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=INTRO TO ECONOMICS =
 * Yarmouth High School**


 * [[image:gas-price1.jpg width="152" height="207"]] || [[image:bernanke_4.jpg width="213" height="213"]] || [[image:NYSE_Wall_Street.jpg width="280" height="214"]] || [[image:1040.jpg width="188" height="216"]] ||
 * //**FINAL - Wed., June 17**// |||| Read your assigned chapter from //Freakonomics.// Prepare a brief (3-5 slides, 10-12 minutes) presentation in which you:


 * Pose the question that Levitt wants to investigate
 * Summarize his answer
 * Describe the data he uses as evidence in support of his answer
 * Explain how any three of the author's "fundamental ideas"* are illustrated in this chapter
 * Share any other intriguing tidbits of information from the chapter.


 * The "fundamental ideas" are outlined on pages 13-14 of the Introduction. ||  ||
 * //**Fri., June 12**// |||| Read the "Introduction" to //Freakonomics//. ||  ||
 * //**Wed., June 10**// |||| Read this article [[file:LegislationSentToGovernor.pdf]] on LD 1088's passage by the Legislature, then this opinion piece [[file:MaineNeedsTaxReform.pdf]] in support of the bill and this piece [[file:WhyIOpposeLD1088.pdf]] in opposition. Watch [|this clip] from Channel 6 with members of the Taxation Committee.

After completing the above, prepare a 2 page informational memo for Governor Baldacci in which you summarize the main elements of the bill and outline the major arguments for and against signing it into law. You should not advocate for one side or the other in this memo, just provide the information. ||  ||
 * //**Mon., June 8**// |||| Read pages 23-41 in Rep. Woodbury's paper. Be prepared with questions for him about the issues that arise in reforming Maine's property, income, and sales taxes as well as reducing the overall tax burden. || [[file:TaxReforminMaine.pdf]] ||
 * //**Thurs., June 4**// |||| Read the attached Bangor Daily News article on the current tax reform proposal. || [[file:TaxReformBangorDailyNews.pdf]] ||  ||   ||   ||
 * **I****N CLASS,** //**Tues., June 2**// |||| Go to this[| site at Arizona State] and and take the CCIS as a guest. After you get your results, write down your two highest results.

Go to the federal [|Occupational Outlook Handbook] and find information on 3 careers you have some interest in. Write down some basic info about these areas: __Assignment__: Answer the question above in an essay of 350-450 words that draws on evidence from at least 3 articles found at any of the following sites:
 * Training & educational requirements
 * Job outlook
 * Earnings ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * **I****N CLASS,** //**Wed., May 20**// |||| ====//**Is the U.S. economy improving?**//====

http://money.cnn.com/?cnn=yes http://moneycentral.msn.com/home.asp http://www.businessweek.com/ http://www.nytimes.com/pages/business/index.html (may require a free registration)


 * Be sure to properly cite the articles you use.** ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * //**Due Friday, May 8**// || No homework ||  || [[file:PovertyProject.doc]] ||   ||   ||   ||
 * //**Due Wed., May 6**// |||| Read the attached article, "Economic Inequality and Democratic Political Engagement." Write a response of 250-300 words in which you:
 * state the author's central thesis
 * summarize the evidence the author uses to support his thesis
 * pose any questions the article raises in your mind. || [[file:EconomicInequality.pdf]] ||  ||   ||   ||
 * //**Due Mon., May 4**// |||| Read about economic inequality - textbook pages 392-402. Reading quiz in class. ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * //**Due Thurs., April 30**// |||| Read the two articles below and explain in 2 paragraphs how the authors differ on the issue of the appropriate level of government involvement in the economy. Be sure to reference the concept of "tradeoffs" in your response and use specific examples from each piece to illustrate.

|| [|"Teens Turn to Summer Startups"] ||  ||   ||   || Day One, Entrepreneurs Project presentations (Go to the Flex Room) ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * //**Due Tues., April 14**// |||| Final Business Plans due
 * //**Due Wed., April 8**// |||| I will be collecting the draft of your business plan. NOTE: The Executive Summary should be written last because it incorporates info from the other sections. You may need to complete it in class. ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * //**Due Mon., April 6**// |||| 1) **SELL!** All your shares need to be converted to cash before Monday's class. Whoever has the most cash wins.

