HS Economics Reading and Writing Workshop
Reading and Writing Workshop: Economics Overview
This workshop integrates public domain economic texts with writing exercises to strengthen comprehension, analysis, and argumentation skills. Students will read historical and foundational texts, analyze economic principles, and write responses based on evidence and reasoning.
Workshop Structure
Each session includes:
Session 1: What is Economics?
Reading: Principles of Economics (1890) – Alfred Marshall (Excerpt: Introduction on the nature of economics)
Session 2: Scarcity and Resources
Reading: An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776) – Adam Smith (Excerpt: Division of labor and its impact on productivity)
Session 3: Opportunity Cost and Decision Making
Reading: The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation (1817) – David Ricardo (Excerpt: Comparative advantage and trade-offs)
Session 4: Production Possibilities and Economic Growth
Reading: Progress and Poverty (1879) – Henry George (Excerpt: Effects of technological progress on production)
Session 5: Economic Systems and Government Role
Reading: The Communist Manifesto (1848) – Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels (Excerpt: Critique of capitalism and call for socialism)
Session 6: The Free Market and Supply & Demand
Reading: The Theory of Money and Credit (1912) – Ludwig von Mises (Excerpt: Role of money and markets in trade)
Final Workshop Activity: Economic Policy Debate
This workshop develops historical economic literacy, enhances critical thinking, and strengthens writing skills through analysis of public domain texts.
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This workshop integrates public domain economic texts with writing exercises to strengthen comprehension, analysis, and argumentation skills. Students will read historical and foundational texts, analyze economic principles, and write responses based on evidence and reasoning.
Workshop Structure
Each session includes:
- Reading a public domain text excerpt
- Discussion and analysis
- Writing activity
Session 1: What is Economics?
Reading: Principles of Economics (1890) – Alfred Marshall (Excerpt: Introduction on the nature of economics)
- Focus Questions:
- How does Marshall define economics?
- How does this definition compare to modern economics?
- Prompt: Write a short essay comparing Marshall’s definition of economics with today’s understanding. How has the field evolved?
Session 2: Scarcity and Resources
Reading: An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776) – Adam Smith (Excerpt: Division of labor and its impact on productivity)
- Focus Questions:
- How does division of labor improve production?
- How does Smith’s idea relate to modern businesses?
- Prompt: Using Smith’s ideas, analyze how scarcity influences the way companies allocate resources.
Session 3: Opportunity Cost and Decision Making
Reading: The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation (1817) – David Ricardo (Excerpt: Comparative advantage and trade-offs)
- Focus Questions:
- How does Ricardo explain trade-offs?
- How does opportunity cost relate to decision-making?
- Prompt: Describe a real-world example of opportunity cost, using Ricardo’s principles.
Session 4: Production Possibilities and Economic Growth
Reading: Progress and Poverty (1879) – Henry George (Excerpt: Effects of technological progress on production)
- Focus Questions:
- How does technological growth impact economies?
- What challenges arise when economies grow too quickly?
- Prompt: Write an argument on whether technological progress always benefits an economy, using evidence from George’s work.
Session 5: Economic Systems and Government Role
Reading: The Communist Manifesto (1848) – Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels (Excerpt: Critique of capitalism and call for socialism)
- Focus Questions:
- What are Marx’s criticisms of capitalism?
- How do his ideas contrast with Adam Smith’s views?
- Prompt: Compare and contrast capitalism and socialism based on Marx and Smith’s ideas.
Session 6: The Free Market and Supply & Demand
Reading: The Theory of Money and Credit (1912) – Ludwig von Mises (Excerpt: Role of money and markets in trade)
- Focus Questions:
- How does money regulate markets?
- How do supply and demand shape free markets?
- Prompt: Using von Mises’s ideas, explain how consumer choices influence the economy.
Final Workshop Activity: Economic Policy Debate
- Students choose an economic system or policy and defend it in an argumentative essay
- Use excerpts from public domain works as evidence
- Peer review and revision process
This workshop develops historical economic literacy, enhances critical thinking, and strengthens writing skills through analysis of public domain texts.
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