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Fiscal Fitness: Economics CompetitionTexas Council on Economic Education

The Texas Council on Economic Education gratefully acknowledges PlainsCapital Bank as the Education sponsor which includes the Fiscal Fitness: Economics Competition and awards. Winners will receive an award in the amount of $200 for first, $175 for second, and $150 for third, and $50 honorable mention in both categories. The winning student's sponsoring teacher will receive a matching cash award.

In addition to the awards listed above, the first place student and teacher winners in each category will receive an Apple 16GB, Wi-Fi/Cellular iPad, donated by West End Companies, LLC.

The winning students and sponsoring teachers will be invited to a special Post-Election Economics 101: What Happens Next luncheon on November 8, 2012 at which time they will be presented their awards. The Texas Council appreciates the organization and Platinum level of support by the luncheon sponsor Basden & Ivie.

11801 Allen Parkway ● Houston, Texas 77019 ● (713) 655-1650 ● Fax (713) 655-1655Email: [email protected] ● www.economicstexas.org ● www.smartertexas.org

Fiscal Fitness: Economics CompetitionTexas Council on Economic Education (TCEE)

Fiscal Fitness: Economics Competition offers high school students in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas the opportunity to express their educated opinions on the direction that the United States should take to continue on a road to prosperity. These recommendations must be based on research of the current status of the U. S. economy through the study of statistics and recommendations from experts in the field of economics and fiscal policy.

The Texas Council on Economic Education gratefully acknowledges PlainsCapital Bank as the Education sponsor and appreciates their sponsorship of the first Fiscal Fitness: Economics Competition and awards.

The winning students and their sponsoring teachers will be invited to a special Post-Election Economics 101: What Happens Next luncheon on November 8, 2012 at which time they will be presented their awards. The Texas Council would like to express its appreciation to Basden & Ivie, Attorneys and Counselors for their very generous support to the organization and for sponsoring the awards luncheon.

If you have questions, please visit economicstexas.org or call TCEE at 713.655.1650.

Participants

Students in grades 9 to 12 in public, private, charter and home schools can participate in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas can participate in the Fiscal Fitness: Economics Competition in either the essay and/or video category.

What are the contest categories?

Students may enter one or both categories. However, students may win only one award.

Video Essay

This is an independent project to be completed with appropriate guidance from a teacher. This is not to be completed as a group or collaborative student project. Both categories will be judged based on the rubrics below. In the essay the student will be writing to the president. In the video the student will be speaking to the president.


http://www.economicstexas.org/

Rules for the Fiscal Fitness: Economics Competition

Theme

The theme of the entries is Fiscal Fitness: Economics Competition.

You have been chosen as a special nonpartisan advisor to the new or returning president to guide him in formulating an economic plan that will steer the United States towards continued economic prosperity. Your plan can be delivered to the president in the form of an essay or as a video discussion of your proposal.

The United States stands at an economic precipice: will the road to recovery continue or will the nation return to recession? Your advice will be based on research, statistical analysis and knowledge of fiscal policy suggestions that you believe will further the U.S. on the road to recovery.

Your plan should demonstrate the research you have conducted on the current U.S. economic situation using economic indicators and scholarly reports by experts.

You will then need to create and explain your road map for recovery. You will need to provide a rationale for each of your steps in the pathway to continued recovery.

Please note that this is nonpartisan and will describe what you feel will lead the nation to continued prosperity and economic success. It will not be an opportunity to argue for one party's platform over another.

Please use the rubric attached to guide your responses in an essay or in a video entry.

DEADLINE DATES AND TIMES

Competition Dates: September 17 through October 10, 2012

Contest Participation: Each school may enter as many essays and videos as it wishes as long as each is an individual endeavor and is the work of a student in grades 9 to 12 in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

Online Submission Deadline: 5:00 pm (CST) on October 10, 2012. There are NO EXCEPTIONS. Students need to save their written documents (cover page, annotated bibliography and essay for students entering the written competition) in Word format and upload these to the appropriate sites.

Students entering the essay competition will submit their cover page, annotated bibliography, and essay at http://tinyurl.com/TCEE-Essay

Students entering the video competition will submit their cover page, annotated bibliography, and video at http://tinyurl.com/TCEE-Video


http://tinyurl.com/TCEE-Video

http://tinyurl.com/TCEE-Essay

Carefully check all submissions for accuracy and thoroughness before clicking on the SUBMIT button.

