Project Paper

ECO 202 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
The final project for this course is the creation of economic history analysis presentation. Macroeconomics is the part of the study of economics that is concerned
with the aggregate or the whole. Macroeconomics provides us with tools and methods to understand how our economy works as a whole. It deals with
economy-wide issues such as price levels, employment, national income, and growth. As a student of macroeconomics, you will learn how to understand the
changes occurring throughout our economy and how our economy is influenced by our decisions, by our government, and by other countries.
In this assignment, you will perform an in-depth analysis of a 10-year period in U.S. economic history between 1950 and today. In your analysis, you will examine
macroeconomic data, basic macroeconomic principles, government actions, and historical/current events to give a clear and comprehensive picture of your
chosen time period and detail how they are related to one another.
The project is divided into three milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final
submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Four, and Five. The final project will be submitted in Module Seven.
In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:
 Apply macroeconomic models to historical and current events for drawing connections between the events and their economic impact
 Determine the effects of government intervention and fiscal and monetary policy actions for their impact on the economy
 Analyze macroeconomic data for their implication to economic outcomes and forecasting
 Analyze macroeconomics trends and government policies for their influence on industries and households
Prompt
For this assignment, you will first need to choose a 10-year period in U.S. economic history between 1950 and today. You will then present the data collected
from government sources related to a variety of macroeconomic phenomena and analyze them in conjunction with the models and core principles to explain the
economy-wide changes during your chosen time period. You will also examine the events of the time in their relation to the macroeconomic issues as well as the
corresponding government actions taken (fiscal and monetary policies) to address the issues. The final presentation should be 15–20 slides using PowerPoint,
Prezi, Keynote, or PreZentit, including title and reference slides. Be sure to include speaker notes to accompany the data and graphs, information, and
explanations presented on the slide.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Examination of Macroeconomic Data (Be sure to include speaker notes to accompany all of your responses.)
a) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Growth
i. Analyze the annual GDP during the time frame to calculate specific growth rates and trends in the U.S. economy.
ii. Choose two or three of the most relevant historical and/or current events during this time period that impacted the U.S. economy. Apply
specific models developed throughout the course to demonstrate how these events influenced national output during this time.
b) Unemployment and Inflation
i. Analyze unemployment and inflation data during the time frame in their relation to output and growth, using macroeconomic principles
and models to explain their effect.
ii. Apply specific models developed throughout the course to demonstrate how the previously selected historical and/or current events
influenced both unemployment and inflation during this time.
c) Analyze interest rate fluctuations throughout this time period and their effects on other aspects of the economy. How would these fluctuations
affect inflation? Would investments and foreign trade rates increase or decrease? How would the GDP of the American economy be affected?
d) Foreign Trade
i. Analyze data representing levels of U.S. imports and exports during this time. How do they relate to other economic outcomes such as
the GDP, foreign exchange rates, and so on?
ii. Apply specific models developed throughout the course to demonstrate how domestic and foreign events (e.g., wars, changes in trade
barriers, development abroad) have impacted the level of and changes in imports and exports in the United States.
II. Government Policies (Be sure to include speaker notes to accompany all of your responses.)
a) Fiscal Policy
i. Examine the fiscal policies in place at the start of your specific time period in relation to their effects on macroeconomic issues. For
instance, consider level of government spending, taxation, subsidies, unemployment benefits, and so on.
ii. Analyze new fiscal policy actions undertaken by the U.S. government throughout the time period by describing their intended effects,
using macroeconomic principles to explain the actions.
iii. Explain the impact of the new fiscal policy actions on individuals and businesses within the economy by integrating the macroeconomic
data and principles.
b) Monetary Policy
i. Examine the monetary policies in place at the start of your specific time period in relation to their effects on macroeconomic issues. For
instance, consider the discount rate set by the Fed, the rates on reserves, open market operations, and so on.
ii. Analyze new monetary policy actions undertaken by the U.S. government throughout the time period by describing their intended
effects, using macroeconomic principles to explain the actions.
iii. Explain the impact of the new monetary policy actions on individuals and businesses within the economy by integrating the
macroeconomic data and principles.
III. Conclusion (Be sure to include speaker notes to accompany all of your responses.)
a) Summarize the overall trends and outcomes of this 10-year period by integrating the data, economic models, and historical analysis.
b) Defend your agreement or disagreement with the actions taken by the U.S. government during this time based upon your analysis and
application of the macroeconomic theories.
