AP SEMINAR: End-­‐of-­‐Course Exam SIMULATION FY15 SAMPLE RESPONSES SECTION I: PART A
“Why Development Aid Has Failed,” by Sam Bowman
Question 1 (3 pts):
Identify the author’s argument, main idea, or thesis.
In his article, the author argues that although development aid is meant to help countries
grow economically, it is having the opposite effect (Bowman). This is because “the
thinking behind [it] is economically misguided,” where more money is actually causing
more problems.
Question 2 (6 pts.):
Explain the author’s line of reasoning by identifying the claims used to build the
argument and the connections between them.
The author makes two claims to establish his line of reasoning as he argues the
“fundamental problems” behind international development aid.
In his first claim, Bowman reasons that since this kind of assistance is a “topdown” solution, where someone is making the decisions from far away, these decisions
often end up having unforeseen consequences that negatively impact the country
receiving the aid. In another words, whereas aid is provided to solve one problem, it
accidentally causes another.
His second claim reasons that too often, aid given to countries with struggling
economies ends up fueling the corruption of governments. Those governments that are
collapsing from their own, “harmful interventionist and collectivist policies” are now
empowered by foreign money. Moreover, he claims that these governments become
dependent upon Western donations, which lessens their own efforts to seek economic
solutions of their own.
This claim builds upon the first claim made because one of the unforeseen
consequences that top-down solutions have is the creation of a more corrupt,
increasingly dependent countries instead of thriving ones. (172 words)
College Board AP C apstone: Seminar Jill Pavich, NBCT; Robert Kirk II Boca Raton Community High School, PBCSD AP SEMINAR: End-­‐of-­‐Course Exam SIMULATION FY15 SAMPLE RESPONSES Question 3 (6 pts.):
Evaluate the effectiveness of the evidence the author uses to support the claims
made in his argument.
The author presents a clear argument with well-reasoned claims to support his
perspective, and he offers a fair range of evidence to support those claims.
To support his first claim that countries providing aid are “causing more harm
than good,” Bowman uses an example of how mosquito nets that are donated for the
right reasons sometimes end up being used for the wrong ones. He cites William
Easterly’s observation that some African countries end up using the nets for wedding
dresses instead of warding off mosquito bites that often spawn diseases such as malaria.
While this evidence is effective because it provides a specific instance of faraway
decisions being implemented without follow-up, it lacks a clear context and source. For
instance, it mentions “African countries” collectively, but fails to pin down specific ones
where these problems are occurring. Also, the source of this information, William
Easterly, lacks credentials, so we are uncertain of his expertise or his ability to observe
this consequence in action. His observations may be the result of a hasty generalization,
where he observed the misuse of mosquito nets on one or few occasions as opposed to
seeing multiple distributions in more than one region being abused. As the audience, we
can’t be sure, so the source of the evidence somewhat dampens an otherwise reasonable
point.
Also, as support for the first claim, Bowman mentions a second, broad point about “food
aid undercutting local farmers” as an unintended consequence that accompanies topdown aid assistance. This evidence is effective because it, too, provides a clearer
picture of the author’s point because we understood who (the farmers) these decisions
can impact; but in the same breath, it lacks data demonstrating “unforeseeable results”
that farmers from a specific region face, or just how badly the aid affected their
livelihood.
For his latter claim, the author uses the Live Aid concert as his example to support the
fact that the governments of countries receiving aid do not always use the money
College Board AP C apstone: Seminar Jill Pavich, NBCT; Robert Kirk II Boca Raton Community High School, PBCSD AP SEMINAR: End-­‐of-­‐Course Exam SIMULATION FY15 SAMPLE RESPONSES honestly. Specifically, he presents us with a situation that took place in Ethiopia in 1985,
where the government and rebel groups actually worsened the country’s famine because
they misappropriated the funds raised by the concert. This piece of evidence serves as a
clear example of how international aid can be abused, thus effectively supporting the
author’s overall argument.
When the author claims that developing countries can become dependent upon
Western funds, however, he is not nearly as effective in providing supporting evidence.
