Training Exercises

The following exercises were created as an introduction to using the messages.

Exercise #1

Instructions: Cut questions into strips and have participant each draw one and use the message triangle to answer the question.

Exercise #2

Instructions: Break into teams and discuss how you might use the triangle to craft your remarks for one of the following scenarios.

Scenario #1:

Your third cousin has invited you to appear on his ten-minute public access television show, an event he claimed would be focused on his interest in stamp collecting.  However, after five minutes, he says, “So, I hear you wrote a [State] Wildlife Action Plan.  Tell me about it for the next five minutes.”

Scenario #2:

Your daughter takes you to school for show and tell.   She introduces you to her science teacher who says, “So, I hear you wrote a [State] Wildlife Action Plan.  Tell me about it.”

Scenario #3:

Your local state representative is campaigning door-to-door.  He knocks on yours.  A few minutes into this conversation, he asks, “So, what’s this [State] Wildlife Action Plan about?”

Scenario #4:

You are attending a professional wrestling match.  During a lull in the action, you run into one of the announcers on the way to the restroom.  You get to talking, and the announcer says, “Hmm.  Your job sounds really interesting.  What should my listeners know about this [State] Wildlife Action Plan?”

Scenario #5:

You are attending a gun show.  A friend of yours is leading a seminar on hunting issues.  Suddenly, he calls on you to talk about the [State] Wildlife Action Plan.  What do you say?

Exercise #3

Instructions: These interviews are designed to help participants stay on message. Have participants pair up, one person plays a “hard-nosed” reporter while the other answers his or her questions.

Interview #1:

You are Earl Combs, a “reporter” for The Free Development Press, a lifestyle magazine for developers.  The magazine is virulently opposed to any type of conservation measure. Go get your cohort off-message, using questions like:

  1. So just how deeply does your wildlife plan cost?
  2. Everywhere I look, I see animals. They don’t seem endangered to me.  Is this really that important?
  3. And even if this is important, do we really have to do this now? Especially with the economy the way it is?
  4. If saving wildlife is so important to people, why don’t they pay for it themselves?
  5. Don’t we have better things to spend the money on? Like people?
  6. Will this take money away from schools?
  7. How do we know that government will spend our money wisely?
  8. A lot of environmental plans are written without consulting the people it actually affects.  How is this different?
  9. Studies show that conservation plans don’t work.  How do you respond?

Interview #2:

You are Faye Mavis, a “reporter” for the San Spingfield Daily News-Monitor-Review.  You are fresh out of college and are a serious – and seriously naïve – environmentalist.  Get your cohort off-message using questions like:

  1. So, tell me what your action plan does to stick it to big business.
  2. I’m glad someone’s finally asking people to make the kind of sacrifices we need to make to protect the environment.  How do you intend to fool people into believing that?
  3. I’ve always loved the green-eyed snow piper.  Isn’t that the most important fauna of all for us to save?
  4. I notice you’ve sought the input of a wide range of people on this plan, including businesses.  How can we trust business to make the right decision on this?
  5. I’m glad that somebody is finally willing to put animals ahead of people.  How do you expect that will play out?
  6. This plan really sticks it to the Republicans, doesn’t it?
  7. I love children.  I think they’re our future.  How should people with kids feel about this plan?
  8. Science is really neat.  Tell me about the science involved in this plan.
  9. I’ve got three dogs.  How do they benefit under this plan?
  10. Why is this plan good for the environment?