Milestones
Milestone One: Macroeconomic Data Report
In Module Two, you will submit the first three sections of your final project as outlined in Section I, parts a), b), and c).
1) Choose a 10-year period in the history of the U.S. between 1950 and today. All responses will be related to that timeframe.
b) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Growth
i. Analyze the annual GDP to calculate specific growth rates and trends in the U.S. economy.
ii. Choose two or three of the most relevant events from this time period that impacted the U.S. economy. Apply specific models
developed throughout the course to demonstrate how these events influenced national output during this time period.
c) Unemployment and Inflation
i. Analyze unemployment and inflation data as to their relation to output and growth, using macroeconomic principles and models to
explain their effect.
ii. Apply specific models developed throughout the course to demonstrate how the previously selected events influenced both
unemployment and inflation during this time period.
d) Analyze interest rate fluctuations throughout this time period and their effects on other aspects of the economy. How would these fluctuations
affect inflation? Would investments and foreign trade rates increase or decrease? How would the GDP of the American economy be affected?
2) Present your research with 4–6 slides in PowerPoint, Prezi, Keynotes, or PreZentit, not including title page and references. Be sure to include speaker
notes to accompany all of your responses.
3) Apply APA formatting to citations and references.
This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two: Fiscal Policies
In Module Four, you will submit a section of your final project pertaining to fiscal policies as outlined in Section II, part a).
1) Continue your observation of the 10-year period selected for Milestone One, and research the government policies implemented during those years.
a) Fiscal Policy
i. Examine the fiscal policies in place at the start of your specific time period in relation to their effects on macroeconomic issues. For
instance, consider level of government spending, taxation, subsidies, unemployment benefits, and so on. Analyze new fiscal policy actions
undertaken by the U.S. government throughout the time period by describing their intended effects, using macroeconomic principles to
explain the actions.
ii. Explain the impact of the new fiscal policy actions on individuals and businesses within the economy by integrating the macroeconomic
data and principles.
2) Present your research with 3–5 slides in PowerPoint, Prezi, Keynotes or PreZentit, not including title page and references. Be sure to include speaker
notes to accompany all of your responses.
3) Apply APA formatting to citations and references.
This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.
Milestone Three: Monetary Policies
In Module Five, you will submit a section of your final project pertaining to monetary policies as outlined in Section II, part b).
1) Continue your observation of the 10-year period selected for Milestone One and research the Government Policies implemented during those years.
a) Monetary Policy
i. Examine the monetary policies in place at the start of your specific time period in relation to their effects on macroeconomic issues. For
instance, consider the discount rate set by the Fed, the rates on reserves, open market operations, and so on.
ii. Analyze new monetary policy actions undertaken by the U.S. government throughout the time period by describing their intended
effects, using macroeconomic principles to explain the actions.
iii. Explain the impact of the new monetary policy actions on individuals and businesses within the economy by integrating the
macroeconomic data and principles.
2) Present your research with 3–5 slides in PowerPoint, Prezi, Keynotes or PreZentit, not including title page and references. Be sure to include speaker
notes to accompany all of your responses.
3) Apply APA formatting to citations and references.
This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Three Rubric.
Final Project: Economic History Analysis Presentation
In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It will include new research on foreign trade practices (Section I, part d), will draw conclusions (Section III),
and integrate all milestones and feedback. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product.
1) Research and present, in 3–4 slides, foreign trade practices and policies of the 10-year period you researched for Milestones One, Two, and Three.
a) Analyze data representing levels of U.S. imports and exports during this time. How do they relate to other economic outcomes such as the GDP,
foreign exchange rates, and so on?
b) Apply specific models developed throughout the course to demonstrate how domestic and foreign events (e.g., wars, changes in trade barriers,
development abroad) have impacted the level of and changes in imports and exports in the United States.
2) Draw conclusions to the research carried out throughout the course.
a) Summarize the overall trends and outcomes of this 10-year period by integrating the data, economic models, and historical analysis.
b) Defend your agreement or disagreement with the actions taken by the U.S. government during this time based upon your analysis and
application of the macroeconomic theories.
3) Incorporate and integrate this information with the slides developed during Milestones One, Two, and Three into a 15–20-slide presentation that covers
all the critical elements of the assignment. Be sure to include speaker notes to accompany all of your responses.
4) Apply APA formatting to citations and references.
The final project will be graded using the Final Project Rubric.
