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ECONOMICS

This class is designed to lend some insight into how our economy functions, and what role we as citizens play. An understanding of economics is vital to being an effective citizen, and I hope that this class will help you make better and more informed decisions as you enter the adult world. This class will also touch on basic life skills required to function in the “real world” in order to prepare you in the most effective manner.

An educated opinion is a powerful tool that will earn you respect!

 Please remember that you are in control of your success in this class.

 Take responsibility for your work and be accountable for your actions.

DATECLASS CALENDAR / INFORMATION
Monday
February 4		TOPIC: INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS

CLASS ACTIVITY:
1. ECONOMICS in the NEWS
2. WORK ON YOUR STOCK PORTFOLIO

ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT:
1. READ CHAPTER 1 in Naked Economics
2. CHAPTER 1 QUESTIONS - DUE AT START OF CLASS ON FRIDAY
RECOMMENDED READING: Joseph Stiglitz - The American Economy Is Rigged (Scientific American) - We will discuss this in class next Monday 
Tuesday
February 5		NO CLASS
Wednesday February 6TOPIC: INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS

CLASS PRESENTATION:
1. ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
2. NAME THAT ECONOMIC SYSTEM

ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT:
1. READ CHAPTER 1 in Naked Economics
2. CHAPTER 1 QUESTIONS - DUE AT START OF CLASS ON FRIDAY 
Thursday February 7 

TORONTO STAR Project - Donald Trump Fact Check - 4325 FALSE CLAIMS AND COUNTING

**TOPIC: PERSPECTIVES ON ECONOMICS

CLASS PRESENTATION: CAPITALISM - A Love Story

NOTES: Synopsis for CAPITALISM - A Love Story

ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT:
1. READ CHAPTER 1 in Naked Economics
2. CHAPTER 1 QUESTIONS - DUE AT START OF CLASS ON FRIDAY 
Friday February 8TOPIC: PERSPECTIVES ON ECONOMICS 

CLASS PRESENTATION: Finish CAPITALISM - A Love Story 
 
ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: CAPITALISM - A Love Story Study Questions - DUE AT START OF CLASS ON MONDAY 
Monday
February 11		TOPIC: PERSPECTIVES ON ECONOMICS

CLASS ACTIVITY:
1. Follow-up discussion of CAPITALISM - A Love Story
2. Discussion of  Joseph Stiglitz - The American Economy Is Rigged
3. ECONOMICS in the NEWS
4. WORK ON YOUR STOCK PORTFOLIO
Tuesday February 12NO CLASS
Wednesday February 13TOPIC: INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS (re-visited) 

CLASS PRESENTATION:
1. ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
2. NAME THAT ECONOMIC SYSTEM
       
ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT:
1. READ website page about the documentary film Inequality for All
2. READ Robert Reich Blog Post - Why the Three Biggest Economic Lessons Were Forgotten  
Thursday February 14**TOPIC: INEQUALITY - THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR IN AMERICA

CLASS PRESENTATION: Inequality for All 
Friday February 15TOPIC: INEQUALITY - THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR IN AMERICA

 CLASS PRESENTATION: Robert Reich YouTube Clips
1. What Is Inequality of Place
2. The Monopolization of America

CLASS ACTIVITY: Work on STUDY GUIDE for Inequality for All - DUE AT START OF CLASS ON WEDNESDAY

NOTES: GRAPHICS PACKAGE from Inequality for All  
Monday
February 18		Presidents’ Day – NO CLASSES 
Tuesday February 19NO CLASS
Wednesday February 20TOPIC: INEQUALITY - THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR IN AMERICA

CLASS PRESENTATION:
1. Viral Video Shows the Extent of U.S. Wealth Inequality
2. The American Dream
3. Wealth and Poverty in the United States

ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: READ INTRODUCTION to the film The Florida Project 
Thursday February 21**TOPIC: INEQUALITY - THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR IN AMERICA

CLASS PRESENTATION: The Florida Project 
Friday
February 22
LOTS OF SNOW, NOT ENOUGH ELECTRICITY
Monday
February 25		TOPIC: INEQUALITY - THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR IN AMERICA

CLASS PRESENTATION: Finish The Florida Project

 ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: OPTIONAL (No, REALLY!!!) - DISCUSSION QUESTIONS for The Florida Project 
Tuesday February 26NO CLASS
Wednesday February 27TOPIC: BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS 

