MOD+4


 * PAF 101 EXERCISES - MODULE FOUR**
 * BASED ON CHAPTERS 7 & 8**


 * Whenever you use a source in your answer, including all quotes, you must provide an APA-style internal citation and a full APA-style reference in the References page exercise, except for personal communications. HINT: Most of these exercises require citations.
 * Whenever you attach an article, it must be directly behind the exercise in which it first appears, and it must be clearly labeled with the exercise numbers and letters to which it pertains. Attach only the first page of the article unless otherwise stated.

Exercise 7.1: Identifying Benefits Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 9 points)

A. State your societal problem. Briefly describe your preferred policy at the local, state, or federal level and identify the primary unit of government responsible for implementing your policy. Your preferred policy is the one you believe will be most successful in dealing with the societal problem. Note: The problem and level you choose do not have to be the same as you used in Module 3, and you may choose a policy that is different than those you specified in Module 3. (3 points) Part A score:_

> Teenage obesity in Putnam County, NY **
 * **State your societal problem here (make sure to specify the geographic location you are focusing on):


 * **Describe your preferred policy to deal with this societal problem here:**


 * “The Biggest Loser” challenge for a free prom **


 * **Identify the level and primary unit of government responsible for implementing this policy here:**
 * Putnam County Department of Health **


 * ** Identify your source of information and explain how it helped you formulate your policy here: **

B. List the three most significant benefits of your policy and assign a rating of significance of 1, 2, or 3 to each item. Each rating can be used more than once. List each item in order from most significant (3) to least significant (1). Justify each rating you have assigned in no more than two sentences. (6 points) Part B Score:_


 * **List the most significant benefit here: Free Prom **
 * Rating (1-3): 3 **
 * Justification of rating: the prize for winning the contest **


 * **List the second most significant benefit here: Students become more physically fit **
 * Rating (1-3): 3 **
 * Justification of rating: students lose weight and become healthier **
 * **List the third most significant benefit here: School Pride **
 * Rating (1-3): 1 **
 * Justification of rating: School becomes more unified **

Exercise 7.2: Identifying Costs Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 6 points)

List the three most significant costs of your policy and assign a rating of significance of 1, 2, or 3 to each item. Each rating can be used more than once. List each item in order from most significant (3) to least significant (1). Justify each rating you have assigned in no more than two sentences. All financial considerations must be grouped as a single cost. Do not discuss problems with the policy itself, but instead the costs that will arise if it is implemented.


 * **List the most significant cost here: Financial cost of paying for prom **
 * Rating (1-3): 2 **
 * Justification of rating: Money can be used better to benefit the school **
 * **List the second most significant cost here: Miss out on class time **
 * Rating (1-3): 1 **
 * Justification of rating: leaving class for weigh ins, fall behind in work **


 * **List the third most significant cost here: Stigmatizing Heavy Students **
 * Rating (1-3): 3 **
 * Justification of rating: low self esteem in students leading to future problems **

Exercise 7.3: Comparing Benefits and Costs Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 3 points)

Calculate the benefit‑cost ratio as described in the //Maxwell Manual// and show your calculations below. Then, in one sentence, interpret the ratio. No citation or reference is needed for this exercise.


 * **Place the original formula and your calculation of the benefit-cost ratio here:**
 * ∑ Benefits/ ∑ cost= cost-benefit ratio **
 * B1+B2+B3/ C1+C2+C3 **
 * 3+3+1/2+1+3= 7/6=1.17 **

B>C = Ratio>1 C<B = Ratio <1 If benefits are higher than cost the ratio should be greater than one, we calculate the ratio of 1.17. Exercise 7.4: Analyzing Your Career Preferences Your Total Score: _ __(Maximum: 16 points)__
 * **Write a one sentence interpretation here:**


 * 1) Fill in the chart below. It will help you begin to explore your career interests. Think of the three categories as the three angles of a triangle and decide where you belong in the triangle with respect to what you are good at and what you like to do. “Information” refers to collecting and analyzing information to make decisions. “People” refers to working with people on a one-on-one or group basis. “Physical” refers to jobs that involve physical activities. (2 points)


 * Fill in the Chart 1 below:**

CHART 1: Skill/Preference Matrix Rate High. Medium Low under Each Column Good At Like to Do


 * Information || Medium || Medium ||
 * People || High || High ||
 * Physical || Medium || Medium ||

Part A Score __(2 points)__


 * 1) Complete the chart by placing an “x” on the line where you would like to be by the time you are 30 years old. (3 points)
 * Fill in Chart 2 below:**

CHART 2: The Career Field Explorer: Place an “x’ on the line which indicates where you want to be when you are 30. Average Salary___x__ Top 5%

