Website Analysis:
When searching candidate websites, use these tips to help:
- Locate the About page or Issues page
- Identify the use of challenger and/or incumbency strategies
- Identify emphasized leadership qualities such as trustworthiness, competence, experience, open-mindedness, reliability, etc.
Social Media Analysis:
When assessing the use of social media tools, use these tips to help:
- Choose a social media outlet (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
- Search a candidate's name and look for the blue check mark for official profile verification
- Look for the use of links to campaign websites or other communities
- Look for the use of mobilization (i.e. event invitations, geographic locations, etc)
Voter Registration Analysis:
When analyzing voting behaviors, use these tips to help:
Debate Analysis:
When critically assessing debate practices, use these tips to help:
- Locate a Senate Debate from C-Span using THIS LINK
- Think through the following questions:
- Do the candidates speak directly to the issues?
- Do they provide specifics?
- Do they relate issues to an overall theme?
- Do the candidates use facts to support their image?
- Keep in mind the question: What did I learn? vs. who won?
Ad Analysis:
When locating and analyzing television advertisements for meaning, use these tips to help:
- Identify the function of the ad (i.e. praise, attack, defend)
- Identify video style (i.e. production techniques, camera angle, lighting, music, images, people)
