HS Government Reading and Writing Workshop

Reading and Writing Workshop: Public Opinion and Political Participation
​Workshop Overview:The workshop will engage students with primary source materials that explore public opinion, political participation, and media’s role in shaping political discourse. Students will analyze speeches, writings, and historical documents, using these to craft persuasive essays and develop critical thinking about political engagement and media’s influence on democracy.

Day 1: Introduction to Public Opinion and the Role of MediaObjective: Understand the concept of public opinion and how media influences it through historical examples.
Activities:

1. Reading Assignment:
   
   • Read: Excerpt from "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine. This pamphlet is one of the most important works in American history, as it argued for independence from Britain and shaped public opinion in favor of revolution.
2. Discussion:
   
   • Discuss Paine's rhetorical techniques. How does Paine persuade the public to support independence? What role does media play in shaping public opinion in his time? How does Paine appeal to emotion, logic, and authority to influence his audience?
3. Writing Activity:
   
   • Journal Entry: Students write a reflection (1-2 pages) on how Paine uses language and tone to shape public opinion. How can we see media’s influence in Paine’s arguments? In what ways are his strategies still used in modern media?

Homework: Research how media was used in a historical event to influence public opinion, such as the American Revolution or the Civil War. Summarize how media helped shape the public’s views during that time.

Day 2: Analyzing Public Opinion in Historical ContextObjective: Analyze how historical events shaped public opinion and the role of mass media in these events.
Activities:

1. Reading Assignment:
   
   • Read: Excerpt from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Lincoln used the speech to unify the country during the Civil War, shaping public opinion on the Union cause and the idea of equality.
2. Group Analysis:
   
   • In small groups, students will analyze how Lincoln’s speech shapes public opinion. What rhetorical devices does Lincoln use to unite and inspire the American people? How does Lincoln appeal to the ideals of democracy and liberty?
   • Share and discuss group findings with the class.
3. Writing Activity:
   
   • Essay: Students write a 2-3 page essay analyzing the ways in which Lincoln’s speech seeks to shape public opinion. Focus on how Lincoln’s use of language, imagery, and appeals to values like democracy and equality influence the audience.

Homework: Find a modern political speech (from the U.S. or another country) and identify similar rhetorical techniques used to influence public opinion.

Day 3: The Power of Mass Media and Political ParticipationObjective: Examine the role of mass media in shaping public opinion during political events.
Activities:

1. Reading Assignment:
   
   • Read: Excerpt from "The Federalist Papers" (No. 10) by James Madison. Madison discusses factions and the importance of controlling them through government structures, which indirectly addresses how public opinion can be shaped by group interests and media.
2. Discussion:
   
   • How does Madison view factions, and why does he think they are dangerous to democracy? How does this relate to the role of media in shaping political discourse?
   • Discuss how Madison might view today’s media landscape and political polarization.
3. Writing Activity:
   
   • Reflection: Students will write a 1-2 page reflection about Madison’s thoughts on factions and how they might apply to modern political participation, especially considering the role of media in creating or reinforcing political factions today.

Homework: Research how the media influenced public opinion during a specific political event (e.g., the Watergate scandal or the Civil Rights Movement). Write a short summary (1 page) of how media shaped public opinion during that event.

Day 4: Political Participation and the Role of Media in Shaping VotesObjective: Analyze how media influences political participation and voter behavior.
Activities:

1. Reading Assignment:
   
   • Read: Excerpt from "Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King Jr. In this letter, King defends civil disobedience and critiques the white moderate's stance on civil rights. This piece shows how media influenced the civil rights movement and shaped public opinion about racial justice.
2. Discussion:
   
   • Discuss King’s response to criticisms of his protests. How does King use the letter to influence public opinion about racial injustice? What role did the media play in spreading his message? How did the media influence the civil rights movement?
3. Writing Activity:
   
   • Essay: Students will write a 2-3 page essay analyzing how King’s letter shaped public opinion about civil rights. What persuasive strategies did King use to engage his audience, and how did media amplify his message?

Homework: Watch a recorded interview or news segment on a recent political topic and analyze how the media portrays different viewpoints. Write a 1-page summary of how media affects political participation and voter behavior.

Day 5: Writing Persuasive Arguments Based on Public OpinionObjective: Develop persuasive writing skills, using historical examples of political participation and media’s role in shaping public opinion.
Activities:

1. Review:
   • Review the key persuasive techniques studied in the unit: ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), logos (logic), and kairos (timeliness).
2. Group Activity:
   • In small groups, students will create a persuasive argument on a contemporary issue (e.g., voting rights, climate change, healthcare). They must draw upon historical examples of public opinion, political participation, and media influence, using the rhetorical techniques discussed.
3. Writing Workshop:
   • Students will write a persuasive essay (750-1,000 words) on a political topic of their choice. They must reference historical documents and speeches analyzed during the unit as evidence to support their argument.

Homework: Revise persuasive essay and prepare for a peer review session the following day.

Day 6: Peer Review and Final Draft SubmissionObjective: Revise and finalize persuasive essays based on peer feedback.
Activities:

1. Peer Review:
   
   • Students will exchange their persuasive essays with a peer for feedback. They should focus on the strength of the argument, clarity, use of evidence, and the effectiveness of persuasive techniques.
2. Revision:
   
   • Based on peer feedback, students will revise their essays, paying particular attention to the use of historical sources and the logical flow of their argument.
3. Final Draft Submission:
   
   • Students will submit their final persuasive essays for grading.

Assessment:

• Formative Assessment: Participation in group discussions, peer review, and journal entries.
• Summative Assessment: Final persuasive essay analyzing public opinion, media influence, and political participation.
• Reflection: Students’ final reflections on how media and political leaders shape public opinion and how they would engage with these forces in modern society.

This workshop plan allows students to explore historical examples of public opinion, political participation, and media through primary source analysis, writing, and critical thinking. The integration of public domain works helps them understand the lasting influence of political speeches and writings on shaping democracy.