Writing Course Review Form (12/1/08)
I. General Education Review – Writing Course
Dept/Program
Course # (i.e. ENEX ECON 350 ECONOMICS Subject
200)
(ECNS 317)
Course Title
Economic Development II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office.
Please type / print name Signature
Date
Instructor
Jeff Bookwalter Ranjan Shrestha Phone / Email
4667 / 4497 Jeff.bookwalter@mso.umt.edu Ranjan.shrestha@mso.umt.edu Program Chair
Douglas Dalenberg III Overview of the Course Purpose/ Description: Provides an introduction to the subject
matter and explains course content and learning goals.
This course studies the processes of economic growth and development in the less developed world. Students who successfully complete ECNS 317 will have: 1. an understanding of development economics at a level that builds on a prerequisite foundation in basic microeconomic principles. 2. an understanding of how economists study and explain persistent poverty, as well as the factors leading to economic growth. 3. familiarity with domestic policies in developing countries and how they may affect poverty and economic development. 4. familiarity with the ways developed countries have attempted to assist developing countries and the debate over what types of policy are likely to be effective. 5. an appreciation of the roles that political systems and social characteristics may play in promoting or hindering development. IV Learning Outcomes: Explain how each of the following learning outcomes will be achieved.
All the written assignments involve Student learning outcomes :
demonstrating that the student has mastered Use writing to learn and synthesize new
and applied the concepts taught in class. concepts
Response papers and the larger research paper Formulate and express opinions and ideas in
require students to make reasoned assessments writing
of the arguments and cases. Written work is often circulated to members of Compose written documents that are
the class and the instructor and students will give appropriate for a given audience or purpose
feedback on the level and clarity of the analysis. We will evaluate their work, provide feedback, Revise written work based on constructive
give them an opportunity to revise their work feedback
and evaluate the revised work. Find, evaluate, and use information effectively Provide sessions with the research librarian. (see http://www.lib.umt.edu/informationliteracy/) Students will have to apply what they learn in Begin to use discipline-specific writing
conventions
Demonstrate appropriate English language
usage
their written work. A literature review is required as part of the research writing assignment. Students will have to use appropriate economic terminology. All assignments will be evaluated for content, clarity, grammar and style. V. Writing Course Requirements Check list
Is enrollment capped at 25 students?
If not, list maximum course enrollment.
Explain how outcomes will be adequately met
for this number of students. Justify the request
for variance.
Are outcomes listed in the course syllabus? If
not, how will students be informed of course
expectations?
x Yes † No Are expectations for Information Literacy listed in
the course syllabus? If not, how will students be
informed of course expectations?
Are detailed requirements for all written
assignments included in the course syllabus? If not
how and when will students be informed of written
assignments?
What instructional methods will be used to teach
students to write for specific audiences, purposes,
and genres?
X Yes No One or two sessions with the social science librarians will be scheduled. † Yes X No Individual writing assignments are provided as handouts and the major research paper requirements are included in the syllabus. Course reading and writing assignments are designed to accomplish this goal. For example, students must write introductions and conclusions to existing economic journal articles. x Yes † No x Yes † No Will written assignments include an opportunity for
revision? If not, then explain how students will
receive and use feedback to improve their writing
ability.
VI. Writing Assignments: Please describe course assignments. Students should be required to
individually compose at least 16 pages of writing for assessment. At least 50% of the course grade
should be based on students’ performance on writing assignments. Clear expression, quality, and
accuracy of content are considered an integral part of the grade on any writing assignment.
50% A research paper and a series of shorter Formal Graded Assignments
papers generate more than 16 pages of writing for assessment. 0% Informal Ungraded Assignments
VII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form. ⇓ The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus preparation
see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Paste syllabus here.
Economics 317 – Economic Development
Professor Jeff Bookwalter/Ranjan Shrestha
Fall 200? - TTH 9:40 – 11:00, LA138
Office:
LA 404
Phone and email:
243-4667
jeff.bookwalter@mso.umt.edu
Office Hours:
TTH 8:30-9:30, W 9:30-10:30. If that is not convenient, drop by or make an appointment.
Texts and course
materials:
Economic Development, 8th, 9th or10th Edition, Michael Todaro and Steven Smith (TS)
Numerous readings available as PDF files on the course website:
http://www.cas.umt.edu/econ/faculty/members/bookwalter/econ350/econ350readings.htm
General Description: This course has several objectives. First, the course explores the theory, practice and
evaluation of economic development in the context of low-income countries. Second, this course helps develop
your research and writing skills using economic development as the topic. Economic Development fulfills the
requirement for an upper division writing course. As such, improving as writers is a significant goal of the course.