Work No More than 40hrs per week__x____80 hrs

Do Good Field__ ___x__Money-Making Near to Where You Now Live __x____Far Away

Little Traveling_____x__ Lots of Traveling

Economically Risky __x__Not Risky

Orderly x___Chaotic

Graduate Education__ x 4 year Degree Only

Part B Score _ __(3 points)__


 * 1) Write no more than 200 words on what career you would like to be in by your late 20’s and how it fits the answers you put in the chart. Since many careers like law or teaching have a variety of different fields, you may want to indicate what subfield you will be choosing. No citation is needed for this exercise. (5 points)
 * In my late 20’s I hope to be a teacher, I will do my traveling over the summers and keep my organization to a normal level. I hope to find an economically safe job and have an average salary. **

Part C Score _

Part D Score _
 * 1) From Chapter 7 of //How You Can Help,// select one career that serves society that you would actually pursue. You can use the one listed in Part C if it is a do good career. Complete your own benefit-cost analysis for the career you have selected following the items listed below. List the benefits and costs to you from highest to lowest. No citation is needed for this exercise. (6 points)

__ · **Write the career you selected here: Teacher **__


 * **List the most significant benefit here: Teachers like what they do. **
 * Rating (1-3): 3 **
 * Justification for rating:**
 * People usually become teachers because they are passionate and like what they do. **


 * **List the second most significant benefit here: Stability **
 * Rating (1-3): 3 **
 * Justification for rating: After getting tenured you mainly have a stable job. **


 * **List the third most significant benefit here: You can live anywhere. **
 * Rating (1-3): 2 **
 * Justification for rating: There are schools everywhere. **


 * **List the most significant cost here: Always being around those whom are younger then you **
 * Rating (1-3): 1 **
 * Justification for rating: As a teacher grows older they will always be around people of a younger age. **


 * **List the second most significant cost here: Spending money out of their pockets. **
 * Rating (1-3): 2 **
 * Justification for rating: Teachers spend money on supplies and goodies for there class. **


 * **List the third most significant cost here: Masters Degree. **
 * Rating (1-3): 2 **
 * Justification for rating: Extra schooling costs more money. **


 * Place original formula and your calculation of the benefit-cost ratio here:**
 * ∑ Benefits/ ∑ cost= cost-benefit ratio **
 * B1+B2+B3/ C1+C2+C3 **
 * 3+3+2/1+2+2= 8/5=1.6 **

B>C = Ratio>1 C<B = Ratio <1 If benefits are higher than cost the ratio should be greater than one, we calculate the ratio of 1.6.
 * Write a one sentence interpretation of here:**

Exercise 7.5: Analyzing Benefit-Cost Discussion in the News Media Your Total Score:_ __(Maximum: 4 points)

Using ProQuest Newspapers, or any other print or electronic newspaper source, select a recent (within the past six months) editorial, letter to the editor, or op-ed article that discusses an existing or proposed policy on__ your __societal problem. Attach the entire article directly behind this exercise. __


 * **State the policy using a direct quote from the article here:**
 * “ ** She also castigates today's reform movement--which counts President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan among its followers--for focusing too heavily on test-based accountability and charter schools, at the expense of helping children really learn.”

Merit and Flaws
 * **If the author does not use the terms “benefits” and “costs,” discuss what terms are used in place of them here (if the author does use the exact terms “benefits” and “costs” please specify that below as well):**


 * **Describe how well the writer evaluates the benefits and costs of the policy here:**


 * I believe that the writer shows a sense of background knowledge on the topic at hand. Even though the author previously had a different opinion she now she has changed this opinion yet still backs up her opinion. **

Ravitch, Diane (2010). “Pass or Fail: [|The country's love affair with standardized testing and charter schools is ruining American education.] .” The New Republic. March 15, []. March 18, 10:08AM.

Exercise 8.1: Provide Data for Four Years on A Variable Measuring Your Societal Problem Your Total Score:_ __(Maximum: 12 points)

A. State your societal problem, and restate the same policy (including the same geographical location) as you stated in 7.1. (2 points) Part A score:__ _


 * **Restate your societal problem here, including the geographic location you are focusing on:**
 * Child Obesity in New York **
 * **Restate the policy here, including the geographic location of the policy:**


 * Senior class biggest loser in Putnam County, NY **

B. Select one variable that measures a societal condition that you expect your policy to impact at the same geographic location stated in 7.1. The variable must use or be based on at least one piece of real data from a published print or electronic source. (10 points) >> Part B score:_ >>
 * Provide data for four time intervals. The last must be within the past calendar year. Up to three can be estimated. If you are using academic data, use school years (ex. 2001-2002).
 * Data should be set up in a chart as shown in Chapter 8 of the //Maxwell Manual// and using the format below, including all appropriate labels
 * Directly behind this exercise, attach a copy of the data you used for your real data point(s). The copy must come from a published print or electronic source.


