The Process 

1. The class should be divided into groups of 6 students.

2. The students can be allowed to pick their own role in the group.

3. After they have picked a role the students will need to read the general background information.
   

4. After reading the general information they begin their "expert" research by clicking on the appropriate role below. Remind the students to check out some of the resources recommended for the other "experts".  They may relate to their perspective as well.  The students should also try to find additional web sites on their own.

5. Students must prepare a Full Report to present to their team.  All Full Reports should consider the following questions:

• What are the benefits of free trade from your perspective?

• What are the costs of free trade from your perspective?

• What policies would be the most beneficial from your point of view?

• Provide specific examples of current trade issues to support your statements.

6. The teams will then choose three main goals and formulate a international trade policy recommendation.The policy recommendation will be put in the format of a PowerPoint presentation and presented to the class.

7. Remind the students to look at the Evaluation section to determine how they will be graded.

• Free Trade from Wikipedia
• Outsourcing from Wikipedia
  
• Free Trade FAQs  Browse this site.  Many of you will also find information you can use for your Full Report
• Free Trade at All Costs?
  
• NAFTA
  

• Union Leader
• Environmentalist
• Human Rights Activist
• Business Executive
• Consumer Advocate
• Economist                                          

Union Leader   

1. What effect does international trade have on unions?
2. How does international trade affect workers' standard of living?
3. What is outsourcing? What is offshoring? Why are they relevant to international trade?
   

• The High Price of Free Trade
• Weighing the Pros and Cons of Global Outsourcing
• Labor News from the U.S.A.
• Global Exchange
• Economic Policy Institute
• UAW
  

Environmentalist    

1. Consider how International Trade impacts on the Environment.
2. Is International Trade the sole reason for environmental concerns?
3. How are companies and governments working together to address environmental concerns?

• Is economic growth a cause of or cure for the environmental pollution?
• Globalization damaging environment
  
• Free Trade and the Environment
• Global Policy Forum
  

Human Rights Activist    

1. What does the Universal Declaration of Human Rights set out?
2. Consider how international companies support or abuse Human Rights.
3. What responsibility should countries have to ensure acceptable working conditions for their employee's?
4. Is the issue of human rights limited to certain continents or is it a real worldwide issue?
5. Does International Trade hinder or promote human rights?

• Free Markets and Poverty
  
• Globalization and Child Labor
  
• Sweat Free: A Movement Towards Ending Sweatshops
• Poverty & Globalization
• Global Policy Forum
• Protectionism Won't Save Countries from Poverty or Aids
• Free Trade and Human Rights - The Moral Case for Engagement

Business Executive   

1. What effect does international trade have on businesses?
2. Which businesses benefit the most from trade?
3. What are some of the business challenges that arise from the global economy?
   

• Free Trade - Good or Bad for U.S. Workers?
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Business Coalition for U.S. - Central American Free Trade
• The Heritage Foundation
  

1. What effect does international trade have on price levels and choices of goods?
2. What other aspects of free trade concern consumers other than price and selection of products and services?
3. Are there health and safety issues related to international trade?
   

• Squishing Free Trade
• Consumers for World Trade
  
• Consumers Benefit from Free Trade
• Trade Related Issues
• National Center for Policy Analysis
  

Economist     

1. Explain the role of an economist.
2. Define International Trade in terms of economics.
3. Identify the economic benefits of International Trade and the issues and concerns associated with International Trade.
4. Do some countries benefit more from International Trade than others? What explanation can you provide for this?

• Expand the Debate on Globalization
• International Trade and the Economy
  
• Does globalization increase child labor?: evidence from Vietnam
• International Trade Creates More and Better Jobs

• Economic Growth
• Healthy Planet
• High Standard of Living in the U.S.
• Healthy Growing Businesses in the U.S.
• Elimination of World Poverty

• Ask the students to review the platforms of the two major parties in the last presidential election to see how they compare with their policy recommendations.
  
• Do the parties seem to lean toward one of the "goal choices" (economic growth, healthy planet, high standard of living, etc.)?
• How do their stated policies relate to recent trade agreements like the Central American- Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement which was signed in August 2005?