The Process
Your team is to create "spin" for one of the following VIPs that will be debating the new "Constitution" at the Town Hall Meeting. The six members of your team will take one of the roles of: VIP, Chief of Staff, Head Writer, Public Relations, Historian, or Opposition writer. Each person is an integral part of the team; without good research and writing, the VIP and his views are lost.While each team member is required to produce one product for the VIP, as team members you must all assist each other. You must understand not only your VIPs point of view, but the opposition point of view as well. All of your brief projects must be created within three class periods. On the fourth class period you will have a Staff Meeting, run by the Chief of Staff, with copies of your paper made for each team member (6 copies) so that each person can update the VIP to prepare him for his big day at the Town Meeting. You will grill your VIP on the topics, so it is essential that each team member is prepared, documents in hand.
VIP - As the delegate to the debate, you must be prepared to express your point of view with passion and clarity. It is absolutely essential that you can depend on your Chief of Staff to organize your team, but YOU must also review documents you have written. It is your responsibility to create a position paper sketching what your beliefs are, and why you feel this way. Your staff will assist you, but you should refresh your "memory." Also, you will need to prepare as best you can your wardrobe for the Town Meeting - you will want to look your authentic best!
Chief of Staff - You absolutely MUST keep the all of the members of your team working productively. In addition, you need to sketch a timeline that covers the past 15 years (1772 - 1787) so that you can stay on top of all important events your team should be detailing. Do we have proper attire for the Town Meeting? Are all of the issues covered? Can our VIP discuss each issue intelligently? Keep a checklist of things "to do" and "done."
Head Writer - Your job is to "remember" the speeches and other documents you helped the VIP write over the past three to five years. The VIP may need you to remind him of important catch phrases, political cartoons, papers he wrote or directly opposes, and especially those items that he needs to be able to "use" in his upcoming "roundtable" discussion/debate over the as yet unratified Constitution. Create a list with a brief synopsis of each of these speeches or papers.
Public Relations - Your job is to help minimize damage from any statements your VIP makes. Has he been consistent in his writings? Has he had a change of heart? You must work with your VIP to create a "position paper" that documents how he stands on issues related to the ratification of the Constitution. Also, create a short list of who your VIP "stands with" or "stands against" so that he does not make any major faux pas genuflecting with the wrong character.
Historian - You need to help your VIP put the past ten to fifteen years into perspective, so that he will appear genuinely knowledgeable during the roundtable debate he is about to engage in. You need to make sure the Chief of Staff has prepared a thorough Timeline of events leading up to the ratification process of the Constitution. More importantly, it is YOUR job to create extra props for the roundtable/debate. Research what "broadsides" were used for, and create at least one - a sign showing support for your VIP's position.
Opposition writer - It is also very important that your VIP understands what the opposition feels and will be likely to state at the roundtable/debate. It is your job to create a list of issues and key phrases that the opposition will be discussing. You need to prepare a brief for your VIP with a list of the key phrases, papers, and events that have led up to this Consititution. Your brief should have one short paragraph of each topic expected to be presented at the Town Meeting.
Note: The Moderator's group needs to follow the exact same process, but keep in mind you are documenting questions not only for posterity, but so that your moderator gets good, lively discussion going and gets questions answered for the public benefit. One "fun" thing; you get to create your own character. Who is this moderator? Where is he/she from? Is he/she impartial?
On the day of the fifth class period, all VIPs will gather in costume around the roundtable with the Moderator (also in costume) who will begin discussion of the pros and cons of the Constitution. The Moderator should be fair, giving equal time to each opposing view, but will need to keep the discussion lively, yet not too eventful. Each VIP should be well prepared by his staff and able to discuss his position regarding these issues:
"To Form a More Perfect Union" Constitutional Convention Federalist Liberty Continental Congress Anti-Federalist Pursuit of Happiness Articles of Confederation States' Rights Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan Great Compromise (Connecticut) Tyranny of the Crown Declaration of Independence Intolerable Acts Fear of the Federal Government "Rallying Cries" Ratification Natural Rights "Penman of the Constitution" "Father of the Constitution" Bill of Rights Federalist Papers Non represented states (Why?)
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