30 points due December 12. Late deadline December 19
Reading:
In this assignment you will examine evidence about textbook prices and create a worksheet showing where the textbook for this class can be purchased.
1. (3 points) Textbook rentals are a new trend.
a. Search the Internet for a textbook rental site. What is the name of the vendor and URL?
b. Locate a textbook that you had to buy for Fall on the site. What is the name of the textbook and rental price for the semester?
c. Would you use this option? Why or why not? This answer can just be a couple of sentences, it doesn't need to be a complete argument.
2. (6 points) There is yet another option developing called the Kindle reader. Read "Report: Amazon looks to substitute textbooks with Kindle" at http://www.betanews.com/article/print/Report_Amazon_looks_to_substitute_textbooks_with_Kindle/1219706068.
a. Identify a statistic used in the article.
b. Research the internet for more information related to this statistic. Provide the URL and a brief description
c. Identify another statistic used in article.
d. Research the internet for more information related to this statistic. Provide the URL and a brief description.
3. (4 points) Online books are another way of combating high textbook prices. "Read Electronic books slow to catch on" at http://orient.bowdoin.edu/orient/article.php?date=2008-10-03§ion=1&id=5 . Would you like to use e-books for your classes? Why or why not? Use the techniques you have learned in this class to write an argument with a conclusion and supporting evidence.
Part 2 Database Worksheet (17 points)
You will research the cost of a textbook. You can choose the Asking the Right Questions textbook or any textbook you are interested in. Shop for the textbook online and create a database of your findings using Excel. Excel can be used as a simple database program as long as you have a limited number of records (rows) and do not need to print complicated reports.
a. Start Excel. Enter the textbook title in cell A1
b. Put your name in cell A2
c. (2 points) Enter the column labels below across row 3. Make the column wider or wrap the text (press Alt+Enter while typing) so all text shows.
| Seller | Price | Shipping | URL | Edition | Condition |
d. (5 points) Use online textbook sellers to find 10 different copies of the textbook for sale (new or used). Enter the data into the worksheet.
e. (2 points) Sort the rows of book information (records) in descending order by price.
f. (4 points) Use a function to calculate the Average for the Price and Shipping
g. (2 points) Use a function to calculate the Median for the Price
h. (4 points) Format the worksheet to look attractive.
Merge and center the title over the data.
Use appropriate number formats.
Add at least one border.
i. (4 points) A filter is used to display only those rows (records) that meet criteria you specify. Select the Price values. Click the Filter button in the Data tab of the Ribbon. Click the drop-down arrow that appears next to the first value. Click the Number Filters option in the menu. Click Below Average. Save the workbook as Task13 (with the filter still applied). If you have 2003, you will select the data, go to the Data menu, select Filter and Custom.
Upload the workbook to Tasks, Tests and Surveys.