Sample Economics Essay Assignment on Some understanding of the underlying economics

Essay Assignment
EC 485
Directions: Suppose that you are an advisor to the Governor of Michigan. The Governor is deciding on
her education policy initiatives and wants to propose some education policies. She has put forward
three proposals:
1. Reduce class sizes in elementary schools by 20%.
2. Introduce a rule that as part of the tenure decision, schools must consider the average valueadded score for the teacher over his/her career.
3. Implement a teacher incentive pay program that will pay a $1000 bonus to teachers each year
whose evaluations that year place them in the top 20% of teachers state-wide. Evaluations are
based on a mix of of value-added scores, principal evaluations, and teacher attendance.
Choose one of the proposals above and provide a written policy brief of 1000 to 1500 words that
advises the governor on whether the proposal is a good or bad idea, or if the existing research cannot
provide a consensus one way or the other. In your brief you should make sure to discuss the following
• A brief overview of the state of the particular education policy you choose in Michigan and
nationwide.
• A discussion of relevant research on class-size, teacher tenure and value-added, or teacher
incentive pay – depending on which policy proposal you choose – and how it the findings relate
to the proposed policy.
• A recommendation to go forward with the policy, not go forward with it, or suggestions for
changes.
In your research discussion, you must draw upon at least four academic sources and make sure to
provide a reference list (including references to course readings used in the essay). The reference list
does not count towards your word requirement. These sources must be articles from the publications
listed at the end of this document. To conduct searches for your sources you should use either Google
Scholar (https://scholar.google.com) and/or Econlit
(https://search-proquest-com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/econlit). For the latter you may need to provide your
MSUNet ID and password. To retrieve the articles there is typically a link you can click after searching,
otherwise you can search for the journal name and then find the article using the volume and issue
number via MSU Library’s electronic journals portal
(https://libguides.lib.msu.edu/eresources/ejournals).
You may also use popular press outlets like newspapers and magazines in your essay and readings from
class not included in the source list (e.g. the textbook) but these will not count towards your four
required references (though you should still include them in your reference list). You may not use any
other writings such as blog postings, Wikipedia, or websites (other than those from news organizations)
in your essay.
In your essay, when referring to the reference material make sure that you cite your sources. This can
be done in text with the author’s name and publication date in parentheses at the end of a sentence.
For example,
“Research has found that people are grumpy when the temperature drops below 10 degrees
(Johnson, 2003).”
The reference list should follow APA citation format. Details on how to do this can be found at
Article – http://www.easybib.com/reference/guide/apa/journal
Book – http://www.easybib.com/reference/guide/apa/book
Chapter – http://www.easybib.com/reference/guide/apa/chapter
Formats for other types of sources can be found at the links at the top of these websites.
Quotations should be used sparingly if at all. When in doubt it is better to paraphrase than use a
quote. If you do feel you need to quote a source then the quoted text should not exceed one sentence.
Excessive use of quotations may affect your grade. Keep in mind that in keeping with the College of
Social Science’s Tier II writing requirement, in addition to the substance of your essay grammar and
writing style will compose a portion of your grade.
You must upload the first draft of your essay as a MS Word document by 11:59pm on November 22 to
the “Essay Assignment – Essay File Upload” dropbox on D2L. This is a Turnitin dropbox and so an
“originality report” will be generated. This report provides a guide to the instructor as to what elements
of the writing may not be original, but the final judgment is in the hands of the instructor. Please see
the course syllabus and https://tech.msu.edu/teaching/tools/turnitin/ for more details. The essay will
be graded on a scale of 0 to 100. Late submissions will be graded but also penalized. There is an initial
penalty of a 25 point deduction followed by another 25 point deduction for each additional 24 hours
late. You may submit as many versions as you like. If there are multiple versions I will grade the last
submission provided before the deadline.
If you turned in the assignment and wish to make revisions you may do so by submitting again to the
same dropbox by 11:59pm on December 8 (the last day of class). Your final essay grade will be the
average of the two essays. Your second essay grade may be lower than the first if you do not sufficiently
address the feedback I give you on the first one. Resubmitting an essay with no changes or only minor
revisions (unless I only ask for minor revisions) may lead to a lower grade. The same late submission
penalties as the first draft will apply. You must submit the first draft to receive a grade on the second
draft. Revisions submitted without a first draft will receive a zero.
This assignment is a formal essay. Hence, it should be well-crafted and demonstrate your general
knowledge of economics of education and the particulars of the topic. Grading is rigorous. Thus, your
thinking should be clear, your writing should be polished, and your sources should be cited. Grades will
be assigned based on the following formulae. Note that exceptionally poor writing and grammar may
lead to a lower grade, and possibly a grade of zero, even if the content is good.1
1 This rubric draws heavily on Chaudhuri, Soma (2010), “4 Short Papers Rubric,” FW 858, Michigan State University
and Bellon, Richard (2016), “Paper Assignments,” IAH 206, Michigan State University.
4.0 Professional work that is rooted in strong economic analysis. All aspects of the assignment
are addressed coherently and completely. External sources are properly cited and fit well
in the narrative while clearly helping answer the question. Your answer to the question is
reasonable, based on the supporting evidence you provide, and shows exceptional
understanding of the topic. Writing is logical and clear with minimal spelling and grammar
errors.
3.5 Solid work that is rooted in economic analysis. All aspects of the assignment are addressed
completely. External sources are properly cited and fit well in the narrative while clearly
helping answer the question. Your answer to the question is reasonable, based on the
supporting evidence you provide, and shows good understanding of the topic. Good writing
without major errors.
