Class Studies Presidential Primaries Up Close

"We used New Hampshire as a laboratory for learning," says Muir.

The class broke into groups and followed different candidates as they gave rally speeches and met with crowds of New Hampshire residents. The students focused on how candidates adapt to different audiences and how the media covers different events. They also were able to talk with New Hampshire citizens about politics and the primary campaign.

"There's a lot to learn in terms of the media circus that goes on," says Muir. At the rallies, students took notice of what media outlets were there, and later they watched TV to see how the media shaped the events. Additionally, they had the opportunity to meet third-party candidates. One candidate, Jim Miller, an independent who is making a film about his experience, met with the students and has continued communicating with them.

Since their trip, the class has been tracking the candidates, paying special attention to their rhetorical strategies, use of media coverage, use of technology, and overall persuasive appeal. They are also exploring how the Internet factors into a campaign. Via a class website, students critique websites that focus on the campaign process. In turn, they use WebCT to discuss campaign events during the week.

By traveling to New Hampshire for the first presidential primary in the country, the class got as close to the actual events as possible and is now exploring the role of communication in shaping, maintaining, and understanding the political campaign process.