Position Statements

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 paper copies of your Position Statements on the dates they are due.  Points will be deducted if the Position Statements are handed in late.

Your grade in part 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.