 * ** Childhood Obesity ** ||
 * **Time**
 * Period** || **Number**
 * of [Variable]** || **Source or Rationale for Estimation** ||
 * 1980 || 6.5 || Parker-Pope, Tara (2008) “Hint of Hope as Child Obesity Rate Hits Plateau” //NYT// May 28. ||
 * 1994 || 11.3 || Parker-Pope, Tara (2008) “Hint of Hope as Child Obesity Rate Hits Plateau” //NYT// May 28. ||
 * 2002 || 16.3 || Parker-Pope, Tara (2008) “Hint of Hope as Child Obesity Rate Hits Plateau” //NYT// May 28. ||
 * 2008 || 17 || Parker-Pope, Tara (2008) “Hint of Hope as Child Obesity Rate Hits Plateau” //NYT// May 28. ||

Exercise 8.2: Calculate Percent Change Using Excel

Your Total Score_ (Maximum: 20 points)

A. Using the formula presented in the Chapter 8, calculate the percent change between the first and second year of the data presented in 8.1 of your own module. (3 points) Part A score:_

· **Write percent change here: 73.85% **

· **Show the original formula and your calculations here:** Percent change = (New Data-Old Data) Old Data *100

B. Using Excel and the instructions provided to you in Chapter 8, calculate the percent change between each of the four years as well as between the first year and the fourth year for the variable you collected. Show all four percent changes in the format shown in Chapter 8. (14 points) Part B score:_


 * ** Insert Excel chart here: **


 * **Childhood Obesity on the Rise ** ||
 * //Year // || //Percent Obese // || //Percent Change // ||
 * 1980 || 6.5  ||   ||
 * 1994 || 11.3  || 73.85  ||
 * 2002 || 16.3  || 44.25  ||
 * 2008 || 17  || 4.29  ||
 * **TOTAL PERCENT CHANGE ** || <span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">161.54 ||

C. Describe the pattern or lack of it over the four years. (3 points) Part C score:_

Obesity went up rapidly from 1980-1994 and then it just leveled out from 2002-2008. Exercise 8.3: Deciding on the Years to Use for Your Benchmark Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 6 points)
 * **Describe the pattern here:**

State what three years for which you would set your benchmark. Briefly indicate why you have chosen those years. If your societal problem involves education, you must use academic years.

· **State what three years you set your benchmark for here:**


 * 2010, 2015, 2020 **

· **Briefly justify why you have chosen these years here:**


 * I want these numbers because this decade is the most important for childhood obesity. **

Exercise 8.4: Displaying Your Baseline Forecast Total Score: (Maximum: 8 points)

Place a trend line graph below that displays your historical data and your baseline forecast for the three years selected in 8.3, followed by a brief justification of the forecast. The gap between the end of your historical data (as entered in 8.1) and the beginning of your forecasted years must be shown on the graph. No citation or reference is necessary for this exercise. Refer to Chapter 8 in the //Maxwell Manual//.

· **Follow the instructions in 8.4 of the chapter to insert a trend line graph, and insert your graph here:**

· **Write a clear justification of your forecast by quoting at least two ideas discussed in 8.4 of the chapter here:**


 * I used the historical data to conduct a trend line and extrapolated that trend into the future. The past is a good indication of what we can expect in the future. We fitted the historical data to a logarithmic curve because we expect the rate of change to decline in the future. This graph also implies that obesity will not ever reach 100%. **

Exercise 8.5: Setting Your Benchmarks Total Score:_ (Maximum: 16 points)

After carefully reading the discussion in Chapter 8, indicate your three benchmarks in the spaces provided below that include the years chosen in 8.3, the benchmark, and the justification. You must use at least two of the five guidelines for setting benchmarks discussed in 8.5 of Chapter 8 in at least two different justifications. No citation or reference is necessary for this exercise.


 * Complete the chart below: [Title Fully Describing Variable Including Rate or %]**


 * ** Year ** || ** Benchmark ** || ** Justification ** ||
 * 2010 ||  17.4%  ||  Looked at past trend to see predicted future  ||
 * ** Year ** || ** Benchmark ** || ** Justification ** ||
 * 2015 ||  19%  ||  Looked at past trend to see predicted future  ||
 * ** Year ** || ** Benchmark ** || ** Justification ** ||
 * 2020 ||  20%  ||  Looked at past trend to see predicted future  ||

Exercise 8.6: Using Benchmarks to Support your Policy Proposal Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 14 points)

A. Identify a player to whom you would present an oral briefing using the benchmark you developed for Exercise 8.5. List the player’s name and title below. (2 points) Part A score:

· **List the player’s name here: Thomas J. Manko. **

· **List the player’s title here: Superintendent of Mahopac School’s **

B. Place a graph that shows the historical pattern, baseline, and benchmark forecasts below: (8 points) Part B score: _

__ · **Follow the instructions in 8.4 and 8.6 from Chapter 8 to insert a trend line graph, and insert your graph here:**

C. In no more than 3 sentences, describe the specific benefit of the policy as expressed in the above graph. (4 points) Part C score:__ _

· **Place response here:** A 10% lower obesity among teenagers.

Exercise 8.7: References Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 6 points)
 * Prepare a list of references that includes all sources for this module.
 * Follow the APA format.
 * Include all sources used in the exercises.

· **Start References on the next line or on the next page:**
 * Harmon, E. (2007). “How to Start “The Biggest Loser” Contest in You Office.” Associated Content. March 18. [] Last accessed on March 20, 2010. **