A Webquest Created by Victoria Hicks

Roberto Clemente Community Intermediate School 166

Teaching Interdisciplinary Problem Solving Program

Thirty five years ago, President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law, making it illegal to pay men and women employed in the same establishment different wages for “substantially equal” work. At that time, the ratio of women’s to men’s average pay was about 58 percent. Although the gap between women and men’s wages has narrowed substantially since the signing of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, there still exists a significant wage gap that cannot be explained by differences between male and female workers in labor market and experience and in the characteristics of jobs they hold. The long standing differences in the average pay of men and women in the labor market are the result of many different components. Some differences are; labor market experience, characteristics of the jobs, and differential and discriminatory treatment of women by employers and co-workers. Gender discrimination may take a variety of forms, from practices that reduce the chances that a woman is hired to differences in pay for men and women who work side by side doing the same tasks equally well. There are a variety of theories about how and why women face discrimination in the labor market. As a Public Policy Analyzer you are going to analyze the problem of gender discrimination in the workforce and examine why women make less money then men in the same work position.

You will learn how to create a public policy power point presentation using the TIPS model. The student will investigate gender discrimination in the workforce and examine some of the reason why women earn less money than men in the same work position.

Each student must create a power point presentation using at least 6 slides. The slides must consist of the following:

1) Define the problem of gender discrimination in the workforce.

Define the problem

2) Gather evidence on discrimination.

Gather evidence

3) Identify the causes of gender discrimination and why women make less money then men in the same work position.

Identify causes

4) Evaluate a policy dealing with gender discrimination in the workforce.

Evaluate a policy

5) Develop some solutions for the problem.

Develop solutions

6) Develop the best solution for the problem.

Select best solution

Websites:

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/welcome.html

http//:www.clinton4.nara.gov/texton/wh/eop/cea/html

http://www.clinton4.nara.gov/WH/EOP/CEA/html

http://www.business-humanrights.org.gender-discrimination.htm

http://www.now.ogr

http://sdnha.undp.org/wow/women-poverty/msgoo113.html

Books:

1) Women Making History, by NYC Commission on the

Status of Women.

2) The Road to Equality : American Women since 1962, by

WM H. Cuate.

3) A History of Women in America, by Carol Hymountez.

4) 100 Women Who Shaped History, by Gail Rolke.

This rubric may be used for self-assessment and peer feedback. The project grade will be based upon the following evaluation scale:

A - Exemplary: 45-50 points
B - Proficient: 40-44 points
Partially Proficient or Incomplete: Needs to be resubmitted - less than 39 points

PowerPoint Rubric

ACTIVITY	Exemplary	Proficient	Partially Proficient	Incomplete	POINTS
Content	5 points The content is written clearly and concisely with a logical progression of ideas and supporting information. The project includes motivating questions and advanced organizers that provide the audience with sense of the project’s main idea. Information is accurate, current and comes mainly from * primary sources.	3 points The content is written with a logical progression of ideas and supporting information. Includes persuasive information from *primary sources.	2 points The content is vague in conveying a point of view and does not create a strong sense of purpose. Includes some persuasive information with few facts. Some of the information may not seem to fit. *Primary source use is not always clear.	0 points The content lacks a clear point of view and logical sequence of information. Includes little persuasive information and only one or two facts about the topic. Information is incomplete, out of date and/or incorrect. Sequencing of ideas is unclear.
Text Elements	5 points The fonts are easy-to-read and point size varies appropriately for headings and text. Use of italics, bold, and indentations enhances readability. Text is appropriate in length for the target audience and to the point. The background and colors enhance the readability of text.	3 points Sometimes the fonts are  easy-to-read, but in a few places the use of fonts, italics, bold, long paragraphs, color or busy background detracts and does not enhance readability.	2 point Overall readability is difficult with lengthy paragraphs, too many different fonts, dark or busy background, overuse of bold or lack of appropriate indentations of text.	0 points The text is extremely difficult to read with long blocks of  text and small point size of fonts, inappropriate contrasting colors, poor use of headings, subheadings, indentations, or bold formatting.
Layout	5 points The layout is aesthetically pleasing and contributes to the overall message with appropriate use of headings and subheadings and white space.	3 points The layout uses horizontal and vertical white  space appropriately.	2 point The layout shows some structure, but appears cluttered and busy or distracting with large gaps of white space or uses a distracting background.	0 points The layout is cluttered, confusing, and does not  use spacing, headings and subheadings to enhance the readability.
Graphics, Sound and/or Animation	5 points The graphics, sound and/or animation assist in presenting an overall theme and make visual connections that enhance understanding of concept, ideas and relationships. Original images are created using proper size and resolution, and all images enhance the content. There is a consistent visual theme.	3 points The graphics, sound/and or animation visually depict material and assist the audience in understanding the flow of information or content. Original images are used. Images are proper size, resolution.	2 point Some of the graphics, sounds, and/or animations seem unrelated to the topic/theme and do not enhance the overall concepts. Most images are clipart or recycled from the WWW. Images are too large/small in size. Images are poorly cropped or the color/resolution is fuzzy.	0 points The graphics, sounds, and/or animations are unrelated to the content. Graphics do not enhance understanding of the content, or are distracting decorations that create a busy feeling and detract from the content.
Writing Mechanics	5 points The text is written with no errors in grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.	3 points The text is clearly written with little or no editing required for grammar, punctuation, and spelling.	2 points Spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors distract or impair readability. (3 or more errors)	0 points Errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, usage and grammar repeatedly distract the reader and major editing and revision is required. (more than 5 errors)
TOTAL POINTS					/50

Upon your successful completion of this project, you will learn how to create a public policy power point presentation using the TIPS model. As a Public Policy Analyzer you will learn about the contributing factors of why women are paid less then men in the same work position. You will also develop some solutions for this problem.

Standards

New York State English Language Arts:

E1c - Read and comprehend informational material.

E2a - Produce a report of information.

E4b - Analyze and subsequently revise work to improve its

Clarity and effectiveness.

New York State Social Studies:

Standard #5 - The student understands the workings of civic values inherent to demographic society.