Semester+I,+2011

[|Econ Blog]
 * [[image:01-10-07-©-james-steidl2.jpg width="343" height="241"]] || [[image:02jobs-span-popup.jpg width="353" height="238"]] ||  ||
 * FRI, JAN 27 || **IN CLASS:**

Quarter 2/ Semester 2 Ends
Go to the class Blog and create a post with the title: Bill Gates- Giving a Fortune Away. Answer the following questions:

1. What are your impressions about Bill and Melinda Gates as people? How is this different from what you expected?

2. What are the goals of the Gates' foundation?

3. What is the rationale the Gates' use to justify why they chose these causes?

4. If you had that much money to give it away what cause would you support? Why?

[|Giving Away a Fortune- Bill Gates]

[|Healthcare Crisis] [|Sicko] by Michael Moore
 * HOMEWORK:** ||
 * WED, JAN 25 || **IN CLASS:**

[|MaineCare] [|Maine Equal Justice Partners] [|Bangor Daily News Stories About MaineCare] [|Medicare Drug Plan Part D] || [|Romney' Tax Rate]NYTIMES (January 2012) [|Romney's win opens the debate over Private Equity] [|Web Protests of Piracy Bill] NYTIMES (Jan 2012) [|How would SOPA effect you. FAQ]. CNET (Jan 18 2012) Margaritaville. (Southpark)The source of the economic crisis of 2007. [|Khan Academy]- Housing Price Conundrum
 * HOMEWORK:**
 * MON, JAN 23 || **IN CLASS:**

Write a blog post that summarizes the four deficits depicted in I.O.USA. For each deficit please provide specific statistics and examples. || Finish I.O.USA
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 * THR, JAN 19 || **IN CLASS:**

Complete Investment Notebook by Friday 2:30pm. || Watch the first half of the film I.O.USA that examines the history behind the debt crisis facing the nation today.
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 * TUE, JAN 17 || **IN CLASS:**

Work on Investment Portfolio Complete Part 2: Asset Allocation in your Investment Portfolio. Complete Part 3: Investment Vocabulary || SNOW DAY Complete Part 1: Trade Log of investments and start Part 2: Asset Allocation in your Investment Portfolio. || [|Asset Allocation] [|Make Pie Chart] Asset Allocation and how to create a well-balanced portfolio. As a class we will examine stock indexes and different theories on how to create a well-balanced portfolio. [|What is a Mutual Fund?] WSJ Balance your portfolio and document your decisions in your **//Investment Notebook//**. Please refer to content covered in class about how to balance your portfolio and how to select different classes of stocks and/or investments. Be sure to look-up and write definitions for any terms you do not understand so we can develop our investment vocabulary. For instance- what is the difference between a bond and a stock? What is market capitalization? || [|Super Pacs] (NPR Jan 5, 2012) [|Attack Ads] CNN [|Manufacturing a Bright Spot in US Economy] NYTIMES (December 5, 2012) [|US Economy Adds Jobs] NYTIMES (December 6, 2012)
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 * || == MLK WEEKEND == ||
 * THR, JAN 12 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * TUE, JAN 10 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * FRI, JAN 7 || **IN CLASS:**

Be sure to add to your investment notebook. Give rationale for your decisions. || Review Iowa Caucus What is Stock? Today we start our Stock Market Simulation.You will start with $1 million. The purpose of your portfolio is to create a well-balanced and thoughtful portfolio that will meet your own personal investment objective. Your **//Investment Notebook//** is due Monday, Jan 23rd at start of class. You may continue playing with your portfolio beyond that date. Work on your Investment Notebook and invest in companies. || [|Helping Home Owners Dig Out] [|Apple Patent.] [|History of Christmas] Guest Speaker- Daniel Plunkett Go to the Blog and reflect on our guest speaker. || Revise Work and Practice Presentations Visit to class by business consultants. Groups work on Key-Note Presentations and Websites Formal written work due Wednesday before class. Groups Start Key-Note Presentations Groups Revise and Send Survey. Groups Start Financial Plan First formal "Benchmark" due Thursday. Complete "Benchmark" Prior to next class. || Students write Survey Questions Begin Financial Analysis. Work on Project Groups convene to create a Macro project outline and Macro time-line for the project. Please share the document with me. Title- ProjectName.econ Individual students identify a project to complete and a time-line with benchmarks to make to complete the project. Please share the document with me. Title- Lastname.Project.econ || Introduce YEP How to Write A Business Plan.
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 * WED, JAN 5 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * || == WINTER BREAK == ||
 * WED, DEC 21 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * MON, DEC 19 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * THR, DEC 15 || **YEP Presentations to a guest panel of investors** ||
 * TUE, DEC 13 || **YEP Presentations to a guest panel of investors** ||
 * FRI, DEC 9 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * WED, DEC 7 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * MON, DEC 5 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * THR, DEC 1 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * TUE, NOV 29 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * || == THANKSGIVING BREAK == ||
 * TUE, NOV 22 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * FRI, NOV 18 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * WED, NOV 16 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * MON, NOV 14 || **IN CLASS:**