2) Go to the //allbusiness// site linked in the right column. Read the featured article ("3 Ways to Get Investors Interested in Your New Business") and any two other articles from the site. For each article you read, write a one-paragraph summary explaining the advice offered and how you can incorporate it into your group's plan. || [|www.allbusiness.com] ||  ||   ||   ||
 * //**Due Thurs., April 2**// |||| Begin work on one of your assigned sections of the business plan. ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * //**Due Fri., March 27**// |||| Download the document to the right and complete the info. || [[file:EconClassWork.03.25.doc]] ||  ||   ||   ||
 * //**Due Wed., March 25**// |||| Complete the attached sheet on measures of the stock market. Be sure to cite the sources you use for the info.

||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * //**Due Mon., March 23**// |||| Read the [|article] on stock market manipulation and respond to the following with a paragraph each:


 * Summarize what Jonathan Lebed did to make his money
 * Explain something his story reveals about the nature of stock market investing. ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * //**Due Thurs., March 19**// |||| Read the packet on Investing Basics. Then go to [|www.smartstocks.com], click on "Enroll for Free", then once your account is set up, go to "Group Features," select "Join a Group," and find the YHS Econ 2009 group. The password to join is "yarmouth." Don't buy any stocks yet! ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * **//Due Tues., March 17//** |||| Happy St. Patrick's Day! (no homework) ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * //**Due Fri., March 13**// |||||| **UNIT TEST** ||||||  ||
 * || **T****erms w/ relevant textbook pages**

__**p. 4-11**__ scarcity allocation opportunity cost opportunity benefit __**p. 30-34; 52-56**__ market economy v. social economy "invisible hand" __**p. 76-91**__ private sector private goods public sector public goods externalities (negative and positive) __**p. 124-137**__ demand demand schedule demand curve law of demand diminishing marginal utility income effect substitution effect determinants of demand __**p. 138-142**__ price elasticity of demand elastic v. inelastic demand unitary demand supply supply schedule supply curve law of supply __**p. 186-193**__ equilibrium price ("market-clearing price") equilibrium quantity shortage surplus || **Other concepts**
 * __p. 152-158__**

•Goals of the federal stimulus plan

•Non-farm payroll ||  ||   ||
 * //**Due Wed., March 11**// |||| Read 190-199 in the textbook and complete the packet on "Market-Clearing Price." ||  ||
 * //**Due Thurs., March 5**// |||| Read 152-158 in the textbook. Reading quiz next class on the vocab terms. ||  ||
 * //**Due Tues., March 3**// |||| Read "Car Trouble" (handed out in class) and identify how each of the four "determinants of demand" has had an effect on the demand for American-made automobiles. Then, based on that information, make a recommendation about what requirements should be part of a government bailout plan for U.S. automakers. || [[file:While_Detroit_Slept.pdf]] ||
 * //**Due Fri., Feb. 27**// |||| Use textbook pages 133-137 to complete notes on Determinants of Demand. Complete 2-sided worksheet on Demand (handed out in class.) ||  ||
 * //**Due Wed., Feb. 11**// |||| Read textbook pages 76-91. Reading quiz on the ten "Terms to Know." Be sure to read the full selection, not just the definitions. ||  ||
 * //**Due Mon., Feb. 9**// |||| Read textbook pages 30-34 and 52-56. Fill in the chart on Market Economy v. Social Economy. || [[file:3QuestionsChart.doc]] ||
 * **//Due Thurs., Feb. 5//** |||| Prepare an opening statement (approx. 200-250 words) for the Senate Committee hearing on the stimulus plan. Your statement should:
 * state your general view of the plan
 * raise any major questions you'd like to see addressed
 * draw a "line in the sand" if you wish.
 * draw a "line in the sand" if you wish.

Some resources that may help you prepare: [|Wall Street Journal news page on the stimulus] [|Huffington Post news page on the stilmulus] [|Stimulus ideas from leading economists] ||  ||
 * **//Due Tues., Feb. 3//** |||| 1) Read textbook pages 6-11. Be prepared for a quick quiz on these concepts:
 * economics
 * scarcity
 * allocation
 * opportunity cost
 * opportunity benefit

2) Print and read the 3 articles on the stimulus plan (see column to the right.) Highlight or note main ideas and arguments in preparation for class discussion. || ||
 * //**Due Wed., Jan. 28**// |||||| Take the [|Economic Literacy Quiz]

||
 * Assignment:** Read "Why Johnny Can't Choose." Pick any two of the "six key concepts" explained in the article and for each creatively illustrate how that principle can be seen in a "real-life" situation. You may do this by writing a short dramatic scene between two or more characters, drawing a cartoon, or by any other creative mode you select.