English · Bac pro · B1, with an entry level

Session 3: The road to the White House: primaries and conventions

Recap check
  1. What are the two main parties?
  2. What are their symbols?
  3. How many times can a person be elected president?
Answer key
  1. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
  2. The donkey for the Democrats, the elephant for the Republicans.
  3. Twice (22nd Amendment).
Question: How does a person become a candidate for president?

Objectives

What we need to say

In this session, you need to tell the story of past campaigns: what happened, and when.

To tell the steps of a campaign, we need these words: candidate, primary, caucus, convention, running mate, debate.

To tell what happened in the past without naming who did it, we need the past passive: Abraham Lincoln was chosen in Chicago in 1860. The banners were printed in 1876.

Words to say it

WordMeaningExample
a candidatea person who wants to be electedShe is a candidate for president.
a primarya vote to choose a party's candidateMost states hold primaries.
a caucusa party meeting to choose a candidateCaucuses are meetings.
a conventiona big party meeting in summerThe convention chooses the candidate.
a running matethe candidate for vice presidentShe announced her running mate.
a debatea discussion between candidates on TVThe debates are in September and October.

Put in orderEntry

To tell the steps of a campaign, put the eight steps in the right order.

  1. the electors vote
  2. primaries and caucuses
  3. Inauguration Day
  4. candidates announce
  5. TV debates
  6. national conventions
  7. Congress counts the votes
  8. Election Day
Answer key
  1. 6
  2. 2
  3. 8
  4. 1
  5. 4
  6. 3
  7. 7
  8. 5

Who am I? (ten riddles)Core

Find the word. Word bank: a candidate, a banner, a delegate, a slogan, a convention, a debate, a running mate, a primary, the nominee, a campaign.

  1. I am a vote to choose a party's candidate.
  2. I am a big party meeting in summer.
  3. I am the candidate for vice president.
  4. I am a discussion between candidates on TV.
  5. I am a person who wants to be elected.
  6. I represent voters at the convention.
  7. I am the candidate chosen by the party.
  8. I am a short sentence that people remember.
  9. I am a big poster with pictures and words.
  10. I am all the actions to win an election.
Answer key
  1. a primary
  2. a convention
  3. a running mate
  4. a debate
  5. a candidate
  6. a delegate
  7. the nominee
  8. a slogan
  9. a banner
  10. a campaign

Word partnersCore

Match the verbs and the nouns to make phrases from the lesson.

  1. hold
  2. win
  3. choose
  4. take part in
  5. run
  6. launch
  7. give
  8. win
  • a. for president
  • b. a debate
  • c. a campaign
  • d. a running mate
  • e. a speech
  • f. the nomination
  • g. delegates
  • h. a primary
Answer key
  1. h (a primary)
  2. f (the nomination)
  3. d (a running mate)
  4. b (a debate)
  5. a (for president)
  6. c (a campaign)
  7. e (a speech)
  8. g (delegates)
A campaign poster with the portraits of two men, an eagle and flags.
Unknown artist, Grand National Republican Banner (Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler), 1876, lithograph. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public domain. Record

Picture labelling: the 1876 bannerCore

Look at the Grand National Republican Banner. Find:

  1. the eagle
  2. the flags
  3. the words on the ribbon at the top
  4. the candidate for president
  5. the candidate for vice president
  6. the title
Answer key
  1. at the top, in the middle
  2. on both sides of the eagle
  3. Liberty and Union
  4. on the left: Rutherford B. Hayes, governor of Ohio
  5. on the right: William A. Wheeler
  6. at the bottom: Grand National Republican Banner

Documents

Key document

The campaign takes almost two years. Candidates announce that they want to run. To be president, you must be at least thirty-five years old, a citizen born American and a resident for at least fourteen years. From January to June of the election year, each party organises primaries (secret votes) or caucuses (party meetings) in every state to choose its candidate. The winners get delegates. In summer, from July to early September, each party holds a national convention: the delegates choose the candidate, who announces a running mate. In September and October, the candidates meet in debates. The next presidential election is on 7 November 2028.

Read the source: USAGov, Presidential election process · USAGov, Primaries and caucuses · National Archives, The Constitution, Article II

Timeline: the road to the White House

Year beforecandidates announce
January to Juneprimaries and caucuses
July to early Septembernational conventions, running mates
September and OctoberTV debates
Early NovemberElection Day
Decemberthe electors vote
Early JanuaryCongress counts the votes
20 JanuaryInauguration Day

Source: USAGov, presidential election process.