You will have many opportunities to think and write about economic development issues. As you all know, courses
are dull when no one other than the instructor has read the material and has anything to contribute. Read all
materials before class and come ready to participate.
Students who successfully complete ECNS 317 will have:
6.
An understanding of development economics at a level that builds on a prerequisite foundation in basic
microeconomic principles.
7. An understanding of how economists study and explain persistent poverty, as well as the factors leading to
economic growth.
8. Familiarity with domestic policies in developing countries and how they may affect poverty and economic
development.
9. Familiarity with the ways developed countries have attempted to assist developing countries and the debate
over what types of policy are likely to be effective.
10. An appreciation of the roles that political systems and social characteristics may play in promoting or
hindering development.
Graded Assignments: Each student must attend (and write up a one page synopsis and response on) two relevant
events on economic development. These activities might include approved brown-bag discussions, evening lectures,
films and others. I will keep you informed of the relevant events and their dates as they are scheduled. Please let
me know if you come across things that seem relevant and I can announce those as well. You may earn a small
amount of extra credit for any additional events.
This course will have at least four graded assignments, ranging from short papers on the readings, to pop quizzes, to
current event summaries, presentations and other things. They will be announced in class and you will usually have
a couple of days to complete them. These and the event write-ups will make up 20 percent of your course grade. The
lowest score will be dropped.
Finally, students will complete a final project that approximates a work assignment one might receive from a nonprofit research organization. Students will choose a country and asked to define its most important constraint(s) to
economic development. Groups will then be asked to write a 10-12 page briefing paper that: 1) analyzes the nature
and complexity of the issue or problem; 2) illustrate the economic dimensions of the problem using both economic
theory and data and 3) recommends an appropriate solution or policy response.
Email List and Website: Each student at UM is automatically assigned an email address in the following format:
firstname.lastname@umontana.edu . I will use these email addresses regularly to sent out current events readings,
make class announcements, provide homework answers and for others things as the need arises. There is a course
website where readings, assignments and announcements will be posted:
http://www.cas.umt.edu/econ/faculty/members/bookwalter/econ350/econ350readings.htm
Exams: There will be one midterm and one final exam, worth 20 and 30 percent of your course grade, respectively.
Each will be a mix of short answer and essay questions. Many discussions and topics are not found in the texts, so it
is important to attend class. Except for documented emergencies and official university excused absences,
make-up exams are not given. The exam dates are:
First Midterm:
Final Exam:
Thursday, October 14th
Tuesday, December 10th, 8:00 – 10:00
Grading:
Four or more Assignments (including short papers and presentations)
Midterm I
Final Exam
Paper
Total
25 percent
20 percent
25 percent
30 percent
100 percent
Miscellaneous Stuff: If you have any disability which might affect your performance in this course, if you are just
learning English, or you have any other concerns regarding this course, please see me early in the quarter so we can
minimize any particular difficulties you might have.
General Writing and Final Paper Guidelines
General Comments: Economics 350 fulfills the requirement for an upper-division writing course. As such, the
course includes a significant amount of writing, and equally important, a significant amount of editing and rewriting.
One of the reasons these writing assignments are required is to help you improve your writing skills. Grammar,
spelling and style matter. Your grade will suffer if you turn in sloppy, poorly written work.
All of the course writing assignments are important and will be evaluated for content, style, grammar, and
readability.
The project goes through a more structured review process. At least two classmates and the instructor or graduate
assistant will evaluate the paper and provide written comments. The final paper grade is based both on the quality of
the paper and the incorporation of previous reviewer comments.
Choosing a topic and creating an Annotated Bibliography: The paper must be on a specific economic
development issue in a particular country or region. The key word here is ‘specific.’ You cannot write a paper on
Haiti. Or on agriculture. You probably cannot even write a paper on Haitian agriculture. You probably can write a
paper on the effect of climate change on Haitian sugar cane production.
These papers need to be analytic, rather than simply descriptive. The topic proposal must include a thesis statement.
What is the point you are going to argue and what evidence will you use to support it?
On Tuesday, October 2nd you will turn in a one page (single spaced) topic proposal and an annotated bibliography of
at least four sources. The topic proposal should clearly state your thesis and outline some of the evidence you will
use to support it.
An annotated bibliography is probably a new concept to most of you. It is, in part, a list of your sources with a short
summary of each of them. But, it is more than that. A good annotated bibliography shows that you have some basic
understanding of the ‘landscape’ of your topic. That is, what are people writing about, and how are the writings
similar, different, and/or related? You need to include enough information to show me that you have already read
the sources. I’d expect it would take at least half of a single space page for each article summary, plus a little more
to explain how the sources fit together to make up the landscape of your topic. Although you may use them as much
as you like, the textbook and other assigned readings do not count toward the eight bibliography sources.
