Final paper

Final Paper!

Write short essays (no more than 1500 words total) on the following three topics:

Democratic firms (20 points)

(1)   What do these firms “democratize” that others do not?

(2)   Why do democratic firms exist and persist?  (Why do people choose to create and join them, despite the added difficulty and responsibility?  What allows them to survive?)

Best sources

Richard Wolff, “Imagine Real Economic Democracy” (short video)

Samuel Bowles, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt, “Democratic Firms,” Understanding Capitalism, 3^rd edition (2005), pp. 339-340

“Shift Change: Putting Democracy to Work,” documentary film by Melissa Young (2012)

§  Good synopsis:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK9SjSpRCcQ

§  Interview with Shift Change producers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGXRF7YPuAk

Humane firms (40 points)

(1)   What is Julie Nelson’s view (in Economics for Humans) on how to make work a better deal for all (more motivating, more equitable, more productive, and more valuable to society)?

(2)   Comparing Nelson’s approach to the “democracy at work” (Wolff/BER/Shift Change) perspective, what similarities and differences do you see?

Note: Part (1) should include Nelson’s differences from textbook/neoclassical economics.

Contending perspectives in economics (20 points)

(1)   How could the content of this course be improved – to better achieve Dr. G’s two goals?

(2)   How could the learning processbe improved – to better achieve Dr. G’s two goals?

Dr. G’s two main goals for this course (stated on the course syllabus):

§  “to increase your understanding of economics as a pluralistic social science,” i.e., a social science where the existence of diverse ‘schools of thought’ generates competition/rivalry and convergence/complementarity among the contending perspectives

§  “to expand your capacity for self-directed thinking in economics” through ongoing reading, writing, and discussion (vs. old-school teaching/learning method: lecture/memorize/test)

Details

§  For (1), be sure to specify “items to subtract” along with “items to add.”

§  For (2), start by thinking about the intended structure of the current learning process:

o   before each class: short readings guided by reading questions, incentivized by daily quizzes, and varied in style (some ‘pure theory,’ others less formal or more applied)

o   during each class: quiz + lecture/discussion about (or related to) the assigned reading OR full-length film OR mix of lecture/discussion/video clip(s)

o   end of each major unit: connect-the-dots paper (instead of traditional exam)

Format

§  Please provide a title page (with a thoughtful, creative title).

§  Please do notprovide an introduction, conclusion, bibliography, or reference list.

§  At the top of each essay, put the appropriate heading:

Democratic Firms

Humane Firms

Contending Perspectives in Economics

§  Be sure to provide a parenthetical citation, e.g., (Nelson 23) or (Garnett), whenever you quote or paraphrase someone else’s work.

Due date

All papers must be delivered (in hardcopy) to my office (SCHAR 4103) no later than 3:00 pm on Friday, December 13.  Late papers will be accepted but with a two-letter grade penalty per day.

“Paper day” meetings

During class time on Wednesday, December 4, I will meet with groups of 3-4 students in my office, to discuss ideas and strategies for your final papers. 

Grading criteria

As with your two previous papers, your main task (80% of your grade) is to demonstrate your engagement with and understanding of the readings and ideas highlighted in the assignment.  To do this well, you must spend time re-reading key sources.  You must also give yourself enough time to write and rewrite your paper so that you are addressing each question directly and fully, and doing so in your own words.  By stressing “in your own words,”I do not mean, “No quotes allowed.”  I mean, “Don’t let your voice be crowded out by too many quotes.”For the writing part (20% of your grade), I’ll once again be looking at the organization of your ideas within and across paragraphs, and the clarity and correctness of your sentences (grammar, spelling, and punctuation).

Sources and plagiarism

Outside sources may not be used.  Anyone who uses or paraphrases another person’s words without proper citation (i.e., anyone who commits plagiarism) on this assignment will receive a 0 for the paper and possibly an F for the course.

Final Paper

Content

_____  out of 20       Answer to “Democratic Firms”

§  Literacy (Do you draw appropriately and accurately from assigned sources?)

§  Authority (Does your personal engagement with the material – your words, ideas, voice – shine through?)

_____  out of 40       Answer to “Humane Firms”

§  Literacy (Do you draw appropriately and accurately from assigned sources?)

§  Authority (Does your personal engagement with the material – your words, ideas, voice – shine through?)

_____  out of 20       Answer to “Contending Perspectives in Economics”

§  Integrity (Are your responses thoughtful, honest, and truly your own)?

§  Relevance (Do you provide direct, constructive responses?)

_____  out of 80

Writing (20 points)

_____  out of 10       Paragraphs (Effective transitions?  Logically unified?  Appropriate length?)

_____  out of 10       Sentences (Clearly written?  Correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation?)

_____  out of 20

Total points

_____  out of 100