International Trade Policies & the Economy
Course
Political Science I
Unit IV
Government and
the Economy
Essential
Question
How does the US
economy affect
international
trade?
TEKS
§130.183(c)
(5)(E)(F)
Prior Student
Learning
None
Estimated Time
7 to 10 hours
Rationale
International trade policies affect economies worldwide. Understanding the
dynamic between trade policies and economies (US and global) allows
students to effectively live and work in our globalized economy.
Objectives
The students will be able to:
1. Identify international trade agreements established by the US
2. Explain how international trade policies affect the US economy
3. Explain how political parties and the US government have influenced
the US and global economies
4. Explain international trade policies in a global economy
5. Create a historical chart of international trade agreements
6. Research and represent one of the six continents that engage in
international trade
7. Research and represent a member country of the World Trade
Organization
8. Present their research of a member country of the World Trade
Organization
9. Negotiate mock trade agreements
10. Explain the positive and negative effects that the World Trade
Organization has had on the global economy
Engage
Use the image found at the link below as the topic for a class discussion.
 http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/planet2/image/2006/5/wto-split-flags.jpg
Have the students first identify the flags within the image then discuss its
meaning. Use the Discussion Rubric for assessment.
Key Points
I. How do international trade policies affect the global economy?
A. Overview of the global economy
1. The global economy – a worldwide economy created by the
integration and interdependence of national economies
2. To participate in the global economy a nation must establish its
own trade policies and agreements
a) Trade policy
(1) Is a collection of tax laws and regulations that supports
the country’s international commerce
(2) Theoretically, promotes prosperous economies around
the world
b) Gross domestic product (GDP)
(1) Is the total market value of all goods and services
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produced during the year
These goods and services are typically used for trade
with other countries
3. A government’s trade policy usually takes one of two basic
forms: free trade or protectionism
a) Protectionism is similar to the economic isolation approach
b) Prior to World War II, most of the world followed the
isolationist approach to international trade
4. Isolationism is no longer feasible in today’s global economy
a) Most countries are dependent on one another’s economies
b) Economic interdependency – a mutual reliance, in which
actions in nations reverberate and affect the economic wellbeing of people in other nations
c) The health of America’s economy depends dramatically on
the prosperity of its trading partners
d) Some of the US’s largest trading partners include:
(1) Canada
(2) China
(3) Japan
(4) Mexico
B. Basic approaches to constructing international trade policy
1. Protectionist Policy – when countries take steps to close their
markets to foreign goods
a) The government provides domestic producers with subsidies
to help them compete against foreign imports
(1) Subsidies – tax breaks or any kind of financial support
that encourage behaviors the government deems
beneficial to the public good
b) The government can protect domestic production by
imposing a tariff on imported goods
(1) A tariff – a special tax on imported goods
c) This was the trade policy of the US until the Great
Depression
(1) The first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton,
argued that taxes on imported goods could be set high
enough to protect American goods
(2) Tariffs on imported goods were eventually set so high
they contributed to the failure of the American economy
and eventually the Great Depression
d) In today’s global economy, Communist countries have a
protectionist trade policy (e.g. The North Korean government
has closed trade relations with many countries and highly
regulates its international trade)
2. Strategic Trade Policy – when governments identify key
industries that they want to increase then enact policies to
support this economic enlargement
(2)
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a) Economic support is provided by offering
(1) Tax breaks
(2) Low interest loans
b) Recently the US government has identified several sectors
as key industries
(1) Computers
(2) Aerospace
(3) Biotechnology
c) The driving force behind strategic trade policies for many
countries is trade with other countries (e.g. The US
implemented tax breaks for key industries (above) as an
attempt to expand trade relations with China)
3. Free Trade Policy – an elimination of tariffs and nontariff trade
barriers so that international trade is expanded
a) This allows for little government interference in international
trade
(1) Goods and services are traded internationally based on
supply and demand
(2) Free trade has been the goal of the US since World
War II
b) By establishing free trade it opens markets to a greater
diversity of products and more competition for businesses
c) With the elimination of tariffs, the US and other nations can
participate in the global marketplace at a lower cost
(1) This can help to stimulate the US economy because it
creates a larger demand for US goods and services
d) If a country cannot produce enough goods and services, it
has the opportunity to obtain them from other countries
(1) This allows for the economies to remain more stable
and provide enough resources for citizens
II. What international trade agreements have been established by the US
government?
A. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
1. United the US, Canada, and Mexico
2. Was an attempt to adapt to globalization and incorporate more
trading partners for the US
3. Was established in 1993
4. Created the world’s largest regional free trade area
a) NAFTA affects 439 million people and $16.2 trillion in goods
and services produced annually (O’Conner, Sabato & Yanus,
2011, p. 624)
5. Removed tariffs in order to lower the price of goods and services
and transition from protectionism
6. Had the following effects on the US
a) Initially NAFTA seemed to benefit the US economy, but that
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perception has changed since 1993
b) In the 2008 US Presidential election, both John McCain and
Barack Obama agreed that NAFTA was hurting the US
economy
(1) They criticized the loss of American jobs to companies
that established operations in Mexico
(2) Some companies moved operations to Mexico because
labor is cheaper than in the US, which leads to an
increase in profits for the companies
c) NAFTA was opposed by an alliance in the US known as
Citizens Trade Campaign
(1) This alliance consisted of environmentalist, labor, and
consumer groups
(2) These groups opposed NAFTA for various reasons
including pollution, loss of American jobs, and a decline
in pay for many American workers
B. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
1. A multilateral agreement
a) Was established in 1947
b) Was an agreement signed by the US and twenty-three other
countries
(1) Some of the original GATT members were Belgium,
Australia, Cuba, and the US
c) Established international trade guidelines and resolved trade
disputes from 1947 to 1995
d) Advocated for a free trade policy while punishing countries
that still practiced protectionism
(1) The US became a part of GATT because its economy
was still suffering from the Great Depression and it
wanted to expand its economy internationally
e) Negotiations for GATT occurred in rounds that initially began
in Geneva
(1) GATT officially began January 1, 1948, and the US was
one of the original members
(2) GATT eventually evolved into the World Trade
Organization (WTO) in 1995
2. Three basic objectives of the GATT
a) To not discriminate against one another in trade matters
(1) All trade needed to be equal and countries could not
impose trade sanctions for political matters
b) To work toward eliminating all tariff and regulatory barriers to
trade among its countries
(1) Countries worked to lower or even eliminate tariffs in
order to increase trade among these allied nations
c) To consult and negotiate with one another to resolve any
trade conflicts or damages caused by trading activities of
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another signatory country
(1) All trade conflicts would be resolved by the GATT
C. The World Trade Organization (WTO)
1. Was created
a) On January 1, 1995
b) By President Bill Clinton and other Democrats under the
World Trade Agreement Treaty
c) To replace the GATT
2. Advocates for the same policies as GATT
a) Free trade
b) Punishment of protectionism
3. Is much larger than GATT ever was; 153 countries are members
of the WTO currently (Harrison & Harris, 2011, p. 483)
4. Meets every two years to
a) Discuss and deliberate on international trade rules
b) Monitor the adherence to international trade rules
c) Resolve charges of rules violations
5. Has the objective to remove all types of trade barriers, including
obstacles for countries to invest in another country’s economy
6. Accounts for more than 97 percent of trade that occurs around
the world
7. Settles trade disputes among countries that are members of the
WTO
a) More than 30 countries are currently trying to obtain
membership in the WTO (Schmidt, Shelly, Bardes & Ford,
2012, p. 606)
8. Has an arbitration panel that consists of members from countries
in the WTO
a) The arbitration panel settles trade disputes between
countries
9. Establishes policies concerning intellectual property, which
consists of copyrights and patents
10. Has many groups that oppose it and its effect on the global
economy
a) The WTO has created political turmoil in the US with regard
to economic and social violations
b) Activists argue that free trade creates issues such as
violations of environmental protection policies
(1) Environmentalists argue that global trade is polluting
the Earth because of the side effects of manufacturing
and heavy traffic in the oceans
(2) Many jobs are moved to countries with cheap labor and
less environmental restrictions
(3) These countries include China, Mexico, and Taiwan
c) Labor groups
(1) Advocate for human and worker rights around the world
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(2)
(3)
(4)
