Term Paper Guidelines
Think like an economist
Economists try to address their subject with a scientists objectivity. They approach the study of the economy in much the same way as a physicist approaches the study of matter and a biologist approaches the study of life: They devise theories, collect data, and then analyze these data in an attempt to verify or refute their theories Gregory Mankiw
For your paper assignment, you need to analyze a current event, a news article, or a social media post like an economist.
Choose a topic/event/issue that interest you. How does it affect the individual, society and world?
For example: you can choose to study trade. Find a social media post or a news article that talks about it. Study the truth behind it. How does trade affect you as a person, us as a nation and us in a globalized world?
How to do that?
You need to evaluate facts
You need to distinguish between normative and positive statements
You need to make assumptions
Think in terms of alternatives
Evaluate the cost of individual and social choices
Examine and understand how events and issues are related
Remember the 5 foundations of economics:
incentives matter
2. life is about trade-offs
3. opportunity costs
4. marginal thinking
5. trade creates value
Do any of these apply to your paper? How so?
You must
Be creative
Have fun
Cite following APA standards
For ideas you can brown the following resources:
Planet Money
The economist
Come see me during office hours
Citations:
Style guide for Academic Writing: OWL at Purdue, particularly the guide to Academic Writing
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/2/
Links to an external site.
Citation guide: APA
APA Guidebook: Available at library reference desk
Online tutorial:http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx(Links to an external site.
Purdue Owl: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/(Links to an external site.
When to cite?
Submission:
5 pages long
Must include bibliography
Grading:
You will be graded for
Format
Proper use of citations
Correct use of economic concepts
Analysis
Grammar and punctuation
Citations: Failure to cite any material used is ground for failing the paper and the class.
