DO I HAVE A RIGHT: GETTING STARTED

Each student has a file in their folder that will help guide the project. The file contains a rubric that explains how it will be graded. This project will use Microsoft Excel to analyze the financial results of a business. Data analyzed will be from a law firm. Cases won and funds acquired will be tracked.

Starting the gameThe game is based of a site called Icivics. A student can find the site from any computer by searching for “icivics do I have a right”. The game will prompt for a registration. This requires an email address. Students need not waste their time with registering. Instead, click the button that says

THE FIRST AMENDMENT The first amendment includes

the rights to “Freedom of Expression” and “Freedom of Religion.” This gives a person a right to express them selves in written or spoken words. The later part also gives Americans the right to their religion. Take care to select the correct portion of the amendment during game play.

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Amendments

The 2nd amendment gives people the rights to “bare ordinary weapons.” This means Americans can buy rifles and certain kinds of small arms. The third amendment means that we have the right to keep soldiers out of our private homes. The 4th amendment protects Americans from illegal search from the police.

ReviewDo I Have a Right: Getting StartedStarting the gameThe first amendmentThe 2nd, 3rd and 4th Amendments

The 5th and 6th amendments The 5th amendment protects from Double

Jeopardy (a person forced to have a 2nd trial).

A later part of the 5th lets you Keep Private Property. Even if the government has to take it they pay for it.

6th amendment: Speedy Trial means that a person has to have their trial within a short time.

6th amendment: Impartial Jury a person has a right to a jury by peers.

The 8th and 13th amendmentThe 8th amendment says that people have a

right to avoid cruel and unusual punishment. If some one is convicted of a crime, the government doesn’t have the right to humiliate, maim, or otherwise overly punish.

The 13th amendment outlaws slavery. No one can force an American to remain at a job or to work for no compensation.

THE 14TH AMENDMENT The 14th amendment says that

people in America are treated the same under the eyes of the law. Be careful not to select the 14th amendment if there is another specific amendment that protects a right. For example, a person should receive the same police/fire protection and the same rights to participate in school activities.

15th 19th and 26th amendmentsThe 15th 19th and 26th all regulate who can vote in America. The 15 says that everyone votes regardless of race. The 19th says that everyone votes regardless of gender/sex. The 26th says that everyone must be 18+ years old. Voting was a big issues when the constitution was made.

REVIEW 5th and 6th (double jeopardy, property, jury, speedy trial)

8th, 13th (cruel/unusual, slavery)

14th (treated same) 15th, 19th, 26th (voting race, gender and age)

Introduction to Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Excel is

designed to make math and business easy. Instead of one large page, like Microsoft Word, it has Many small boxes called “cells”. The boxes can contain words, numbers, formulas or pictures. A student who masters this program. Will very easily succeed with any kind of task that needs data analysis.

ANALYZING DO I HAVE A RIGHT WITH EXCEL It is common practice for a business

to record their numerical operations for a time period. This will enable the managers to change policy to increase production. Students will record cases and prestige earned during the game. After the data is recorded, it can be applied to formulas, graphed and analyzed. Each game day will be recorded as part of a set of one whole week.

Data Entry Into ExcelThe worksheet’s cells will contain

information gained from the end of the workday in the law firm simulation. Set up the top of each column labels as “Day, Prestige Earned, Prestige After Spending, Cases Won, Cases Lost, Case Revenue”. On the left side, days 1 through 7 are numbered. There will be a certain amount of prestige score spent during the end of the day. Students will recordboth before and after

values for spending.

ENTERING FORMULAS IN EXCEL Microsoft Excel can make

mathematical calculations done automatically with formulas. Each formula cell must start with the = sign. After that, a student can type in a calculation to get any kind of math. For case revenue, it will be =((casesWon – CasesLost) * 200). Total revenue will use a formula =(sum(cellsTop:CellsBottom).

ReviewIntroduction to MS ExcelAnalyzing Do I have a RightData entry into excelEntering formulas with excel

OBTAINING DATA FROM THE SIMULATION FOR EXCEL There are 4 variables students will

need to record for each day. Cases won, cases lost, initial prestige and prestige remaining. The game pauses when a player is at an information screen or a purchase menu. This is a good time to record the information without loss of game points. Be sure to keep up with the daily tally or the excel spreadsheet will not be accurate.

Excel AestheticsUnder the home tab there are options to

bold, italic and underline text. Use these options to accentuate column labels so they stand out from the data. Next to these common options, there is a tool that lets a user create lines or boxes. Boxing or outlining certain portions of the chart can make it easier to read. Try to keep whatever aesthetics you choose to be consistent throughout the project.

GAME STRATEGIES Some strategies will enable a student

to be more successful. Try to get as many lawyers as possible so they can handle more cases and hopefully win more. Read what the complaints have to say carefully since some of them may be crazy or not fit certain amendments. Invest prestige as much as possible to help the office function. By thinking about the results of the choices made in the business, a student can discover success.

The “Print Screen” ButtonA great way to show off a winning score

is to get a screen shot by using the print screen button. At the end of the 7 day simulation, press the print screen button. Then, go to the excel worksheet and use the mouse to paste the information. Students should do this even if the score is low. Later screen shots can show that progress was made.

REVIEW Obtaining data from the simulation for Excel

Excel Aesthetics Game Strategies The “Print Screen” button

Using Excel to create graphsUnder the Insert tab, Microsoft Excel

will allow a user to create a graphic representation of the data. This is very important for analyses and presentation. A person can often understand a picture faster and easier than a set of numbers. By using graphs instead of numbers, the worksheet will be more efficient.

LINE GRAPHS AND BAR GRAPHS A line graph has points on a chart

with the height giving value and the width giving days. As the days go past, a user can see if the numbers have trended up, down or stayed the same. The graph may contain a single line or multiple lines. It doesn’t work as well for all kinds of data. It is best to experiment with different types to see how well it fits the information shown.

Other kinds of graphsEach graph option enables the users to display

information in a different way. The pie graph is excellent to show how a whole set is broken up into pieces. A scatter graph can more accurately display large sets of numbers width extreme values given proper perspectives. Area and 3dimensional graphs can show lines and bar graphs with a more graphically pleasing look. Under “Other Charts” a myriad of option exist that can properly express many concepts.

USING THE GRAPHS TO MAKE STATEMENTS AND HYPOTHESIS The graphs represent observations that

a business owner or student can use to as evidence to support ideas. For example, this unit should show how winning more cases creates more prestige. In real business, many other factors can contribute to total profit or loss. Only but organizing the data can one begin to create ideas for potential gain. Also, by becoming an expert in Excel, any math student can have their work done instantly.

ReviewUsing Excel to create graphsLines graphs and bar graphsOther kinds of graphsUsing the graphs to make statements and

hypothesis