Postal Mail Deadline: 5:00 pm (CST) on October 10, 2012 - The deadline for receipt of all postal mail entries is 5:00pm (CST) NO EXCEPTIONS. The essay competition must have (4) copies of the essay submission. Video Competition must have (2) CD’s or DVD’s and four printed copies of the cover sheet and annotated bibliography. The address for both essay and video postal submission is:

Texas Council on Economic Education, 1801 Allen Parkway, Houston 77019.

Late entries will not be scored.

There is no entry fee.

AWARDS

The Fiscal Fitness: Economics Competition offers a total of eight winners, four in each category, with awards in the amount of $200.00 for first, $175.00 for second, and $150.00 for third, and a $50.00 honorable mention in both categories. Students can enter both categories, but may only win one award.

The sponsoring teachers of winning student entries will win a matching prize amount.

In addition to the awards listed above, the first place student and teacher winners in each category will receive an Apple 16GB, Wi-Fi/Cellular iPad, donated by West End Companies, LLC.

RESEARCH TOOLS

An essay or “documentary” such as this needs to utilize scholarly and respected sources of information. Examples of such resources would be research sites listed below as well as academic journals, news articles, statistics from U.S. government agencies/departments, and economic experts.


EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE RESEARCH SITES

Federal Reserve Bankhttp://www.dallasfed.org/research.cfmhttp://www.dallasfed.org/research/staff/index.cfmhttp://www.minneapolisfed.org/publications_papers/pub_display.cfm?id=3568

U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.govhttp://www.bls.gov/bls/unemployment.htm

Central Intelligence Agencyhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html

U. S. Department of Commercewww. commerce .gov/category/tags/ statistics

Department of Treasuryhttp://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/

default.aspxhttp://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/monitoring-the-economy/Documents/monthly%20ECONOMIC%20DATA%20TABLES.pdf

THEC (statistics on U.S. and Texas are included in the presentations)http://www.thehoustoneconomicsclub.org/events/past-meetings/


http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/monitoring-the-

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.commerce.gov/category/tags/statistics

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html

http://www.minneapolisfed.org/publications_papers/pub_display.cfm?id=3568

http://www.dallasfed.org/research.cfm

JUDGING FORMS

Essay Rubric

Student Name:_________________________________ Teacher Name:_________________________

Content Categories Explanation Possible Points Points EarnedIntroduction:Introductory Paragraph

Provide in several sentences a statement of the basic economic issue(s) and your solution.Is the overview stated succinctly but inclusive of the issues and solution?

3

Economic Issues: One or more paragraphs

Provide at least three economic issues in which the U.S. needs to maintain its pattern of prosperity or address areas of concern.Are at least three issues/areas needing to be addressed explained? Are appropriate statistics provided from credible sources? Does the narrative connect the statistics to the points being made about the issues/areas of concern?Are charts and expert quotes included so that the judges can see the actual statistics and expert comments? Do you provide an analysis of the charts and comments and an explanation of how they relate to your points?

30

Solution statement Provide 2 or more solutions for staying the course of prosperity or providing solutions to issues. Explain how each solution will maintain or improve the road to prosperity or will cure the issues of concern. Cite support from at least two experts and from research statistics to give credence to your solution. Connect the research to your proposals/solutions.Does your entry provide analysis and interpretation of the research context?

30

Concluding Paragraph

Summarize in several sentences your issues/concerns and your solution. Is this stated succinctly and yet includes both aspects of the essay?

2


Methodology Categories

Explanation Possible Points Points Earned

Cover Page The cover page will include the title of the paper, author’s name, author’s email and phone contact information, author’s address, teacher’s name, school, district and grade level, teacher email and phone contact information. The cover page, paper, annotated bibliography will be uploaded tohttp://tinyurl.com/TCEE-Essay or mailed to TCEE.

5

Annotated bibliography

The bibliography will cite sources that helped you with your research and drawing your conclusions. You will need at least five sources. Do these sources provide a balanced and an appropriate resource for your theme and proposals?

10

Citations Use footnotes, end notes or internal documentation to cite the sources of your research. Do you have at least 5 sources that can be cited in your paper?

10

Creativity and Interest

Is the paper written in a creative and interesting way? 5

Professionalism Does the paper provide a professional rather than political/partisan approach? Do you use statistics in an appropriate and credible manner? Is the paper 3 to 5 pages double spaced type written with appropriate wording and appearance?

