The Poverty Level

Worksheet Description

This Argumentative Research worksheet addresses the topic of poverty levels in the United States, with specific reference to the income threshold defining poverty and the federal minimum wage. It guides students to investigate the adequacy of the minimum wage, considering whether it should be adjusted to align with or surpass the poverty threshold. The worksheet encourages students to research the current state of poverty in a location of their choice within the U.S., to ask questions about what they have learned, and to consider the implications of this information on public policy and societal welfare.

The purpose of this worksheet is to develop students’ abilities to engage with socioeconomic data and to critically analyze public policy issues, specifically the setting of the federal minimum wage relative to the poverty level. It teaches them to conduct targeted research, develop insightful questions, form an educated opinion based on their findings, and articulate their position through a thesis statement. The ultimate goal is to equip students with the skills necessary to create an argumentative paper, complete with a bibliography, fostering their understanding of evidence-based argumentation and academic writing.