3.0 Some understanding of the underlying economics. Most aspects of the assignment are
addressed. External sources are properly cited and fit decently but not exceptionally well
in the narrative. Evidence from one source may be tangential to the argument but others
generally support your argument. Your answer to the question is reasonable and shows a
decent understanding of the topic. Writing has some errors and is choppy but is overall
understandable.
2.5/2.0 Lacks a solid understanding of the underlying economics. Some aspects of the assignment
are addressed. External sources are not properly cited and/or do not fit exceptionally well
in the narrative. Evidence from one or two sources may be tangential to the argument but
others generally support your argument. Your answer to the question is reasonable and
shows a functional understanding of the topic. Writing is understandable but has numerous
errors.
1.5/1.0 Shows only a minimal understanding of the underlying economics. Some aspects of the
assignment are addressed. External sources are not properly cited and/or are unrelated to
the narrative. Evidence from multiple sources may be tangential to the argument but
others generally support your argument. Your answer to the question is unclear and shows
little understanding of the topic. Writing is very poor with numerous errors and but is still
understandable.
0.0 Unacceptable work that misses the mark or writing quality is poor enough that I cannot
follow the argument you are making and hence cannot assess the other aspects of the
essay.
Here are also some guidelines to help you focus on what is important as you write your essay.
Criteria Strong Satisfactory Weak
Economic thinking
and understanding
of policy
Arguments and
explanations utilize sharp
economic logic and show
a deep knowledge of the
policy issues surrounding
the topic. Key concepts
Economic logic and
understanding of policy
issues are fuzzy or weak,
but is present throughout.
Concepts from class
lectures, readings, and/or
Economic logic and
understanding of policy
issues are not present.
Proposed solutions or
recommendations are
inconsistent with basic
from class lectures,
readings, and/or outside
sources are referenced
throughout the essay
when relevant.
outside sources are
referenced are applied,
but may not demonstrate
mastery.
economic thinking
Concepts from class
lectures, readings, and/or
outside sources are not
referenced or are
fundamentally
misunderstood.
Research Evidence from external
sources is referred to
throughout the report.
Citations are consistent
and present throughout.
Reference list follows
appropriate APA
guidelines.
Evidence from external
sources is referred to
occasionally. Citations are
consistent and present
throughout. Reference list
follows appropriate APA
guidelines.
Evidence from external
sources is non-existent.
Citations are inconsistent.
Reference list does not
follows appropriate APA
guidelines.
Clarity Writing is easy to
understand. Any numbers
presented are explained
clearly and interpreted in
words. Arguments are
coherent.
Writing is generally easy
to understand. Some
statements may be
ambiguous, but as a
whole any arguments
made are understandable.
Writing is vague or
convoluted. Arguments
are hard to understand or
are not stated in simple
terms. Some numbers are
unexplained or unclear.
Organization and
flow
The essay and argument is
logically structured and
reads well from paragraph
to paragraph. Use of
quotations is limited.
The essay and argument is
logically structured, but
transitions may be choppy
between some paragraphs.
Use of quotations is
limited.
Essay reads as if each
paragraph was written by
a different person and it is
difficult to read the essay
as a whole and cogent
argument. Excessive use
of quotations.
Spelling, grammar,
punctuation
The essay is free of
mistakes in spelling,
grammar, and
punctuation.
Some mistakes here and
there.
Many typos that should
have been caught by spell
check, poorly worded
sentences, inappropriate
use of articles (e.g. “a,”
“of,” “the”) etc.
Style Essay is written concisely,
using vivid language, and
is even fun to read.
Written straightforwardly.
Perhaps a bit wordy and
could use some polish.
Messy, hard to follow, or
wordy.
Strong introduction
and conclusion
Introduction concisely
lays a road map of the
following paragraphs and
demonstrates an
understanding of the
major issues being asked
about. Conclusion sums
up the major points of the
essay.
Introduction rambles or
does not define the scope
of the essay to follow.
Conclusion is vague.
No attempt to introduce
the topic. Conclusion is
missing or abrupt.
The MSU Writing Center (http://writing.msu.edu/) can be a valuable resource to help you refine your
essay. If you think you will have difficulty with the writing assignment and the grammar in particular, I
highly encourage you to make an appointment to review your essay with a writing center staff member
prior to the submission deadline. If you decide you wish to do this make your appointment ASAP as slots
can fill up.
Finally, here is a list of publications that contain articles you may use for your four sources:
American Education Research Journal
AERJ – Open
American Economic Review
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
Applied Economics
Economics of Education Review
Economic Journal
Education Economics
Education Evaluation and Policy Analysis
Education Finance and Policy
Educational Researcher
Empirical Economics
European Economic Review
IZA Working Paper Series
Journal of Applied Econometrics
Journal of Economic Perspectives
Journal of Economic Literature
Journal of the European Economic Association
Journal of Human Capital
Journal of Human Resources
Journal of Labor Economics
Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness
Journal of Public Economics
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management
Journal of Political Economy
Journal of Urban Economics
Labour Economics
NBER Working Paper Series
Quarterly Journal of Economics
Review of Economics and Statistics
Review of Economic Studies
When reading the papers, do not get bogged down in the math and statistics. Focus on the
introduction, the data they use, and their main findings. If the details are very technical skip over
them – they are not important for your purposes – or select another study. There are many
different studies on this topic so you can easily skip a few and still end up with four.