Look at the drawings

A huge wooden hall full of people: the delegates of the Republican convention in Chicago.
Unknown artist, The Republicans in Nominating Convention in their Wigwam at Chicago, May 1860, wood engraving, Harper's Weekly, 19 May 1860. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public domain. Record
A campaign poster with the portraits of two men, an eagle and flags.
Unknown artist, Grand National Republican Banner (Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler), 1876, lithograph. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public domain. Record

Activities

  1. Read the timeline: what happens in spring? In summer? In November?
  2. Look at the 1860 convention: how many people can you see? Where are they? This convention chose Abraham Lincoln.
  3. Say it: tell the story of the 1860 convention and of the 1876 banner in two sentences each, with was or were + past participle.
  4. Look at the 1876 banner: who are the two men? Find the words that show it is a poster for a campaign.
  5. Summary: primaries and caucuses, then a convention, then debates, then Election Day.

Grammar to say it: the passive voice (3), the past

Why we need it

To tell what happened in the past without naming who did it, we need the past passive: Abraham Lincoln was chosen in Chicago in 1860. The banners were printed in 1876.

Grammar point: board explanation

Teacher script
  1. Ask: When was Lincoln chosen? Write the answer: Lincoln was chosen in 1860.
  2. Compare on the board: is chosen (today, a rule) / was chosen (1860, finished). Explain: only be changes tense.
  3. Ask: was or were? Make two columns: one thing → was, several → were.
  4. Explain the past simple with finished dates and time markers: in 1860, last year, two years ago, then.
  5. Explain in, on, at with times: in May, in 1860; on 18 May; at nine o'clock.
  6. Students copy, then do the quick check on mini whiteboards.
Board: students copy

The passive voice (3): the past; past simple and time prepositions

Rule
Past simple passive = was / were + past participle.
Form
Lincoln was chosen in 1860. The banners were printed in 1876. Question: Was Lincoln chosen in Chicago? Negative: Seward was not chosen.
Use
To tell past events when the result matters: history, news reports.
Examples from the lesson
  • Abraham Lincoln was chosen in Chicago in May 1860.
  • The engraving was published by Harper's Weekly.
  • The delegates were elected in the primaries.
Common mistakes
  • Lincoln is chosen in 1860. → Lincoln was chosen in 1860 (finished date).
  • The banners was printed. → The banners were printed.
  • in 18 May → on 18 May; on 1860 → in 1860.
French and English
French uses the passé composé: Lincoln a été choisi en 1860. English uses the past simple with a finished date: Lincoln was chosen in 1860, not has been chosen.
Also on the board: Prepositions of time
in + month, year, season: in May, in 1860, in summer. on + day, date: on Tuesday, on 18 May. at + time: at nine o'clock, at night. ago after the period: two years ago.

Quick check, with the whole class

  1. Lincoln ______ (choose) in 1860.
  2. The posters ______ (print) in 1876.
  3. ______ May 1860
  4. ______ 18 May
  5. Correct: The convention is held in Chicago in 1860.
Answer key
  1. was chosen
  2. were printed
  3. in
  4. on
  5. The convention was held in Chicago in 1860.

Grammar to say it: four stages

Stage 1. RecogniseEntry

Present passive (PR) or past passive (PA)?

  1. Lincoln was chosen in 1860.
  2. The candidate is chosen at the convention.
  3. The banners were printed in 1876.
  4. The debates are watched on TV.
  5. The Wigwam was built in Chicago.
  6. Delegates are elected in the primaries.
  7. The 1860 convention was held in Chicago.
  8. The running mate is announced in summer.
Answer key
  1. PA
  2. PR
  3. PA
  4. PR
  5. PA
  6. PR
  7. PA
  8. PR

Stage 2. TransformCore

Rewrite in the past passive.

  1. The party chose Lincoln in 1860.
  2. They built the Wigwam in Chicago.
  3. The Republicans chose Hayes and Wheeler in 1876.
  4. The delegates nominated Lincoln.
  5. Harper's Weekly published the engraving in May 1860.
  6. Millions of people watched the first TV debates in 1960.
  7. The candidate announced her running mate in summer.
  8. Voters in each state chose the delegates.
  9. A printer printed the banner in 1876.
  10. The Library of Congress keeps the banner today.
Answer key
  1. Lincoln was chosen by the party in 1860.
  2. The Wigwam was built in Chicago.
  3. Hayes and Wheeler were chosen by the Republicans in 1876.
  4. Lincoln was nominated by the delegates.
  5. The engraving was published by Harper's Weekly in May 1860.
  6. The first TV debates were watched by millions of people in 1960.
  7. The running mate was announced in summer.
  8. The delegates were chosen by voters in each state.
  9. The banner was printed in 1876.
  10. The banner is kept by the Library of Congress today. (present: today)

Stage 3. Guided productionCore

Build a past passive sentence with the words.