CLASS PRESENTATION: BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS PPT 

NOTES: BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS 
  
ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS WORKSHEET - DUE AT START OF CLASS ON WEDNESDAY 
Thursday
February 28		**TOPIC: BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS / ETHICS

CLASS PRESENTATION: Patterns

 NOTES: Patterns (1956) - Film Review ["as relevant and common today"]
Friday
March 1		TOPIC: "Mixed Bag"

CLASS ACTIVITY: Work on 1 and/or 2
1. BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS WORKSHEET - DUE AT START OF CLASS ON WEDNESDAY
2. YOUR STOCK PORTFOLIO 
Monday
March 4 		TOPIC: BUSINESS START-UP 
       
CLASS ACTIVITY: Rags to Riches - Can you open a new business successfully?  
Tuesday
March 5 		NO CLASS
Wednesday March 6 TOPIC: The Behemoth WAL-MART

CLASS PRESENTATION:
1. The Wal-Mart Business Model 
2. Wal-Mart - Parody Commercials
Thursday March 7**TOPIC: The Behemoth WAL-MART

CLASS PRESENTATION: Wal-Mart - The High Cost of Low Prices

NOTES: Wal-Mart - The High Cost of Low Prices FACT SHEET
Friday
March 8		TOPIC: The Behemoth WAL-MART

CLASS PRESENTATION:
1. Finish Wal-Mart - The High Cost of Low Prices
2. Wal-Mart - The High Cost of Low Prices - special features

 NOTES: Wal-Mart - The High Cost of Low Prices FACT SHEET

ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: Wal-Mart - The High Cost of Low Prices STUDY GUIDE - DUE AT START OF CLASS ON MONDAY
Monday
March 11
TOPIC: "Mixed Bag"

CLASS PRESENTATION: Catching up with John Oliver, Last Week Tonight on JOBS (and maybe BREXIT)

STOCK PORTFOLIO - Will the $$$ losing stop this week?
Tuesday
March 12 		NO CLASS
Wednesday March 13
TOPIC: Continuing our Michael Moore Film Festival (AND trying to find a more positive topic!!!)

CLASS PRESENTATION: Where To Invade Next

NOTES: Where To Invade Next FILM SUMMARY and FILM THEMES 
Thursday March 14**TOPIC: Continuing our Michael Moore Film Festival (AND trying to find a more positive topic!!!)

CLASS PRESENTATION: Finish Where To Invade Next 

NOTES: Where To Invade Next FILM SUMMARY and FILM THEMES

ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: Prepare for follow-up discussion on Where To Invade Next - DISCUSSION QUESTIONS - TOMORROW 
Friday
March 15 		TOPIC: Continuing our Michael Moore Film Festival (AND trying to find a more positive topic!!!)

NOTES: Where To Invade Next FILM SUMMARY and FILM THEMES

 CLASS ACTIVITY: Follow-up discussion on Where To Invade Next - DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 
Monday
March 18 		TOPIC: "Mixed Bag"

1. Catch up on Current Events
2. YOUR STOCK PORTFOLIO (everyone made money last week)

ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: READ INTRODUCTION to INSIDE JOB
Tuesday
March 19 		NO CLASS
Wednesday March 20 TOPIC: THE MARKETS AND FINANCIAL CRISIS

CLASS PRESENTATION:
1. THE ECONOMIC CRISIS OF 2008
2. INSIDE JOB    

NOTES:
1. Film SYNOPSIS
2. ECONOMIC JARGON in INSIDE JOB
Thursday March 21**TOPIC: THE MARKETS AND FINANCIAL CRISIS

CLASS PRESENTATION: Finish INSIDE JOB 
 
ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: INSIDE JOB DISCUSSION QUESTIONS - DISCUSSION TOMORROW  
Friday
March 22 		TOPIC: THE MARKETS AND FINANCIAL CRISIS

CLASS ACTIVITY: Follow-up discussion of INSIDE JOB  
Monday
March 25		NO CLASSES - Trip to MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM & HEARD MUSEUM
Tuesday
March 26		NO CLASS
Wednesday
March 27		TOPIC: BUSINESS ETHICS

CLASS PRESENTATION:
1. Business Ethics
2. Business Ethics: Corporate Social Responsibility
3. The Shareholder and Stakeholder Approaches to Social Responsibility 
Thursday
March 28		**TOPIC: BUSINESS ETHICS