5

Original creation Is the wording original? Do you add your own original thoughts to support the statistics and expert opinions? Do you provide appropriate credit to other sources of thought?

0 points credit but source of

disqualification for plagiarism

Total Point Value The final score will be based on all of the points above. 100



Video Rubric

Student Name:_________________________________ Teacher Name:_________________________

Content Categories Explanation Possible Points Points EarnedIntroduction:Introductory Statement

Provide in several sentences a statement of the basic economic issue(s) and your solution.Is the overview stated succinctly but inclusive of the issues and solution?

3

Economic Issues: The equivalent of one or more paragraphs of written text

Provide at least three economic issues in which the U.S. needs to maintain its pattern of prosperity or address areas of concern.Are at least three issues/areas needing to be addressed explained? Are appropriate statistics provided from credible sources? Does the narrative connect the statistics to the points being made about the issues/areas of concern?Are written charts and expert quotes used so that the judges can see the actual statistics and expert comments? Do you provide an analysis of the charts and comments and an explanation of how they relate to your points?When referencing a source, do you hold up the annotated bibliography citation showing that source?

30

Solution statement Provide 2 or more solutions for staying the course of prosperity or providing solutions to issues. Explain how each solution will maintain or improve the road to prosperity or will cure the issues of concern. Cite support from at least two experts and from research statistics to give credence to your solution. Connect the research to your proposals/solutions.Does your entry provide analysis and interpretation of the research context?When referencing a source, hold up the annotated bibliography citation showing that source.

30

Concluding Statement Summarize in several sentences your issues/concerns and your solution. Is this stated succinctly and yet includes both aspects of the video?

2


Methodology Categories

Explanation Possible Points Points Earned

Cover Page to be the first segment for the video-hold a poster with this information for at least 30 seconds before beginning.

The cover page will include the title of the paper, author’s name, author’s email and phone contact information, author’s address, teacher’s name, school, district and grade level, teacher email and phone contact information. Submit the printed copy along with the annotated bibliography to http://tinyurl.com/TCEE-Video.

5

Annotated bibliographyWill be the second part of the video. Allow this to be visible for 30 seconds.

The bibliography will cite sources that helped you with your research and drawing your conclusions. You will need at least five sources. Do these sources provide a balanced and an appropriate resource for your theme and proposals? Submit a printed copy along with the cover page to http://tinyurl.com/TCEE-Video.

10

Citations Use footnotes, end notes or internal documentation to cite the sources of your research. Do you have at least 5 sources that can be cited in your presentation? During the presentation, do you hold up cards with the specific citation when appropriate?

10

Creativity and Interest Is the presentation presented in a creative and interesting way? Can the judges understand what is being said? Does the student project using notes as guides while refraining from reading?

5

Professionalism Does the presentation provide a professional rather than political/partisan approach? Do you use statistics in an appropriate and credible manner? Is the recording device used in a professional manner? In other words, is it held still and points towards you or charts with statistics? Can the judges understand what you are saying? Is the wording appropriate? Is the length 3 to 5 minutes?

5

Original creation Is your wording original? Do you add your own original thoughts to support the statistics and expert opinions? Do you provide appropriate credit to other sources of thought?

0 points credit but source of

disqualification for plagiarism

Total Point Value The final score will be based on all of the points above. 100





RULES FOR BOTH VIDEO AND ESSAY CATEGORIES

Rule 1: Theme

This year’s theme is Fiscal Fitness: Economics Competition. Please be sure you follow the rubric and the guidelines to fulfill the responsibilities.

Rule 2: Contest Participation

You may offer two entries each year: one for each category. You are eligible for only one award, not one from each category. Your research cannot be from a collaborative endeavor by several students who utilize the same body of research.

Rule 3: Individual Entries

The work should be completed by one student.

Rule 4: Completion Requirements

You will need to conduct the research and complete the finished product during the 2012-2013 school year.

Rule 5: Development of Entry

Each student has responsibility for the research, development and final creation of the entry. Teachers, parents and other students can provide guidance with the mechanical aspects of the project. The student can:

a. Have help typing the paper and other written materials as long as it is the student’s original words and development of charts from research.

b. Seek guidance from your teachers and parents but the research and work must be the student’s own.

c. Have reasonable help utilizing Video props (e.g., a parent or friend records your presentation to the president and/or holds visuals as you speak. However the student presenter will hold the cover page, annotated bibliography and do all speaking to “the president”).