Come up with 3 ideas for a business and start Mission, Goals, and elevator speech. || [|Election Day] [|NY Tax on Cigaretts] Quiz- Greek Financial Crisis Come up with 3 ideas for a business. || Case Study- European Debt Crisis [|Occupy Oakland] CNN NOV 3, 2011 [|Greek Call for Referendum] PBS NOV 3, 2011 The Greek Debt Crisis Explained in 4 Minutes. YOUTUBE [|It Is All Connected Overview of the Euro Crisis] NYTIMES (Oct 22, 2011) [|Greek Economic Crisis- Q & A] CNN (Mar, 2011) [|Euro Crisis NYTIMES] (Oct 23,2011) [|Tracking Europe's Debt Crisis]. NYTIMES (Sept 27, 2011) [|Greek Financial Crisis Explained BBC] (May 6, 2010) [|Q & A Greek debt Crisis BBC] (Nov 3, 2011) [|Leaders in Greece Agree to Form a New Government] NYTIMES Nov 6, 2011 You will be assigned one country to research and report out 5 important facts about the current crisis facing the EU. What is the EU? none || Watch the documentary- //Who Killed The Electric Car//? Complete the worksheets on //Who Killed The Electric Car?//
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 * || == VETERANS DAY == ||
 * WED, NOV 9 || Missed Class/English Field Trip ||
 * MON, NOV 7 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * END Q1 ||  ||
 * THR, NOV 3 || **IN CLASS:**
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 * TUE, NOV 1 || **IN CLASS:**

Create a BLOG post that answers the question- **Who Killed the Electric Car**? Bottom line- Who do you think is MOST responsible for killing the electric car? Explain. Here is another resource:[| Who Killed The Electric Car?] || OCT 28 || **IN CLASS:** Graded Discussion- //The Power of Markets//
 * HOMEWORK:**
 * FRI,

Please produce a Blog Post of between 100-150 words. Create an appropriate title. Students will read their article below and identify the "kernel" of the economic issue at hand. They will then relate that issue to our current study of economic principals. Please examine the article that corresponds to your last name. 1. A-D 2. E-K 3. N-S 4. T-W. Find a cartoon that relates to your story and upload it to your BLOG. Use this site for cartoons- [|Cagle]
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[|1. Apple's Lower Prices Are All Part of the Plan] [|2. American Textile Industry] NYTIMES Oct 11, 2011 [| 3. Congress Ends 5 Year Stand-off on Trade Deal] NYTIMES Oct 13, 2011 [|4. US Solar Companies accuse China]NYTIMES Oct 20,2011 [|5. Solar Energy Companies in USA] || OCT 26 || **IN CLASS:** Lecture Chapter 2- Supply [|Everything Is Amazing & Nobody's Happy] 1. A-D 2. E-K 3. N-S 4. T-W. Students will read their article below and identify the "kernel" of the economic issue at hand. Please bring written notes or an "actively read" copy of your article to class.
 * WED,
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[|1. Apple's Lower Prices Are All Part of the Plan] [|2. American Textile Industry] NYTIMES Oct 11, 2011 [| 3. Congress Ends 5 Year Stand-off on Trade Deal] NYTIMES Oct 13, 2011 [|4. US Solar Companies accuse China]NYTIMES Oct 20,2011 [|5. Solar Energy Companies in USA] || OCT 24 || **IN CLASS:** Read //Naked Economics//- Chapter 1- //The Power of Markets- Who feeds Paris?// and please answer the questions on the worksheet handed out in class. Be prepared for a graded discussion next class. Be prepared for a graded discussion next class. || OCT 20 || **IN CLASS:** Lecture Chapter 2- Demand [|Barry Shwartz- The Paradox of Choice] TEDTALKS (19:41) Go to your Blog and compose a post with the title "The Paradox of Choice." Answer the following questions:
 * MON,
 * HOMEWORK:**
 * THR,

1. Describe Barry Shwartz's Thesis Statement (you can also list a few of his best maxims) 2. Provide 3 of the strongest or most tantalizing examples he uses to support his main point 3. Do you agree with him? Do you disagree with something he said? Why?