He states: “African governments have had no incentive to encourage growth in their own
states and have [thus] become more dependent for money,” but we are never presented
with actual evidence of countries in Africa who face this the impact it’s causing. He
merely extends his claim.
Overall, the author’s use of evidence to support his claims varies. On at least
one occasion, he provides very specific instances to prove his point that international
aid can cause big problems for the receiving country, but more often than not, he only
offers general scenarios, leaving us to question exactly who this is happening to in
Africa specifically, and how bad is the issue he presents? And though the evidence he
presents is enough to establish a basic cause for concern, it is not nearly enough to
solidify his argument that foreign aid is economically counterproductive. (557)
* The bolded information is evaluative commentary, which is what you need to follow-up with for each
piece of evidence you address.
College Board AP C apstone: Seminar Jill Pavich, NBCT; Robert Kirk II Boca Raton Community High School, PBCSD AP SEMINAR: End-­‐of-­‐Course Exam SIMULATION FY15 SAMPLE RESPONSES SECTION I: PART B
“Young, Educated and Jobless in Taiwan,”
by Goh Sui Noi
AND
“Teenagers are Hardest Hit in Tough Economic Times,”
by Chris Zappone
Read the following two (2) articles carefully, paying attention to their perspectives, implications, and limitations. Then, write an essay that compares the two arguments by evaluating their effectiveness. In your essay, address the relevance and credibility of the evidence each presents to support the author’s line of reasoning. Before we look at the sample, let’s review the basics of each article…
MAIN ARGUMENTS POSED:
Ø Article A: Youth unemployment is on the rise in Taiwan, in part due to a
combination of factors including education, business, and politics.
Ø Article B: Unemployment may be an issue for everyone, but teens are hit harder
by the recession than most other groups, largely due to their inexperience, the
decline of those businesses most likely to hire youth, and the lack of hours
available.
PERSPECTIVES ADDRESSED:
Ø Article A: Education, Business, Politics
Ø Article B: Economic, Business
SOURCE OF EVIDENCE:
Ø Article A: Contract manufacturer Terry Gou, Taiwanese analysts, sociologist
Wang Fu-chang, the government, a university professor, sociologist Hsieh Guohsiung
Ø Article B: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Centre of Full Employment and
Equity’s director Bill Mitchell, ANZ economist Katie Dean, part-time teen
employee Susan
College Board AP C apstone: Seminar Jill Pavich, NBCT; Robert Kirk II Boca Raton Community High School, PBCSD AP SEMINAR: End-­‐of-­‐Course Exam SIMULATION FY15 SAMPLE RESPONSES SAMPLE RESPONSE:
Both of the articles in this section are concerned with the issue of high
unemployment rates in young adults. The author of Article A makes the argument that
this number is on the rise in Taiwan, and Article B looks at the same issue in Australia.
Since this issue deals with jobs and employment, both authors discuss the economic
implications of it. Both articles present a strong case in terms of evidence to support
their claims, but one is slightly more effective than the other, which will be explored here.
The author of Article A begins to argue his point by drawing on the expertise of
contract manufacturer Terry Gou who notes that “the future looks bleak for young
Taiwanese” who have less experience in the workplace than their older counterparts;
because companies like his are cutting back excess workers, youth are the first to lose
their jobs. This source strengthens the article’s point because it’s taken directly from a
manufacturing leader who has the ability to observe the impact that today’s economic
crisis is having on young adults specifically. Article B addresses a similar point that
employers were “less likely to take on younger staff” because they require more training,
which costs more money; and those employers that tend to hire youth, like construction
and retail companies, suffered more from the economic downfall than most. Article B
uses the director of Australia’s Centre for Full Employment and Equity as a source for
this point, who also seems to have immediate access to information such as this, making
him a relevant and reliable source. Therefore, as each article tackles youth
unemployment from a business perspective, they both do well to provide effective
evidence in support of their arguments.