Advocate for banning forced and child labor
Prohibit discrimination in the workplace
Safeguard the rights of workers to organize for
collective bargaining purposes
(5) Example: International Labour Organization (ILO),
which is also a part of the United Nations
d) Groups are concerned that free trade
(1) Ignores small farmers, goods sold in local markets, and
poor people in general
(2) Only benefits corporations and big global businesses
e) Many Americans are also dissatisfied with the WTO because
many believe that it has led to the loss of jobs in the US
(1) American labor jobs have been outsourced to countries
like China and India because labor is cheaper than in
the US
III. How does international trade affect the US economy?
A. Globalization trends
1. Advances in transportation and communication technologies
have increased free trade
a) As a result, American companies have expanded their
markets internationally and reduced their labor costs
b) Many countries are engaged in free trade agreements and
have interdependent economies
(1) The US economy
(a) Is intensively tied to global economic factors
(b) Operates at a deficit
(c) Is almost $4 trillion in debt to foreign countries
(O’Conner, Sabato & Yanus, 2010, p. 580)
(i) China=$877.5 billion
(ii) Japan=$768.5 billion
(iii) Great Britain= $321.7 billion
(2) The US economic crisis in 2008 affected all of the
countries that had investments in the US economy
2. There has been a drastic reduction of the manufacturing of
“American-made” products because of
a) Cheap labor costs abroad
(1) Lower labor costs create higher profits
(2) Even food products are imported from more than 100
countries
b) Rising cost of labor in the US
(1) The US is required to pay a minimum wage of
$7.25/hour to all employees
(a) Congress is attempting to pass a bill that would
raise minimum wage to $10.10/hour
(b) Minimum wage in China is under $3.00/hour
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(2)
An increase in labor costs creates an increase in the
price of goods
(3) Bringing labor jobs back to the US would increase the
price of goods
B. Negative balance of trade
1. Balance of trade – the difference between the value of a nation’s
exports and imports; limited to trade in goods
2. Current account balance – a much broader term; includes
balance of trade in services, unilateral transfers, and other items
3. Both of these balances are becoming increasingly negative for
the US
a) The US has consistently had a large trade deficit since the
late 1970s (Schmdit, Shelly, Bardes & Ford, 2012, p. 607)
