Assignment:
• Position Statement
• Health care
Should the U.S. have nationalized health care? Yes or No
Should medical malpractice awards be limited? Yes or No
Should Obamacare be repealed? Yes or No
• Agriculture
Should U.S. farm subsidies be reduced or eliminated? Yes or No
Should the U.S. subsidize the development of biofuels (e.g., ethanol)? Yes or No
Should the U.S. eliminate food tariffs and subsidies that have harmful effects on underdeveloped countries?
• Tariffs and quotas
Do U.S. trade tariffs help the U.S. economically? Yes or No
Is Fair Trade policy superior to Free Trade policy? Yes or No
(If you choose this, be sure to define what you mean by fair trade.)
• Market power (e.g., Wal-Mart)
Is Wal-Mart good for the American economy? Yes or No
• The National Debt
Does the size of the national debt present an economic problem to the U.S.? Yes or No
Your Position Statements are to be NO MORE THAN A THREE TO FOUR PAGE DETAILED OUTLINE on the topics you select. Don't be afraid of going to the writing center for some help and guidance in putting together your Position Statements.
In your Position Statement outlines you need to include: (1) your topic, (2) your position on the topic, (3) economic arguments against your position, (4) economic arguments for your position, (5) a brief concluding paragraph, and (6) at least three citations NOT including the textbook. Steps (3) and (4) must be done in outline form using complete sentences.
You are to submit your Position Statements on the dates they are due (a paper copy and an electronic copy are required). Points will be deducted if they are handed in late.
Your grade will be a function of the economic arguments you present both against and for your position and your economic reasoning in support of your position. For more detail, check the rubric which is on Blackboard. Your tone should be that of an economic policy maker (e.g., the chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, or the President of a branch of the Federal Reserve System), or an expert economic consultant witness testifying for a client. THE POINT IS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT GET INVOLVED IN EMOTIONAL ARGUMENTS THAT ARE NOT BASED ON ECONOMIC REASONING.
IMPORTANT:
• USE MULTIPLE RELIABLE SOURCES OTHER THAN THE TEXTBOOK.
• THIS IS AN ECONOMICS CLASS. USE ECONOMICS TO SUPPORT YOUR POINTS.
• USE REAL DATA (PROPERLY CITED) TO SUPPORT YOUR POINTS.
Position Statement Framework
(1) Position Statement Topic: Example: Eliminating the minimum wage
(2) My position is that the minimum wage should be eliminated (brief paragraph)
(3) Economic arguments against my position:
a. This is a complete sentence.
i) This is a complete sentence.
b. This is another complete sentence.
c. This is another complete sentence.
d. This is another complete sentence.
e. This is another complete sentence.
(4) Economic arguments supporting my position:
a. This is a complete sentence.
b. This is another complete sentence.
c. This is another complete sentence.
d. This is another complete sentence.
e. This is another complete sentence.
(5) Brief concluding paragraph summarizing why you believe your position is the correct one.
(6) At least three properly cited articles NOT including the textbook