THE URBAN CRISES:
APRIL, 2003
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/select.html
Introduction:
“Holy saints! Unholy roads! What the devil is going on?
Another traffic jam, I’m gonna be late again today!
When will this ever end?” Traffic jams. This is one of the common scenarios
that occur on a daily basis in highly populated cities such as
There are more people living in the city than the infrastructure can support. Why is this happening? In the old days,100 years ago, many people lived in the rural areas and subsistence farming was the means of making a living. However, with the improvement of technology, more machines were employed and scientific methods of farming were utilized. With only a few hands, a big time farmer was now able to cultivate a very large area successfully. There was no need anymore for a large workforce. In addition, the small-scale farmers could not finance the use of expensive machinery and fertilizers, etc. and so they could not compete with these big farmers. Taxes also went up for the land and thus the small farmers were phased out. They could not make a living anymore in the rural areas, so they had to move to the city to seek employment and education for their children. Also, as years passed and more immigrants came into the country, they eventually end up in the city in order to get jobs and to provide for their families. As a result, the urban population increased tremendously in most States.
Now the schools are overcrowded, there are too many cars on the roads, the hospitals are always full, unemployment is on the rise and even the crime rate is increasing. Maintenance workers are busy all year round repairing the roads, bridges and tunnels. Bills for everything are driving people crazy. Even garbage has increased beyond manageable levels. Water shortages, electricity outages, and increased fares and taxes are dreaded by the populace in the city.
Imagine you have been selected by the Federal Government as a Public Policy Analyst (PPA) to investigate this social problem and develop effective and feasible solutions. How will you carry out this very important study?
The work as a public policy analyst is explained below. You can access the various parts of the article to find out further information.
|
PPA IPPA AHPPA GHPPA |
A public policy is a government action usually
intended to deal with a social problem. Every day policies are enacted in
your school, city, state, country and throughout the world that will affect
your life. Consider these examples:
Policy decisions play a very large part in shaping our American and
global history, as well as a member of today’s global community, it is
essential to have the skills related to analyzing historical and current
public policy issues. The four versions of the Public Policy Analyst (PPA) in
the left column will guide you through the problem solving skills necessary
to study historical and current American and global public policy issues.
Since public policy affects all aspects of life, these skills can be used not
only in social studies courses, but also in subjects such as science and
language arts. In addition to policy skills, you will also be learning how to effectively use the Internet to research and gather information, engage in collaborative problem solving, and communicate with knowledgeable people regarding your public policy issue. These technology skills will help you now as a student and after you graduate. |
Project TIPS CompuLEGAL Ask A LEGAL Eagle CRITICAL Lessons Public Policy Analyst
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/gather.html
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/identify.html
YOUR TASK:
You will use the six steps of the PPA to produce a research paper of at least three typewritten pages (of not less than 10 point typing) and a power point presentation of at least six slides to describe the following:
1. How the urban crises develops.
2. How the urban crises causes problems for the people and the administrators of a city.
3. Quote at least three pieces of supporting evidence to show the relationship between the urban crises and the problems you described.
4. Explain and evaluate the existing Public Policies on how the problems can be reduced.
5. Select and evaluate three other recommendations on how the problems can be reduced.
6. Create a Power Point presentation of at least six frames to support your written report.
7. Answer the questions in the worksheets given below to aid you in completing your task.
8. Present your power point slides and research to the rest of your class.
9.
Identify the
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet4.doc
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet5.doc
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet6.doc
PROCESS:
You will work in groups of three-four to carry out a research project on this problem. Each partner will be responsible for performing a particular task as a Public Policy Analyst as you follow the six steps of the PPA. You will then discuss collaboratively in your teams the policies you would recommend to solve both the environmental and the health problems: This is how you can carry out your project:
! Use the Internet and library to do the research of each item described in the task section.
! Use the websites listed below to gather information and analyze the problem.
! Collaborate with your team members to arrive at refined answers to each item in the “Task” section.
! Describe at least three other problems associated with the urban crises in your research.
! Discuss the existing public policies on problems related to the urban crises and also your recommendations for solutions.
! Produce a typewritten report of at least three pages describing the findings of your research.
! Produce at least six slides in a power point presentation to highlight the main parts of your report and analysis.
! Briefly identify the NY State Standards that you used during your research.
! Allow at least five minutes for questions and answers from the audience.
RESOURCES: Here are some useful websites for your project:
http://www.lib.memphis.edu/govpubs/urban.htm
http://www.lib.memphis.edu/govpubs/urban.htm
http://magnet.undp.org/Docs/urban/Maysur.htm
http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/news/9806APR.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/gothenburg_council/pdf/urbains_en.pdf
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/urban/thematic_strategy.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/actionpr.htm
Your can also use your Holt Environmental Science and Living Environment texts and other reference books, journals and magazines.
EVALUATION:
Your group will be evaluated based on your level of performance in the following areas:
Ø Evidence of research using the Internet and other reference materials (5 pts).
Ø Description and analysis of the web articles (10 pts).
Ø Evidence of teamwork (5 pts).
Ø Description of the health problems associated with the urban crises (5 pts)
Ø Analysis of the existing Public Policies on this problem situation (5 pts).
Ø Recommendations for possible solutions to this problem (5 pts).
Ø The written research paper (20 pts).
Ø The six slides of the Power Point presentation (20 pts).
Ø The oral presentation of your Power Point and research paper (20 pts).
Ø
Identification of the
(a) ELA, (b) SS, (c) Science, (d) Math that were covered during this activity (5 pts).
|
|
|
|
http://www.odyssey.on.ca/~elaine.coxon/rubrics.htm (Rubrics)
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/designsteps/index.html