homework

Performance Criteria

Basic

Developing

Proficient

Accomplished

Exemplary

Score

GDP Components

In this section, a student has to (i) download 6 different components of quarterly real GDP series, (ii) sum them to create four different components of GDP to match the paper, (iii) calculate the difference from the base period, and (iv) graph them from the second quarter of 2008. Graphs must be clean and readable, with an appropriate tile and axis titles. The closer the graph looks the example in Hall’s paper, the better.

Download correct data and summing them correctly

Does not download any of the appropriate series.

(0 points)

Identifies and downloads only 1 to 3 series correctly.

(3 points)

Identifies and downloads only 4 to 6 series correctly

(6 points)

Downloads all 6 series correctly, but does not sum up correctly.

(9 points)

Downloads all 6 series and sum them up correctly.

(12 points)

Manipulate data and graph them

Does not calculate changes from the base period or draw a graph.

(0 points)

Analyze the data incorrectly (errors in calculating changes) or draws a graph incorrectly

(4 points)

Analyze the data incorrectly and draws a correct graph based on incorrect data

(8 points)

Analyzes the data correctly but does not create a graph, or the graph is incorrect.

(12 points)

Analyzes the data correctly and creates the graph required.

(16 points)

Present graphs professionally

Does not name axis or give a title to the graph.

(0 points)

Of three labels (two axis labels and the table title), provides only one.

(0.5 point)

Provides only two of the three labels (two axis labels and the table title).

(1 point)

Name both axes appropriately and give an appropriate title to the graph.

(1.5 points)

Presents a clear, professional, and readable graph.

(2 points)

Yield Spread

In this section, a student has to (i) download 2 different yield series, (ii) calculate the spread, and (iii) graph it from January 2008. Graphs must be clean and readable, with an appropriate tile and axis titles. The closer the graph looks the example in Hall’s paper, the better. Robert Hall, “Why Does the Economy Fall to Pieces after a Financial Crisis?” http://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/jep.24.4.3

Download correct data and calculate the spread correctly

Does not download any of the appropriate series.

(0 points)

Identifies and downloads only 1 of the 2 series correctly and does not calculate the spread correctly.

(2 points)

Downloads incorrect series but calculates the spread correctly based on incorrect data.

(4 points)

Downloads two series correctly but makes an error in calculating the spread.

(6 points)

Downloads all 2 series and calculates the spread correctly.

(8 points)

Graph data

Does not draw a graph.

(0 points)

Draws a graph incorrectly.

(4 points)

Draws a correct graph

(6 points)

Present graphs professionally

Does not name axis or give a title to the graph.

(0 points)

Of three labels (two axis labels and the table title), provides only one.

(0.5 point)

Provides only two of the three labels (two axis labels and the table title).

(1 point)

Name both axes appropriately and give an appropriate title to the graph.

(1.5 points)

Presents a clear, professional, and readable graph.

(2 points)

Overall

Students have to follow specific instructions: (i) submit one file; (ii) put the name in the header, (iii) name the file as instructed, and (iv) show equations in cells.

Follow the instructions

Does not follow any of the instructions.

(0 points).

Follows one of the 4 instructions.

(1 point)

Follows two of the 4 instructions.

(2 points)

Follows three of the 4 instructions.

(3 points)

Follows all four instructions.

(4 points)