A.P. ECONOMICS                                                   DUE DATE:  __October 30,2009___________________                      

Mrs. Brazill                                                               

MICROECONOMICS JOURNAL ASSIGNMENT

One of the goals of A.P. Economics is for you to become a well-informed citizen who is able to analyze the issues and problems facing the nation and to apply economic principles to the decision-making process.  Analysis is the first step in the process of responsible citizenship.  The purpose of this journal assignment is to analyze and demonstrate understanding about economic issues.

You must collect a minimum of 8 articles which deal with the following categories.

Each category must be covered and you may have no more than two articles per topic.

TOPICS:

1.         Changes in demand

2.         Changes in supply

3.         Government role (such as price floors/ceiling) providing public goods

4.         Negative externalities

PROCEDURE:

·        Cut out each article and include in journal.

·        Identify each article by title, date, and author (required)

·        Some sources may be newspapers, news magazines, business magazines.  Internet downloads are permitted if they are from print sources.

·        Summarize the article briefly.

·        Apply economic concepts learned in class to the article.  Include in your analysis:

• marginal analysis

• market failure

• discussion of price elasticity of demand

• causes of changes in supply and demand

• tax incidence

• surpluses and shortages

• consumer and producer surplus

• derived demand

It is important to make connections to all the concepts in the article.  Graphs are required when applicable.

MECHANICS:

·        All entries must be typed.

·        Graphs must be properly labeled and may be hand written and pasted in.

·        No credit will be given for work without sources and dates.

·        Internet addresses must be included.

·        No late work will be accepted.

·        Self-evaluation is required and should be submitted with journal.  This will be a typed one-page assessment of what you learned through this project.

EVALUATION:

Journals will be graded following the rubric:

5                     All number of articles used providing rich, meaningful and varied

                        economic concepts for analysis

                        Analysis of articles demonstrates provocative insights to economic principles

                        Application of economic principles is accurate and demonstrates depth of

                        understanding

                        Numerous graphs are accurately labeled and used to explain events in the articles

4.                    Most of the articles provide a variety of economic concepts for analysis

                        Analysis of articles demonstrates clear and accurate understanding of

                        economic principles

                        Application of economic concepts is accurate

                        Graphs are accurately labeled and applied to events in articles

3.                    Some articles provide a mix of economic concepts

                        Analysis of articles demonstrates competent understanding of

                        economic concepts

                        Application of economic concepts is usually accurate

                        Graphs are used correctly

2.                    Few articles cover varied required concepts

                        Graphs are not used/not correct

1.                    Unacceptable

                        Analysis shows confusion

                        Application is inadequate
A.P. ECONOMICS

Micro Journal Assignment

GRADING CHECK LIST

                                                                                    STUDENT                  TEACHER

·        Articles are included with source and date   __________                __________

·        Required number (8) are included               __________                __________

·        All summaries are typed                                          __________                __________

·        Topics are varied                                                    __________                __________

·        Economic concepts are applied accurately   __________                __________   

and thoroughly

STUDENT ARTICLE SUMMARY SHEET