 CLASS PRESENTATION: The Corporation

NOTES: Ethical Implications of Corporations
Friday
March 29		TOPIC: BUSINESS ETHICS

 CLASS PRESENTATION: The Corporation
Monday
April 1		TOPIC: BUSINESS ETHICS

 CLASS PRESENTATION: Finish The Corporation

ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: Business Ethics CASE STUDIES - DUE AT START OF CLASS ON WEDNESDAY
1. Laughing Man Coffee
2. New Mexico Employee Embezzles Money from Company - Again
Tuesday
April 2 		NO CLASS
Wednesday
April 3 		TOPIC: BUSINESS ETHICS

 CLASS PRESENTATION:
1. Financial Scams and Schemes
2. The 10 Most Outrageous Stock Market Scammers

ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: READ THE MADOFF AFFAIR BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Paul Krugman (a leading economist): Trump's Kakistocracy Is Also a Hackistocracy
kakistocracy: government by the worst persons
hackistocracy: rule by a cabal of venal, self-dealing, cynical, sanctimonious, lying, bumbling, bullying hacks
Thursday
April 4		**TOPIC: BUSINESS ETHICS

 CLASS PRESENTATION:
1. THE MADOFF AFFAIR
2. Bernie Madoff as a Case Study 
Friday
April 5 		TOPIC: BUSINESS ETHICS

VACATION ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: THE MADOFF AFFAIR DISCUSSION QUESTIONS - DUE AT START OF CLASS ON WEDNESDAY, 4/17 
SPRING VACATION
Tuesday
April 16 		NO CLASS
Wednesday April 17

TOPIC: COST OF HEALTH CARE IN THE U.S.

READ AND REVIEW THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

1. WHY AN MRI COSTS $1080 IN AMERICA AND $280 IN FRANCE
2. HIGH COST of Medical Procedures in the U.S.
3. U.S. Health Care Ranked Worst in the Developed World

4. CLASS PRESENTATION: Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System 
Thursday  April 18**TOPIC: COST OF HEALTH CARE IN THE U.S.
       
CLASS PRESENTATION: Sicko  
Friday 
April 19		COST OF HEALTH CARE IN THE U.S.
       
CLASS PRESENTATION: Finish Sicko

- I always find the end encouraging ... maybe PEOPLE are more important than corporations, governments and laws. We will discuss on Monday.
Monday
April 22		TOPIC: COST OF HEALTH CARE IN THE U.S.

CLASS PRESENTATION: Sicko EXTRAS

ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: Sicko Information Sheet / Discussion Questions - DUE AT START OF CLASS ON WEDNESDAY 
Tuesday
April 23 		NO CLASS
Wednesday April 24 TOPIC: THE MARKETS AND FINANCIAL CRISIS 

CLASS PRESENTATION: THE BIG SHORT

NOTES: Your Cheat Sheet for THE BIG SHORT 
Thursday April 25**TOPIC: THE MARKETS AND FINANCIAL CRISIS 

CLASS PRESENTATION: THE BIG SHORT

NOTES: Your Cheat Sheet for THE BIG SHORT 
Friday
April 26  		TOPIC: THE MARKETS AND FINANCIAL CRISIS 

CLASS ACTIVITY: Work on THE BIG SHORT Discussion Guide - DUE AT END OF CLASS ON MONDAY 
Monday
April 29 		TOPIC: "Mixed Bag"

1. Catch up on Current Events
2. YOUR STOCK PORTFOLIO
3. Spent - Could you survive, raise a child in a minimum wage job?
Tuesday
April 30 		NO CLASS
Wednesday
May 1 		TOPIC: ENERGY COSTS - Is Natural Gas the Solution OR an Even Bigger Problem?

CLASS PRESENTATION: FRACKING 101

NOTES:
1. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF NATURAL GAS
2. GASLAND - The Film in Context

ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: READING: NationMaster - EXCELLENT Resource to Compare Countries 
Thursday
May 2 		**TOPIC: ENERGY COSTS - Is Natural Gas the Solution OR an Even Bigger Problem?

CLASS PRESENTATION: GASLAND

NOTES:
1. World Fracking Map
2. Countries With The Highest Fracking Potential  
Friday
May 3 		TOPIC: ENERGY COSTS - Is Natural Gas the Solution OR an Even Bigger Problem?

