims with evidence
• Very Poor (1): Makes claims without any supporting evidence

3. Rebuttal Skills

• Excellent (5): Effectively addresses and counters opponent’s arguments
• Good (4): Usually responds to opponent’s points
• Average (3): Sometimes engages with opponent’s arguments
• Poor (2): Rarely addresses opponent’s points directly
• Very Poor (1): Ignores opponent’s arguments entirely

4. Clarity and Communication

• Excellent (5): Speaks clearly, uses accessible language, and explains complex ideas well
• Good (4): Generally clear and understandable
• Average (3): Sometimes unclear or uses jargon without explanation
• Poor (2): Often unclear or difficult to follow
• Very Poor (1): Consistently confusing or incomprehensible

5. Time Management

• Excellent (5): Effectively uses allotted time, covering key points without rushing
• Good (4): Generally good time management with minor issues
• Average (3): Sometimes rushes or runs out of time
• Poor (2): Frequently runs out of time or fails to cover key points
• Very Poor (1): Unable to manage time effectively

6. Composure and Professionalism

• Excellent (5): Maintains calm, respectful demeanor throughout
• Good (4): Generally composed with rare moments of tension
• Average (3): Occasionally shows signs of frustration or unprofessionalism
• Poor (2): Often loses composure or acts unprofessionally
• Very Poor (1): Consistently unprofessional or disrespectful

Conclusion :

1. Recap: Summarize the key points discussed in the lesson.
2. Q&A: Open the floor for any questions from students.