Overview
The Founding Fathers wanted to create a “safety system” to keep the general public from electing someone who would be unsuitable as president. Slow communication and poor education during the late 18th Century made it a necessity in the eyes of the framers to restrict the process of electing the president to an educated elite.
Task
There has been a public outcry to change the process of presidential election. You must research and develop an opinion to either alter the process or contend that the current process is functioning well enough to not warrant any changes. (In other words, if it has been working, why change it?)
You will need to assume a role that either supports the current system or proposes a change. You will need to develop logical arguments and to collect resources that either defend your position or discount the opposition’s stance.
Process
1. Use the resources listed below to research different views on the Electoral College.
2. Note that many of the sources include various replacements for the Electoral College.
3. You will need to provide an accurate summary of the current workings of the Electoral College.
4. You will need to develop a defense of your position on the Electoral College.
5. These ideas will need to be arranged in paragraph form according to the “paragraph organizer” provided to you.
6. You will open a word processing document to type out your final copy.
7. Then, submit it in Student Docushare, following the directions on the link.
Resources
Access the National Archives at this site. Once there, scroll down to general information and find some excellent information for your paper.
2. The Electoral College- An Overview
This site is the full document of the information shared in class. It not only explains the Electoral College but also offers pro and con arguments. It will download in a .pdf format.
3. In Defense of the Electoral College
Just like it sounds, it provides arguments defending the process and why some think direct election of the president is dangerous.
This is another source of information explaining the workings of the Electoral College in language that might be easier to understand.
5. Harvard
This site offers links to new proposals and the pros and cons of the Electoral College. It might be very useful when you are creating your opinions for the third and fourth paragraphs.
6. About.com
Provides a good summary and offers some critical questions about the process.
Provides a concise set of reasons against the current system.
8. Jackson County Election Board
This site is very useful because it has both sides presented.
Learning Advice
1. Be sure to follow the paragraph form outlined on the “paragraph organizer”.
2. Arrange your sentences in a logical sequence to help persuade your readers.
3. Give special attention to spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
4. Be sure you are taking into consideration the “Opinion Essay Grading Rubric” by clicking on the link to download it. This provides the requirements for your grade.
Conclusion
Now you are armed with the knowledge necessary to defend your position on the Electoral College. Educate others about how we really choose a president and your views on the process. Don’t be afraid to voice your opinions in other appropriate formats.