CLASS PRESENTATION: Finish GASLAND

ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: GASLAND WORKSHEET - DUE AT START OF CLASS ON MONDAY 
Monday
May 6 		TOPIC: CONSUMER SKILLS 

READING:
1. Top 10 Most Expensive Cars in the World - 2019
2. The 25 Cheapest New Cars Coming in 2019 (That Are Actually Worth The Money)
3. 10 LEAST Reliable Cars of 2019
3. 10 MOST Reliable Cars of 2019
       
CLASS ACTIVITY: CAR BUYING - COMPARISON SHOPPING - COMPLETED SHEET DUE AT START OF CLASS ON WEDNESDAY  
Tuesday
May 7 		NO CLASS
Wednesday
May 8 		TOPIC: CONSUMER SKILLS 

CLASS ACTIVITY: CAR BUYING - FINANCING / COSTS - COMPLETED SHEET DUE AT START OF CLASS ON THURSDAY  
Thursday
May 9		**TOPIC: A LESSON IN AMERICAN ECONOMICS AND GOVERNMENT???

CLASS PRESENTATION: WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR?
       
UPDATE? Could it be happening again? Behind the Quiet State-by-State Fight over Electric Vehicles

NOTES: WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR? Film Summary

ASSIGNMENT / ASSESSMENT: "RANK ORDER" on the Roles of BUSINESS and GOVERNMENT in a democratic/capitalist society? 
Friday
May 10 		TOPIC: The Near-Future? 

CLASS ACTIVITY: THE OBLIGATIONS OF A CONTRACT WITH YOUR COLLEGE ROOMMATE [often REQUIRED!]
- Roommate "Guidelines"
- Sample Roommate Agreement Form (from Oregon State University)

STEP 1: Fill out the Roommate Agreement Form for yourself - send it to me
STEP 2: TOGETHER - Complete the contract that you BOTH/ALL agree to - send it to me 
Monday
May 13 		TOPIC: "Mixed Bag"

1. Economics in the News
2. Stock Market
3. Planning
Tuesday
May 14 		NO CLASS
Wednesday
May 15 		TOPIC: U.S. Trade Policy

CLASS PRESENTATION: Politics + Economics = TRADE POLICY
Thursday
May 16		**TOPIC: U.S. Trade Policy

CLASS PRESENTATION: Trump's Trade War 
Friday
May 17 		TOPIC: THE FUTURE - PERSONAL CAREER

READING:
1. The 25 BEST JOBS of 2019
2. Careers Millennials Should Avoid
3. The 50 BEST JOBS in America - And How Much They Pay
4. BEST AND WORST JOBS OF 2019 - Ranking 200 Jobs
5. 2019 BEST PLACES TO WORK  
Monday
May 20		TOPIC: Current Issues

CLASS PRESENTATION: Clips from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver / Now This
Tuesday
May 21 		NO CLASS
Wednesday
May 22 		TOPIC: INEQUALITY - THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR IN AMERICA
    
CLASS PRESENTATION - Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream  
Thursday
May 23		**TOPIC: The Nexus of Power - Big Government & Big Business (OR Do the Banks Run the Country?)

CLASS PRESENTATION: TOO BIG TO FAIL
Friday
May 24 		TOPIC: The Nexus of Power - Big Government & Big Business (OR Do the Banks Run the Country?)

CLASS PRESENTATION: Finish TOO BIG TO FAIL 
Monday
May 27		MEMORIAL DAY – NO CLASSES
Tuesday
May 28		NO CLASS
Wednesday
May 29		TOPIC: Story of Success AND Failure

CLASS PRESENTATION: The Rise and Fall of Nokia

Please return your copy of Naked Economics by Friday
Thursday
May 30		**TOPIC: Finish with a final lesson from Robert Reich

CLASS PRESENTATION: Saving Capitalism

Please return your copy of Naked Economics by Friday

EMAIL - if you need / want to contact me:
kfarshtey@hotmail.com
kfarshtey@gmail.com
Friday
May 31		SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS
8:30 - Period 1 Exams
1:00 - Period 2 Exams - ECONOMICS
CLASS ACTIVITY:
1. What if your future were random? [Bring a calculator to do the math!]
2. Career Clusters Interest Survey
Monday
June 3		SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS
8:30 - Period 3 Exams
1:00 - Period 4 Exams - CURRENT EVENTS
Tuesday
June 4		SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS
8:30 - Period 5 Exams - U.S. HISTORY
1:00 - Period 6 Exams - WORLD CULTURES
Thursday
June 6		GRADUATION DAY