Subject: Social Studies Type of Lesson: Class discussions, group work,

demonstrations

Grade: 10 CSEC OBJ: Describe how political parties prepare

for elections

Term: 2 Unit Number 1 - Government

and Title:

Duration: 2*35 Week Number: 3

Lesson Number 9 - Manifestos and debates as

and Title: campaign strategies

Objectives
As a result of this lesson, the student will be able to:
1) define the term manifesto.
2) identify important issues to be included in a manifesto.
3) demonstrate an understanding of the effectiveness of a debate in
influencing citizens to vote in an election.
4) participate in the execution of a competitive debate.

Prerequisite Student Knowledge

The student should be familiar with:
1) current issues that affect citizens on a daily basis that might
influence their decision to vote or not.
2) previous campaigns that takes place in their country and some of
the issues that are brought to the fore for discussions.
3) the purpose of debates in any form of competition whether at
school, church, community etc.

Important Points
1) In order to effectively carry out a debate one has to be aware of
some of the issues that are affecting the audience. It means
therefore that party representatives must be in touch with the
people whom he or she intends to represent.
2) A manifesto contains all the plans and goals that the party intends
to achieve if it is elected as government. It is usually based in the
manifesto that the debates are structured.

Teacher Instructional Material 1

Key Terms

Current Issues manifesto Public debates

Challenge Areas Write an extensive manifesto giving full details and

credentials as to why you should be considered your schools next
Head Boy or Head Girl

Equipment/Materials Needed
Computers with internet connectivity, multimedia projector

Note to Teacher
Some information in this lesson may appear to be familiar with aspects
from prior lessons. It means therefore that it would be beneficial if this
lesson is studied in collaboration with campaign, and aspects of
electoral process. This will be helpful in students for their external
examinations.

Teachers Lesson Notes

Teacher Instructional Material 2

 Introduction
1) Introductory Activity
Revision of previous lessons relating to preparation for general
elections

a. Tell students to examine Figure 9.1carefully and then

respond to the instructions that follow.

Figure 9.1: The electoral process

Notes
The electoral period
includes the exploration of
important national issues.
The manifesto of a party is
presented as a significant
campaign strategy. Also
included in this period are
the various debates where
members of other parties
as well as the public are
able to question politicians
on their plans to govern the
country.
i. Summarize what is being depicted in the diagram
regarding the electoral process.
ii. Use information from previous lessons to explain
the concepts written in bold red.
Facilitate a whole class discussion of the information in the
diagram.
b. Focus students interest on the electoral period. Ensure that
you relate this segment to the objectives that will be
covered in this lesson.

Teacher Instructional Material 3

Body of Lesson
1) What is a manifesto?
a. Direct students to the following link to read the article and
explain their understanding of what a manifesto is.
Notes http://www.kent.gov.uk/education_and_learning/youth_ser
As was mentioned vice/youth_participation/kent_youth_county_council/electi
in a previous
lesson a manifesto ons/manifestos.aspx
is an example of a
campaign strategy i. Try to help students to make a connection with a
used to convince
citizens to select more familiar election such as a form captain or
and vote for the student council representative. The more familiar
party assigned to they are the better able they are to understand.
the document
Direct students to look at the examples in order to
see how a simple manifesto is written.
ii. Instruct students to use the information on the
website to write a simple manifesto in their groups
declaring why they should be elected as class
leaders. All groups will share their manifesto with
the class through presentations

iii. Ensure that students understand that a political

manifesto is far more in depth and detailed in light
of plans to improve the lives of citizens. In fact the
manifesto for political parties is a document the size
of a book. Project these examples for the students to
see.

2) What important issues should be included in a political

manifesto?

a. Instruct students to watch the following video and identify

as many issues as possible that are included within a major
partys manifesto.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNHZ3t0H-qc

Instruct students to work in small groups and complete the

following after viewing the website.
i. How appealing was the manifesto?
ii. Highlight and explain the areas of the manifesto that
were effective in persuading and convincing
citizens.
iii. Suggest one strategy that could be used to improve
the quality of the manifesto to make it more
appealing to citizens.

Teacher Instructional Material 4

 b. Instruct groups to report the main points of their discussion
to the class. Highlight the issues that groups report and tell
students to note these in their books.

3) How effective are debates during an electoral process

a. Project the following pictures.

Important Point

Debates allow Figure 9.2: Views on elections

citizens to know the
intentions of the
political parties and
help them to make
more informed
decisions. They
allow for a better
judgment of
candidates (whether
they are prepared or
not). Ensure that
students are
exposed to issues
concerning the
effectiveness of
debates.

i. What opinions can be formed by the public about

each cartoon above?
ii. Explain two major current issues that were
highlighted in Figure 9.2.

Closure
In Class Assignment
1) Tell students to form small groups and select a speaker to give a
three minutes speech based on a five point manifesto. The speech
should focus on why someone from that group should be given the
opportunity to represent the class on the school board.

Teacher Instructional Material 5

Supplemental
Out-of-Class Assignment
1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB3T4banM88
Decide whether or not this video depicts a manifesto. Write a
paragraph to justify your answer.

Glossary of Terms

Current Issues Problems that citizens face and wish to see

addressed by their political parties

Manifesto This is a document containing the goals and

plans of political parties regarding the
development of the nation if they form the
government of the country.

Public debates These a competitive organized discussions where

party representatives go face to face with
opponents to deliberate and propose arguments
supporting their manifesto and other pressing
issues.

CSEC Questions
. a. Identify Two campaign strategies that are used to gather
additional votes
b. Explain two important issues that are likely to influence a
potential voter to listen eagerly to a political debate.
c. Suggest one strategy that political parties can adopt in order to
ensure that the citizens understand their manifesto enough to
influence a greater voter turnout.
d. Explain why your suggestion is likely to be effective

Recommended Materials
None

Bibliography
Brathwaite. S, Reynolds P, (2004). The secondary education
certificate: social studies. Location: Publisher.

Teacher Instructional Material 6

Sandy.M.C, Grayson S.C (2000), Social Studies Essentials, Jamaica:
Carlong Publishers

Ramsawak.R, Umraw R.R, (2001), Modules in Social Studies,

Trinidad: Caribbean Educational Publishers

Ruddock L.C, Robinson-Glanville.S, (1998) Secondary Social Studies

Jamaica: Citizenship and Government, Jamaica:
Carlong Publishers

Ruddock L.C, Robinson-Glanville S, (1994) New Civics for Young

Jamaicans, Jamaica: Carlong Publishers

Sandy.M, (2012) Social Studies Essentials, Jamaica Carlong

Publishers

Waterman I. L,Fisher J, (2007) CSEC Social Studies, Jamaica:

Macmillan Publishers Ltd

Sources:
[untitled photographs of cartoon debates]. Retrieved June 10, 2012
from
http://www.google.com.jm/search?q=cartoons+against+corruption&hl
=en&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=uAHrT8iXC
Ymo8QTPzojmBQ&ved=0CDYQ_AUoAQ&biw=764&bih=451#hl=
en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Cartoon+national+debate+in+Jamaica&oq=C
artoon+national+debate+in+Jamaica&gs_l=img.3...11555.13544.2.154
66.8.8.0.0.0.2.295.1644.0j5j3.8.0...0.0.GTHwwmxw-
QU&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=c2a41bec891e6d
5b&biw=1600&bih=799

Teacher Instructional Material 7