A New Mayor for Charlotte...Again
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Dan Clodfelter was sworn in as the new mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina on April 9, 2014. The document provides discussion questions and activities for students to analyze Clodfelter's inauguration speech, compare it to presidential speeches, and develop their own ideas for improving their community. Students are encouraged to predict topics for the mayor's speech, summarize the key messages, analyze the speech's effectiveness, and evaluate how the mayor communicates ideas.
A New Mayor for Charlotte...Again
- 1. A New Mayor for Charlotte (again) GenerationNation | www.GenerationNation.org 1 Charlotte’s new mayor, Dan Clodfelter, was sworn in on April 9, 2014. This learning opportunity helps students learn about a variety of topics, and aligns with Common Core and social studies standards. Local government Role of Mayor of Charlotte Civic leadership Current events and public policy issues Economy, jobs, and connections between business and government Media literacy Reading and analyzing information Writing to communicate information, ideas, facts and opinions Communicating a position to set the tone, address issues, and be persuasive And more! Read and watch the Oath of Office Speech Visit http://generationnation.org/index.php/learn/entry/a‐new‐mayor‐for‐charlotte‐again For updated links to videos, news coverage, speech, and more.
- 2. A New Mayor for Charlotte (again) GenerationNation | www.GenerationNation.org 2 Predict, watch, read and analyze First, think about the city and mayor, and predict which topics the speech will cover. Then read or watch the speech. Make notes and think about what you see –which topics are being covered? Any surprises? What did you learn? Use the scorecard to keep track, and discuss at home or in the classroom. Download activity: www.GenerationNation.org/documents/speech_analysis.pdf Write the headline After you watch and/or read the speech, think about the media coverage. Pay attention, and answer these questions. Write your answers or share in groups or with your class or with your family. If you were reporting on the Inauguration, what would your headline be? The next day, read actual headlines. Were you close? Were they right? Why or why not? Read headlines from different news sources. What do they say? How are they similar or different? Why? Download activity: www.GenerationNation.org/documents/Write_headline_mayor.pdf Write your own speech A mayor provides a vision and direction for the city. Usually, the speech focuses on “big picture” goals rather than detailed specifics. It is also a good leadership tool that can help to communicate key messages as well as motivate and unify leaders and citizens. As a speechwriter, what do you think the Mayor should say in the speech? Write your own. Or partner with a speechwriting team in your class to create a new speech using quotes from addresses delivered by current or historic leaders, or come up with your own. Getting the message across Watch the speech (or interviews). Write your answers or share in groups and discuss with your class or family. What is the key message the Mayor is trying to deliver?
- 3. A New Mayor for Charlotte (again) GenerationNation | www.GenerationNation.org 3 How does he communicate the information? Does the he read from a piece of paper? Does he raise or lower his voice or move his hands to illustrate a specific point? Does he show emotions and expressions? How? Why? When? Does he look confident? Is he? How is he dressed? Does this matter? Is he persuasive? How? What do you think is the most effective thing the Mayor does to communicate the information? Least effective? If you were the Mayor’s advisor, what would you tell him to keep doing? Improve? Download activity: www.GenerationNation.org/documents/GETTING_MSG_ACROSS_mayor.pdf A Presidential Comparison In every level of government, leaders make speeches. Watch or reach an inaugural speech from the current or a historic president. Compare it with the Mayor’s speech. What is the same? What is different? Why? Watch Swearing‐In videos www.inaugural.senate.gov/swearing‐in/videos Read text http://www.inaugural.senate.gov/swearing‐in/addresses Wish for America/My Community The Oath of Office speech gives the Mayor the opportunity to share his vision for Charlotte and outline how he will be a leader and problem‐solver over the next 2 years. Do you have an idea for solving a civic problem? How would you make your school, neighborhood, or community a better place? Make it happen! Download activity: http://www.generationnation.org/documents/MyWish_andIdeas.pdf
- 6. MAYOR’S SPEECH – PREDICT AND ANALYZE Before you watch or reach the speech, make predictions about what you think will be covered. Then, watch and analyze the actual peech. PREDICTION ANALYSIS Theme for this Mayor Vision for Charlotte Big ideas/goals Mayor’s strengths/challenges City’s strengths/challenges Who is recognized, thanked, etc. Quotes from famous leaders (who, what) Current events addressed GenerationNation | www.GenerationNation.org
- 7. MAYOR’S SPEECH – PREDICT AND ANALYZE Before you watch or reach the speech, make predictions about what you think will be covered. Then, watch and analyze the actual peech. PREDICTION ANALYSIS Main topics covered Do you agree that the topics are important? Why/ why not? Is speech effective? Why or why not? What did you learn? What surprised you? What did you hope to see that you didn’t? What will you remember about this speech? Other comments, notes and questions GenerationNation | www.GenerationNation.org
- 10. GETTING THE MESSAGE ACROSS Date: Speech or interview: Leader Key message Communication skills Confidence Appearance Do people pay attention Is the person persuasive? Most effective Least effective GenerationNation | www.GenerationNation.org | Home of K-12 civic education, Kids Voting, Youth Civics and Youth Voice