Taking the ideas further

Well done if you have got this far - you now probably have much good material. Why not try to extend your understanding - have a look at Debateabase - ''Debatabase is the world's most useful resource for student debaters. Inside you will find arguments for and against hundreds of debating Topics, written by expert debaters, judges and coaches. Also included are background summaries, links to websites of interest and recommended books''.

Look here for a discussion on - will free trade benefit third world countries? Does it harm developed countries? Could it serve a universal good? Is free trade a realistic goal?

Or here for a discussion on - Should the developed world focus on enabling trade or donating aid as a way to help the developing world?

Research Based Coursework - Task 4

We discussed in a recent lesson that it is important to look at both sides of an argument and to be discerning in our consideration of websites - are they one-sided. Whilst looking at the flowing sites and content consider what are the main arguments, how do they fit into our question, are the arguments one sided, what are your feelings about these arguments. Also consider how might you record these arguments as notes (those research skills again!)

OXFAM - Rigged rules and double standards ''There is a paradox at the heart of international trade. In the globalised world of the early twenty-first century, trade is one of the most powerful forces linking our lives. It is also a source of unprecedented wealth.
Yet millions of the world's poorest people are being left behind. Increased prosperity has gone hand in hand with mass poverty and the widening of already obscene inequalities between rich and poor. World trade has the potential to act as a powerful motor for the reduction of poverty, as well as for economic, but that potential is being lost''.

Now I suggest that you have a look at a link that looks at both sides of this debate. The openDemocracy website ''openDemocracy is the leading independent website on global current affairs - free to read, free to participate, free to the world...offering stimulating, critical analysis, promoting dialogue and debate on issues of global importance and linking citizens from around the world''. Look at the 'Trade, economics, justice'' section -there are a range of articles here - (you might find these useful for other A2 subjects).

Research Based Coursework - Now over to you - Task 3

It was suggested in a recent lesson that you should look in more detail at fair-trade. The Cooperative College has some excellent resources on this. Click here for the link - We are not going to give you as much direction for researching; really it is over to you. However you should consider the following questions
What is fair trade?
How does fair trade work?
How does fair trade help?
Can you show some examples where fair trade has worked?

Note on this website they are using the term Fairtrade as a product description.

Research Based Coursework Homework Task 2.

Now have a look at the Make Trade Fair website. Who is it written for, why - consider bias. There is much good material on here, I have set out a few tasks, but it will be worth your while navigating around. Consider how might you record the key ideas from here? Remember your bibliography!

Firstly lets have a look at the WTO summit in Hong Kong three views about the outcome.

What about some key ideas - unfair trade is more than just a poor price for your goods - have a look at these interactive explanations (dumping, market access, etc)

Finally why not get upto date with the key definitions?

If you are really serious about this essay there is some excellent research here.

Research Based Coursework - Homework Task 1

For you first task I would like you to visit the Global Eye Website. This is a site aimed at students and is a little basic, however it is a good place to start. Consider the key words that we are trying to define and the key questions that we identified in the lesson. Make some notes (remember to use your new found research skills), can you start to give these notes some structure?

There are a couple of good case studies here for you to make a note of. Remember that bibliography!