Microeconomics ECO 101-09
Monday / Thursday 10:00 - 11:50 a.m.
RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS
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Microeconomics ECO 101-09 Monday / Thursday 10:00 - 11:50 a.m. RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS |
OVERVIEW
The research component of the course counts 25 percent of the course grade and consists of four parts: a proposal (2.5 percent) and three paper components, Part A, B, and C (7.5 percent each). The proposal has oral and written components and is due the week listed in the Course Schedule. The due dates for parts A, B and C are also listed in the Course Schedule. The topic of the research activity is to identify and research and present a policy alternative(s) for a current issue pertaining to the U. S. economy. You can select the specific topic from a list of general topics included below.
The purpose of the research is to give you an opportunity to develop and present information on a specific topic that has relevance to microeconomics and the U. S. economy. The development of the topic you select involves a specification of a outcome or objective and a description of its significance (Part A), the application of economic models and principles to that topic (Part B) and the formulation of a policy (or policies) to achieve the objective in an efficient manner. Information about the topic will come from sources you locate ; the models and principles is material included in the text and in class. The policy (policies) will be evaluated based on the concepts of efficiency developed during the course. Inclusion of graphic, mathematical, or data information in each of Parts A, B, C, as well as text is designed to give you some experience with alternative forms of presentation. Part of the reason for breaking the research project into components is to provide an opportunity for me to comment on earlier components and so you can practice and develop skills in researching and writing about data-based material.
The research activities is designed to:
develop and/or practice written communication skills
identifying and linking evaluation of a situation to policy considering both efficiency and equity concerns
The research activity involves attributes which are common to academic, business and public policy applications. Additionally, the course research process is applicable to concerns which has been developing in the economy, academia and the political arena.
PROPOSAL
The proposal will consist of the following components:
a brief written statement of the topic you wish to pursue
a specific hypothesis or question the research is designed to answer
three sources you have located which will provide a basis for Parts A, B and C.
The specific topic you propose can be based on one of the following general topics or a specific topic you propose that is not based on the following list, but which is similar and provides opportunities to satisfy the requirements of Parts A, B and C with a level of effort similar to that for the topics based on the following list. The proposal will be presented to me at a short meeting so we can discuss issues that may affect your ability to complete the research process within reasonable time and effort limits and is consistent across students. My experience is that it is easy to identify, discuss and resolve issues in a brief, informal, face-to-face interaction. For example, in selecting a topic, there is a balance between a very general compared to a very specific approach and it is useful for us to discuss the implications of topic breadth so we both have a clear conception of the scope and extent of the project.
I will make available a sign up sheet for proposal presentation the week prior to when they are due. Proposal meetings will be in the Food Court area of the Student Center.
General Topics
| Provision of healthcare funding, cost, or availability | Social Security or Medicare continuity and financing | Globalization and trade policies effect on a specific industry or occupation |
| Tax rate changes and distribution of tax burdens | Climate Change impacts for a particular region or industry | Immigration impacts on product or labor markets |
PART A
For the topic selected, the focus of Part A is to develop information and write about the:
reasonable objective or desired outcome relevant to the specific topic selected
Formulation of the objective or outcome which is acceptable or reasonable for the topic or situation is the yardstick against which the present and likely future situation can be compared. A crucial aspect of the objective or standard is the basis for formulating it. In general, the objective or standard should be reasonable in both its quantity and quality and achievable within the context of the situation. The context, depending on the topic, may be the current characteristics of the U. S. economy or changes which are feasible given its current institutions and the process for modifying them.
background or context of the situation
How much background to provide is based on your assessment of the degree of knowledge of a college-educated reader. Operationally, after reading and understanding this part of the research project, the reader should have an understanding of the factors or forces which are primarily responsible for the current trends and situation.
PART B
This component shifts the focus from the perspective of what is to what could be by specifying the changes in policy, behavior and/or institutions that would be necessary to achieve the objective or outcome specified in Part A. This section focuses on policies or other changes which would reduce the gap between the desired objective or outcome you specified in Part A and the current situation for relevant components of the U. S. economy. So the policy (policies) must serve to ameliorate or reduce the severity of the situations you identified in Part A. The changes you propose should be feasible: suggesting changes that are outside the ability of the institutions to initiate them is futile. If you feel there are already policies or changes in place which will lead to amelioration, then you must provide a rationale for why you believe that is the case.
