Welcome!
Why is majority rule not necessarily the best way to make a decision?
Insert the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzkjCHq6-c8
WEIGH
EVIDENCE
THE
The Electoral College
Instructions
- Rate each of the following exhibits based on how well it supports the statement:
“We should keep the Electoral College.”
-Each exhibit is rated from -2 (very against the statement) to + 2 (very supportive of the statement)
-A rating of 0 means the source is not useful in either case
-For each write one sentence summarizing the source and another explaining your number rating.
Set up your paper into columns like this:
Exhibit
Rating
Why?
Z – Photograph
of forest
+1
Stories of bigfoot often say he lives in the forest. This is actually a forest so the stories are somewhat believable.
Not all evidence is equally important. Part of drawing a conclusion is determining how much weight you give to each bit of information.
-2
Heavily against
-1
Slightly against
0
No
value as a source
+1
Slightly for
+2
Heavily for
EVIDENCE
EVIDENCE
Exhibit A:
Poll, Pew Research, January 2021
We should keep the electoral college.
Exhibit B:
2016 Electoral Maps
We should keep the electoral college.
Exhibit C:
2018 NBA Playoffs
We should keep the electoral college.
The Cavaliers won the series 4 games to 3 and advanced in playoffs but were outscored by 40 points over the series.
Exhibit D:
Political Cartoons
We should keep the electoral college.
Exhibit E:
Key and Peele
We should keep the electoral college.
Insert the following video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ivKqcUKfGUu6R_g2BymSeiqR_PNzFe5b/view?usp=sharing
Exhibit F:
Excerpt from Federalist 68,
Alexander Hamilton
It is desirable that the voice of the people should be heard in the choice of the president. This voice will be heard in the selection of the electors for the college.
It was equally desirable, that the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities necessary for the presidency, and acting with thought and care. A small number of people, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general population, will be more likely to have the information and understanding required for these complicated investigations.
The electoral college process provides certainty that the office of President will never fall to any man who is not in fully qualified. It will not be too strong to say, that there will be a constant probability of seeing the station filled by characters pre-eminent for ability and virtue.
We should keep the electoral college.
Exhibit G:
Another Political Cartoon
We should keep the electoral college.
Instructions