For this assignment you will be the campaign manager, candidate, or spouse of a candidate for State Senator of Massachusetts. You are required to produce a video at least one minute in length (maximum 2 ½ minutes) in which you describe who your candidate is and what they stand for and why we, the voting public, should vote for him or her.  Each video should include the following:

  1. What is your candidate’s platform?  What issues does he/she stand for? What will you do as an elected official?
  2. Why should people vote for your candidate?  How are you different from your opponents?
  3. What is your campaign slogan? Should be stated at least twice in your video
  4. What is your campaign logo? Should be a graphic which appears in your video

You have creative license in describing this individual’s personal background (i.e., job, political affiliation, children, marriage, war hero, activist, etc.).  In addition, be creative in how you present your candidate. You can show video clips (would need to be very brief) of friends/family/acquaintances praising your candidate and their platform or create poll results that show why the country needs your candidate.  In other words, whether you vote or actively participate in politics or not, think of the characteristics, slogans, logos, issues, that would make you vote.  However, be careful that the issues and slogans you choose are applicable to you candidate. Do your research and understand the issues and voters.  You need to make sure your candidate can win enough votes to become a State Senator of Massachusetts. I would suggest that you start preparing for your video by viewing campaign ads provided on the course website.

REMEMBER – WHILE YOU MAY BASE YOUR CHARACTER ON A LIVING OR DECEASED ELECTED OFFICIAL DO NOT PLAGIARIZE LOGOS OR SLOGANS. YOU MUST COME UP WITH AN ORIGINAL IDEA!

Each individual should e-mail their State Senator Campaign Video by 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2020. Late videos (starting at 7:01 a.m.) will be penalized at the rate of 10 points per day.

It is recommended that in preparing your video you consider the following:

  1. The limits on attention and comprehension of your professor who is watching dozens of videos, so be creative.
  2. Decide on a limited number of the significant ideas you want your audience to code, comprehend, and remember.
  3. Include details (biography, poll analysis, etc.) when highlighting the main issues your candidate supports or opposes.
  4. State clearly in simple terms who your candidate is.
  5. Employ some repetition in stating important ideas to enhance comprehension and recall.
  6. Write out a script for your video (with a listening audience in mind), starting with an outline that you expand into a narrative.
  7. PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE. Practice delivering it aloud in order to learn it well, to make its length fit in the time allocated, and to hear how it sounds. If you have time get feedback both from tape-recorded replay of your delivery and from critical colleagues who listen to it.
  8. Minimize fidgeting and be sure to speak loudly and clear with sufficient enthusiasm to hold the attention of your audience
  9. Make sure your video is at least 1 minute long but no longer than 2 ½ minutes.