However, the articles have a number of weak moments in the way they present
their evidence as well. As Article B continues to discuss youth unemployment from a
business standpoint, Zappone cites a number of statistics in an attempt to prove that
unemployment rates are dropping drastically in these fields: “retail trade…fell to
215,500 last year,” “teenagers employed in construction fell from 68,700 to 59,300,”
“for manufacturing it fell from 54,300 to 41,400.” While these numbers appear
compelling at first glance, a second look will reveal that this evidence lacks a reliable
College Board AP C apstone: Seminar Jill Pavich, NBCT; Robert Kirk II Boca Raton Community High School, PBCSD AP SEMINAR: End-­‐of-­‐Course Exam SIMULATION FY15 SAMPLE RESPONSES source, and since numbers can be deceiving, a strong source would be essential.
However, the article only mentions that “the data showed” these figures, so we are left to
wonder who generated the data, which clearly undermines the evidence.
In a like fashion, Article A relies on several, vague sources that dampen the
evidence as well. For example, when Noi discusses youth unemployment from an
academic perspective, he uses “the government” to support the point that there are more
college graduates than there are jobs, and “a university professor” to point out that
graduates are no longer taking risks in starting businesses like they used to. This
evidence would be more effective if we could pinpoint the source of the input more
specifically, for instance, if the “government” was referring to the Department of
Education reporting or the Department of Labor even, who have tailored expertise
regarding this issue and from this perspective.
Article A continues this broad approach to sources to back his evidence
throughout the article, making it appear weaker than that of Article B as a result. Noi
draws on “Tawainese analysts” for information, while Zappone calls on ABS data and
economists like Katie Dean for evidence to support his argument. To be fair, however
broad the sources, Article A presents evidence from a number of perspectives, including
academic, business, and political standpoints, whereas Article B relies more on the
business perspective more exclusively when offering evidence to prove.
When comparing the overall effectiveness of the two arguments, Article B is a
stronger argument. The author of Article B is able to back up his claims in a more
convincing manner by providing statistics from more specific, therefore more reliable,
sources. Article A may address the issue from a more diverse set of perspectives, but
the evidence within those are ultimately less credible. (686 words)
* The bolded information serves two purposes: either it is evaluative commentary, which is what you need
to follow-up with for each piece of evidence you address, or it is comparing one article against the other,
which you need to make sure you do as part of the task.
* The highlighted information addresses perspectives, which a requirement of the question.
College Board AP C apstone: Seminar Jill Pavich, NBCT; Robert Kirk II Boca Raton Community High School, PBCSD AP SEMINAR: End-­‐of-­‐Course Exam SIMULATION FY15 SAMPLE RESPONSES SECTION II: Sample Responses
Source A:
From Manifest Destiny, by John L. O’Sullivan
Source B:
“Wal-Mart vs. Pyramids,” Laura Carlsen
Source C:
“Unguarded Gates,” Thomas Bailey Aldrich
Source D:
“Free Trade for a Fair, Prosperous World,” Patricia Hewitt
Read the four (4) sources carefully, focusing on a theme or issue that connects them and the different perspective each represents. Then, write a logically organized, well-­‐reasoned, well-­‐written argument that presents your own perspective on the theme or issue you identified. You must incorporate at least two (2) of the sources provided and link claims in your argument to supporting evidence. You may also use the other provided sources or draw upon your own knowledge. In your response, refer to the provided sources as Source A, Source B, Source C, or Source D, or by the authors’ names. Before we look at the sample, let’s review the basics of each article…
MAIN ARGUMENTS POSED:
Ø Source A: It’s not hurting our cultural traditions to expand because our cultural
traditions start here. As a new nation, we are beginning anew, so what we do now
will be considered our heritage, and we must make the right decision for our
future. It’s only natural for us to expand in the name of equality and freedom; it’s
our destiny.
Ø Source B: Corporate expansion is threatening cultural heritage and the current
livelihood of Mexico’s people. To the people, cultural heritage signifies
contemporary integrity, so current economic integration is culturally insensitive.
Ø Source C: Those intruders who come in as aliens to another’s home land are
greedy and unjust in their quest to expand their own property because they
threaten the sacred heritage of the original settlers.