Deliverables
Milestone Deliverables Module Due Grading
1 Macroeconomic Data Report Two Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric
2 Fiscal Policies Report Four Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric
3 Monetary Policies Report Five Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric
Final Submission: Economic History
Analysis Presentation
Seven Graded separately; Final Project Rubric
Final Project Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your economic history analysis presentation should be 15–20 slides, including a title slide inclusive of a title that includes your name
and what decade you are examining and a reference slides, and include speaker notes to accompany the slides. Your reference list slide needs to be in APA
format. Save the assignment in pdf format to include speaker notes.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Examination: GDP:
Growth Rates and
Trends
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
explains relevance of the growth
rates observed
Accurately analyzes the annual
GDP and specific Growth Rates
and trends in the US economy by
showing a graph/chart/table for
each and provides information in
speaker notes
Analyzes the annual GDP during
the time frame to calculate
specific growth rates and trends
in the U.S. economy, but analysis
is inaccurate, or does not provide
information in speaker notes
Does not analyze the annual GDP
during the time frame
6.4
Examination: GDP:
Influenced National
Output
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
offers a nuanced insight into the
relationship between events and
national output
Identify 2-3 relevant historical
and/or current events and applies
specific models developed
throughout the course to
demonstrate how they have
influenced national output during
the time period, and provides
information in speaker notes
Applies specific models
developed throughout the course
to demonstrate how relevant
historical and current events have
influenced national output during
the time period, but events
chosen are not relevant, or does
not provide information in
speaker notes
Does not apply specific models
developed throughout the course
to demonstrate influence on
national output
6.4
Examination:
Unemployment and
Inflation: Output and
Growth
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
explains how data is collected and
calculated
Analyzes unemployment and
inflation data during the time
frame in their relation to output
and growth, using charts/graphs
or tables and integrating
macroeconomic principles and
models to explain their effect,
and provides information in
speaker notes
Analyzes unemployment and
inflation data during the time
frame, but does not relate
analysis to output and growth,
does not use macroeconomic
principles and models to explain
their effect, or does not provide
information in speaker notes
Does not analyze unemployment
and inflation data during the time
frame
6.4
Examination:
Unemployment:
Events
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
offers a nuanced insight into the
relationship between events,
unemployment, and inflation
Identify 2-3 relevant historical
and/or current events and applies
specific models developed
throughout the course to
demonstrate how they have
influenced both unemployment
and inflation during the time
period, and provides information
in speaker notes
Applies specific models
developed throughout the course
to demonstrate how relevant
historical and current events have
influenced both unemployment
and inflation during this time
period, but events chosen are not
relevant, or does not provide
information in speaker notes
Does not apply specific models
developed throughout the course
to demonstrate relevant events’
influence on unemployment and
inflation
6.4
Examination: Interest
Rate Fluctuations
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
relates fluctuations to all other
factors of the economy
Analyzes interest rate fluctuations
throughout the time period and
their effect on other aspects of
the economy, such as inflation,
investment, foreign trade, and
the GDP, and provides
information in speaker notes
Analyzes interest rate fluctuations
throughout the time period, but
does not relate this to their effect
on other aspects of the economy
such as inflation, investment,
foreign trade, and the GDP, or
does not provide information in
speaker notes
Does not analyze interest rate
fluctuations throughout the time
period
6.4
Examination: Foreign
Trade: Imports and
Exports
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
provides specific detail in
presenting the data
Accurately analyzes data
representing levels of U.S.
imports and exports during the
time period as they relate to
other economic outcomes, and
provides information in speaker
notes
Analyzes data representing levels
of U.S. imports and exports
during the time period, but does
not relate data to other economic
outcomes, does not provide
information in speaker notes, or
analysis is inaccurate
Does not analyze data
representing levels of U.S.
imports and exports during the
time period
6.4
Examination: Foreign
Trade: Models
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
offers a nuanced insight into the
relationship between events and
changes in imports and exports
Applies specific models
developed throughout the course
to demonstrate how domestic
and foreign events have impacted
the level of and changes in
imports and exports in the United
States, and provides information
in speaker notes
Applies specific models
developed throughout the course
to demonstrate how domestic
and foreign events have impacted
the level of and changes in
imports and exports in the United
States, but events chosen are not
relevant, or does not provide
information in speaker notes
Does not apply specific models
developed throughout the course
to demonstrate impact of
domestic and foreign events on
foreign trade
6.4
Government Policies:
Fiscal: Policies
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
cites scholarly research to
support the relation between the
policies and the issues
Examines the fiscal policies in
place at the start of the specific
time period in relation to their
effects on macroeconomic issues,
and provides information in
speaker notes
Examines the fiscal policies in
place at the start of the specific
time period, but does not relate
this to their effects on
macroeconomic issues, or does
not provide information in
speaker notes
Does not explain the fiscal
policies in place at the start of the
specific time period
6.4
Government Policies:
Fiscal: Policy Actions
Meets “Proficient” criteria and is
well qualified and cites scholarly
research with specific examples
and references
Analyzes new fiscal policy actions
undertaken by the U.S.