Although the information included on charts and in the paper come from cited sources, the actual development of charts, wording and materials for the essay and/or video are to be the work of the author.

Rule 7: Title and Author

Your essay or video must have a title and author’s name, author’s email and phone contact information, author’s address, teacher’s name, school, district and grade level, teacher email and phone contact information that are clearly visible on all written materials.


B. REQUIRED MATERIAL FOR ALL ENTRIES

Rule 8: Each essay and video will include a cover or title page and annotated bibliography.

a. The cover page will include the title of the paper, author’s name, author’s email and phone contact information, author’s address, teacher’s name, school, district and grade level, teacher email and phone contact information.

b. Online essay entries will require that cover page information and annotated bibliography be included with the essay and submitted tohttp://tinyurl.com/TCEE-Essay

c. Mailed copies of the essays will need four printed copies of the cover page affixed to the front of each of the essays and the annotated bibliography to the back.

d. Online video entries will need the cover page and annotated bibliography to be submitted to http://tinyurl.com/TCEE-Video In addition the author will display a poster with the cover page information for 5 seconds at the beginning of the video and then the annotated bibliography for at least 5 seconds. The wording needs to be large and bold enough for the judges to read on a computer screen.

e. The mailed video entries will need four copies of the cover page and annotated bibliography along with the two CDs/DVDs.

Rule 9. An annotated bibliography will be included.

Please see the submission information in Rule 8.

Each paper needs an annotated bibliography. Your research will bring you into contact with many resources, but only include those that you use. You will need to cite sources that deal with statistics and quotes from experts in the field. Sources for visual materials, interviews and statistics must be included. You will follow the usual method of citing a source and then explain in several sentences how this source helped you understand the topic.

An example of an annotated bibliography:

Susan Statistician. What the U.S. Stats Say About the 2012 Road to Recovery. Austin: UT Press, 2012.

The book by Susan Statistician provided many current statistics from the US Labor Department and Commerce Department that showed the impact of the recession on the recovery and how the U.S. economy is progressing. I was able to use the statistics and her expert opinion in molding my suggestions for continued prosperity.




Rule 10: Citation and Bibliography Sources

Please refer to MLA, APA and or Chicago Manual of Style for how to document your sources. While the author can choose which style to use, only one style is chosen for the entire project.

Rule 11: Plagiarism

You must give credit for all statements, statistics, and resources for the entry to be accepted and judged.

Rule 12: Responsibilities of the Officials

Fiscal Fitness: Economics Competition program officials and sponsors will not be responsible for loss of or damage to entries.

D. DEFINITIONS

Yearly theme – The Fiscal Fitness: Economics Competition is the theme and students should use the rubrics for guidance.

SPECIFIC RULES FOR ESSAY PAPER

Rule 1: Length Requirements

The length of the paper is very important and should be between 750 and 1,250 words. The cover page, citations and annotated bibliography are not included in the word count. The flow of the essay paper should follow the design of the rubric.


Rule 2: Citations

Students need to include citations for their sources.

APA, MLA or Chicago Manual of Style are all acceptable styles but choose only one style for the entire essay or video.

Rule 3: Presentation

The essay will include a cover sheet with specific information included. Only type written papers on 8.5” x 11” paper will be accepted. Each page needs to be numbered. Ten or 12 point font will be used and the paper will be stapled in the upper left hand corner.

Rule 4: Number of Copies

If mailing the essays to TCEE, four copies of the paper must be received in the Texas Council on Economic Education Office at 1801 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019 by October 10, 2012, 5:00pm CST.

If entering the paper electronically, only one copy of the essay will be uploaded.

Rule 5: Publishing Papers

Entry into the contest provides permission to TCEE and the contest sponsors for essays to be published and the student’s name used. Winning papers and possibly others will be published.


SPECIFIC RULES FOR VIDEO

The video must be original in production and all rules need to be followed.

Videos should be in one of the following formats:

.MPEG4, 3GPP and MOV files - Typically supporting h264, mpeg4 video codecs and AAC audio codec

.AVI - Many cameras output this format - typically the video codec is MJPEG and audio is PCM

.WMV .FLV - Adobe-FLV1 video codec, MP3 audio

Rule 1: Time Requirements

Videos need to be a minimum of 3 and no more than 5 minutes in length. The 5 seconds allocated for the holding of a poster with the cover sheet and the second 5 seconds for holding the annotated bibliography will not be included in the 3 to 5 minute time frame. Timing will begin when the student begins addressing the unnamed president with his/her introductory remarks and ends with the concluding remarks. The flow of the presentation should follow that of the rubric outline.