Rough Draft and Reviews: On Tuesday, November 18th you will turn in a rough draft of your paper. It should be
an almost complete version of the paper. Two fellow students and the instructor or graduate assistant will review
these drafts. The final product needs to address criticisms and suggestions for improvement. Your rough draft and
final papers should be organized as follows:
•
•
•
Introduction: This section should discuss the topic and include a clearly defined statement of your thesis.
Body: The body of your paper should discuss the relevant literature, discuss the individual issues, and highlight
the evidence to support your thesis. Point out criticism and where disagreements lie. Better papers will apply
theory developed in the course.
Conclusion: The conclusion of the paper needs to restate the major issues and summarize the arguments made
in presenting your case.
Final Draft: The final version of the paper is due Tuesday, November 25th. Late papers lose points. The text of the
final paper (not including graphs, charts, tables, etc) should be ten to twelve pages, double-spaced, in a reasonable
font size. Please do not put them in binders or folders.
Presentations: Your will make a 15-20 minute presentation of your findings to the class. Write up a one to two
page summary of your paper for the class, develop appropriate overheads or Power Point slides as necessary, and
spend your presentation time explaining how your evidence supports your thesis. I will have high expectations.
Topic Proposal and Preliminary Bibliography
Rough Draft
Evaluation of rough draft
Final Draft
Important Paper Dates:
Tuesday, September 9th
Tuesday, October 2nd
Tuesday, November 18th
Tuesday, November 25th
Tuesday, December 2nd
30 pts.
40 pts.
30 pts.
200 pts.
300 pts.
Class meets in the Mansfield Library Student Learning Center (2nd floor).
Turn in topic proposal and an annotated bibliography. An annotated bibliography is a
list of your sources with a short summary of each of them. You need to include
enough information to show me that you have already read the sources.
Bring to class three copies of your rough draft. One for me, and two for the others that
will evaluate your rough draft. Pick up two evaluation forms from me to fill out when
reading the rough drafts you will get from your classmates.
Return the rough drafts you evaluated to the authors, and bring two copies of the
completed evaluation form to class; one for me, one for the author.
Final draft of project due at the beginning of class. Please do not put them in folders or
binders.
Tentative Class Schedule: this schedule is subject to change due to time constraints, class interests, etc.
Topic
Readings
Week 1:
Class structure, grading, etc.
TS Ch. 1
Starting 8/25
Week 2:
What is development?
Sen Articles
Starting 9/1
Classic Theories of Economic Development
TS Chs. 2 and 3
Week 3:
Tuesday, September 9th – Mansfield Library Buckhous Room
Abromovitz and
Starting 9/8
Modern Theories of Economic Development
Rodrik Articles
TS Ch. 4
Week 4:
Modern Theories of Economic Development, cont.
TS Chs. 4 and 5
Starting 9/15
Poverty and Inequality
Week 5:
Poverty and Inequality, cont.
TS Ch. 5
Starting 9/22
Thursday, September 25th – Peace Corps talk
TS Ch. 8
Week 6:
Human Capital Issues – Health and Education
Summers Article
Starting 9/29
Thursday, October 2nd – Project Proposal/Bibliography due
Week 7:
Monday, 10/6: Last day to drop or change class grading option.
Starting 10/6
Human Capital Issues – Health and Education, cont.
TS Ch. 9
Week 8:
Land and Agriculture
Starting 10/13 Thursday, October 14th – Midterm Exam
Week 9:
Land and Agriculture, cont.
TS Ch. 11
Starting 10/20 Government and the Role of the State
Week 10:
Fiscal Decentralization
TS Ch. 11
Starting 10/27 Corruption and reform
Lewis and
Acemoglu articles
Week 11:
Smoke and Wei
Election Day Holiday, Tuesday, Nov. 4th
Starting 11/3
Foreign Aid and Foreign Investment
Articles
th
TS Ch. 14
Week 12:
Veterans Day Holiday, Tuesday, Nov. 11
Starting 11/10 Foreign Aid and Foreign Investment, cont.
Easterly chapters
Week 13:
Tuesday, November 18th – Project Rough Drafts due
Starting 11/17 Presentations
Week 14:
TS Ch. 14, cont.
Thanksgiving Holiday (Wednesday through Friday.)
Starting 11/24 Presentations
Epilogue
Week 15:
Tuesday, November 2nd – Projects due
What we know, and what we don’t, about development
Starting 12/1
Presentations
Week 16:
Final Exams Tuesday, December 10th, 8:00 – 10:00