b) In order for the US to continue to operate at its current level,
it must continue to borrow from other countries
IV. How has the US government affected international trade?
A. Three broad policy options exist for the US under the free trade
approach
1. Bilateral trade (trade between two nations) is no longer the
popular option, but it is still used on a limited basis by the US
a) In 2008 George W. Bush
(1) Gained congressional approval for bilateral trade
agreements with Australia, Chile, and Singapore
(2) Did not gain congressional approval for the agreements
he signed with South Korea, Columbia, Panama, and
Vietnam
b) Congress typically opposes bilateral trade agreements for
several reasons
(1) Workers’ rights
(2) Labor standards
(3) Environmental protection policies
c) Globalization and increases in technology have led the US
and many other nations to steer away from bilateral trade
2. The President can override congressional approval/disapproval
a) Presidents have sought to overcome congressional
opposition by obtaining “fast-track authority” that stops
legislators from inserting amendments to bilateral trade
agreements
b) Congress gives this power to the President for a specific
period of time
(1) This requires Congress to vote on, but not to amend,
trade agreements concluded by the President
3. The Federal Reserve System was established by Woodrow
Wilson in 1913 to help regulate the US and global economies
a) It is composed of a Board of Governors that is
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(1) Nominated by the President
(2) Confirmed by the Senate
b) It includes 12 Federal Reserve Banks and the Federal Open
Market Committee
c) It is responsible for
(1) Setting monetary policy
(2) Supervising and regulating banking
(3) Maintaining stability in all financial markets
(4) Providing financial services to international
organizations
B. Some US policies that affect international trade
1. Trade Act of 1974
a) Was a result of the US’s involvement in the Cold War for two
decades
b) Was an attempt for Congress and the President to impose
tariffs onto Communist countries
c) Gave the President the power to extend “favorable” tariffs to
certain Communist countries
(1) The President could only extend favorable tariffs on a
year-by-year basis, and they were subject to
congressional review after each year
(2) When the Cold War eventually ended in the early
1990s, President Bill Clinton urged Congress to drop
the year-by-year trade policy with China
(3) The US worked with China to create a bilateral trade
agreement that made China part of the World Trade
Organization in 1999
(4) Clinton worked with Congress to create Permanent
Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) that would grant formal
trading status to the country of China
(5) The US Chamber of Commerce and Business
Roundtable launched a $10 million ad campaign for the
passage of this bill (O’Conner & Sabato, 2011, p. 264)
(6) This is the largest ad campaign ever launched for a
single legislative issue
(7) The new bill was signed by President Clinton in October
2000 and normal trading status was granted to China
2. Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act
a) This act was passed in 1930 in order to protect American
industry from international competition by imposing a
significant tax on imported goods
(1) This bill raised taxes on imports more than 52 percent
(Schmidt, Shelley, Bardes & Ford, 2012, p. 605)
b) Other nations responded to this by placing high tariffs on
American goods that were imported into their country
c) As a result, international trade dropped dramatically, which
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heavily affected the economies of many countries around the
world
(1) The lower demand for imported goods dropped, which
caused many economies to fail
d) This act sent the US and many other European countries
further into the Great Depression
V. How have political parties in the US influenced fiscal policy, as well as
the US and global economies?
A. US fiscal policy
a) Fiscal policy – the deliberate use of the national
government’s taxing and spending policies to maintain
economic stability
b) The President and Congress formulate fiscal policy and
conduct it through the federal budget process
c) The first significant contemporary application of fiscal policy
occurred in the early 1960s with the Democrats and
President John F. Kennedy
(1) This was an attempt to stimulate the US economy
(2) Democrats believed that
(a) It was the government’s responsibility to intervene
to resolve inefficiencies in the private sector
(b) Addressing the budget stimulus could be done by
cutting taxes rather than increasing government
spending
(3) Republicans believed it was not the responsibility of the
federal government to oversee the private sector
d) The Revenue Act of 1964
(1) Was adopted by President Lyndon Johnson
(2) Reduced personal and corporate income tax rates
(a) The tax-cut stimulus contributed to the expansion
of the American economy abroad and lowered
unemployment
(b) Republicans Ronald Reagan and George H. W.
Bush used a similar philosophy by pushing tax
cuts through Congress to stimulate faltering
economies
B. Fiscal policy in a global context
a) Because of economic interdependency, the global economy
can essentially be threatened by a single country
b) Many modern day Republicans believe that the US should
eliminate as many trade barriers as possible
c) Many modern day Democrats believe that trade sanctions
and barriers need to be imposed on countries that do not
adhere to human rights, environmental protection, and labor
standards
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Activities
1. Trade vs. Humanity – Divide the class into six groups. Have each group
represent one of the six continents that engage in international trade.
Have each group identify the major imports and exports, and average
minimum wage for a major country on the continent. Then have the
students research and identify the labor standards for their assigned
countries and identify any difference between imports/exports, minimum
wage, and labor standards. Use the students’ research and the
following question for class discussion: “What is more important: free
trade or human rights?” Use the Research Rubric, the Discussion
Rubric and/or the Group Evaluation Rubric for assessment.