Rule 2: Beginning of the video

Hold a poster with the required cover sheet content visible (large and bold letters) to the camera for 5 seconds. The student reads the content of the poster.

Next, the student holds the annotated bibliography visible to the camera for 5 seconds minimum and reads the document out loud.

Rule 3: Student Production

All videos must be the work of the student entering the competition. Although a parent, teacher or another student can hold the camera for the recording, the author of the production is to provide all dialogue in outlining statistics, citing information, and giving advice to the president. Only those students listed as entrants may participate in the production or appear on camera. The student needs to provide printed charts that can be seen by the viewer as the student speaks. In other words, when statistics are discussed, a visual with large typed printing should be held visible to the camera and visible to the viewer watching the video. Please point to the appropriate statistics or points while speaking.


Rule 4: Media Devices

Students can use slides they have created, computers, recorders and other media.

Rule 5: Script

The script for the video should not be included with the written cover page and annotated bibliography uploaded or mailed for judging.

Rule 5: Publishing Videos

Entry into the contest provides permission to TCEE and the contest sponsors for videos to be published and the student’s name used. Winning videos and possibly others will be published.

Rule 6: Video Production

Your video must be an original production with the contestant as the speaker. You may not use professional photographs, film, slides, recorded music, etc. within your presentation.


VIDEO GUIDELINES AND TIPS

Creating a Video

Videos for Fiscal Fitness: Economics Competition can be an interesting way to communicate your message to the president.

Video format for Fiscal Fitness must follow the rules contained here and the format below.

Videos should be in one of the following formats:

.MPEG4, 3GPP and MOV files - Typically supporting h264, mpeg4 video codecs and AAC audio codec

.AVI - Many cameras output this format - typically the video codec is MJPEG and audio is PCM

.WMV .FLV - Adobe-FLV1 video codec, MP3 audio

SOME POSSIBLE PROBLEMS TO SOLVE

Be sure that you allow time to edit or re-record your videos. Please pay attention to the lighting, blurred images, and difficult to read charts, graphs, cover page, and annotated bibliography.

The cover page, footnotes on cards, and annotated bibliography need to be in large and bold letters so the judges can view them on the computer screen.

The message you intend to portray may not always be what the audience hears. Your narration is the key to the audience understanding of your plan. Use a pleasant and clear voice. Speak slowly and enunciate words clearly. Use inflection in your voice and make sure that the audience understands as you change from one segment of the content to another.

When you write an essay paper, you must acknowledge the references you used. The same goes for the videos when writing or producing something for Fiscal Fitness: Economics Competition. Type your footnotes, endpoints, or citations in large legible letters and hold each up at appropriate times in your presentation so the judges can read them.


JUDGING YOUR ENTRY

Who are the judges?

Bankers, educators, and others interested in economics and education serve as judges at the FISCAL FITNESS: Economics Competition.

How Does the Judging Take Place?

Several judges will individually read and or view the entries and record points earned on the rubric for the entry. At the conclusion, the judges will discuss their findings and determine the winning entries.

Remember: judges will use objective analysis of the mechanics or methodology of the essay/video. Judges will also evaluate the work based on the quality of what is being stated including the development of the issues, solutions and rationale for them. It is important that you provide both statistical analysis and suggestions. This is a topic that will evoke different opinions so the key is how you state and support your solutions. Your interpretation and suggestions need to be based on solid research. The judges will listen for connections between the research, your analysis and suggestions. Supporting your research with a solid annotated bibliography is important.

Role of The Judges

Parent, student and teacher concerns will always be heard and addressed. The judges will have the final decision.

Judging Criteria

The judges will document the points on the rubric.

Annotated Bibliography

25th Annual Heart of Texas Regional History Fair Rules and Guidelines. ( 2012, August). Retrieved from http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/99035.pdf

The Texas Council on Economic Education referenced the types of requirements made of students for History Fair entries in addressing the requirements included in the Fiscal Fitness: Economic Competition.

Purdue Online Writing Style Lab, Citation Style Chart. (2012, September).http://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20110928111055_949.pdf

The Texas Council on Economic Education referenced the Citation Style Chart in making its annotated bibliography.

Please visit the websites listed below to learn more about TCEE. Questions can be addressed by emailing [email protected] or calling 713.655.1650.


mailto:[email protected]