Q: Who can host Debate Watch '96? A: Anyone or any group, formal or informal. The whole point of Debate Watch '96 is to get as many Americans as possible talking about the debates, the campaign, the candidates, and the issues that affect our lives.

Q: Where are Debate Watches taking place?

A: In all fifty states. If you have friends or relatives in other parts of the country, encourage them to take part.

Q: Who should be invited to participate?

A: Invite your neighbors, friends, co-workers, or family into your home. Organize a Debate Watch for members of an organization wo which you belong in place of a regular meeting. Think about including people of all ages, including teens who might not be old enough to vote yet but are interested in current events. It takes no special expertise to talk about the issues so anyone you know would potentially enjoy participating.

Q: How many people should be invited to join?

A: Discussion works best if approximately 9-12 people participate. If you belong to an organization that wants to hold a Debate Watch in place of a meeting or as part of a parent- student-teacher activity in a school, and you halve more than twelve members, then divide into two or more groups.

Q: Where should Debate Watch meet?

A: Debate Watch can meet in your living room, in a school, at a community center, in a public library, in a business, at a church or place of worship, in a union hall, at a restaurant or wherever you can watch a television and comfortably form a circle of chairs or meet around a table after the debate to discuss. With large groups, have a large screen television or several televisions to guarantee that everyone can see. If you are planning to divide a large gathering into multiple groups at one location, make sure that you have enough space so that groups have several feet between them.

Q: Do we need a group leader, and what qualifications should a leader have?

A: You should designate a facilitator to lead the group only to get things organized and keep discussion going. This packet includes suggestions for a group facilitator (See Facilitator's Guide and Suggested Questions). Select someone to lead the group who is comfortable giving directions and who won't dominate the discussion. If you want to hold a Debate Watch, , but no one feels comfortable leading, consult the resource list included in the packet for suggestions of individuals in your area who are willing to be group leaders.

Q: How do we organize the evening?

A: If possible, duplicate and distribute the "Viewer's Guide to Political Debates" prior to the evening of the debate. Have Debate Watch participants arrive at the viewing/discussion site about 30 minutes before the scheduled beginning of the debate. If participants want to participate in the research on Debate Watch '96 (see the question below on the research), have them complete the forms in the packet that are identified as pre-debate surveys and then read "Viewer's Guide to Political Debates" if they weren't sent out ahead of time (please duplicate the forms so that everyone has a copy). Don't turn the television on until a few minutes before the debate begins, and don't turn the volume on until the debate is actually ready to begin. Forms to make it easy to take notes are included in the packet. Make them available to those who want them. Arrange for seating so that everyone can see the television easily. Have some soft drinks, tea, and coffee and finger foods to help create a relaxed atmosphere. You might have each member of the group bring something such as ice, cups, napkins, food, etc. As soon as the debate ends, turn the television off. Take about ten minutes to stretch, etc. (but don't use the time to discuss informally), and then have the leader gather everyone around a table or put chairs in a circle to discuss. The leader can follow the suggested set of questions. Talk until you run out of things to say. Most groups should be able to hold a discussion for about an hour. When you have said all that you want, complete the post-discussion forms for the research. Even if you don't participate in the research, please complete and mail the facilitator's form so that we can gauge the number of people who participated. If you had a successful evening, get together again for one of the other debates.

Q: Should we participate in the research -- and who's doing it anyway?

A: Participation in research is purely voluntary and is an individual decision. Some members may want to participate; others might not. The research is being conducted by members of the Speech Communication Association, a professional organization which promotes the study, criticism, research, teaching and practice of communication. Most SCA members participating in Debate Watch are university professors. The research is being coordinated by Dr. Diana Carlin at the University of Kansas who organized the 1992 focus group research. As was done with the 1992 research, a book about the results will be published (the 1992 report, The 1992 Presidential Debates in Focus is available from Prager, Greenwood, CT). If you want your opinions to be part of the research, then participate. We would like to hear what you think about the project. Collect the forms and send them in the enclosed envelope or send them individually to the address listed on the forms. The facilitator's response form doesn't require an envelope.

Q: There is only one copy of everything in the packet. Is it all right to make copies?

A: YES. Make as many as you need.

Q: There is a resource list in the packet. What is its purpose?

A: The resource list has several uses. First, it gives you sources for information on the candidates and the issues in case you want to follow up on what you heard in the debate or if you want to read information before the debates. Second, it has the names of individuals or groups who can supply you with a facilitator should you want one. Third, it has information on InterNet discussion sites in case you want to participate in continued dialogue via the Net.

Q: Should we use the DebatesNotes form to pick a winner?,

A: No. They are designed to help you remember issues you want to discuss. We encourage you not to go into the debates trying to determine who won or lost as there is no single way to make such a decision. use this experience to learn as much as you can. The real winners in debates are the voters who learn from them.

Q: What if I have additional questions?

A: Call the 800 number on this sheet or call the Speech Communication Association contact person nearest you who is listed in the Resource List.

Debate Watch '96@, P.O. Box ______, Lawrence, KS 66044. 1-8---xxx-xxxx.