Ø Source D: If we’re going to pursue the global expansion that our world
undoubtedly needs, we need companies that are going to lead this movement
responsibly by consciously considering the social and environmental impact of
their actions.
College Board AP C apstone: Seminar Jill Pavich, NBCT; Robert Kirk II Boca Raton Community High School, PBCSD AP SEMINAR: End-­‐of-­‐Course Exam SIMULATION FY15 SAMPLE RESPONSES PERSPECTIVES ADDRESSED:
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Article A: Social, Cultural
Article B: Cultural, Economic
Article C: Cultural, Business
Article D: Business
SAMPLE RESPONSE 1:
The four documents provided in this section are all concerned with the idea of
globalization and expansion of some sort. The first two sources look at expanding
geographically, while the second two sources look to expand in the name of business.
While Sources B, C, and D tend to expose the negative impact of globalizing our world,
Source A encourages it. From my perspective, although expansion can be a drawback
in some cases, I think that it is beneficial, particularly for the developing world.
From an economic standpoint, a company’s expansion in developing regions
proves beneficial. In Source B, Laura Carlsen notes that “Wal-Mart is now Mexico’s
largest private employer, with over 100,000 employees.” While this may cause some job
displacement on the local level, the number of jobs being provided overtakes the number
of jobs being lost, therefore benefitting the Mexican economy and its people more than
harming it. In fact, America faces more criticism for outsource jobs to countries like
Mexico instead of keeping this job market for themselves, so clearly, it is not a total loss
for Mexico to be on the receiving end of business expansion.
Some argue that this kind of expansion by large businesses into developing areas
can interfere with an area’s culture. In Source B, locals in Mexico City state that
Walmart’s expansion into their area "damages Mexico's rich cultural heritage."
Although this may be true, Source D notes that if companies can begin to “understand
that corporate social and environmental responsibility is…a must have,” then clearly a
balance between tradition and modern expansion can be struck. For example, corporate
giant Shell is investing in this responsibility by making efforts to “change company
culture” as they expand business in Nigeria. Their efforts are aimed at finding a balance
between the cultural traditions of the Ogoni people and modern business expansion.
College Board AP C apstone: Seminar Jill Pavich, NBCT; Robert Kirk II Boca Raton Community High School, PBCSD AP SEMINAR: End-­‐of-­‐Course Exam SIMULATION FY15 SAMPLE RESPONSES Author Patricia Hewitt drives this argument home when she notes: “Responsible
corporate behavior wins support in the developing world,” and this is what is going to
lead to their economic success.
Not to mention, the conflict between tradition and modernity will never cease to
exist, yet instead of picking one over the other, countries worldwide are finding a balance
between the two. In African villages in Burkina Faso, for instance, villagers are using
cell phones to find out where market materials like fertilizer are cheapest and to locate
job opportunities. Developing countries in Asia whose middle-class is on the rise are
embracing the modern culture of fast food, where these tastes are viewed as a “status
symbol” to many. By finding this balance, these societies are growing their own
economy. The perceived threat of businesses overtaking culture is overridden entirely as
long as a level of sensitivity is responsibly observed. From here, the economic benefits
for a developing country will prove enumerable.
One other argument worth considering involves the assumed value of the past
over the present and future. Source C critically describes modern expansion as a “wild
motley throng,” a “menace alien to our air,” and a “lean wolf” making her lair in the
lands of another. This poem claims that the “sacred portals” of one’s land are more
important than the future world that globalization might impart if it passes through the
“unguarded gates.” However, if we consider America’s “neophyte” history (Source B),
it doesn’t really have one (Source A). According to Source A, America has "little
connection with the past history of any other nation,” but the author sees this as
beneficial because it places this country more in a position to expand without regret;
since this “connects us with the future only,” we can aim to globalize our reach without
regret. This may potentially be the reason why America has economically prospered so
well in comparison to developing countries that can't let go of the past, with the U.S.
being the country many others turn to when they’re in need of support and aid.
Clearly, expansion is more possible than most of the Sources are willing to admit.
