Description HL/SL ECONOMICS Internal Assessment (IA) Commentary What is the IA? The internal asse ...

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Description HL/SL ECONOMICS Internal Assessment (IA) Commentary What is the IA? The internal assessment commentary portfolio is an important and mandatory assignment for all IB economics students. The assignment is designed to encourage students to read - newspapers, magazines or journals - and to apply the skills they have learned in class to an analysis of a real world economic problem. It is also designed to promote critical thinking among students. Therefore, the content of your article must not be completely factual (positive) in nature. Each commentary must include a short essay that provides a commentary of a newspaper, magazine or journal article. The word limit for this outline will be a maximum of 750 words excluding graph titles. You will write a total of three commentaries over the course of your time in DP economics. The topics are as follows: IA #1 (Winter Grade 11) Topic: Microeconomics - Market Failure IA #2 (Fall Grade 12): Topic: Macroeconomics - Demand or Supply Side Policy & Macroeconomic Objectives IA #3: (Winter Grade 12) Topic: International Trade - Protectionism What do I need in my commentary? There are three things you need to include Cover Page ? Template can be found on Classroom (you must use this template) Article ?Format this nicely (take out any pictures, ads, other irrelevant information) Commentary The commentary has three parts to it Introduction Analysis Evaluation Key Concept (Note: details for each of these parts are given below) Draft Check-Ins There is an OPTIONAL DRAFT CHECK-IN. You will get 7-10 minutes with your teacher to chat about your IA. Come with whatever materials you have at the time. Just the article and a rough outline is better than nothing. We will give you suggestions on areas to improve, but cannot tell you how to evaluate or what models to use. Submission You must submit BOTH a hard (in person) and soft (on Managebac) copy of your IA by the assigned deadline. Rubric Criterion A: Diagrams Level Descriptor 0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptions below. 1 Relevant diagrams are included but not explained, or the explanations are incorrect. 2 Relevant, accurate, and correctly labeled diagrams are included with a limited explanation. 3 Relevant, accurate, and correctly labeled diagrams are included, with a full explanation. Criterion B: Terminology Level Descriptor 0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptions below. 1 Terminology relevant to the article is included in the commentary. 2 Terminology relevant to the article is used appropriately throughout the commentary. Criterion C: Application & Analysis Level Descriptor 0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptions below. 1 Relevant economic theories are applied to the article with limited analysis.. 2 Relevant economic theories are applied to the article appropriately throughout the commentary with appropriate analysis. 3 Relevant economic theory is applied to the article throughout the commentary with effective economic analysis. Criterion D: Key Concept Level Descriptor 0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptions below. 1 A key concept is identified and there has been an attempt to link it to the article. 2 A key concept is identified and the link to the article is partially explained. 3 A key concept is identified and the link to the article is partially explained. Criterion E: Evaluation Level Descriptor 0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptions below. 1 Judgments are made that are supported by limited reasoning. 2 Judgments are made that are supported by appropriate reasoning. 3 Judgments are made that are supported by effective and balanced reasoning. Criterion F: Rubric Requirements IA is in the correct order (cover sheet, article, commentary) All three components (from above) are submitted Article was written within the last year Outline does not exceed 750 words Level Descriptor Level Descriptor 0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptions below. 1 One rubric requirement is met. 2 Two rubric requirements are met. 3 Three rubric requirements are met. Guide: ARTICLE Step 1: Find an Article This is the most important part of your IA. Google News is a great resource in helping you find something. Please remember that you need to find your own article (not another student or teacher) The article must be related to content we have covered in class The article must be from a reputable news source The article should be between 1-2 pages long (this can be checked in step 2) The article must be from within the last year The article must not have been used on a previous official commentary (practice commentary is okay) The article must be about A government policy being implemented An opinion on a policy that has been implemented An opinion on a policy that should be implemented Step 2: Print your Article Copy and paste your article into a Word, Pages, or Google Docs document and format it nicely. Remove pictures/ads and make the font a consistent size. DO NOT ALTER THE ARTICLE. Step 3: Annotate your Article Get a few highlighters and a pen and do the following ? Highlight all relevant/important stakeholders in a specific colour ? Highlight all relevant/important economic concepts in a specific colour ? Highlight all relevant/important numbers/data in a specific colour ? Make notes in the margin for yourself as necessary COMMENTARY NOTE: Your commentary should not use subtitles. It should simply encompass all of these components instead. Step 4: Introduction (~150 words) Do not write “introduction” as a heading Summarize the main point(s) of the article in a few (full) sentences Step 5: Analysis (~300 words) Do not write “analysis” as a heading Explain the proposed policy/argument and the intended outcome Draw a graph explaining the intended outcome Your explanations for your graphs should be similar to a paper 2. You need to make references to the article (using quotes) and your graph (using labels such as P1 and Q1) Full sentences must be used! Key economic terms must be integrated (for terminology mark). For example, if your IA is about negative externalities of consumption, it should integrate terms such as “market failure” and “overallocation”. Step 6: Evaluation (~250 words) Evaluation consists of “making an appraisal by weighing the strengths and limitations”. You will be evaluating the policy/opinion proposed in your article. You will need to present BOTH SIDES of the argument. This should be the longest and most important part of your IA Do not write “evaluation” as a heading Key economic terms must be integrated here as well (see step 5) The following MUST be included Pros of proposed policy/opinion Cons of proposed policy/opinion Conclusion/Judgement Be sure to reference some of the following when looking at the pros and cons What assumptions have been made in theory that may not hold true in practice? What are the short-run vs. long-run implications? Who are the key stakeholders most impacted and how much are they valued in society? Are there any unintended consequences of this policy/opinion? Are there better alternatives to this policy/opinion? ? Full sentences must be used! Step 7: Key Concept (~50 words) Include references to the key concept throughout the commentary, highlighting the concept whenever it is used. You should also add in a separate (stand alone) paragraph explaining how the key concept is relevant to the chosen article. COVER PAGE Step 8: Fill in Cover Page ? Find the template for the coverage page on Classroom and fill it in SUBMISSION Step 9: Compile and Submit Soft Copy Upload your commentary to Classroom under assignments Hard Copy Print your commentary and cover page Staple your documents together in this order: Cover Page Article Commentary Outline