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From Classroom Teachers | General ideas for using clips
Campaign specific
The polls indicate that this presidential race is a very close race. Mr. Norman identifies a number of limitations to the accuracy of polling. If margin of error is a statistical fact, why
would politicians and the public be so interested in their data? How does an average citizen determine if polling data is reliable? What effect can the publication of poll numbers have on voters? Can the results of the polls change undecided voters minds? Is political
polling more science or more of an art?
 Media literacy
What is the purpose of polling? What is the difference between a registered voter model and a likely voter model? Which is more accurate according to Jim Norman? Why? What are the problems with Insta-polls as identified by the Christian Science Monitor? Do you agree with their assessment? The Seattle Times indicates that the challenger has an advantage over the incumbent among undecided voters. Why is that? Should news organizations and political parties be restricted from disclosing polling data on the day of the election? three of four days before the
election? a week before the election?
More ideas
Identify the battleground state that is geographically closest to your state. Who is winning according to the polls in that state? Search the web for sites that offer a comprehensive view of polls, or search the state's newspapers for reports. What effect might these polls have on voters in this state? What fluctuations can you observe in the poll numbers over time, or from poll to poll? What could explain these changes?
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