Mathematics for Business and Personal Finance

Unit 3: Managing Your Expenses

WebQuests

Resources for Taxpayers

Introduction
Many students in your school have part-time and seasonal jobs. While anyone likes money in the bank, a job also means added responsibility. Students who receive income will need to file federal income tax returns. However, many of your fellow students have never filed before, and they are confused by the process.

Since you are the Chair of your school's Civics and Government Club, you often field questions from first-time filers. Based on their questions, you are planning an educational campaign for students at your school. The Club will create and distribute a series of brochures to help students navigate the filing process.

Task
The Civics Club has identified four questions commonly asked by first-time taxpayers. Your job is to design a brochure to answer one of these questions. It will be distributed around school, in student workplaces, and through the mail. First, you will research the issue online. Then you will create a brochure to educate your readers on your topic. Finally, as Club Chair, you will comparison shop to find the most cost-effective means of printing the brochures.

Process
1. Choose one question to answer in your brochure:

Who needs to file a federal income tax return?
Why should I file a federal income tax return?
Where can I go for help with my taxes?
What if I miss the deadline to file, and what happens if I do not file?

2. Research answers to your question online using the resources provided. Take notes of important information as you read.

3. Create your brochure. Make it about 250 to 350 words in length. Consider including the following elements:

Attention-grabbing headline
An introduction to your topic
Three or four main points
Key statistics or supporting facts
Relevant, eye-catching graphics and colors
Resources for readers to learn more or take action on the issue

4. Contact at least two printing companies for an estimate on printing the brochure or flyer. Assume you will print 500 copies that are full size (8.5 inches by 11 inches). Ask for estimates in full color. Create a chart to keep track of your findings as your comparison shop.

5. Print out a copy of your brochure or flyer and comparison chart to give to your teacher.

Resources
Here is a list of Web resources to use while creating your brochure or flyer and comparison shopping.

Researching your question

Making your brochure or flyer

10 tips for design
Brochures that stand out

Comparison shopping

Evaluation

	Beginning 2	Developing 5	Accomplished 8	Exemplary 10	Score
Research	Information is inaccurate or inadequate	There is evidence of only a little research	Research is thorough and relevant	Research is thorough, and the information selected is detailed and interesting
Brochure or Flyer Content	Little relevant content is included	Some relevant content is presented	All content relevant to the topic is included	Content is complete, and additional interesting details are included
Writing Quality	Most of the writing is not in complete sentences, and most capitalization and punctuation are not correct	Some of the writing is in complete sentences, and some capitalization and punctuation are correct	Most of the writing is in complete sentences, and most capitalization and punctuation are correct	All of the writing is in complete sentences, and proper capitalization and punctuation are used
Organization and Attractiveness	The layout and organization are confusing	Information is organized consistently	Information is organized in a meaningful and attractive way	Information is extremely well organized, and the design eye-catching
Graphics	No graphics are used	Graphics are not closely related to the content	Graphics go well with the content	Selected graphics go well with the content and are interesting
Comparison Shopping Cart	Chart is incomplete or incorrect	Chart is complete but confusing or unclear	Chart is complete and clearly presents information	Chart is complete and well organized, with relevant detail

Conclusion
Your hard work pays off: more than five hundred brochures are distributed across the school. Students who read the brochures feel more confident about tax season. As it turns out, students are not the only ones who appreciate help with their taxes. The local Chamber of Commerce has commissioned you to create a city-wide educational campaign on taxpayer resources! Who knows, this could lead to a part-time job of your own!