Question

Research the publishers as follows :

TEXT & AUTHOR

TIME Magazine
These 3 Common Arguments For
Preserving the Electoral College Are Wrong
By Robert Speel

Real Clear Politics
Why We Need the Electoral College
By Peter J. Wallison

PBS NewsHour
This proposal calls for popular vote to determine the winner.


WHAT IS THE
AUTHOR’S POSITION?

answer the above for each in 2 sentences in a 5th graders response for each above :



NEXT… answer the above for each in 2 sentences in a 5th graders response for each above :

HOW DOES S/HE SUPPORT THEIR ARGUMENT?




Then answer the above for each in 2 sentences in a 5th graders response for each above :
CAN YOU IDENTIFY ANY BIASES THIS
AUTHOR MIGHT HAVE?

Answer 1

TIME Magazine — "These 3 Common Arguments For Preserving the Electoral College Are Wrong" (Robert Speel)
What is the author’s position?
The author says the usual three reasons people give for keeping the Electoral College are not good and should not stop us from changing the system. He thinks we should change how we pick the president so the result matches what most voters want.

How does s/he support their argument?
He explains each of the three common arguments and shows why they don’t hold up. He uses facts, examples, and comparisons to point out problems with those reasons.

Can you identify any biases this author might have?
The author seems to like reforming voting rules, so he might be biased toward ideas that make the popular vote matter more. Writing for a magazine that often supports change might make him focus more on arguments for reform.

Real Clear Politics — "Why We Need the Electoral College" (Peter J. Wallison)
What is the author’s position?
Wallison argues we should keep the Electoral College because it helps protect smaller states and keeps the country balanced. He thinks the Electoral College is important for stability and fairness in the way the United States is built.

How does s/he support their argument?
He uses history and explanations about how federalism works and gives examples of what might happen if we only used the popular vote. He points out worries like big cities deciding everything and smaller states losing influence.

Can you identify any biases this author might have?
Wallison is known for conservative views, so he may be biased toward keeping traditional rules and systems. He might worry more about risks of change than about the benefits of switching to a popular vote.

PBS NewsHour — "This proposal calls for popular vote to determine the winner."
What is the author’s position?
The PBS piece explains a plan where the person who gets the most votes nationwide would win the presidency. The writer mostly reports the idea and shows different people’s views instead of strongly picking one side.

How does s/he support their argument?
They support the story by giving facts about the proposal, explaining how it would work, and quoting people who both like and dislike it. They use clear examples of what would change if the plan were adopted.

Can you identify any biases this author might have?
PBS tries to be neutral, so the writer may aim to show both pros and cons and not push one side hard. Still, the choice of which experts or examples to include could create a small bias toward either reform or the status quo.