1
ECON 591-B1
Graduate Research Workshop I
Winter 2016
Instructor: C. Smith
Class Time: WF 10:30am – 11:50 am.
Classroom: TB-109.
Office: 7-15 Tory Building.
Email: [email protected] Office Hours: WF 9:00am – 10:00am
Course Information
Graduate Research Workshop I (ECON 591) will help students attain the skills necessary to conduct independent research, and to complete their Candidacy Exam. As well, course work will assist students develop presentation and writing skills.
Many theses are comprised of three essays. In this case the Candidacy Exam paper will describe the first essay in most detail, and typically includes some results. The third essay can generally be
described in less detail. This course aims to help with the preparation of the first and second papers of a three-paper dissertation.
The paper “How to Build an Economic Model in Your Spare Time” by Hal Varian, and “Writing Tips for Ph.D. Students” by John Cochrane may help you choose a research topic and prepare for the class.
“Currency Unions: Their Dramatic Effect on International Trade,” Economic Policy, April 2000 by Andrew Rose provides a good example of how a paper should be organized. These papers are available at the ECON 591 eClass website.
Grades for Participation in Class and in Department Seminars
One of the best ways to learn about writing an original paper is to examine how other people undertake research. For this reason, it is important to attend Department seminars, as the presenter will typically discuss research that is not yet in finished form. We will discuss Department seminars in class, and it is recommended that you take notes during seminars, to help you recall what you liked about the research, what was confusing, and what you think could be improved. You will also learn from fellow students when they present their work in class.
Class Schedule
This schedule may be modified as the course progresses. All changes to the schedule will be announced in class.
Wed Jan 6: No class.
Fri Jan 8: Course overview and discussion of the course requirements.
Wed Jan 13: WA1 due. Pres 1 during class.
Fri Jan 15: No formal class. One-on-one 15 minute meetings.
2 Tues Jan 19: WA2 due by noon.
Jan 20, 22, 27, 29, Feb 3: Presentations of WA2, followed by discussion.
Fri Feb 5: No formal class. One-on-one meetings to discuss working paper progress.
Tues Feb 9: WA3 due by noon.
Feb 10, 12, 24, 26, Mar 2: Presentations of WA3, followed by discussion.
Fri Mar 4: No formal class. One-on-one 15 minute meetings.
Tues Mar 8: WA4 due by noon.
Mar 9, 11, 16, 18, 23: Presentations of WA4 with supervisors present.
Fri Mar 25: Good Friday, no class.
Tues Mar 29: WA5 due by noon.
Mar 30, Apr 1, 6, 8: Presentations of WA5.
Description of Written Assignments (WA)
For all written assignments, please hand in a hard copy, and email me an electronic copy.
WA1: Description of Research Interests.
Due Wed Jan 13 at the start of class.
A short (no more than one page) description of the area of economics that you plan to write a thesis. Be as specific as possible.
WA2: Research Topic Summary and Review of Relevant Research.
Due by noon on Tues Jan 19.
A summary of a topic for your first working paper, which could be the first essay (Essay 1) of your thesis. It may be up to 15 pages long (not including tables, figures, references and footnotes). Your summary should make clear the question or questions you plan to address. Be sure to state why the topic relevant, and why you expect the contribution to be significant. Provide an overview of the
methodology and the data to be used. As part of this summary, describe a prominent paper (a prominent paper will have been cited by many others) closely related to the topic of your Essay 1. You must obtain approval of your choice of summary paper by no later than class time on Fri Jan 15 (during the one-on-one meeting). Your paper summary should be incorporated as part of your literature review in later writing assignments (WA3,WA4).
WA3: First Draft of Working Paper.
Due by noon Tues Feb 9.
First draft of your working paper. It should include a clear motivation for the research, a literature review, discussion of data and methodology, and results.
WA4: Second Draft of Working Paper.
Due by noon Tues Mar 8.
