BACKGROUND: Students will conduct basic research into a number of different Special Interest Groups and will discover the missions of these groups, as well as the LEFT/RIGHT political alignment of the groups.

PROCEDURE: Students will be using data from VOTESMART.ORG regarding Special Interest Groups. Students will need to look up information regarding TEN different special interest groups from TEN different categories and complete the chart as outlined below PLEASE ATTEMPT TO LOCATE FIVE SIGs FROM EACH SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM!:

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP	POLITICAL CATEGORY OF GROUP	ISSUE/AREAS of CONCERN (what is SIG attempting to do politically)	POLITICAL SPECTRUM BIAS (LEFT/RIGHT)	EVIDENCE OF BIAS
EXAMPLE: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals	Animal Rights	Protecting all animals from any abuse, experimentation, use in entertainment, ownership, or use as a consumer product such as food or clothing.	LEFT	Extension of Civil Liberties to animals. Protection of underpriveleged animals from abuse. Both of these are LIBERAL issues of concern.

Students can do this in Microsoft WORD, Google Docs or handwritten on paper, if they wish. Students must turn in a HARDCOPY when complete.

BIAS ANALYSIS: Students will need to attempt to determine if their chosen Special Interest Groups lean towards the LEFT (Liberal views) or towards the RIGHT (Conservative views.) To do this, the student must present EVIDENCE based upon the information contained on VOTESMART.ORG and on linked Special Interest Group websites. Students will need to compare the missions of their SIGs with the information contained in our "Liberal vs. Conservative" Lecture of last week and document why they believe the SIG to be biased towards the LEFT or the RIGHT.

GRADING: This is a meant to be a quick, easy project and it will be worth 50 points for completion.  Students will be graded on:

1. The quality of the information that they gather on their Special Interest Groups. (20 points total)
• Detailed and accurate information regarding the issues of interest of each special interest group= 2 points per SIG
• Vague and possibly inaccurate information regarding the issues of interest for each special interest group= 1 point per SIG
• Missing or completely inaccurate information regarding the issues of interest for each special interest group= 0 points
2. The accuracy of their LEFT/RIGHT BIAS determinations and proper evidence presented. (30 points)
   • Detailed information regarding the beliefs and mission of the Special Interest group properly compared to the beliefs of Liberals and Conservatives according to the Political Spectrum information reviewed in class. = 3 points per SIG.
   • Vague and inaccurate information regarding the beliefs and mission of the Special Interest Group, improperly compared to the beliefs of Liberals and Conservatives according to the Political Spectrum information reviewed in class.= 1.5 point per SIG
   • Missing or completely inaccurate information regarding comparisons of the issues of interest for each special interest group with respect to the views of the political spectrum= 0 points