AP US Government and Politics

CH 1: Freedom, Order, or Equality?

Name _________________________________

Pioneers in Political Ideology

Press Conference Activity

Objective
1. Students will identify and evaluate the Pioneers of Political Ideology by holding a press conference of
seven early political thinkers.
2. Students will act out roles to present the backgrounds and ideas of these early political philosophers.
3. Students will ask questions to each figure in order to evaluate how they have impacted the modern day
field of government and politics.

Process
1. Form groups and choose a role for each person in the group.
2. Choose one of the Pioneers of Political Ideology for your group to present.
a. Karl Marx
b. Eugene V. Debs
c. Thomas Jefferson
d. Adolf Hitler
e. Ron Paul
f. Lyndon Johnson
g. Max Stirner
3. Research about your particular figure and make sure that each person in the group
understands the basic information.
4. Each member of the group should then work on their assigned task.
5. Make sure that your group has done everything required on the Press Conference
Checklist.
6. Take part in the Press Conference to be held on _________________________________
a. Introductions of the Pioneers of Political Ideology (by the Public Relations Agent)
i. Life experiences
ii. Major accomplishments
iii. Awards and/or impact on the world
b. Each Pioneer (Actor) then gives a speech to answers the following questions:
i. What is political ideology?
ii. How does ideology help us understand society and/or individuals?
iii. How do you view politics?
iv. Which of the modern day perspectives of political ideology to you agree
with most?
c. Questions from the audience (Historian, Investigative Reporter)
7. Other things your group must do:
a. Create a nameplate for the actor during the press conference (Graphic designer)
b. Include and use props, visual aids, costume elements, etc. to bring the press
conference to life. (Graphic Designer)
c. Be knowledgeable about your political figure and able to answer a variety of
questions on the topics above. (Historian/Actor)
d. Incorporate at least three vocabulary terms into your part of the press conference.
e. Be creative, funny, informative, spontaneous, etc.
Each group will consist of the following roles. Even though each person in the group has a role to play
and responsibilities to handle, every person in the group is responsible for every task that need to be
completed for the press conference. The press conference will not be delayed just because someone in
your group is absent. Make sure that you make contingency plans.

Actor
1. Acts out the part of the political figure.
2. Must be creative and able to take on the beliefs and personality traits of the political figure.
3. Gives a 1-2 minute speech to answer the press conference questions (see Process 6b)
4. Answers questions from your groups historian and other groups investigative reporters.
5. Creativity . . . . willingness to wear costume, use accent, use props, etc.

Grade

_____/50 Speech (thorough, accurate, informative, easy to understand, addresses questions from
step 6B of the directions)

_____/25 Answers to questions from the audience are complete and accurate

_____/25 Creativity

Total Points ______/100

Public Relations Agent

1. Gives a one minute speech to introduce the actor to the audience (see process 6a)
2. Assists the actor in preparing for his/her speech.
3. Assists the actor during the press conference (if they do not know the answer).
4. Brainstorms ideas for props, costumes, visual aids and anything else that might make the press
conference come to life.

Grade

_____/75 Introduction speech is thorough, accurate and informative

- Major life experiences
- Important awards and/or accolades
- Major political impact and/or history in general
- Other important information
- Creativity and originality

_____/25 Ability to help the historian answer questions if needed

Total Points _____/100

Historian (1-2 people)
1. Takes a lead role in researching background information about the sociologist.
2. Writes and asks open-ended softball questions to his/her own actor. (The idea here is to make
your own actor look good. Hint: You can even give them the answers to your questions ahead of
time.)
3. Assists the actor in preparing for his/her speech.
4. Brainstorms ideas for props, costumes, visual aids and anything else that might make the press
conference come to life.

Grade
_____/50 Questions to the actor are informative and helpful to the class understanding of
the sociologist (At least five questions and answers)

_____/25 Questions highlight the main information about the sociologist and his impact on
sociology and/or history

_____/25 Questions to the actor are open-ended and allow the actor to elaborate on his/her
main ideas

Total Points _____/100

Investigative Reporters (1-2 people)

1. Asks tough and probing questions to the other groups sociologists during the Q&A session of the
press conference.
2. Asks follow-up questions to the other groups sociologists to point out the flaws in their
arguments and belief systems.
3. The idea is to focus on the one or two sociologists that your sociologist disagrees with most. Ask
tough questions to demonstrate the ridiculousness of their arguments.

Grade
_____/50 Questions highlight important information about another sociologist

_____/25 Questions help the audience understand one of the flaws and/or negative aspects
of one (or two) of the other sociologists

_____/25 Questions are asked to a sociologist who has differing views from your group

Total Points _____/100

Graphic Designer
1. Create a neat and colorful poster to be placed in front of the actor during the press conference.
The poster should include
a. the name of the sociologist
b. a picture of the sociologist.
c. visual symbol that represents the impact of the sociologist
d. three main ideas
e. major impact on sociology (just the most important one)
2. Assists the actor in preparing for his/her speech.
3. Brainstorms ideas for props, costumes, visual aids and anything else that might make the press
conference come to life.
Grade
_____/75 Poster is accurate and informative

_____/25 Props, costumes, visual aids are applicable and help the press conference come to
life
Total Points _____/100
Press Conference Checklist

One minute introduction of the political figures background,

life experiences and impact on the field of sociology.

One to two minutes speech by the actor to answer the

questions in the directions.

Actor and other members of the group have a good working

knowledge of the background and beliefs of the political
figure that they can easily answer questions from the class
and the teacher.

Softball questions that the historian can ask the actor.

Hardball questions that the investigative reporter can ask

one or two other actor/figures.

Props, costumes, and/or visual aids to bring the press

conference to life.

Nameplate that include the figures name, a visual symbol

and a picture of the sociologist.

A backup plan is in place in case one or more group

members are absent on the day of the press conference.
The press conference will not be delayed.

Each group member has practiced their parts of the press

conference.
In order to get an A, your group should . . .

_____/20 Introduce the figures background, major life experiences and impact on todays
field of politics. (Should be practiced, clear, informative and accurate)

_____/20 Actors speech is practiced, clear, informative, creative and accurate. Answers all
three questions.

_____/20 Actor is able to answer questions from the audience and teacher during the press
conference.

_____/20 Investigative reporter asks relevant and probing questions to at least one other
sociologist.

_____/20 Nameplate, props, costumes, foreign sounding accents, visual aids are relevant,
creative and bring the press conference to life.