November 12, 2008 · 4:24 pm

Seniors Test Essays on the Election Issues

The Future of our Nation is in Good Hands

I thought you all might like to see some of the 08 Election Essay answers from Oakridge Seniors. Their answers indicate a very informed electorate. We should all be pleased that these young people will become the future guardians of those civil liberties embodied within the pages of the Constitution.

First, a little about the question. In a nutshell – students were to choose either John McCain or Barack Obama as their president. The choice was irrelevant in grading. It was the supports that mattered. For the supports, students were to choose four and write an essay explaining each. The only requirement of the support essays was that each had to stay consistent to the candidate they selected. (IE…if a student chose Senator McCain for president each of the four essays had to support their preference for Senator McCain.)

Research for these essay answers was based on “The Model UN” study. All of the research on the issues was independent student driven study. Students had three weeks of group and independent study focusing on the following campaign issues: Health Care, The Economy, Foreign Policy, Iraq War, Energy, Economy, Immigration, Homeland Security, Education, Abortion, and Gay Rights. Students divided themselves into six groups. Their independent study was in preparation for a pre-election week of Issue Debates. The debates (Oct 27 to Oct 31) featured six issue captains in front of the class – each student provided a 2:00 minute opening statement of the issue selected for that day. Students were to define the issue and assess in brief each candidates’ position concerning that issue. The remainder of the class period was filled Q & A on the featured issue.

We did however run into one problem. On day one we covered Health Care and Economy. We realized that a half hour was not enough time for such significant issues, so the rest of the week we took on one issue per day. Tuesday – Iraq. Wednesday – Energy. Thursday – Environment. Friday – Education.

Which brings us to this Election 08 Exam on the Issues. Students chose the candidate who they wished to define. Students chose their four supporting issues. Students had 1:20 to complete the test. Students had no idea of the testing format – only that they would have an exam on the issues. No notes were allowed. The following are PDF essay selections from that exam. Please take a look, I think you’ll feel good about the OHS Class of 09 and more confident in the future of our nation.

The Test – Guidelines for the Exam.

Please read Oakridge Seniors’ Essays on the Issues of the Election of 2008 – These are all in PDF form…merely click the appropriate name.


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  1. Mr. Lowry
    November 13, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    Hats off to everybody. I really enjoyed your project. I was a little disappointed that there were no posted essays supporting McCain- Sorry Chad, I sensed a little cynicism in yours:), especially about Iran/Syria.

    The teacher in me loved reading your passionate responses, which you backed up rather well. The U.S. citizen in me hopes that you keep your passion and beliefs, but also that you approach the world with a willingness to listen, think, and enter into logical discussions with those that you agree with and ESPECIALLY with those that you don’t. Sometimes you can learn more from a worthy adversary, than those that agree with you. Underestimating your enemy is a sure way to allow her/him to defeat you.

    In all, I guess that I really believe that we need balance in our country. While some may think that the far left’s policies are the best, just as many think that the far right’s policies are equally the same. When it boils down to it, our country was founded when both sides came together in discussion and argument, and left in a compromise that benefited all. Let’s never forget that a democracy is formed of the People, run by the People, and looks out for the People!