Identify one particular aspect of the college cost problem and explain why it is important in the bigger context of the overall question (e.g. labor market shifts, student recreational facilities or services, student financial aid, loan debt, faculty workload, faculty salaries, research infrastructure, bureaucracy, rankings, federal government policy, etc.)

Assignment Question

PAPER 2 is a research paper that explores in more depth one particular aspect of the college cost problem, and a potential solution, that is of interest to you. The paper should: Identify one particular aspect of the college cost problem and explain why it is important in the bigger context of the overall question (e.g. labor market shifts, student recreational facilities or services, student financial aid, loan debt, faculty workload, faculty salaries, research infrastructure, bureaucracy, rankings, federal government policy, etc.); Identify possible ways (if any) to fix your chosen aspect of the college cost problem. You can include specific examples of proposals, implemented institutional changes, lessons learned from other countries, as well as conceptual rationales for the approach(es) selected. A good paper makes a clear argument, based on specific evidence.

Try to pick a narrow topic that interests you. Do not attempt to answer the question in general, expansive terms and do not simply reproduce the readings or class discussions. Be sure to include references to some of the key concepts covered in the course. You must include multiple citations to both materials used in the course and relevant additional sources you find that are not part of the course. Submit the paper on Brightspace, typed, double-spaced, in 12-point font, in .doc or .docx format (not .rtf or PDF) and formatted according to the APA Manual, 7th Edition, by Thursday December 14 midnight eastern time. Remember that both the content and the quality of your writing will be assessed. Written assignments should show: (a) Understanding and use of relevant readings, (b) Scholarly use and citation of theoretical and methodological literature, (c) Critical engagement with the idea presented, (d) Clear organization and structure and (e) Fluent and accurate writing. Note on Chat GPT: Although this tool is available to you, in this class it is only acceptable to use it to help generate ideas, it is not acceptable to cut and paste text from it and use it without acknowledgement. In fact, this is academic misconduct equivalent to plagiarism. In submitting your PAPER, be very careful to make sure the content as your own. Do NOT cut and paste from Chat GPT. Any PAPER using AI tools in this way will result in a zero for that assignment, with no leniency. Repeat offenders will fail the class and be reported for academic misconduct.