  1. the Wigwam / build / Chicago / 1860
  2. Abraham Lincoln / choose / the Republicans / May 1860
  3. the 1876 banner / print / for Hayes and Wheeler
  4. the first TV debates / watch / 1960
  5. the engraving / publish / Harper's Weekly
  6. the delegates / elect / in the primaries
  7. the running mate / announce / at the convention
  8. the votes of the delegates / count / at the convention
Answer key
  1. The Wigwam was built in Chicago in 1860.
  2. Abraham Lincoln was chosen by the Republicans in May 1860.
  3. The 1876 banner was printed for Hayes and Wheeler.
  4. The first TV debates were watched in 1960.
  5. The engraving was published by Harper's Weekly.
  6. The delegates were elected in the primaries.
  7. The running mate was announced at the convention.
  8. The votes of the delegates were counted at the convention.

Stage 4. Your turnStretch

Tell the story of your imaginary candidate (from your banner) in six past passive sentences.

  1. Six sentences
Answer key
  1. Model: Sam Lee was chosen by the Green Party in March. Her slogan was written by students. Posters were printed in April. A big meeting was held in Lyon. Two debates were organised in October. In the end, she was elected by the class.

Extra practice

A. was or were?Entry

Choose was or were.

  1. Lincoln ______ chosen in Chicago.
  2. The posters ______ printed in 1876.
  3. The convention ______ held in a big wooden hall.
  4. The debates ______ watched on TV.
Answer key
  1. was
  2. were
  3. was
  4. were

B. Present to pastCore

Put the passive sentences in the past.

  1. The delegates are elected in the primaries.
Answer key
  1. The delegates were elected in the primaries.

C. Now say it: tell the story of past campaignsStretch

Build a past passive sentence with the words.

  1. the Wigwam / build / in Chicago / in 1860
  2. Hayes and Wheeler / choose / by the Republicans / in 1876
  3. the first debates on TV / watch / by millions of people / in 1960
Answer key
  1. The Wigwam was built in Chicago in 1860.
  2. Hayes and Wheeler were chosen by the Republicans in 1876.
  3. The first debates on TV were watched by millions of people in 1960.

Figures of speech: the sports metaphor

Learn

American politics often speaks about elections as a race: this is a sports metaphor. A candidate runs for president, the leader is the front-runner, a surprise candidate is a dark horse. In 1860, William Seward was the front-runner, but the convention chose Abraham Lincoln.

  1. What does the race for the White House mean?
  2. What does to run for president mean?
  3. Who is the front-runner?
  4. What is a dark horse?
  5. Neck and neck means very close. Why is it a horse-racing image?
  6. Write one sentence about a school election with a sports metaphor.
Answer key
  1. The competition to become president.
  2. To be a candidate.
  3. The candidate who is winning before the vote.
  4. A candidate nobody expected to win.
  5. Two horses run so close that their necks are at the same level.
  6. Example: Sara is the front-runner, but Tom is a dark horse.

Expression task: write it, say it

Core First write, then speak. Use the words and the grammar of the session.

Written task: a news report from the 1860 convention

Steps

  1. Write the place and the date.
  2. Say what happened (past passive).
  3. Describe the place and the crowd.
  4. Give a reaction.
  5. Close with what comes next.
Sentence starters
  • Chicago, May 1860.
  • Yesterday, Abraham Lincoln was chosen ...
  • The convention was held in ...
  • The hall was full of ...
  • The election will be held in November.
Model answer

Chicago, May 1860. Yesterday, Abraham Lincoln was chosen as the Republican candidate. The convention was held in the Wigwam, a huge wooden hall. The hall was full of delegates and visitors. William Seward was the front-runner, but he was beaten. The election will be held in November.

Oral task: the story of your banner (one minute)

Steps

  1. Show your banner.
  2. Say how your candidate was chosen.
  3. Give the slogan.
  4. Ask for votes.
Sentence starters
  • This is the banner of ...
  • She was chosen by ...
  • Our slogan is ...
  • On Election Day, please vote for ...
Model answer

This is the banner of Sam Lee. She was chosen by the Green Party in March. Our slogan is Jobs for young people. On Election Day, please vote for Sam.

Going further (B2 towards C1)

For students aiming at language studies

Campaign vocabulary (B2)Going further

Match each phrase with its meaning.