Second draft of your complete working paper. It will be an improved version of WA3 which will incorporate suggestions received following the presentation of WA3.
WA5: Research Topic 2 Summary and Review of Relevant Research.
Due by noon Tues Mar 29.
Summary of the second essay for your thesis. It should include motivation, a literature review, discussion of data and methodology. It may include research results.
3 Description of Presentations
For Pres 2-5, you may want to use overheads. These can be downloaded to a memory stick and sent to the projector, but it is recommended that you check out the equipment before the class presentations.
Pres 1: Wed Jan 13.
In class discussion of WA1. Presentations should take 5-10 minutes.
Pres 2: Jan 20, 22, 27, 29, Feb 3.
Approximately 40 minute presentations of WA2, followed by comments and suggestions for improvements from the rest of the class. Comments may be on both the oral presentation, and the written document, which all class members will receive by Tues Jan 19.
Pres 3: Feb 10, 12, 24, 26, Mar 2.
Approximately 40 minute presentations of WA3, followed by comments and suggestions for improvements from the rest of the class. Comments may be on both the oral presentation, and the written document, which all class members will receive by noon on Tues Feb 9.
Pres 4: Mar 9, 11, 16, 18, 23.
Approximately 50 minute presentations of WA4 with the supervisor of the presenter in attendance. The presentation will be followed by comments and suggestions for improvements from the rest of the class and the supervisor. Comments may be on both the oral presentation, and the written document, which all class members and the supervisor will receive by noon on Tues Mar 8.
Pres 5: Mar 30, Apr 1, 6, 8.
Approximately 40 minute presentation of WA5, followed by comments and suggestions for improvements from the rest of the class. Comments may be on both the oral presentation, and the written document, which all class members will receive by noon on Tues Mar 29.
Mark Allocation (percentage points)
WA1 3
WA2 10
WA3 15
WA4 15
WA5 15
Pres1 2
Pres 2 4
Pres 3 6
Pres 4 6
Pres 5 6
Class participation* 10
Participation in Department seminars** 8
* Grades for class participation are allocated for making constructive comments and suggestions on other students’ work and presentations.
**Students in Econ 591 are expected to attend at least one Department seminar per week. Participation in class and seminars involves attendance, discussion of the seminar in class, and input during seminar presentations.
4 Marking System
The following system will be used to translate grades to the 4.0 grading system:
A+ (4.0) 90-100
A (4.0) 85-89
A- (3.7) 80-84
B+ (3.3) 75-79
B (3.0) 70-74
B- (2.7) 65-69
C+ (2.3) 60-64
C (2.0) 55-59
C- (1.7) 50-54
D+ (1.3) 45-49
D (1.0) 40-44
F (0.0) 0-39
Note that C is a failing grade for graduate students.
Notes:
1. If a written assignment is handed in late it will be deducted a grade of 1 mark (of the maximum percentage weight) per day, or part of a day, late.
2. You are expected to use complete referencing of all sources. Plagiarism is a serious academic
offense. Note that providing a reference for a fact or an argument generally strengthens your analysis, so it is advantageous, as well as necessary, to reference all sources.
3. It is best to have a supervisor as soon as possible, but no later than March 8, as your supervisor will be invited to attend your presentation to be held in class over the period March 9 - 23.
4. All the writing assignments for this class should be shared with your supervisor. I recommend that, after handing in each assignment in class, you send an email that says something like the following:
“Dear Professor…., This term I am taking ECON 591 Graduate Research Workshop I. The instructor for the class, Professor Connie Smith, would like students to share written assignments for ECON 591 with supervisors. Attached please find my writing assignment for Econ 591. I welcome any comments or suggestions you would like to provide.
Sincerely,
…”
5. University Notices:
• “Policy about course outlines can be found in ' 23.4(2) of the University Calendar.” (GFC 29 SEP 2003).
• “The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.”
(GFC 29 SEP 2003).