government throughout the time
period by describing their
intended effects, uses
macroeconomic principles to
explain the actions, and provides
information in speaker notes
Analyzes new fiscal policy actions
undertaken by the U.S.
government throughout the time
period, but does not describe
their intended effects, does not
use macroeconomic principles to
explain the actions, or does not
provide information in speaker
notes
Does not analyze new fiscal policy
actions undertaken by the U.S.
government throughout the time
period
6.4
Government Policies:
Fiscal: Impact
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
uses concrete examples to
substantiate claims and to
comprehensively describe the
policy results
Comprehensively explains the
impact of the new fiscal policy
actions on individuals and
businesses within the economy
by integrating the
macroeconomic data and
principles, and provides
information in speaker notes
Explains the impact of the new
fiscal policy actions on individuals
and businesses within the
economy, but is not
comprehensive, does not
integrate the macroeconomic
data and principles, or does not
provide information in speaker
notes
Does not explain the impact of
the new fiscal policy actions on
individuals and businesses within
the economy
6.4
Government Policies:
Monetary: Policies
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
cites scholarly research to
support the relation between the
policies and the issues
Examines the monetary policies
in place at the start of the
selected time period in relation to
their effects on macroeconomic
issues, and provides information
in speaker notes
Examines the monetary policies
in place at the start of the
selected time period, but does
not relate them to their effects on
macroeconomic issues, or does
not provide information in
speaker notes
Does not examine the monetary
policies in place at the start of the
selected time period
6.4
Government Policies:
Monetary: Policy
Actions
Meets “Proficient” criteria and is
well qualified and cites scholarly
research with specific examples
and references
Analyzes new monetary policy
actions undertaken by the U.S.
government throughout the time
period by describing their
intended effects, uses
macroeconomic principles to
explain the actions, and provides
information in speaker notes
Analyzes new monetary policy
actions undertaken by the U.S.
government throughout the time
period, but does not describe
their intended effects, does not
use macroeconomic principles to
explain the actions, or does not
provide information in speaker
notes
Does not analyze new monetary
policy actions undertaken by the
U.S. government throughout the
time period
6.4
Government Policies:
Monetary: Impact
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
uses concrete examples to
substantiate claims and to
comprehensively describe the
policy results
Comprehensively explains the
impact of the new monetary
policy actions on individuals and
businesses within the economy
by integrating the
macroeconomic data and
principles, and provides
information in speaker notes
Explains the impact of the new
monetary policy actions on
individuals and businesses within
the economy, but is not
comprehensive, does not
integrate the macroeconomic
data and principles, or does not
provide information in speaker
notes
Does not explain the impact of
the new monetary policy actions
on individuals and businesses
within the economy
6.4
Conclusion: Trends
and Outcomes
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
highlights specific examples to
demonstrate trends and
outcomes
Summarizes the overall trends
and outcomes of the 10-year
period by effectively integrating
the data, economic models, and
historical analysis, and provides
information in speaker notes
Summarizes the overall trends
and outcomes of the 10-year
period, but does not integrate the
data, economic models, and
historical analysis effectively,
does not apply all three elements,
or does not provide information
in speaker notes
Does not summarize the overall
trends and outcomes of the 10-
year period
6.4
Conclusion:
Agreement or
Disagreement
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
point of view is well supported
and plausible
Defends whether the student
agrees or disagrees with the
actions taken by the U.S.
government during the selected
time period based upon student’s
analysis and application of the
macroeconomic theories, and
provides information in speaker
notes
Defends whether the student
agrees or disagrees with the
actions taken by the U.S.
government during the selected
time period based upon student’s
analysis and application of the
macroeconomic theories, but
defense is weak, does not
accurately analyze and apply
theories, or does not provide
information in speaker notes
Does not defend whether the
student agrees or disagrees with
the actions taken by the U.S.
government during the selected
time period
6.4
Articulation of
Response
Submission is free of errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, and organization
and is presented in a professional
and easy-to-read format
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that negatively impact readability
and articulation of main ideas
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas
4
Earned Total 100%