2008 Political Campaign: Spin vs. Truth

January begins the primary elections season in the United States. The primary season is an important step in the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates' campaigns, which thus far has included a series of debates to fire the interest of citizens in the election process, along with campaigning in early battleground states like Iowa and New Hampshire.

To put it bluntly, U.S. citizens have legal protection from fraud and unproven claims made in advertising for consumer products. But, do they enjoy similar protection from the spin and exaggerations that some candidates present about their own merits, or the supposed failings of their opponents' character and record? No.

Textbooks are, by their very nature, seldom current. Thankfully, your ProQuest learning solutions are always timely sources of up-to-date content.

In addition, our collection of 650+ model BookCarts (learn how to copy them here) cover a variety of topics that focus on current issues, including the 2008 presidential campaign and primary elections. These BookCarts make it easy for educators and their students to save time and ensure the focus and relevancy necessary for great reports/presentations.

We've created a new BookCart specifically designed to help teachers provide the resources that will motivate and inform students about these essential processes of democracy: 2008 Political Campaign--Spin or Truth?

• Access eLibrary Teacher Edition @ http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/teacher
  
  
• Click the BookCart Admin link at the top right corner.
  
  
• Click the ProQuest Carts tab.
  
  
• Click the Copy icon to the right of 2008 Political Campaign--Spin or Truth?
  
  
• Click Return to My Local Carts.

You will need to edit the Bookcart before using it. Click the BookCart Title to open the Editor, delete "Copy of" then add your name in the Author boxes. Be sure to save your new BookCart.

Each model BookCart provides several examples of Essential Questions for Critical Thinking. Teachers may want to add their own when they copy ProQuest models and adapt them for their students. The essential question examples provide guidance for students to use critical thinking and original thought, rather than just hunt for and present facts in their reports.

Here are examples of essential questions for this BookCart activity:

• What is spin; and why is spin used so often?
  
  
• How do/can citizens protect themselves against spin?
  
  
• What part does your school play in providing students with the tools to avoid being spun and determining the real facts on each issue?
  
  
• Why is it legal to use spin in political campaigns? Should it be? Why or why not?

Students can address these and other questions that teachers assign with ProQuest's new models for reports and presentations on our Educator Tools page. See Curriculum Builders and Learning with PowerPoint.