A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic. This is aimed at middle school students. The students will get information from websites and use it to solve a simple math problem using the software Excel, thus combining digital learning, social studies, math software, and math knowledge they have learned in school.

1. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
by
John Smith
Introduction The Electoral College has been a part of
Task American history since U.S. Constitution
was established. This process has chosen
Process most of America's Presidents and will
Evaluation continue to do so until Amendments are
Conclusion passed, if any, to change the process. While
the Electoral College has played important
parts in history, not many people
understand the importance of this process
and why it was chosen for making the most
important decisions for our country: The
Credits decision of electing a President!

2. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
Introduction
Task
Process
Evaluation
Conclusion The purpose of this assignment will be
to take a closer look at the Electoral
College using Arithmetic. There are
many applications of math in the real
Credits world. The Electoral College is just
one of them.

3. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
Introduction
Task
Process
Evaluation
Conclusion Your task is to use basic mathematical
assessment to determine your original
view on the Electoral College. I expect
all of your opinions to be based purely
on the math involved and not on your
current political views. We will use
Credits social studies in order to learn more
about math.

4. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
Introduction You will have two weeks to complete
Task this assignment. It is best to do this
Process assignment in little segments instead of
all at once because it is a lot of work,
Evaluation but if you take your time and follow all
Conclusion of the steps accurately, you should be
successful. The due date for this
assignment will be given in class. No
late assignments will be accepted.
Credits

5. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
Introduction • Websites you need to use in order to
Task complete this assignment:
Process • Electoral College Information I
Evaluation • Electoral College Information II
Conclusion • Electoral College Information III
• Electoral Chart (Only use the 2001-
2010 column)
Credits

6. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
Introduction Process
Task Step 1:
Process Research the Electoral College. Search
Evaluation through each of the websites. Write a
Conclusion 1-2 paragraph summary of the
Electoral College in your own words.
This summary must be typed and
double spaced.
Credits

7. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
Introduction Step 2:
Task Find how many electoral votes are
Process assigned to each state (Be sure to
Evaluation include the District of Columbia) as
well as the population of each state.
Conclusion Create a table listing the states in
alphabetical order and include the
number of electoral votes for each
Credits state and their respective population.

8. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
Introduction Step 3:
Task Calculate x for each state, where x is
Process the Number of people in the state
Evaluation divided by the number of electoral
votes of the state. Round the
Conclusion decimals.
Determine the range of the values of
x.
Credits

9. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
Introduction Step 4:
Task Calculate X for the entire U.S.
Process (Population of U.S. divided by the
Evaluation total number of electoral vote.)
Conclusion
Compare the least x and highest x
with X.
Credits

10. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
Introduction Explain how this assignment has
Task helped your understanding of the
Process Electoral college. Has math helped or
hindered your opinion?
Evaluation
Your essay must be typed and
Conclusion double-spaced.
Credits

11. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary Score
1 2 3 4
Research Student did not show Student showed little Student showed Student understood
completed and any understanding of understanding of the promise in the the Electoral
basic the Electoral College. Electoral College. understanding of the College and spent
understanding of Information given Information given Electoral College. ample time
Electoral College showed no research showed minimal Research was done, researching
was done. research was done. but not fully. Electoral College
for this assignment
Completion of all
parts Student did not achieve Student understood what Student completed
Student completed all
what was expected and was expected, but failed most parts of the
parts of the
failed to complete most to complete some parts assignment, but left a
assignment
parts. two or more parts out.
Mathematical
Computations Student completed most
Student did not complete Student completed all Student completed all
math computations, but
most or any of the math math computations math computations
most not correctly.
computations. with a few errors. with little to no errors.
Essay Question Student did not fully
Student did not complete Student almost
complete both essay Student completed
most of the essay completed both essay
questions. Major parts both essay questions
questions. Most parts questions fully. Some
were left out. fully.
were left out. parts were left out.

12. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
Introduction Conclusion
Task This project should have showed you
Process just how important the Electoral College
Evaluation is in American History and how math
can be used in analyzing real life
Conclusion processes. I hope by browsing the
websites given that you have learned the
basis of the Electoral College process.
Credits

13. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
Credits:
Introduction Thank you to these websites for giving great
information on the Electoral College. All of
Task these websites are a great place to do research
Process on finding out more about the Electoral
Evaluation process.
Conclusion
Websites for Resources:
www.howstuffworks.com
www.archives.gov
Credits www.historycentral.com
www.fec.gov

14. A WebQuest on Electoral College Arithmetic
Picture Credits:
Introduction Electoral College Picture from
Task www.katu.com
Process Math Analysis Picture from
Evaluation www.pgcps.org
Conclusion American Flag Picture from
www.greatestcities.com
Based on a WebQuest by Alyson
Pilawski, Purdue University Calumet
Credits
http://questgarden.com/73/58/1/081118
131802/credits.htm