Just as Source A purports that expansion is only natural, I assert that it is not only
natural but essential for developing countries to have a successful future economically.
College Board AP C apstone: Seminar Jill Pavich, NBCT; Robert Kirk II Boca Raton Community High School, PBCSD AP SEMINAR: End-­‐of-­‐Course Exam SIMULATION FY15 SAMPLE RESPONSES SAMPLE RESPONSE 2:
The world is currently more connected than it has ever been in the past. The
advent of the internet and other advanced communication technologies has helped fuel
the rise of a global marketplace where companies from any country can sell their
products to consumers in almost every country on the planet. The authors of Source B
and Source D are concerned about this increasing globalization. Both authors discuss
the unethical and irresponsible actions of some companies who value profits above all
else. Many of these companies never suffer any consequences for their unethical
practices, but that might change if the public were more aware of what they were doing.
The countries around the world need to make it mandatory for companies to be
completely transparent about their business practices, so consumers around the world
can have more information about a company when deciding if they want to purchase
its products.
In Source D, Patricia Hewitt explains her belief that “corporate social and
environmental responsibility in the global economy” is crucial. Hewitt expresses the view
that “it is not acceptable for a company to make highly priced clothes for highly paid
consumers in the developing world, by ruining the health of women and children in the
sweatshops of the developing world” (Source D). Unfortunately, this unacceptable
practice is employed by many companies around the world, yet the public remains
largely unaware. The author notes that eventually, “companies like that will be found
out [and] consumers will walk away,” which is precisely why I call for greater
transparency; it will bring about more ethical business practices faster, which will
benefit those exploited cultures. If more companies are forced to reveal how their
products are made and how much they pay their workers, then the number of companies
utilizing sweatshops and child labor would most likely decrease.
Hewitt is also concerned about the impact that globalization can have on the
environment. She states that “It is not acceptable for companies to make beautiful
furniture for the homes of the rich families in the West, but leave a devastated forest
College Board AP C apstone: Seminar Jill Pavich, NBCT; Robert Kirk II Boca Raton Community High School, PBCSD AP SEMINAR: End-­‐of-­‐Course Exam SIMULATION FY15 SAMPLE RESPONSES landscape in Brazil” (Source D). Companies should not be allowed to ruin regions of the
world without consumers finding out. Environmental activists of Greenpeace, for
example, recently targeted Nike to take the Detox Challenge; specifically, the company
has to commit to stopping the practice of dumping toxic chemicals from their factories
into local waterways. If all companies were required to be transparent about their
resource consumption and pollution, then it would consumers to boycott and reject those
companies that still engage in any unethical practices in this regard.
Wal-Mart is one of the companies that can be viewed as very unethical. In Source
B, Laura Carlsen writes about the fact that Wal-Mart causes local stores to shut down,
which leaves many people without jobs. Wal-Mart doesn’t only cause people to lose their
jobs, though. The company also keeps it own labor cause very low “through anti-union
policies, the hiring of undocumented workers in the United States, alleged discrimination
against women and persons with disabilities, and cutbacks in benefits” (Source B). WalMart rarely admits that any of the accusations are true, but they would not be able to lie
if there were an international agreement forcing them to reveal their business practices.
Along these same lines, Carlsen reveals how Wal-Mart is upsetting people in Mexico
because the company is building a new store close to the “Pyramid of the Sun” (Source
B). The construction workers at the site have even admitted that they were ordered by
Wal-Mart to hide any archaeological relics found during construction (Source B). It is
highly unlikely that Wal-Mart is the only company guilty of such unethical practices, so it
is important that the countries of the world make an agreement to prevent these
companies from operating in the shadows.
Clearly, making these companies admit their unethical practices upfront will not
allow them to continue making large sums of money from uninformed consumers. The
countries of the world need to make these companies reveal their business practices to
consumers, so the consumers can boycott companies that are completely unethical. Until
companies start losing money from their behavior, then it is very unlikely that they will
change their methods.
College Board AP C apstone: Seminar Jill Pavich, NBCT; Robert Kirk II Boca Raton Community High School, PBCSD