I’ve been thinking about ways that I can use the upcoming conventions and elections in my World History and Ethics classes this year. Right now I’m thinking a lot about those biographical videos the candidates produce. I was already planning to have the students make short videos about their own personal history or their family history, but now I’m wondering if we should spend a day or two studying those videos and how they use history to tell a story that makes an argument. Then with that example in mind, students would have more of a framework in mind, although they could also go in a different direction if they choose.
I really don’t know if the press coverage of the election is going to be useful enough to use. I’m really worried about the background knowledge issue, because I don’t think a lot of political reporting goes into enough depth about the substance of candidates’ policies and proposals. Horse race stuff would be useful in a poli sci or government course, but I don’t know if it hits what I’m aiming for in history.