2. Model World Trade Organization – Have each student represent a
member country of the World Trade Organization. Have each student
research his or her assigned country and identify the country’s major
import/exports, minimum wage, and major trading partners. Have each
student create a computer-based presentation of his or her research.
Have each student present his or her findings to the class. Then have
the students negotiate trade agreements with one another. Use the
Individual Work Rubric and/or the Presentation Rubric for assessment.
Assessments
International Trade Policies & the Economy Quiz and Key
Discussion Rubric
Group Evaluation Rubric
Individual Work Rubric
Presentation Rubric
Research Rubric
Materials
International Trade Policies & the Economy computer-based presentation
International Trade Policies & the Economy Key Terms
Computer with Internet access, a projector/screen, and computer-based
presentation software
Computers with Internet access (one per student or one per group) or other
research sources
Computers with computer-based presentation software or other
presentation materials (posters, markers, etc.)
Resources
Edwards, George, Martin Wattenberg, and Robert Lineberry. Government
in America: People, Politics and Policy. 15. New York City: Longman,
2011. Chapter 17 & 21. Print.
Harrison, Brigid, and Jean Harris. American Democracy Now. 2. New York
City: McGrawHill Company, 2011. Chapter 15 & 18. Print.
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O'Conner, Karen, Larry Sabato, and Alixandra Yanus. American
Government: Roots and Reform. 2011. New York City: Longman,
2011. Chapter 4 & 18. Print.
Patterson, Thomas. The American Democracy. 9th. New York City:
McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2009. Ch. 15 & 18. Print.
Schmidt, Steffan, Mack Shelley, Barbara Bardes, and Lynne Ford.
American Government and Politics Today. 2011-2012. Boston:
Wadsworth Cenage Learning, 2012. Chapter 17 &19. Print.
Accommodations for Learning Differences
For reinforcement, students will create a chart of the international trade
agreements that have been created throughout history. The chart should
include the date the trade agreement was established, major countries in
the trade agreement, and the overall purpose of the trade agreement. Use
the Individual Work Rubric for assessment.
For enrichment, students will write a 2-3 page research paper about the
positive and negative effects that the World Trade Organization has had on
the global economy. Use the Research Rubric for assessment.
State Education Standards
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education
§130.183. Political Science I (One to Two Credits).
(5)
The student identifies the roles played by local, state, and
national governments in public and private sectors of the
United States free enterprise system. The student is expected
to:
(E)
explain the effects of international trade on United
States economic and political policies; and
(F)
summarize the government's role in setting
international trade policies.
College and Career Readiness Standards
Social Studies Standards
I. Interrelated Disciplines and Skills
D. Change and continuity of economic systems and processes
1. Identify and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of
different economic systems.
2. Analyze the basic functions and structures of international
economics.
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International Trade Policies & the Economy Key Terms
Balance of Trade – the difference between the value of a nation’s exports and imports; limited to
trade in goods
Bilateral trade – trade between two countries
Economic Interdependency – a mutual reliance in which actions in nations reverberate and
affect the economic well-being of people in other nations
Fiscal Policy – the deliberate use of the national government’s taxing and spending policies to
maintain economic stability
Free Trade Policy – an elimination of tariffs and nontariff trade barriers so that international
trade is expanded
Global economy – a worldwide economy created by the integration and interdependence of
national economies
Isolationism – a national policy of avoiding participation in foreign affairs
Protectionism – an economic policy which shields an economy from imports
Subsidies – tax breaks or any kind of financial support that encourage behaviors the
government deems beneficial to the public good
Tariff – a special tax on imported goods
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Name________________________________
Date__________________________
International Trade Policies & the Economy Quiz
1. _____Prior to World War II, most countries in the world practiced which of the following
trade policies?
A. Protectionism
B. Isolationism
C. Globalization
D. Free Trade Policy
2. _____Which of the following countries is the largest trading partner with the US?
