societal_problems_project.pdf |
Each of the following pages should serve as items in your binder to preview each step in the process.
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So far we have learned that economics is easy, and as many of you have told me - common sense. Basically, economics is the study of choices. We have to make choices, because our resources are limited. We have unlimited wants but we cannot always satisfy them. We have to make choices when we make trade offs. Its typically hard to make choices, but we have to look at the costs and benefits of every choice. We have to think about what we are giving up if we choose something. This is called opportunity cost. Its the next best option that we gave up to get something. For a better understanding of all the concepts we have talked about, watch these clips: WHAT IS ECONOMICSCIRCULAR FLOW MODELCLICK HERE: http://bcove.me/sis78ues
While you can start this early - I will provide about 40 minutes of work session on this for you in class tomorrow. Your goal is to finish as much as you can in class - the rest will be homework DUE IN CLASS on FRIDAY. We will be discussing parts of it, so I want to make sure you have it completed.
Directions: Access the links below each of the following sections and answer the corresponding questions. FOREIGN POLICY TOOL #1: INTELLIGENCE (6 points) Questions 1 – 7 LINK: http://www.businessinsider.com/17-agencies-of-the-us-intelligence-community-2013-5?op=1 FOREIGN POLICY TOOL #2: DIPLOMACY & TREATIES (9 points) Questions 8 LINK: http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/overview/index.html Questions #9: http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/chapter1.shtml Questions 10 LINK: http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/main-organs/index.html Question 11 LINK: http://www.un.org/en/ga/about/index.shtml Question 12 LINK: http://www.un.org/en/sc/ Question 13 & 14 LINK: http://www.un.org/en/sc/members/ Question 15 & 16 LINK: http://www.un.org/en/sc/meetings/voting.shtml FOREIGN POLICY TOOL #3: ECONOMIC & HUMANITARIAN AID (7 points) Questions 17 & 18 LINK: https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40213.pdf Question 19 LINK: https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/spending/ Question 20 LINK: http://www.foreignassistance.gov/web/countryIntro.aspx FOREIGN POLICY TOOL #4: ECONOMIC SANCTIONS (4 points) Question 21 & 22 LINK: http://usforeignpolicy.about.com/od/introtoforeignpolicy/a/what-are-sanctions.htm Question 23 LINK: http://www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi/ FOREIGN POLICY TOOL #5: MILITARY AID & FORCE (14 points) Question 24 LINK: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/spc/multimedia/military-spending/ Question 25 LINK: http://www.nato.int/nato-welcome/index.html Question 26 LINK: http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_17120.htm Question 27 & 28 LINK: http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_69366.htm Question 29 LINK: http://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/pdf_2015_02/20150227_1502-RSM-Placemat.pdf_ EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY (5 possible points): 1. Find one current event article within the last 30 days that relates to one of the foreign policy tools you learned about in this WebQuest OR from our class discussion. a. On a separate sheet of paper or on a Googledoc, provide the following information: i. Title of the article ii. URL of the article iii. Which tool does the article relate to? iv. 5 sentence summary of the main ideas of the article Part of our Societal Problems Project is to get a really good grasp on the problem. Check out these infographics below to see more about the various problems we are tackling in class. An infographic is a visual image such as a chart or diagram used to represent information or data. They are a great resource when trying to understand an issue.
This week we really dissected the budget process and federal spending process of our government. We stared with the budget process, examined revenues (taxes) and expenditures (spending) and today we put it all together. While we rarely accomplish a surplus, we even hardly ever have a balanced budget. Our government has a history of deficit spending - having to borrow to fund the government.
This video clip does a fabulous job of explaining everything together.