Read the second half of Chapter 2 (pages 48-66) in the text book on Supply. Write the definitions as they appear in the text and answer the thinking questions on the worksheet below. || OCT 18 || **IN CLASS:** Review //Wal Mart// Review //Spent// Review The death of Steve Jobs [|Steve Job's Commencement Speech]- Stanford University 2005 (15:05) "Love What you do."
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 * TUE,

Read the first half of Chapter 2 (pages 41-48) in the text book on Demand. Write the definitions as they appear in the text and answer the thinking questions on the worksheet below. || OCT 14 || **IN CLASS:** ACTEM
 * HOMEWORK:**
 * FRI,

Go into this simulation[| http://playspent.org/] and "accept the challenge" and "find a job." Please spend 30 minutes carefully going through the simulation. Please make decisions that you think you would make if this was real. Please pay attention while you go through this simulation and write down 10 things you learned about the struggles facing a working poor family in America.When you are done with the simulation:

Go to your Blog and compose a post with the title "Spent." Answer the following questions:

1. What are 10 key insights you gained from this experience? 2. What was the most difficult decision you had to make? Why? 3. How did the simulation make you feel? Please explain.

Please remember that Blog posts are formal writing. Please edit your work and provide accurate and specific information as well as proper spelling and grammar. Please cite your work and provide insightful graphs, images, and/or cartoons. All images must have citations and captions.

Read the first half of Chapter 2 (pages 41-48) in the text book on Demand. Write the definitions as they appear in the text and answer the thinking questions on the worksheet below. || OCT 12 || **IN CLASS:** Geology Field Trip [|Middle School Girls] Students will watch the movie on Wal-Mart. [|Is Wal Mart Good For America?] FRONTLINE After watching the Video on //Is Walmart Good For America?// please go to your blog and compose a post that answers the following questions: 1. Describe how Wal-Mart has created a power-shift between the retailers and manufacturers in America. (This refers to the difference between a "push" and a "pull" manufacturing economy) Please give an example. 2. Explain Mal-Mart's "opening price point strategy." 3. Explain some of the strategies and innovations that have allowed Wal-Mart to become so profitable and successful. 4. In your opinion- is Wal-Mart good for America? Explain.
 * HOMEWORK:**
 * WED,
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Please remember that Blog posts are formal writing. Please edit your work and provide accurate and specific information as well as proper spelling and grammar. Please cite your work and provide insightful graphs, images, and/or cartoons. All images must have citations and captions. || OCT 7 || **IN CLASS:** [|The Card Game] FRONTLINE Go to class Blog: Title- Credit Cards and Debit Cards Question- What will you do when you finally get a Credit Card and Debit Card? Why? || OCT 5 || **IN CLASS:** Test Unit 1: Economics [|What's Your Economic Outlook?] none || OCT 3 || **IN CLASS:** Review For Test [|Yarmouth Education Newsletter] [|CEO Severance Packages] [|Banks to Add Debit Card Fees] [|Winning the Card Game- Debit Cards] NYTIMES Video (6:15min) [|Google Wallet] [|Killing of Alwaki] Study for Test || SEP 29 || **IN CLASS:** Lecture- Chapter 1: Part 2 [|Amazon Tablet Released] [|Penn & Teller on Wal-Mart] [|Getting By, USA] [|Gold Rush]
 * || **COLUMBUS DAY** ||
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[] Review for Text Next Wednesday- come to class with questions. Be sure to check GoogleDocs on class notes || SEP 27 || **IN CLASS:** Students Share Loose-Ends with the rest of the class. [|NetFlix & DreamWorks] Economic Crisis [|Silicon Valley's Rental Boom] //Podcast- Reading, Rockets, and 'Rithmetic//- from Freakonomics Radio
 * HOMEWORK:**
 * TUE,

Read Text 12-24 and please try to understand the following economic concepts. Construct an example for each (please do not use the same example as the text book.) || SEP 23 || **IN CLASS:** Seminar: //Naked Economics//- Chapter 2 Loose-end research from //Naked Economics//**-** Chapter 2: Incentives Matter. Post your research on the Blog with the Title: //Naked Economics: Incentives Matter//**.** Research a loose-end from our discussion during the seminar- hunt it down and "kill" it. Please provide specific evidence. Provide links to your resources and include a relevant image, graph, cartoon. Remember- this is formal writing so please write using proper grammar. Target- 150+ words. || SEP 21 || **IN CLASS:** [|Town to vote on new garage, athletic field] -PPH (Sept 19, 201) [|Millionaire tax sought by Obama is panned by GOP as 'class warfare'] LA Times (Sept 18, 2011)Read //Naked Economics//- Chapter 2: //Incentives Matter// (Due Friday for an in-class Socratic Seminar) SEP 19 || **IN CLASS:** Share insights into Opportunity Costs and your future. NETFLIX Letter from Reed Hastings Mukasa Moses from Qatar
 * HOMEWORK:**
 * FRI,
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 * WED,
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 * MON,

