Elizabeth A. Shanahan                                         Dewitt Clinton High School

toktogyl@yahoo.com                                                        August 23, 2002

 

American Women:

Earning Their Positions In the Workplace

 

A Web-Quest for ESL

(10th Grade)

 

 

clipart.com

 

Introduction

 

            Women's issues have become part of the fabric of American culture.  Through our class project we will highlight women' experiences in the workplace.  More specifically, their earning power or lack thereof.

 

            Each one of you have been assigned the task of conducting a TIPS 6-Point Public Policy Analysis Web-Quest to consider this social issue.  Your work will take you through defining the social issue, gathering evidence, identifying causes, evaluating a policy, developing solutions, and ultimately, selecting the best solution. 

 

 

Scenario

 

            Ms. Ramos has just interviewed at ShermanBrothers for the Executive Financial Consultant Position in Acquisitions.  She was told she has been hired.  Mr. Matthews has just interviewed for the same position in the Marketing Department.  He too, has been hired. 

       Both have extensive background in business and marketing by having worked on Wall Street.  They also have MBAs from prestigious private New York City graduate schools.  Through casual conversation, Ms. Ramos finds out that she is earning $50,000 less than Mr. Matthews.

 

If you were in Mr. Ramos' position, what, if anything would you do?

 

If you were in Mr. Matthews' position, what if anything would you do?

 

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Focus Questions

 

Why do you think there is a difference between salaries made by men and women?

 

As a social issue, what do you think are the stated and unstated reasons for the discrepancy between the wages for men and women?

 

What social policies are in place and/or are possible to change the current circumstances?

 

In your co-operative learning groups, what social policy changes can you develop that could be implemented at the national level?

 

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Task

 

You will work in co-operative learning groups.  Each one of you will have a job and a task that you will be responsible for.  In order to complete the project the group is depending upon you.

 

Ï Facilitator - communicates with each member to coordinate all aspects of

  projects

 

Ï Recorder - types of information

 

Ï Design Coordinator - takes in members' suggestions on design of projects

and implements ideas

 

Ï Research Coordinator - takes in all research found by members and assists in

its organization for projects

 

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Process

 

Each step of the process will be discussed within one class period following the 6-Point Public Policy Analysis.  Download/Print each page for each member in your group in order to follow along.

 

Ï Define the problem

 

Ï Gather evidence

 

Ï Identify causes

 

Ï Evaluate a policy

 

Ï Develop solutions

 

Ï Select the best solution

 

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Web Quest

 

            You'll gather resources by taking a look at national statistical information as well as current articles.  You'll go through a web-quest by using the following:

 

Resources

 

You will utilize a web-quest.  Find information within the following web-sites:

 

ABCNEWS.com

Learning Circuits

Women's Bureau

Region II Resources

Working Women

Statistics&Data

 

Presentation

 

Your group's project will be:

 

Ï an oral-in-class presentation utilizing the

    6-Point Public Policy Analysis

 

You will be required to hand in:

 

Ï 6-Point Public Policy Analysis Worksheets

 

 

 

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Rubric for Assessment

 

 

 

Ï

 

 

 

Needs Improvement            Excellent

Research & Analysis

Do your responses to the research questions reflect thorough, careful research?

 

1        2        3        4       5

Analysis Process

Do your 6-Point Public Policy Analysis worksheets reflect a well thought out analysis of the social issue and development of the policy?

 

 

1        2        3        4       5

Public Policy

Have you formulated effective feasible public policy in response to the problem?

 

1        2        3        4       5

Group Work & Class Presentation

Have you conducted yourselves professionally during class time while doing your research and while presenting your findings to the class?

 

 

1        2        3        4       5

 

 

New York City Standards

 

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.

 

New York City English Language Arts Standards

E1c    Reads and comprehends information materials.

E2a    Produce a report of information.

E3b     Participate in group meetings.

E6a    Critique public documents with an eye to strategies common in public

discourse.

E6b    Produce public documents.

E7a     Critique functional documents with an eye to strategies common to

effective functional documents.

E7b     Produce functional documents appropriate to audience and purpose.

 

 

Acknowledgements

 

TIPS for a great workshop

ClipArt.com for graphics

Ms. Brenda Santos for her example