Current Events Blog

ECONOMICS

Current Events Report

READ ALL DIRECTIONS! 

        Opening the newspaper or watching a typical newscast is loaded with stories involving economic principles.  The task of this assignment requires you to IDENTIFY A CURRENT EVENT reported in electronic media and analyze the topic of the article economically.

Complete the following questions IN YOUR BLOG and be sure to copy a link to the article that you are analyzing.

Here are a few websites for articles to look through, I will let you choose your own article, but if you need some guidance let me know and I will help you find one.

http://www.econedlink.org/economic-current-events.php

http://money.cnn.com/news/economy/

http://www.cnbc.com/id/20910258

1) Describe the event (20 pts.):

• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?

2) Background Information:

• Describe the basic issue(s) behind the event. (20 pts)
• How does the event impact the economy? (20 pts)

3) Conclusion (your opinion): Write AT LEAST three(3) sentences.

• How does this event or issue affect your life? If it does not, why not? (40 pts)

MAKE SURE THAT YOU PUT A LINK TO THE ARTICLE IN YOUR BLOG!

Back in Business

Last night, shortly before midnight, the Congress finally came to an agreement to raise the debt ceiling and end the partial government shutdown after over 2 weeks.  Today I want you to read through the following article and answer the questions either in a word document or on a sheet of paper.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/17/politics/shutdown-over-main/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

1. When will the thousands of furloughed workers return to work?
2. How many days did the shutdown last?
3. About how many House Republicans approved the bill that was signed into law?
4. What would have happened if Congress did not approve a debt limit increase?
5. What could have happened to the stock market?
6. The new budget will keep the country funded until when?
7. Stand and Poor estimated that the shutdown took how much money from the economy?
8. What was the small Obamacare concession that Republicans received?
9. What happened to stocks after news of the agreement?
10. Does Obama think we will go through this again in a few months?

When you are finished turn your paper in to me.

Supply and Demand

Supply and Demand Webquest

Today you are going to look at different factors that create supply and demand.  Follow each step and answer all questions.  If you have any problems please ask me for help.  When you are finished please turn in your paper to me.  

Introduction:

Access the following link; Supply and Demand

What is supply? Provide an example of supply.

What is demand? Provide an example of demand.

Part 1:

Access the following link; Supply and Demand of Oil

After reading the article, explain in your own words how supply and demand for oil is changing.  Additionally, address what may be causing the increase in prices.

Part 2:

Access the following link; Supply and Demand of College Football Tickets

After reading the article, explain in your own words, the supply and demand of college football tickets.  

Part 3:

Access the following link; Interactive Supply and Demand

Once you have read the information in regards to demand and supply, use Diagram 1 to answer the following questions listed under Get Interactive.

1. What would happen to quantity demanded in the following cases? 

      Price rises to 8.

      Price rises to 9.

      Price falls to 3.

      Price falls to 1.

2. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and click Part 2.  Choose one of the factors affecting the level of demand from the drop down menu. 

                                                               i.      Moving the slider towards the + and -, paying attention to what is happening with price and quantity demanded.  In your own words, describe what you are observing.

We have survived day two of the government shutdown!  So far there is no rioting in the streets and most all has gone on as normal.  This is still an interesting moment in American history that you can remember for a long time.  So this is what I want you to do for your first real blog.

I want you to search through articles from websites such as cnn.com, nytimes.com, or any other CREDIBLE news source.  Try to become a little more familiar with why our government is currently shut down. 

Here are a few articles you can look at to get you started:http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/30/politics/government-shutdown-up-to-speed/index.html
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/09/29/questions-and-answers-about-the-shutdown/2888419/
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/02/politics/government-shutdown/index.html?hpt=hp_t1


After you have looked through a few articles I want you to post a new blog answering the following questions.  You do not have to number out the questions.  I would rather you just answer them in a paragraph or two and include any other thoughts you have on the subject.  Use these questions as guidelines to voice your opinion on the matter.  REMEMBER THIS WILL BE A TEST GRADE SO PLEASE SHOW SOME EFFORT AND THOUGHT!

• How did the government get shutdown in the first place?
• Do you see a problem with having a two-party system (republicans and democrats)?
• Which side do you agree with? 
• Does the government shutdown affect you in any way?
• How do you think politicians can fix this problem?

Bloggin time

Welcome to blogging!  You will be keeping this blog for the rest of the year, this semester for ECON and next semester for GOV.  Today you will be creating a blog to talk about some of your ideas and point of view.  Even if you never use this blog again after this year it will be a good way to show you how you can get your voice out there and share your views about our government and economy and they way they are handled.  I will be taking this as a TEST GRADE, so please show some effort and put some thought into this.

Getting started:

Go to www.blogger.com.  Sign in using your google email (everyone should have a school account).  If you are unable to get into your school email you may use your personal gmail or create a new account.

• After you log in you should see a screen that says "Create your blog now".  
• Click the "new blog" link on the left. 
• Create a title for your blog.  You can choose the title but keep it appropriate and related to class! 
• Next create the web address for your blog.  You may have to get a little more creative and be sure to WRITE IT DOWN.  You don't want to forget the website name.  This is how I will find your site!

After that you should see a word document for you to write in your blog.

Today I want you to work on your first blog.  Please give a brief introduction of yourself.  Tell me one interesting ting about your senior year so far.  And tell me one current issue in the country you are passionate about or you are interested to learn about more.

Try looking through the different settings to change the look of your blog.  There are lots of choices to customize your page.  You can also add pictures into your posts.  Try finding you classmates blogs and follow their blogs. Get creative and have fun with it.

Free Trade vs. Protectionism

Free Trade vs. Protectionism

For today's assignment you will work with a partner to look arguments for and against free trade and protectionism.  One of you will look up the arguments for free trade while your partner will look up arguments for protectionism.  After you have both completed your graphic organizers discuss your findings with your partner.  Decide which of the two you think works better.

Try the following sites to help give you some ideas on the arguments, or feel free to conduct your own search, just make sure your arguments are valid:

http://quizlet.com/14756749/arguments-for-protectionism-flash-cards/

http://quizlet.com/17710854/reasons-for-benefits-of-free-trade-flash-cards/




Deal Sweeteners

Americans consume more sweeteners per capita than any other country in the world.  However there are many trade barriers to prevent foreign companies from selling sugar in the United States.  ON YOUR OWN read through the New York Times article and answer the questions about these trade barriers on the back of your graphic organizer.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/11/27/061127ta_talk_surowiecki


Whenever you are finished, turn in your paper to me.