Facts of the Union

It's morning again in America! Jobs are plentiful, the deficit is shrinking, we're reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and all our children are above average. At least that's the impression you might have come away with if you watched President Bush's 2007 State of the Union Address. The facts are a little more complicated, and the picture not always as rosy. This lesson provides students with a good starting point for examining some of the crucial issues Bush laid out in his address. Students will research these issues, analyze the president’s statements and claims, and draw conclusions about how straightforward he was with the American people.
 

Objectives

In this activity students will:

  • Review and analyze major topics presented by President Bush during his 2007 State of the Union Address.
  • Generate research questions surrounding the president’s claims and calls to action.
  • Research information that either supports or refutes the president’s statements through questions they have developed.
  • Draw conclusions on the credibility of the president’s statements.