How to Watch a Political Debate

When November 2008 rolls around, voters should have an informed opinion about the candidates. One way is to watch the debates carefully while paying close attention to the questions being asked and the responses. Sometimes candidates are adept at talking without having answered the question and voters should know how to discern this action.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Television
• Full concentration

1. Keep the distractions at a minimum during the debate so that you can play close attention.
2. Listen closely to how the moderator’s questions are framed and the answers that follow. Did the candidate answer the actual question or skirt around it?
3. During the candidates’ responses, do they spend most of their time talking about the failings of their opponents or do they take time to explain how they would proceed if elected?
4. If the candidates speak in only sound bites and feel-good messages, is it because of the time allotted to answer or do they give the impression that they do not have a plan of action?
5. Following the debate, watch other news channels that did not air the debate, read several different newspapers and websites to get other commentators take on the candidates’ responses.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware who is airing the debate and what their political stance is since this will quite often frame how the questions are being asked and to which candidate.