Progressive

Thinkers Press Conference

With a partner, you are going to choose a progressive thinker from the list below. You are responsible for learning about
and bringing to life the ideas and beliefs of a key Progressive Era thinker during the meeting focusing on the following
questions:

1. What are the most important issues facing American society?
2. How should those issues be addressed?

Progressive Thinkers:
1. Theodore Roosevelt 11. Ida Tarbell
2. Jane Addams 12. Lincoln Steffens
3. Upton Sinclair 13. Woodrow Wilson
4. Andrew Carnegie 14. Carry A. Nation
5. Eugene Debs 15. William Howard Taft
6. William Du Bois 16. Samuel Gompers
7. Mother Jones 17. William Jennings Bryan
8. Robert La Follette 18. Jacob Riis
9. Alice Paul 19. Henry Ford
10. John D. Rockefeller 20. John Dewey

Directions:
Actor: the actor must understand the viewpoint of your thinker as accurately as possible. Actor must be able to maintain
an understanding of the issues facing American society and the reasoning behind their thinkers beliefs

Public Relations Person: Must give a brief 30 second biographical sketch of the Progressive Era thinker at the beginning of
the press conference. This should provide a summary of the information in the biographical overview.

Nameplate: Create a nameplate for your thinker to display on the desk at which the actor will sit. Nameplate should
include the following two components:
1. Name (should be displayed in large letters so the whole conference can see it)
2. Colorful visual symbol that represents thinkers views on most important issue(s) facing American society and/or
best way to solve issue(s)

Biographical Overview: Write a biographical overview of your thinker (1 pages). You must include the following in your
paper:
a. Intro (Attention Getter, Overview, and Thesis)
b. Body Paragraph 1 (Background of your thinker)
Vocation (examples: education, law, journalism, politics, etc.)
Extent of education?
Religious training?
c. Body Paragraph 2 (Views of your thinker about the most important issue(s) facing American Society)
d. Body Paragraph 3 (Greatest contribution to the Progressive movement)
Views of your thinker on how to address the above issue(s)
e. conclusion (restate thesis and add a wrap up statement)







Members of group:____________________________________

Name of Progressive Thinker:________________________________________

Progressive Era Press Conference Expectations/Rubric

Actor/Presentation

The actor must be knowledgeable about the subject matter and participate in the class discussion at least four
times throughout the class period. The partner (PR person) may participate as the advisor to the actor and
make contributions to the press conference.

4 8 12 16 20
The actor had The actor
The actor
The actor had no limited knowledge The actor participated at least
participated at least
knowledge of of the subject participated at a four times with
three times with
subject matter and matter and moderate level (at significant
evidence of
participated at the participated at a least twice) and had knowledge of the
comprehension of
lowest level minimal level (at quality comments views of their
content
least once) thinker

Public Relations Person/Biographical Overview

The public relations portion of the grade will be based upon the quality of the biographical overview as well as
the written version handed in. The biographical overview should be 30 seconds long. The paper turned in must
include all of the required components and must be grammatically correct. At least three sources must be used
and cited.

4 8 12 16 20
The intro and paper The intro was well-
The intro and paper The intro and paper The introduction
had little to no stated, the paper
were missing lacked a couple of was clearly stated,
viable biographical was missing one
several required the required the paper had all
information and required
components, or components, or the required
included a great component, or
included numerous included many components, no
deal of grammatical included a few
grammatical errors grammatical errors grammatical errors
errors grammatical errors

Nameplate

The nameplate will be graded on quality and neatness. It must have one symbol that represents the thinker, as
well as a colorful design.

2 6 10
Little to no effort shown, no Symbol unclearly related to Well-designed and colorful; symbol
creativity thinkers views, little creativity clearly represents thinkers views


Total:____/50