About Us
Congress: The Context
SUBJECTS
U.S. Government
GRADE LEVEL
11-12
OBJECTIVES
This assignment involves doing basic research on a special interest groups (Fortune Magazine “Power 25 Survey for 2001”: The Top 25 Interest Groups).
LESSON PLAN
1.0 Students are assigned an interest group based on a random draw. Students may not trade assignments with a classmate despite any feelings they hold about the group. From the moment the assignment is made, the student now becomes the class spokesman for this group.
2.0 Students will contact their interest group to request information about the organization. The contact may take the form of an e-mail or a formal letter. The point is to see how responsive the organization is to a request for information. See the attached handout for guidance about what information to request.
3.0 If the organization does not respond in timely fashion, the student may obtain the necessary information through Internet resources such as the organization’s Web site.
4.0 Each student will make a presentation consisting of the following elements to the class:
4.1 Handout for each classmate (see attached format).
4.2 A copy for their communication to the group requesting information about them as well as their reply. (Email is acceptable but a formal letter is preferred.)
4.3 A five minute (no more) formal presentation to the class that specifically focuses on these topics:
4.3.1 A specific example of a current policy issue facing their group.
4.3.2 Methods utilized to gain attention/support from the public, media, and/or Congress.
4.3.3 A script for a commercial or an editorial prepared by the student on the issue identified at 4.3.1.
RESOURCES
Fortune Magazine “Power 25 Survey for 2001”: The Top 25 Interest Groups
CREDIT
This lesson was adapted from one created by 2011 Congress in the Classroom® participant Gary Barnette, Ashley Ridge High School, Summerville SC.
