Student Response
The United States trades with countries that have a non-democratic government for many reasons. The most important is money. The U.S. trades with other nations because it gives our domestic businesses money. Also, we trade with other countries to try to establish diplomatic ties with them. Even though they may not be democratic, we still need their diplomatic support for things such as UN Security Council. I believe the US should trade with some non-democratic nations because we are helping them as well as ourselves. The best example is China. We've opened up trade in the last year with this Communist nation, and it has brought economic wealth to some Chinese people. I believe, along with a majority of the reporters for Forbes Magazine, that open trade could be the catalyst for the falling of Communism in China. This is why American trade with any nation is a good thing, since it brings wealth to both nations and can help spread democratic ideals.
Score
Score Point 4
Annotation
This response shows understanding of trade with non-democratic nations. Well-supported and accurate concepts are given (the U.S. trades with other nations because it gives our domestic businesses money; to establish diplomatic ties with them). Powerful evidence of higher order thinking skills is demonstrated through effective use of relevant example (China; Forbes magazine) and extended application of analysis and evaluation, integrated with cause-and-effect reasoning (need their diplomatic support for things, such as the U.N. Security Council; we are helping them as well as ourselves; brought economic wealth to some Chinese people; open trade could be the catalyst for the falling of communism in China).