A. Mexico
B. China
C. Canada
D. Japan
3. _____Which of the following is not a part of constructing international trade policy?
A. Isolationism
B. Protectionism
C. Strategic Trade Policy
D. Free Trade Policy
4. _____ Which of the following is a special tax on imported goods?
A. Tariff
B. Subsidies
C. Trade Agreement
D. Deficit
5. _____Protectionism trade policy was a significant factor in which of the following US
historical events?
A. The American Revolution
B. The Civil War
C. The Great Depression
D. The 2008 government “Bailout”
6. _____Which of the following countries has the most regulated international trade policy?
A. China
B. Venezuela
C. Cuba
D. North Korea
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7. _____Which of the following is NOT a benefit of free international trade?
A. Benefits local farmers and small businesses
B. Opens up markets to a greater diversity of products
C. Creates more competition for businesses
D. Decreases labor costs for big business
8. _____GATT was a trade agreement that preceded which international trade agreement?
A. The European Union
B. World Trade Organization
C. North American Free Trade Agreement
D. The United Nations
9. _____Which of the following was not considered a basic objective of the GATT?
A. Countries could not discriminate against one another in trade matters
B. Countries would work to eliminate all tariffs and regulatory barriers
C. Countries would work together to resolve trade conflicts
D. Countries could impose trade sanctions for political violations
10. _____NAFTA was established under which US President?
A. George H. W. Bush
B. Bill Clinton
C. George W. Bush
D. Barack Obama
11. _____The International Labor Organization is a part of which international organization?
A. The European Union
B. The World Trade Organization
C. The United Nations
D. North American Free Trade Agreement
12. _____Which of the following best defines the term globalization?
A. Technological advances that have easily connected countries around the world
B. A worldwide economy created by the integration and interdependence of national
economies
C. A mutual reliance in which actions in nations reverberate and affect the economic
well-being of people in other nations
D. An economic policy which shields an economy from imports
13. _____Why do businesses in the US outsource the production of goods to foreign
countries?
A. Businesses receive tax breaks from the federal government
B. Labor is cheaper in some countries
C. Production quality is better in some countries
D. It is a requirement for members of the World Trade Organization
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14. _____Which act was created by the US Congress to impose tariffs on Communist
countries?
A. The Trade Act of 1974
B. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act
C. The Revenue Act of 1964
D. Permanent Normal Trade Relations Act
15. _____Which of the following is not considered a key industry of trade for the US?
A. Aerospace
B. Computers
C. Healthcare
D. Biotechnology
16. _____Which of the following best describes the term balance of trade?
A. A trade agreement between two countries
B. Trade among countries is equally beneficial for all of the countries involved
C. Countries are only allowed to import the same value of goods that they export
D. The value of a country’s exports equal the country’s imports
17. _____Which of the following is best defined as the policy that decreases the costs of
bringing products to markets throughout the world by lowering or eliminating tariffs and
deregulating?
A. Free trade policy
B. Monetary Policy
C. Protectionist trade policy
D. Regulatory policy
18. _____Which of the following best defines fiscal policy?
A. Tax breaks or any kind of financial support that encourages behaviors the government
deems beneficial to the public good
B. A worldwide economy created by the integration and interdependence of national
economies
C. The deliberate use of the national government’s taxing and spending policies to
maintain economic stability
D. An economic policy which shields an economy from imports
19. _____Which of the following is best defined as the dollar value of all final goods and
services produced in a one-year period?
A. Gross public debt
B. Consumer price index
C. Balance of trade
D. Gross domestic product
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20. _____Which of the following government institutions has the greatest impact of the
economy?
