National & Civic Issues: Minimum Wage

Central Research Question: What are the effects of raising the minimum wage?

Grade 7 Articles with Reading Levels: 7.0-7.9	Grade 8 Articles with Reading Levels: 8.0-8.9
Article Name: With Minimum Wage Rising, is America Ready for $15-an-Hour Working World? Source: Los Angeles Times via Newsela (Ed. Newsela staff. Version 1040) Author: Don Lee Date Published: June 24, 2015 Guiding Question: Should Minimum Wage be raised? Grade Level: 7.0 Article Name: Los Angeles City Council Clears Way for Minimum Wage of $15 an Hour Source: Los Angeles Times via Newsela (Ed. Newsela staff. Version 1050) Author: Peter Jamison, David Zahniser, and Alice Walton Date Published: May 21, 2015 Guiding Question: Should Minimum Wage be raised? Grade Level: 7.0 Article Name: McDonald’s Hopes Wage Increase Will Help Trigger a Turnaround Source: Chicago Tribune via Newsela (Ed. Newsela staff. Version 1080) Author: Jessica Wohl, Alexia Eljlde-Ruiz, and Alejandra Cancino Date Published: April 7, 2015 Guiding Question: Will McDonald’s raising its workers’ wages by $1 an hour be enough? Grade Level: 7.0	Article Name: Issue Overview: Minimum Wages Source: Bloomberg via Newsela (Ed. Newsela Staff Version 1070) Author: Jordan Yadoo Date Published: October 6, 2016 Guiding Question: Does a minimum wage increase benefit or harm low skilled workers? Grade Level: 8.6 Article Name: Seattle Restaurants Scramble to Pay a Higher Minimum Wage Source: National Public Radio Author: Deborah Wang Date Published: May 9, 2015 Guiding Question: How are restaurants in Seattle coping with a higher minimum wage? Grade Level: 8.9 Article Name: Obama Takes on Income Inequality in the State of the Union Address Source: Associated Press via Newsela (Ed. Newsela staff. Version 1160) Author: Julie Pace Date Published: January 29, 2014 Guiding Question: What is Barack Obama’s plan for addressing income inequality? Grade Level: 8.0 Article Name: PRO/CON: Should the Fast Food Industry Pay Better Wages? Source: McClatchy-Tribune via Newsela (Ed. Newsela staff. Version 1140) Author: James Sherk and Mark Weisbrot Date Published:December 6, 2013 Guiding Question: What are the benefits of raising the minimum wage? Grade Level: 8.0 Article Name: Fast-Food Wage Protests Kick Off in New York, Spread to Other Cities Source: Los Angeles Times via Newsela (Ed. Newsela staff. Version 1140) Author: Alena Samuels Date Published: August 30, 2013 Guiding Question: Why are fast food workers protesting their industry? Grade Level: 8.0
Below Grade 7.0	Above Grade 8.9
Article Name: Democrats Don't Discuss Minimum Pay Rate During Debate Source:Washington Post via Newsela (Ed. Newsela staff. Version 840) Author: Max Ehrenfreund Date Published:October 6, 2015 Guiding Question: Should Minimum Wage be raised? Grade Level: 5.0 Article Name: Higher National Minimum Wage Seen as Not Likely Source:McClatchy Washington Bureau via Newsela (Ed. Newsela staff. Version 1000) Author: Daniel Salazar Date Published:October 5, 2014 Guiding Question: Should Minimum Wage be raised? Grade Level: 6.0 Article Name: Some Low-Income Families Can’t Afford to Keep Their Babies in Clean Diapers Source: Los Angeles Times via Newsela (Ed. Newsela staff. Version 1010) Author: Erun Brown Date Published: August 6, 2013 Guiding Question: Can mothers being paid minimum wage afford supplies they need for their babies? Grade Level: 6.0	Article Name: 5 Facts About the Minimum Wage Source: Pew Research Center Author: Drew Desilver Date Published: July 23, 2015 Guiding Question: Should Minimum Wage be raised? Grade Level: 11.3 Article Name: 9 Reasons Why Raising the Minimum Wage Is a Terrible Idea Source: Reason Author: Ira Stoll Date Published: March 3, 2014 Guiding Question: Should Minimum Wage be raised? Grade Level: 11.2 Article Name: Minimum Wage Hasn’t Been Enough to Lift Most Out of Poverty for Decades Source: Pew Research Center Author: Drew DeSilver Date Published: February 18, 2014 Guiding Question: Will raising the minimum wage destroy jobs, alleviate poverty, or both? Grade Level: 11.9