Assignemnt: Outline for Critique
Remember these style points: write in the third-person, present tense, do not use contractions, avoid colloquial expressions, and be succinct. Never use two words when one will do, avoid superlatives unless really deserved, and keep your paragraph length to five or six crisp sentences. Avoid repetition, redundancy and run-on sentences. Any sentence over 25 words is likely better expressed as two sentences. Above all, make every word count.
Critique Guidelines
The content of the critique should be divided roughly into four parts:
• in the first section provide a brief synopsis of the paper
• in the second section comment on the most important strengths of the paper and on the most glaring weaknesses
• in the third section identify and explain the economic model that is implicitly or explicitly included in the article
• in the final section describe the key findings or issues that you have learned
• in terms of the reader, assume that you are providing an opinion on an article for your future boss's boss.
Evaluation Ideas
Abstract
An abstract is an encapsulation of the paper: purpose, objectives scope, methodology, and conclusion
If you were to write a sentence or two to answer each of these questions, you would have the essence of an abstract.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Here are some questions you can consider as you prepare the critique of the paper:
1. Is the article well written and easily understood with clear objectives and reasonable conclusions?
2. Does the author(s) address a tangible transportation problem in society and provide an insightful discussion that could have long term value?
3. Is the data presented convincing and does the information collected support their position?
4. Is the methodology technically sound and appropriate for the data collected?
5. Does the paper have an appropriate title, sub-titles and references?
6. Does the author(s) make good use of the diagrams, figures or data to support their arguments? Are any missing, that should be there?
7. Do the conclusions flow from the material presented in the paper?
Economic Model
Almost every transportation article will have an economic model explicitly or implicitly expressed. Identify and explain the economic theory that lies at the heart of the author(s) argument. If you cannot identify a model in the paper, then suggest a model that they could use to enhance their article. Note that an empirical model (e.g. regression analysis) is not an economic model, per se, although it should be based on one.
What did you learn?
This is your opportunity to assess the intrinsic value of the paper from your own perspective.
Pace yourself
"The first draft of anything is shit" Ernest Hemingway quote (1899-1961, American novelist and short-story writer, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954). An important part of writing a good critique is proper planning. Sometimes students leave writing assignments until the night before the deadline. Do not do it! Submitting a rushed, first draft results in poor learning and low-quality critiques. Worse still, it is obvious in the product you will produce. Give yourself adequate time to write, refine, and re-write. A first draft can always be improved - try to complete the first draft at least three days before the deadline.
Article: Impacts of High-Speed Rail on Airlines and Airport Traffic: A Survey of Recent Research by Anming Zhang, Yulai Wan and Hangjun Yang.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.