Introduction
You will learn about current Third Parties in the USA. These parties all ran candidates for president in the 2012 election. Using your background knowledge and othere research, you will determine which political ideology the patry is and also predict which of the major parties the party is more likely to be alligned with.
Task
Use your knowledge of political ideology to evaluate current Third Parties in the USA.
Process
Begin by watching the Keith Hughes video clip on Third Parties on America
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU_3s9SNfgM
Go to the Politics 1 site to read about the political parties which are currently active in the USA.
http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm
Choose two Third Parties to research. Use the website politics1.com for a ballot of all candidates who ran in 2012.
http://www.politics1.com/p2012.htm
For each Third Party you research:
1. Name of Third Party and their candidates who ran for President and Vice President in 2012.
2. Describe a domestic policy the party is promoting - major objective of the party.
3. Evaluate what ideology the party is.
4. Predict which major party the Third Party would more likely agree with. Explain why.
Use the Third Party's web site to learn about it's policy priorities. You may also use news reports about the party if available.
Evaluation
Grading: two graded components:
50 points:
Short (5 paragraph) paper based on the content you research and your own evaluation of the Third Parties.
20 points (10 each):
For each Third Party you will have:
Name / Candidates in 2012 for President and VP / Policy issue / Ideology / Similar to which Major Party (explain why)
Conclusion
Finally, write an essay responding to the promt:
Based on your research and knowledge, are Third Parties useful in our political system? How are they positive and how may they be negative? Evaluate their roles in the USA and how they are or are not productive. You must use at least 5 specific examples in your writing including where you learned the information.
Teacher Page
This webquest is designed for a high school level (mixed grade) civics class.
A follow up activity of create your own Third Party has been well recieved by students as well.
Amber Pinter, Fayetteville, Arkansas