Social Studies 9

End of Unit Assignment

Worth: 40% of unit grade
Due: Friday April 25th, 2014
As a final assignment for this unit, you will have the opportunity to show all of the knowledge
that you have gained over the last six weeks regarding economic systems and economic decision
making. Everything that we have covered in this unit will help you in answering the critical
inquiry question Which economic system (mixed or market) do you feel would benefit your
quality of life more as a citizen and consumer?
You are required to write a position paper on the above question. In doing so, you will choose
which economic system you think is the most beneficial to a positive quality of life and why. You
must support your reasoning with reference to information covered in class, and you can also
include any additional information found through research, which would need to be cited (I will
go over this with students who use outside information).
We will go over the process of creating a position paper in class, and you will have 3 classes to
work on this during school, any additional time needed will have to be done at home.
Format:
The following elements must be included in your paper.
1) Structure:
Introduction state your position (THESIS)
Body provide reasoning and evidence for your position
3 ARGUEMENTS
Closure sum up your position
2) References if used information found from sources other than the classroom
3) Outline/Organizer
4) Final copy (can be typed or handwritten neatly)
I will be using a rubric to mark the papers, which is attached on the back. Use it as a guide to
ensure you meet all of the requirements.

Position Paper Rubric

Level Criteria

Excellent
12

Proficient
10

Adequate
8

Limited *
6

Content

Insightful
rationale for
chosen position
with supporting
evidence, while
demonstrating a
comprehensive
understanding of
how quality of life
is affected by
economic systems

Thoughtful
rationale for
chosen position
with supporting
evidence, while
demonstrating a
thorough
understanding of
how quality of life
is affected by
economic systems

Simplistic
rationale for
chosen position
with supporting
evidence, while
demonstrating a
basic
understanding of
how quality of life
is affected by
economic
systems

Organization
and Structure

Explicit statement
of position with a
logical
organization of
elements

Precise statement
of position with a
straightforward
organization of
elements

Uncertain
statement of
position with an
inconsistent
organization of
elements

Connecting to
Unit

Significant
connections
between concepts
covered in the unit
with explicit
references

Relevant
connection
between concepts
covered in the unit
with specific
references

Predictable
Unrelated
connection
connection
between concepts between concepts
covered in the
covered in the unit
unit with implied with no
references
references

Insufficient
/ Blank *

Unconvincing
rationale for
chosen position
with supporting
evidence, while
demonstrating a
superficial
understanding of
how quality of life
is affected by
No score is
economic systems
awarded because
there is not
enough evidence
of student
Ambiguous
performance
statement of
based on the
position with
requirements of
illogical
the assessment
organization of
task.
elements

* When work is judged to be limited or insufficient, the teacher makes decisions about appropriate
intervention to help the students improve

Comments:
/36

All elements of structure are included (Intro, Body, Counter point, Conclusion)
A detailed outline and/or organization sheet are included

/2
/2

Total

/40