Economics Final Project

Choose ONE of the following options for your final economics project.

·         Option 1 – Current Events News Cast (Group of up to 3)

·         Option 2-Create an Economics or Government Board Game (Group of up to 2)

Option 3 – Economics or Government Video (Group of up to 3)

·         Option 4 – Economic or Government Music Video (Group of up to 3

·         Option 5 – Complete a full budget for your first year of college (Individual)

·         Option 6 -Think of a project (First ask me to get approval) (Size varies with project, get approval first!)

If you choose to work in a group, remember that one group grade will be given.  If your group members do not work, it will be taken out on your group grade as well.

*Broken printers and computers will not be excused. Email if you can’t print it. The school has several computers and printers available for student use. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.

Be sure to cite all sources using MLA citations (visit www.citationmachine.net, if you do not you will receive a zero.

Option 1:  News Cast

Many events have perspired over the course of this semester, if not the school year. We have discussed a few of these current events in class.  Now it is your job to summarize a few of those current events in a simulated News Cast.

You need to take any FIVE current events topics related to economics (it may even be one that we haven’t really covered in class) and transform them into a newscast of at least five (5) minutes.  This does NOT include the previews or the credits or commercials. Watch the news a few times to get an idea of how it is supposed to look.

Requirements to be turned in as a hard copy:

ü Script: Must be typed

ü Print out of the Current Event topics.

Presentation: This project can be performed live in class if you do not have access to a video camera and editing software.  Remember this video is supposed to be informative in nature and can be used to teach students about economics and how it pertains to high school students.

Use the grading rubric to help you create your video. 

Option 2:  Board Game

Your task is to design and create a board game suitable for teaching the basic terms and concepts of economics or government to junior high students.  Try to create an original and enjoyable game, because you might be teaching actual junior high students to play it.

Use your textbook, the library, the Internet, and any other resources that are available to you to learn about these terms and concepts. Finally, construct the actual game, including all its components and a set of clearly written instructions. Rubric is available online at http://new.schoolnotes.com/msdicola/

Remember to keep your vocabulary on a level that is appropriate for the players.  Also, do not assume that they have any prior knowledge of economics or government.

Option 3:  Economics Video

Yes folks, you have had to sit through them in class, and complain about them in class, and wonder when they were last created. Well, now it is your turn to be the creative mastermind behind an educational economics or government video.

You can take any economic or government topic that you wish (it may even be one that we haven’t really covered in class) and transform it into a video of at least five (5) minutes (that doesn’t include the previews or the credits).

Remember this video is supposed to be informative in nature and can be used to teach students about economics and how it pertains to high school students.  

Option 4: Music Video

You can take any economic or government topic that you wish (it may even be one that we haven’t really covered in class) and transform it into a music video of at least three (3) minutes long (that doesn’t include shout outs or the credits).

You can take the words to an existing song and change them or create your own from scratch. Either way, be sure that it includes at least 15-20 different economic/government concepts/ vocabulary that are all relevant. 

Option 5:  Planning for College

GRADED COMPONENTS

All written work and research for your final MUST BE submitted as follows:

1.  Bound in a three ring binder

2.  All pages numbered except the cover page, table of

     contents, and resume page.

3.  The following sections will be included in addition to the three

     aforementioned pages:

            a. Location description and rationale

            b. Job description and rationale

            c. Residence description and rationale

            d. Necessities description and consumer logic

            e. Final budget in addition to all “drafts” and/or “scrap” paper used

     to prepare it.

f. A “Discoveries” section (to be described later).

g. Visual aids

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

            YOU HAVE…

·         $500.00 cash

·         A major credit card with a $5,000.00 credit limit and a fixed APR of 18% on all categories.

·         A sufficient wardrobe

·         The following debt(s) in addition to any you incur to complete the project objectives:

a. If you choose to buy an automobile your insurance will be 

    $80.00 /mo.

b. If your residence does not INLCUDE utilities you must get

    a utilities quote from me.

c. If your job requires a degree/certification beyond high

    school you must assume the following debt load and 

    calculate the following to find the monthly payment:

ALL OF THESE BASED ON A 20 YEAR TERM

-          High school diploma              $0.00

-          2yr. College/Vocational         $18,000.00 at 10% APR

-          4yr College                               $36,000.00 at 8% APR

-          Beyond a Bachelors degree $75,000.00 at 6% APR

d. You CAN NOT get a job that requires more than a year’s

     experience unless you assume the highest level of education.

YOU MUST…

·         Get a job

·         Get a place to live and pay 2 months rent up front.

·         Complement your residence with at least five items IN ADDITION to a bed (an entire bed…frame, box spring, etc.!) within the first three months.

·         Provide yourself with viable transportation by either purchasing a vehicle (must be motorized) or finding a public transportation option.

      **You may only walk to work if you live within .5 of a mile of     

         your place of employment.**

·         Create an annual budget that will accommodate your life using the resources available to you.

YOU CAN NOT…

·         Live with parents, friends, relatives, etc., etc…YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN!

·         Rely on anything other than the limited list of things you HAVE above.

·         Live outside of the U.S.

·         Join the Armed Services

***NO USE OF ONLINE AUCTION HOUSES (EBay) FOR PURCHASES***

PROCEDURE

             

First, you must choose a city/town where you will reside and/or a career field you intend to peruse.  Once you know what job(s) you intend to go after you will want to create an up to date resume that addresses the qualities your new employer is looking for.  What kind of degree/certification have you attained?  Where did you receive it from?  What kinds of relevant experiences can you add?  Most of this is going to be fictional, that is the purpose!  Try to imagine yourself 3? 5? 7? years down the road.  Of course you may need to adjust this depending on where and what you intend to be doing however, once you decide it is complete you must have your resume reviewed and approved by Mr. Stein.

            Next, you will need to secure a place to live.  Also, you will need to provide transportation to and from your job and make the necessary purchases to complement your abode.  If you intend to use public transportation you must be able to document its viability, i.e. a bus schedule.  Buying a car means you’ll need to decide between new and used, make and model, and of course provide an actual cost analysis. 

For every aspect of this project you must provide ACTUAL documentation.  You will use newspapers, online postings, magazine classifieds, and college posting boards, etc. in order to do this.  Please make a Xerox copy (do not shred the newspapers of the library by cutting!) of the advertisement that includes the date and title of the source.  For example:

           

You intend to rent an apartment in Watertown.  You will

provide a copy of the ACTUAL classified ad or posting that proves the apartment exists.  As well, you will need to document its location and the associated cost(s).  If the advertisement you are looking at does not provide this you will have to either CALL (research) or find something ELSE.  You must provide a map of its location within the town/city.  (Mapquest.com)

*Find phone number origins using the AnyWho search (http://www.anywho.com/)

BUDGET

            You will need to create a monthly budget that reflects the following:

·         Gross income

·         Net income

·         Required expenditures

·         Additional expenditures

·         Discretionary income

You will also be required to calculate ALL of the interest that has accrued on your debts, as well as what your outstanding balances look like after the course of ONE year.

VISUAL AIDS

·         Map #1 (road map) – Madrid, NY to your new residence.

·         Map #2 (road map) – Your new residence to your place of

  employment.

·         A pie graph (like p. 25) that shows YOUR annual household budget

·         An “advertisement” of your life! 

-  this is very “open ended” and could be in almost any format.  The basic theme is “This is ME!”.  Most commonly this has been done in a collage style on poster board however I am STRONGLY encouraging people to look toward PowerPoint slide shows or music videos.  ALL presentations must exceed 3 minutes in length, be organized and coherent.