Delegation Resource Manual: Month by Month Implementation Guide
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YMCA PA Youth & Government Program
Activity (Political Ideology): Political Ideology Survey
Purpose:
Students very often have little understanding of the meaning of ideological terms.
While these terms are often vague and elusive to adults as well, it is possible through
this survey and the subsequent two lessons for students to glean a sophisticated
comprehension.
Objectives:
1.
The student will examine her/his political beliefs.
2.
The student will explain the difference between liberal and conservative political points
of view.
3.
The student will discern the significance of political ideology in examining political
issues.
Key Words:
liberal
Second Amendment
conservative
ideology/political ideology
Materials:
1.
Blackboard and copies of the handout Ideological Survey.
2.
Sample editorials posted with this lesson:
a. Gun Control Isn’t Crime Control
b. Smith and Wesson accepts Gun Safety Pact
c. Janie’s Got a Gun
3.
Copy of the Second Amendment
Procedures:
1.
Create five columns on the board, labeling them as follows from left to right: “strong
liberal,” “moderate liberal,” “moderate,” “moderate conservative,” and “strong
conservative.” Ask students to characterize themselves as one of the five without your
explaining the meaning of the terms and tally their responses under each column.
2.
Distribute the Student Handout Ideological Survey. Ask students individually to respond
to each of the statements on the survey by placing an “A” for agree or “D” for
disagree in the column labeled “agree/disagree.” Students should write nothing yet in
the column labeled “L/C.”
3.
After the students have completed the survey, go through the survey with them and
reveal which statements are conservative and which are liberal using the list below. As
you read through the list, have the students code their responses by placing an “L” for
liberal and a “C” for conservative according to the nature of their response. For
instance, if a student responds to a conservative statement with “A” then she/he
should place a “C” in the last column. If responding to the same statement with a
“D” the student would place and “L” in the column.
1.
C
6. L
11. L
16. L
21. C
2.
L
7. L
12. C
17. C
22. L
3.
C
8. C
13. L
18. C
23. L
