Storybook County Lessons · Lesson 7
Running for Office
Candidate Speeches and the General Election
Storybook County Lessons · Lesson 7
Running for Office
Candidate Speeches and the General Election
Grades 9 to 12, adaptable for younger students · Four sessions: three of 30 minutes, the fourth 30 to 45 minutes
Teacher note. Handouts: 1. Candidate Form; 2. Campaign Speech Frame and Rules; 3. Press Conference Questions; 4. Ballot, one per voter. Also a gavel, timer, placards and a ballot box. Assign roles before Session 1.
The story
The story problem
Storybook County must elect a Governor, a Lieutenant Governor, a Speaker of the Assembly and an Attorney General. The candidates are drawn from the county's best known residents, and every one of them has a record.
- Robin Hood
- The Tortoise
- The Little Red Hen
- Ebenezer Scrooge, reformed
- Dorothy Gale
- Badger
- The Ant
- Puss in Boots
Teacher note. Students may add others. Each has a record: Robin Hood is strong on fairness, weak on respect for property law; the Little Red Hen did all the work herself (will she delegate?); Badger is quiet, respected, and would rather not run; Puss in Boots is clever, a little too clever.
You will be able to
- Complete a candidate form and state a platform in one sentence.
- Deliver a positive three-minute speech tied to a core value.
- Answer a press conference question in thirty seconds.
- Run an election and explain why second place becomes Deputy.
- Compare plurality voting with ranked choice voting.
Roles
- Candidates: 8 to 12, two or three per office
- Campaign Managers: one per candidate
- Secretary of State and 2 to 3 Election Workers
- Press Corps: 2 to 4 reporters
- Delegates: everyone else, each in a district
Teacher note. Managers help write the speech and run a positive campaign. The Secretary of State and Election Workers check forms, run the vote, count and announce. The Press Corps writes and asks the press conference questions and can connect to the Press Corps lesson. Delegates are the voters.
Campaign rules
Positive only. Speak about yourself and your plan, not your opponents.
One candidate per district per office. Advisor approval of the form.
Teacher note. These are the rules as at the conference. The teacher is the advisor.
Session 1 · 30 min
Filing to Run
- Hook5 min
- The offices10 min
- Candidate forms10 min
- Delegates' work5 min
Hook
Robin Hood is running for Governor. His platform is taking from the rich. The Sheriff's office has questions. What does a candidate have to do before anyone votes?
The offices
- Governor
- Leads the conference and signs bills
- Lieutenant Governor
- Leads service and parliamentary support
- Speaker
- Presides over the Assembly
- Attorney General
- Argues for the county in the Court of Appeals
Teacher note. The Offices step, 10 minutes. Note which offices need an experienced candidate: at the conference, Governor and Lieutenant Governor candidates must be juniors.
Candidate forms
- Office sought and district
- Platform in one sentence
- The core value your campaign stands on
- One accomplishment from your story that proves you are ready
Teacher note. Candidates and managers complete Supporting Document 1, including the signed pledge to run a positive campaign. The Secretary of State checks each form for completeness.
Delegates' work
Delegates: list the three qualities you want in each office.
Teacher note. Delegates do this while forms are checked. They use the list to take notes during speeches in Session 3.
Session 2 · 30 min
Writing the Speech
- Rules and signals5 min
- Speech frame5 min
- Draft15 min
- Timed read5 min
Speech rules and signals
- Three minutes; Governor gets four
- One gavel tap: 30 seconds left
- Two gavel taps: 15 seconds left
- Positive only
- Tie your platform to a core value
- Order drawn at random by the Secretary of State
The speech frame
- Who I am and where I come from
- What I have done: one story event as proof
- What I will do: two specific promises
- Which core value guides me, and why
- The ask: "I ask for your vote for __."
Teacher note. Supporting Document 2, 5 minutes. Keep 'who I am' to one or two sentences in character.
Say it
I brought a lion, a scarecrow and a tin man to the same table and we got where we were going.
Dorothy, what I have done
Draft
Turn your record into proof. "Slow" becomes "I finish what I start, and I have never missed a deadline."
- Candidates: draft with your manager
- Delegates: draft one press conference question per office
Teacher note. The Press Corps collects and refines the delegates' questions.
Timed read
Managers: time a first read, then trim.
Session 3 · 30 min
Campaign Speeches and Press Conference
- Speeches20 min
- Press conference8 min
- Close of campaigning2 min
Speeches
Take notes against the three qualities you listed in Session 1.
Teacher note. The Secretary of State draws the order. Candidates speak with gavel signals.
Press conference
Answer the question asked, in thirty seconds.
- Governor and Lieutenant Governor candidates: two questions
- All other candidates: one question
Teacher note. The Press Corps asks; answers are timed. Sample questions are in Supporting Document 3.
Press conference questions
- Governor: Which bill in our bill book would you veto, and why?
- Governor: When has your record been held against you, and what did you learn?
- Lieutenant Governor: What service focus would you choose, and how would you measure it?
- Speaker: A member keeps speaking without recognition. What do you do, in order?
- Attorney General: The county is appealing the Wolf's acquittal. What is your first question for the trial record?
- Any candidate: Name one thing your opponent does better than you.
Teacher note. More in Supporting Document 3: what would your theme be; how would you support a struggling Committee Chair; how do you stay neutral on a bill you care about.
Close of campaigning
Campaigning is closed. Polls open next session.
Teacher note. The Secretary of State makes the announcement.
Session 4 · 45 min
Election Day and Results
- Voting10 min
- Counting10 min
- Second look10 min
- Wrap-up and inauguration10 min
Teacher note. The source lists this session as 30 to 45 minutes; the wrap-up runs 5 to 10 minutes.
Voting
Mark ONE choice per office. Then rank all candidates for Governor (1 = first choice).
Teacher note. Candidates may vote. Election Workers collect ballots in the box. The ranking lets the class compare two methods.
Counting
- Election Workers count first choices on the board
- The Secretary of State announces winners
- Second place for Speaker becomes Deputy Speaker
Teacher note. At the conference, the second-place finisher for Speaker and for Senate President becomes Deputy.
Ranked choice count
- Count first choices
- Eliminate the lowest candidate
- Redistribute those ballots to their next choice
- Repeat
Teacher note. Governor's race only, run from the same ballots. This method is taught in the Trial Proposals lesson.
Second look
Did the winner change under ranked choice? If so, why? If not, did the margin change?
Wrap-up and inauguration
What mattered more to voters, the record or the speech? Would the vote change if attacks were allowed?
Teacher note. 5 to 10 minutes. The new Governor is sworn in by the Chief Justice (or teacher) and gives a one-sentence acceptance.
How the election is scored
- Candidate form: 10
- Speech content: 30
- Delivery: 20
- Press conference: 15
- Election administration: 15
- Delegate participation: 10
Teacher note. Speech content: all five frame elements, platform tied to a core value, proof from the story, entirely positive. Support: a complete sample speech for the Tortoise, two-minute speeches, placard voting. Challenge: a candidate debate round, and a one-paragraph results story from the Press Corps.
The votes are in
Storybook County has its officers.
Eyes up here
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