You're Running for Office!

Introduction

You're running for office, and you know what that means! You need a campaign website!

Your town is holding an election for the next mayor, a position you have been dreaming of your whole career. You have done everything to get your name out there, pass out flyers, talk to residents, put up bill boards, but you know that to really spread the word you need to create a campaign website. That sounds a little daunting, but you know that if you do your research you can make the best campaign website your town has ever seen.

Task

You will learn how to evaluate information on a campaign website in an objective and analytical way by comparing multiple sites and synthesizing the information you've gathered through creating one of your own.

You must research the set up and lay out of a campaign website by going to at least three different, real life sites of current candidates running for various offices. The most organized and up-to-date would be the websites of the current presidential candidates. Links to a few of their campaign sites will be provided, but feel free to find good examples on your own.

Look at each campaign site and gather information about how the candidate is marketing themselves to the people, how they present their stance on issues, outstanding features that make each candidate seem unique, and the website layout of each. Use this information to create your own simplified version of a campaign website using the Google website generator.

Process

1.) Choose three real-life candidates who are currently running for office. Here are a few links to the sites of 2016 presidential candidates:

https://martinomalley.com/

https://berniesanders.com/?nosplash=true/

https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/

https://www.bencarson.com/

https://www.mikehuckabee.com/home

https://www.donaldjtrump.com/

2.) Look at each of the three sites you have chosen and compare and write down:

How voters use the website to find out what the candidate stands for.

How voters find out about the past experience of the candidate.

How the voter can get involved in the candidate's campaign.

Who the candidate is (i.e. family history, interests, hobbies, etc.)

3.) Find three differences between the websites and write them down. They could include pictures included on the site, the difference in information provided, how the sites are set up, etc.

4.) For each website, write a short paragraph on why the site makes the candidate appealing to voters (using specific examples).

5.) After gathering this information, create a simplified version of a campain website using Google's website creator. Create a Google account if you don't have one because the tools provided on it will be very helpful in future assignments. It must include:

At least 5 issues and your opinion on them.

2 pictures.

A campaign slogan and website title.

A short bio.

Two other features you found on the campaign websites you reviewed that would help you gain voters.

6.) Make sure to site your sources. I need to know what websites you used.

Evaluation

This is a 150 point assignment that will be graded as follows:

Written comparision of 3 websites, answering the questions provided in Step 2 of the process. 20 Points

Three differences between the websites written down. 20 Points

Three short paragraphs on why the sites make the candidate appealing to voters (using specific examples). 20 Points

Creation of a campaign website including the following features:

At least 5 issues and your opinion on them. 20 Points

A campaign slogan and website title. 10 Points

2 pictures. 5 Points

A short bio. 20 Points

Two other features you found on the campaign websites you reviewed that would help you gain voters. 25 Points

Citing the three campaign websites you used. 10 Points

Conclusion

Congratulations, you have successfully launched your campaign website that will help you win your town's election for mayor!

Through this activity you have gained critical thinking skills that will help you be analytical and objective when processing information. You will be a more informed voter because you will be able to sort through information on campaign websites and find out what is most important.