Where do the Candidates Stand on the Issues? Website Research

Where do the Candidates Stand on the Issues? Website Research and Analysis is a 23-page interactive and engaging lesson plan for middle school and high school students as they study the upcoming presidential election. The purpose of the lesson is for students to analyze the differences between the two major party candidates running for president by having them explore each of the candidates’ websites as well as a third website that shows their different perspectives on key issues. In addition, students will also explore 1 third-party candidate’s website.

Working in small groups or with a partner, students will explore each of the candidates' websites and will analyze and assess them based on the following: how visually appealing they are; how easy the content is for them to read or view; which coalitions or groups support the candidates; how they present their positions and goals; etc. The assessment is a 5-6 paragraph essay in which they analyze and present their opinions on which website does a better job of presenting their information and why. The detailed lesson plan includes a rubric and a graphic organizer to scaffold the writing process for struggling writers, ELL and RSP students.

If you want your students to write an argumentative essay on which candidate to vote for, check out my resource, Argumentative Letter on a Candidate or Mandatory Voting and for a creative collaborative group project, check out my resource, Presidential Election Project-Collaborative, Creative, & Analytical

The lesson plan includes the following:

• a hyperlinked Table of Contents

• About this Resource: a table that places key information in one place at the beginning of the resource

• the pdf includes a forced copy link to the Google Doc so you can edit the lesson

• an Essential Question:

• 3 Guiding Questions:

• Standards, Objectives, and Learning Targets

• The following handouts:

  • Where Do the Candidates Stand on the Issues?

    • 1. About the Candidates:

    • 2. Coalitions:

    • 3. Where the Candidates Stand on the Issues:

    • 4. Information from a Nonpartisan Website:

    • 5. Third Party Candidate

  • Final Thoughts: Explaining Website Preferences

  • Rubric: Explaining Website Preferences

  • Explaining Website Preferences Graphic Organizer

Are you interested in more 2024 Election Resources? Check out these:

​​The U.S. Presidential Election: Anticipation Guide, Questions, Discussion

12 Essential Election Terms for Middle & High School- Vocabulary Strategies

12 Essential Election Terms Color by Number Vocabulary Review for Middle School

What are your Political Viewpoints? A Survey for Middle and High School Students

Major & Minor Political Parties in US History & Modern Times- Text and Questions

A Brief History of Who Can Vote in the United States, Text, Terms, Questions

United States Presidential Election Process- Primaries to the Electoral College

Propaganda & Political Campaign Ads- Close Viewing Analysis & Written Reflection

Where do the Candidates Stand on the Issues? Research and Analyze their Websites

Argumentative Letter on a Candidate or Mandatory Voting

Presidential Election Project-Collaborative, Creative, & Analytical