PART C
The final component is an analysis of the efficiency compared to equity implications of the changes in policies, behavior, and/or institutions. The trade-offs(s) between lowest cost, largest benefit and the fairness of how individuals or specific components in the economy are affected is an important consideration. In a democratic, representative form of government, how groups and individuals are affected is clearly related to the likelihood of changes taking place. Any efficiency-equity tradeoffs are a way of relating the overall benefit (efficiency) to the affect on individual groups (equity). What may be 'good' for the economy at large, may have deleterious consequences for particular sectors.
GRADING CRITERIA
If the proposal and/or Parts A B, or C are turned in after their due dates, the late penalty is one letter increment (e. g., the difference between a grade of B+ and C+). If you experience an illness or emergency over which you have no control, contact me and we will figure out how to handle the situation. Failure to complete the proposal and/or parts A, B or C by the last day of class will result in a grade of zero for that component(s).
Typically, there is only one grade of A+ for a proposal or Part A and B. It indicates a component which is very skillfully prepared and excels in each of the above criteria. If two (or more) parts A and B from different students are substantially identical or contain sections that are substantially identical, the grades for those parts will be reduced by two letter increments.
Turn in a typed proposal and Parts A, B and C using word processing software; electronic transmission or submission on diskette is not acceptable and will not count toward the grade for that research component.
Proposal
The Proposal will count 2.5 percent toward the course grade and be graded based on the:
reasonableness and researchability of the topic
appropraiteness of the hypothesis or question to be answered
relevance of the three sources
care in presenting the written and oral versions of the proposal
Parts A, B, and C
Each of Parts A, B and C will count 7.5 percent of the course grade and will be graded A+ through F based on the following criteria:
typed, error free grammar, effective word choice, spelling, appropriate format for text, footnotes and bibliography
Omission or major errors or faults or repetitive minor issues in one or more of the above, result in letter increment (difference between a B and a C) deductions; relatively minor issues result in a grade increment (difference between a B+ and a B).
REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES
Tables of Numeric Data and Graphs
Parts A, B and C must include a empirical data, graphical or mathematical presentation which is related to the specific topics included in that part. Tables of numeric and/or graphs can be prepared using Word or Excel (or similar software), but you can also draw graphs by hand or copy them from published sources if you wish. Include tables and graphs which are less than half a page in length after their first reference in the text. Full page graphs and tables can be inserted as the next page after their first reference in the text. Tables and graphs should have a source which clearly identifies the publication or other information on which it is based. Tables of numeric data and graphs should be referenced explicitly in the text--see Chapter 2 of the text for examples.
The purpose of the numerical data or graph is to allow you to present supporting information for the descriptions and conclusions in parts A, B and C. They allow you to avoid repeating numbers or having to write complicated sentences describing trends which diminishes reader concentration. Also, the numeric data, graphs or mathematical expression can provide a basis for your description or conclusion. Merely including a table of numeric data or a graph with no analysis or commentary leaves the reader to search through the data or to reach his or her own conclusions which is a distraction and also diminishes her or his attention to the topic you are writing about. In many ways, text and data (tables and graphs) are analogous to effective music videos--its not just the lyrics and accompaniment, nor the video without the sound, but both together which make mutually reinforce each other and hence increase their impact. See Chapters 2, 16, 20 and 21 of the text for examples of how to integrate text with data and graphic presentation.
Footnotes
Regarding footnotes, you should document the source of:
The footnote reference (an Arabic number) can be author, work, page number at the bottom of the page or at end of the text or incorporated in the text in parentheses. An example of the latter would be (Baumol and Blinder 340) if you had just quoted the analysis of the role of large firms in innovation.
Sources of information
Parts A, B and C should cover the topic you selected for each part based on your research. In writing about the topics, use your own words rather than trying to find a specific quotation for every point you wish to make. Possible sources include:
published information (books, magazines and similar sources)
web-based sources (both text and data for tables and graphs)
Include a bibliography (in any standard format) which identifies each source, including personal conversations or e-mail exchanges.
If you encounter difficulties with data availability or other aspects of the research process, I encourage you to let me know. There are usually some relatively straightforward things that can be done, but waiting for the problem to correct itself is not one of them.
Editing and Review
Editing what you have written and practicing out loud the oral ,presentation are typically as important as the initial content, so leave time for a review and changes before you turn in the paper and make the presentation. Exchanging drafts with a classmate is a way to identify sections that need attention or improvement.
I am willing to review and make specific comments on a draft of individual parts, but not assign a grade. If you wish me to comment on a draft of Parts A, B, and/or C, but not grade it provide a printed draft in sufficient time for me to review it, return it to you and for you to consider the comments.
Link to Online Writing Laboratory http://www.tcnj.edu/~tutoring/humanities/owl.html
July 11, 2010