Tax Cut Policies

Eric Ponce

Health Opportunities High School

EricPonce@aol.com

 

 

Background: In the summer of 2001, President Bush persuaded the United States Congress to pass a one trillion dollar tax cut over 10 years. His goal was that if more Americans had more money in their pockets, they will spend more of it and help rejuvenate a stagnant economy. Two years later, the United States economy is in a deep recession. President Bush is advocating another $550 billion dollar tax cut to stimulate the economy.

 

Task: You will write a 4-5 page research paper (using MLA format) explaining the pros and cons of a large tax cut on the American economy and society. From your subsequent research, you will create a policy how the American economy can be stimulated to get out of the current recession.

 

Your Research Paper should include the following components:

*  A summary of the current debate in Congress over passing more tax cuts.

*  Describe the pros and cons of passing large tax cuts.

*  Your analysis on the debate over Congress passing another tax cut and whether or not it will be beneficial to the country as a whole.

Process:

 

A. Use the Internet to do the research using the PPA worksheets of the Tips program and handout prepared by the teacher.

 

Identify the problem

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet1.html

Gathering evidence

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet2.html

Identify causes of the problem

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet3.html

Evaluate the policy

        http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet4.html

Develop a solution to the problem 

         http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet5.html   

Selecting the best solution

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet6.html

 

Resources:

www.presidentreagan.info/tax_cuts.cfm

www.heritage.org/Research/Taxes/wm182.cfm

www.ctj.org/html/gwb0602.htm

www.ctj.org

www.taxsites.com/policy.html

www.abcnews.go.com/sections/business/DailyNews/Rebate_Leftout_010719.html

http://academic.bellevue.edu/~jpatton/macro/supplytaxcuts.html

http://www.ncpa.org/ba/ba158.html

http://www.educationreport.org/article.asp?ID=3535

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/budget/jan-june01/rubin_02-23.html

www.washtimes.com/commentary/20030303-85303451.htm

www.humaneventsonline.com/articles/03-19-01/moore.html

http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/mla/index.shtml

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html

 

 

Standards:

 

The web quest focuses on the following New York Standards in English:

 

·        E2a- Produce a report of information

·        E1c- Read and comprehend informational materials

·        E4a- Demonstrate an understanding of the rules of the English language in written and oral work

 

The web quest focuses on the following New York Standards in Social Studies:

 

New York State Social Studies Standard 5: Civics, Citizenship, and Government:

·        Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the necessity for establishing governments; the governmental system of the United States and other nations; the United States Constitution; the basic civic values of American constitutional democracy; and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation.

 

 

Conclusion:

 

From obtaining and analyzing information from the internet, students will be able to develop a policy on whether the United States Congress should pass another tax cuts are really an economic stimulus.

 

Note: The rough draft is due on May 27th.  The final draft is due on June 16th.  No exceptions. The paper will comprise of 50% of your grade for the 3rd marking period.

 

 

Evaluation:

 

Grade A (90-100pts)

·       Must have 4-5 typed written pages

·       Research paper must written in MLA format (including MLA citations)

·       Your paper should contain the components as listed in the task above.

 

Grade B (80-89pts)

·       Four – five typed written pages

·       Followed most of the guidelines of MLA format

·       Has completed most of the components listed in the task above

 

Grade C (70-79pts)

·       Three to four typed written pages

·       Adequately followed the guidelines of MLA format

·       Adequately completed most of the components listed in the task above

 

Grade D (60-69pts)

·       Submitted poor quality of work

·       Did not follow the guidelines of MLA format

·       Did not complete the components listed in the task above

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: If your paper does not follow the MLA format and the components listed in the task above, your paper will result in a lower grade.