Why did community colleges lower tuition in the state of Texas? Supply & demand.
What happened to the price of avocados recently? Supply & demand.
Why are SuperBowl commercials so expensive? Supply & demand.
Limited edition vehicles – why do they cost more? Supply & demand.
Why do hotel room prices fluctuate in popular times? Supply & demand.
Why are cruises cheaper in the early fall and early spring? Supply & demand.
Why are roses so expensive on valentines day? Supply & demand.
Why are airplane seats more expensive closer to the flight date? Supply & demand.
You are to pick a topic – almost anything – and relate it to supply and demand. Pre-read Chapter 4 before choosing a topic to help you better understand the concepts. Feel free to chat with me about a topic you are considering, as more often than not, I can help you to pinpoint a good starting point for your research.
Fair warning: if you choose one of these topic above, I am very familiar with the resources available on those topics, so your paper should be top notch.
Assignment
Each student will select a “real-world” microeconomic topic and research it in depth focusing on “the economics” of the issue. Your goal will be to identify the links between the microeconomic concepts and tools you learned in class and your topic. [Objective 1] [Objective 4]
Analytical research will be required. [Objective 3] Information sources should vary, with heavy emphasis on library and scholarly online materials. Progress reports will be expected during the semester, with a final written document to be submitted in the final week prior to final examination. [Objective 2]
Introduction: a brief overview of the topic selected.
Thesis Statement: statement offering the concise summary of the main points of the research paper. (Look it up to see what this sentence should contain and look like.) [Objective 3]
Analysis of Topic: analysis of the selected topic, as well as an investigation of how the topic relates to the topics of economics. [Objective 3]
Summary and Conclusions: based on the preceding data, your conclusions and insight into the topic. [Objective 1] [Objective 4]
See below for some topic examples submitted by students and the rubric that will be used to grade your paper.
Objectives
Critical Thinking Skills: To include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
Communication Skills: To include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication.
Empirical and Quantitative Skills: To include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions.
Social Responsibility: To include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.
Rules and Directions
This section should answer your questions.
Read all of it.
1. This is an analytical research paper. You must do research. You must analyze it. You cannot make up facts. All facts must be cited.
You will not get full credit for simply defining economic terms.
In fact, refrain from defining economic terms at all. Your audience (ME –>Mrs. Booth) knows the definition of both demand and supply. There is no need to define it. I will mark through all definitions.
2. This assignment is intended to be a scholarly paper. It is NOT an opinion paper. With any use of “I” or “my opinion,” (excluding the conclusion) 5 points will be deducted from the overall paper.
3. This is a formal paper. You must write using proper grammar and standard rules of English. I will not grade rough drafts with more than 10 grammatical mistakes.Furthermore,
a. do not use contractions.
b. refrain from using terms such as “as mentioned before” and “as stated earlier.”
c. do not use terms such as “this paper is about” or “I chose this topic because”
d. refrain from using hypothetical questions
e. only use technical terms and big words if you know the meaning to those words. See Guidelines below for more suggestions of this nature.
4. Keep your use of direct quotes to a bare minimum, if any. There should be no more than 2 direct quotes TOTAL in this paper. Direct quotes should never exceed more than one sentence in length. Paraphrase that information. See Guidelines below for information on paraphrasing. Use of direct quotes in excess of these guidelines will result in 5 points being deducted from the overall paper.
5. Photographs, charts, and graphs are highly DISCOURAGED. Do not use them in an attempt to lengthen your paper. If you feel you must use them, do not place a graph or a chart in your paper without FULLY explaining it, in words, within the paragraph in which it exists. Photographs, charts, and graphs are not graded and will not satisfy the requirements of this paper.
6. There is no length requirement. You must adequately analyze your topic, including all requirements. If you do this, your paper will naturally be approximately three pages in length, plus your Works Cited page.
Last Completed Projects
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