Use the Title- "President Obama's Jobs Speech." Watch President Obama's "Jobs Speech" on September 8th. What was the main message of his speech? What does he think has to be our nation's top priority? What are 3-5 specific policy initiatives? What was the Republican response? What are a few questions you have about his proposal? [|U.S. Poverty Level spikes to 15.1]Phoebe, Emily [|Obama's Speech] (WSJ) Natalie, Lucas [|Obama's Speech] (Washington Post) Bryce, Maddy [|Obama's Speech] (NYTimes) Matt, Alex [|GOP Balks] (NYTIMES) Bart [|Class Warfare] (NYTIMES) Morgan, Dennis, [|Clash of Generations (NYTimes)]Ethan, Nick [|Economix] Complete your Post with the Title- //President Obama's Jobs Speech// || SEP 15 || **IN CLASS:** Locate GoogleDocs Document- //Class Notes- Intro to Economics// Scarcity-[| Gold Rush & Mr Pearl's Hermes Scarf] - Newsweek (April 17, 2011) //Where Does the Money Go//? US Department of Labor (April 2009) Opportunity Costs- College //T[|ough Times For Graduates]// - Newsweek (May 29, 2011) [|For Graduates, A Shrinking Payoff]- NYTIMES (Aug 31, 2011) Go to the class Blog and construct a new post with the title: **//What about College?//** Using all of the resources we have examined in class and the website [|What will College Run You]? (CNN, 2010) write well thought-out answers to the following questions: 1. Explain the challenges being faced by college graduates. Use statistics and examples (cite your work) 2. Look up the costs of 3 different colleges you are considering attending. 3. Consider the degree you are going to pursue and the job you would like to get someday. How much will you make the first year? How much do you expect to make on average in the next 10 years? 4. Using the concept of opportunity cost, describe which college makes the most economic sense and why. If you do not plan on attending college- look up the potential income for the job you plan to get. How much do you expect to make on average in the next 10 years? - Using the concept of opportunity cost, describe how your decision makes economic sense and why. || SEP 13 || **IN CLASS:** Lecture- //The Economic Way of Thinking// [] [|Wal-Mart Expands Layaway] WSJ (Sep 9, 2011) Student log-on to Blog and write about their Jig-Saw of Economic Readings. Use the Title- **//Economic Way of Thinking//**. 1. "Summarize the issue 2. Identify the major constituencies involved 3. Describe how it gives us insight into our "economic way of thinking" (from the homework) 4. look-up a few "loose ends" or questions you have from the reading.
 * HOMEWORK:**
 * THR,
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 * TUE,

Finish Blogs and Review CH 1 Reading for next class. || SEP 9 || **IN CLASS:** Computers Given 9:30-10 Bookmark- Economics Website/Blog Review- 10th anniversary of September 11th: [|The Reckoning] NYTIMES (Sept 8, 2011) [|102 Minutes That Changes America]- History Channel
 * HOMEWORK:**
 * FRI,

Read Text Pages 3-12. || SEP 7 || **IN CLASS:** Here is the Course of Studies Guide:
 * HOMEWORK:**
 * WED,

Watch the following short video and think about the thesis of the production. What are the three most compelling facts in each video? Identify the connection to our study of economics. [|Hard Times Generation- Homeless Children]

Jig-Saw Economic Readings: Students will read about an economic story from the summer. 1. Summarize the issue 2. Identify the major constituencies involved 3. Describe how it gives us insight into our "economic way of thinking" 4. look-up a few "loose ends" or questions you have from the reading.
 * HOMEWORK:**

2. Watch President Obama's "Jobs Speech" on September 8th. What was the main message of his speech? What does he think has to be our nation's top priority? What are 3-5 specific policy initiatives? What was the Republican response? || //Is America's Obesity Epidemic Real?//- FREAKONOMICS Radio

[|Gas Prices Drop]

[|Did You Know?] [|Economic Literacy Test] [|2011 Halftime Report]NEWSWEEK (JULY 4, 2011)



Housing Crisis in America [|There Goes The Neighborhood]- 60 Minutes

It's The Economy Stupid**!** [|Where have all the Hitchikers Gone?] [|Cuba]