Assignment:
Term Paper Guidelines
Think like an economist
"Economists try to address their subject with a scientist's 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:
1. 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"
https://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:https://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx
Purdue Owl: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/
When to cite?
Submission:
5 pages long
Must include bibliography