In the green section below, you will click on the link to answer the questions on your Webquest - due in class on Tuesday. In the orange section - take some time to look at the graphs - we will discuss them in class. GREEN SECTIONWe ended last week looking at the Federal Budget process and talking about REVENUE (government income through taxes). We are going to focus today's lesson on government spending. You cant think of it as the government purchasing items to help run the country. Follow the links for each sections, and answer the questions as you go! PART ONE: REVENUE REVIEW https://static.nationalpriorities.org/images/charts/2015/revenue-desk.png PART TWO: SPENDING 101 https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/spending/ PART THREE: SPENDING BREAKDOWN https://static.nationalpriorities.org/images/charts/2015/total-desk.png PART FOUR: ADDING IT ALL TOGETHER https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/borrowing-and-federal-debt/ PART FIVE: WHO DO WE OWE https://static.nationalpriorities.org/images/fb101/2014/us-government-owes-money.png ORANGE SECTION We will be discussing these in class. You can write it out of you need to. For each of the following images, explain the graphic in your own words. For each image A. Write the number B. The Title of the Graphic C. Your explanation/summary 1. ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM SPENDING IS MASSIVE 2. TWO-THIRDS OF ALL GOVERNMENT SPENDING WAS MANDATORY, 2013 3. TOTAL REVENUE & MANDATORY SPENDING WHAT DOES YELLOW & BLUE REPRESENT? (YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN THE CHART) 4. WHERE DOES YOUR TAX DOLLARS GO? OPINION QUESTIONS:5. What do you think the biggest problem with our Federal Spending is? 6. Do you think this is easily fixed? Explain. 7. What do you think the government should cut its spending on? How would they have to do this? 8. Pick one of the government solutions below. Read the article or watch the video (use headphones) and explain why this IS or IS NOT a good solution for our government. SOLUTIONS?!!? ×Raise taxes on the rich! ×http://www.learnliberty.org/videos/would-taxing-rich-fix-deficit/ ×Print more money! ×http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EobPnLZiOo8 × ×Stop giving other countries money and pay off our debt! ×http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/07/the-budget-myth-that-just-wont-die-americans-still-think-28-percent-of-the-budget-goes-to-foreign-aid/ × ×Stop giving other countries money and pay off our debt!×https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2013/05/06/how-much-foreign-aid-does-us-give-away/ ×Cut military spending! ×http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/01/07/everything-chuck-hagel-needs-to-know-about-the-defense-budget-in-charts/ × ×http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=1258 × ×Cut the SNAP (Food Stamp) program… ×http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=1258 × ×http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_21412568/face-facts-usa-food-stamp-costs × × 9. Summarize what entitlements are in your own words. 10. In three sentences, explain what you learned today. 11. What was the most interesting thing you learned? EXTRA: MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF AMERICANS RECEIVE WELFARE BENEFITS http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/08/29/census-figures-show-more-than-one-third-americans-receiving-welfare-benefits/ . IF YOU ARE DONE WITH WEBQUEST: FIRST MAKE SURE YOU HAVE US CHECK IT!
Then, you can play the iCivics Game People's Pie. You may not be on any other website or you will lose your Internet privileges. GOAL: Do you like to control your own money? In People’s Pie, you control the budget of the federal government! You choose how federal revenues should be raised and how taxpayers’ money should be spent. You must decide how to fund programs that are important to you, without setting taxes too high or borrowing too much money. This is a great review. remember the different types of revenue and spending (entitlements) that we talked about. https://www.icivics.org/games/peoples-pie
CHECK OUT THIS LINK: http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/govt/pubpol.php
Directions: Using the societal problem your group has been assigned; create a detailed, research-style typed outline or other research presentation (not a paper!) that includes the following information regarding your problem. THIS IS NOT LIKE AN OUTLINE FOR ENGLISH CLASS. EXTRAORDINARY DETAIL IS REQUIRED! **IMPORTANT: Indicate (in parentheses) the source used for the information in your outline and the page number (Example, 6).** You may download a copy of this digital note form at the top of the page. Upload & Convert in GoogleDocs! MAKE SURE TO CITE ALL SOURCES (at least ad URL for now - cite later) YOU MUST FINISH STEP ONE BEFORE MOVING ON TO STEP TWO! A. Introduction to the Problem: Include information that addresses the following: a. What is the problem? b. Briefly describe and define key terms (minimum of 5) c. Why is this topic a problem for society? d. What are the causes of this problem? B. Facts and Statistics (EVIDENCE) Include information that answers the following questions: a. How do you know that this is a problem for society? Explain. b. What statistical evidence do you have to prove this a problem? c. Who is affected by this problem? d. What are the human and monetary costs of this problem *In this section, you must have a minimum of 15 pieces of evidence. **You must use varied, reliable sources for this portion of the project. You are required to include information from DATABASES (no Wikipedia) ***Graphs, charts, pictures, etc. are a great addition to your research. C. Past Public Policy Include information that answers the following questions: a. What is the history of this problem? b. What has the government done previously to address this problem? (Consider: past laws, statutes, regulations and court cases) c. Evaluate the effectiveness of these policies: i. Are they working? If not, then why aren’t these past policies working? ii. What is public opinion? *You should have a minimum of 3 past policies that deal with your topic. CLIMATE CHANGE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Yq-sfWSWLg IMMIGRATION MINIMUM WAGE DISTRACTED DIVING GUNS WAR ON TERROR HEALTH CARE |
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