  1. to clinch the nomination
  2. a campaign trail
  3. a stump speech
  4. a swing in the polls
  5. a contested convention
  6. to drop out of the race
  • a. a convention where no candidate has a majority at first
  • b. the journeys of a candidate across the country
  • c. to stop being a candidate
  • d. a sudden change in opinion
  • e. the standard speech repeated at every meeting
  • f. to win enough delegates to be sure of it
Answer key
  1. f (to win enough delegates to be sure of it)
  2. b (the journeys of a candidate across the country)
  3. e (the standard speech repeated at every meeting)
  4. d (a sudden change in opinion)
  5. a (a convention where no candidate has a majority at first)
  6. c (to stop being a candidate)

Finer grammar: past perfect passive and the passive with getGoing further

Rule

Past perfect passive: had been + past participle, for an action before another past action: When the convention opened, the delegates had already been chosen. Informal passive: get + past participle: He got elected in 1860.

  1. When the convention opened, the delegates / already / choose.
  2. By November 1860, Lincoln / nominate / for six months.
  3. Seward / expect / to win, but he / beat.
  4. The banner / print / before the campaign started.
Answer key
  1. When the convention opened, the delegates had already been chosen.
  2. By November 1860, Lincoln had been nominated for six months.
  3. Seward had been expected to win, but he was beaten (got beaten).
  4. The banner had been printed before the campaign started.

Translation, French to EnglishGoing further

  1. Lincoln a été choisi à Chicago en 1860.
  2. La convention a eu lieu dans un immense bâtiment en bois.
  3. Les délégués avaient déjà été élus.
  4. Personne ne s'attendait à sa victoire.
Answer key
  1. Lincoln was chosen in Chicago in 1860.
  2. The convention was held in a huge wooden building.
  3. The delegates had already been elected.
  4. Nobody expected him to win.

Text analysis: the surprise of 1860Going further

In May 1860, the Republican Party met in Chicago in a temporary wooden hall nicknamed the Wigwam. Most observers expected Senator William Seward of New York to be nominated. Lincoln's supporters, however, worked hard to win the delegates who did not want Seward. On the third ballot, Lincoln was chosen. Six months later, he was elected president, and the country soon entered the Civil War.

  1. Find two past passives.
  2. Which word shows the contrast with what was expected?
  3. What does nicknamed mean?
  4. Why was the result a surprise?
  5. Find the time markers that organise the text.
Answer key
  1. to be nominated, was chosen, was elected: any two.
  2. however.
  3. given an informal name.
  4. Seward was the favourite; Lincoln was not expected to win.
  5. In May 1860, on the third ballot, six months later, soon.

Argued task (200 to 250 words, or a two-minute oral)Going further

Are primaries and long campaigns good for democracy? Compare with the French presidential campaign.

Steps

  1. Introduction: how long an American campaign lasts.
  2. Advantages: voters know the candidates, many debates.
  3. Drawbacks: cost, fatigue, money.
  4. Comparison with France.
  5. Conclusion.
Sentence starters
  • Whereas in France ..., in the United States ...
  • One advantage is that ...
  • A major drawback is ...
  • Had the campaign been shorter, ...
  • On balance, ...
Key points

Key points: campaigns last almost two years in the USA (USAGov); primaries let voters choose candidates; long and expensive; in France, parties organise primaries only sometimes and the official campaign is short; a nuanced conclusion with whereas and on balance.

Exercise

Put the steps in order: debates; conventions; Election Day; primaries and caucuses; candidates announce.
Answer key1. Candidates announce. 2. Primaries and caucuses. 3. Conventions. 4. Debates. 5. Election Day.

Gap-fill worksheet

Word bank: primaries, convention, running mate, debates, thirty-five, delegate, nominee, slogan, campaign, nomination

  1. A candidate for president must be at least ______.
  2. In spring, parties hold ______ and caucuses.
  3. In summer, the delegates meet at the ______.
  4. The candidate for vice president is the ______.
  5. In September and October, there are TV ______.
  6. A ______ represents voters at the convention.
  7. The ______ is the candidate chosen by the party.
  8. Yes we can was a famous ______.
  9. A ______ includes posters, meetings and speeches.
  10. In 1860, Lincoln won the ______.
Answer key
  1. thirty-five
  2. primaries
  3. convention
  4. running mate
  5. debates
  6. delegate
  7. nominee
  8. slogan
  9. campaign
  10. nomination

Link with the world of work

A job interview is a little like a campaign: you present yourself, you answer questions, you convince. Which steps are similar?

Levels

LevelAdjustment
Entry (guided B1)Put five picture cards of the timeline in order.
Core (B1)Explain the steps with first, then, after that, finally.
Stretch (B1+)Compare a primary and a caucus in a short paragraph.
OralPresent your banner in thirty seconds.

Homework

Make your own campaign banner (drawing or collage) for an imaginary candidate: name, slogan, two promises.
Answer keyModel answer: Vote Sam Lee! Slogan: Jobs for young people. Promises: cheaper public transport, more apprenticeships.