A. Council of Economic Advisors
B. Federal Reserve Board
C. Senate Economic Committee
D. Office of Management and Budget
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International Trade Policies & the Economy Quiz Key
1. B
2. C
3. A
4. A
5. C
6. D
7. A
8. B
9. D
10. B
11. C
12. A
13. B
14. A
15. C
16. D
17. A
18. C
19. D
20. B
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Name_______________________________
Date________________
Group Evaluation
Group 1
Did the group take the assignment seriously?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Could you tell what the group was trying to portray?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Was the group portrayal creative?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Did the group include the correct elements?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
8
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
Would you like to see this group demonstrate its talent for you in the future?
No
Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total Score_______
Group 2
Did the group take the assignment seriously?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Could you tell what the group was trying to portray?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Was the group portrayal creative?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Did the group include the correct elements?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
8
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
Would you like to see this group demonstrate its talent for you in the future?
No
Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total Score_______
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Group 3
Did the group take the assignment seriously?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yes
10
Could you tell what the group was trying to portray?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yes
10
Was the group portrayal creative?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
7
Did the group include the correct elements?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
8
Would you like to see this group demonstrate its talent for you in the future?
No
Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total Score_______
Group 4
Did the group take the assignment seriously?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yes
10
Could you tell what the group was trying to portray?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
Was the group portrayal creative?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Did the group include the correct elements?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
8
Would you like to see this group demonstrate its talent for you in the future?
No
Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total Score_______
19
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Group 5
Did the group take the assignment seriously?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yes
10
Could you tell what the group was trying to portray?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yes
10
Was the group portrayal creative?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
7
Did the group include the correct elements?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
8
Would you like to see this group demonstrate its talent for you in the future?
No
Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total Score_______
Group 6
Did the group take the assignment seriously?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yes
10
Could you tell what the group was trying to portray?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
Was the group portrayal creative?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Did the group include the correct elements?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
8
Would you like to see this group demonstrate its talent for you in the future?
No
Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total Score_______
20
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Name_______________________________________
Date_______________________________
Discussion Rubric
Objectives
4 pts.
Excellent
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Participates in group discussion
Encourages others to join the
conversation
Keeps the discussion progressing
to achieve goals
Shares thoughts actively while
offering helpful recommendations to
others
Gives credit to others for their ideas
Respects the opinions of others
Involves others by asking questions
or requesting input
Expresses thoughts and ideas
clearly and effectively
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
21
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Name______________________________________
Date_______________________________________
Individual Work Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Follows directions
Student completed the work as directed,
following the directions given, in order and to the
level of quality indicated
Time management
Student used time wisely and remained on task
100% of the time
Organization
Student kept notes and materials in a neat,
legible, and organized manner. Information was
readily retrieved
Evidence of learning
Student documented information in his or her
own words and can accurately answer questions
related to the information retrieved
*Research/Gathering information (if relevant)
Student used a variety of methods and sources
to gather information. Student took notes while
gathering information
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
22
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Name:____________________________________
Date:_____________________________
Presentation Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Topic/Content
 Topic discussed completely and in-depth
 Includes properly cited sources (if used)
Creativity/Neatness
 Integrates a variety of multimedia effects to
create a professional presentation (transition
and graphics) or appropriate visual aid used
 Title slide, table of contents, bibliography are
included, using acceptable format
Mechanics
 Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and
capitalization are correct
 Image and font size are legible to the entire
audience
Oral Presentation
 Communicates with enthusiasm and eye
contact
 Voice delivery and projection are dynamic
and audible
Audience Interaction
 Presentation holds audience’s attention and
relates a clear message
 Clearly and effectively communicates the
content throughout the presentation
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
23
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Name______________________________________
Date_______________________________________
Research Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Question/goal
Student identified and communicated a question
or goal of the research
Research/Gathering information (if relevant)
Student used a variety of methods and sources
to gather information. Student took notes while
gathering information
Conclusion/Summary
Student drew insightful conclusions and
observations from the information gathered.
Information is organized in a logical manner
Communication
Student communicated the information gathered
and summary or conclusions persuasively.
Student demonstrated skill in the use of media
used to communicate the results of research
Reflection
Student reflected on the importance of the
research and its potential application
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
24
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.