Why do I need an education anyway?

developed by Ms. Doege

(standards)

Introduction

Why should I go to school? Can I survive in life without an education? What if I drop out? How much money can I expect to earn? What if I graduate? Will better jobs be available? What education if any is needed for the job that I want to do? Questions like these may be answered by completing this web activity.

Task

1. Each group will write a paragraph synthesizing the main points of articles read by group members.
2. Each group will construct a table listing selected careers, education needed, and expected wages.
3. Each member of the group will construct a double line or double bar graph to display data from the table Median Annual Income by Level of Education using Microsoft Excel.
4. Each group will write a conclusion paragraph with the results of their activities and any insights they discovered to answer the question why do I need an education anyway.

Process

SETUP: Each group will consist of 4 members. Please use cooperative skills so that all members contribute equally to the project.

PART 1: Each group member is to select one of the following articles to read and summarize. Note some of the articles are opinion articles, while others contain facts about employment. Please take notes as you read your article so that you can share this information with your group. You should be able to determine at least 2 main points the author of the article is trying to make and 3-5 facts. If you have difficulty understanding your article please ask one of your group members to help first before requesting teacher assistance.

1. 25 Reasons to Get a Liberal Education
2. Education and the Work Histories of Young Adults
3. 5600,100 reasons education matters
4. Youth who Drop Out

Activity: Share your article's main points with your group. Compile a list of facts to be used in your group summary essay. Together as a group write a summary of your findings. Make sure to include a well written topic sentence, supporting details, and conclusion statement. Use a word processing program to finalize your summary. Have all members proofread the summary before printing your final copy.

Part 2: Explore different careers using the Career Info Net's occupation profile section.

1. Make a table with the following items: job title, median yearly salary (wages), and most common training level needed. Use Microsoft Excel or another computer application to display your results.
2. Go to above web site.
3. Check the following information: Occupation Description, State and National Wages, Knowledge and Skills, and Education and Training.
4. Continue. Then search for a specific job or use the job families search.
5. Continue and select your state.
6. Each member should look up a high level job and a lower level job.
7. Add information to your group's table.
8. Make sure to proofread your table.
9. Print out your group's table of information.

Part 3: Graphing Median Annual Income by level of Education

1. Use the table at the above link to construct either a double line graph or double bar graph to display part of the data given. You must choose the appropriate graph to display the data. Remember that line graphs show change over time. Each member of the group will construct a different graph using different data. The types of graphs can be the same, but the data must be different. There is plenty of data to choose from.
2. Use Microsoft Excel to enter your data on a spreadsheet
3. Use the make a chart button to have Excel create your graph for you.
4. Make sure your graph has a title, labels, and looks appropriate for your data.
5. It is best to put your name at the end of the title, so when it is printed on the group printer you can determine which graph belongs to you.

Part 4: Summarizing the complete project

Look at all of your information: article summary, table, and graphs. Make a list of main points or facts that you have collected. Together decide on which main points to include and write a summary paragraph with a well written topic sentence, your supporting details, and a conclusion statement. Make sure all members proofread the summary before printing.

Part 5: Display and Presentation

Take all the the paragraphs, tables, and graphs and display them on a poster board. Develop a title for your display that will illustrate the main idea of your display. Prepare a oral presentation to be given in class. Together decide who will discuss which parts of the display. Speak clearly and be prepared.

Grading