Online Textbook Projects
Prof. Sproul
You can earn up to 3 points by writing a 1-4 page explanation of selected economics topics. You can only
do one project, so 4 points is the most you can earn. You must turn in 1 paper copy of the project (Use
staples). In large classes (>90 students) paper copies are turned in ONLY on exam days. In small classes
they can be turned in any time. If you are in a small class, the next step is to email the project to me as an
attachment. If you are in a large class, you must upload your Word file to your personal web page by the
last day of class. Then go to the discussion board on the class web page and post a link to the file (which
you just put on your personal web page) on the discussion board. The link should include your name and
the chapter and section(s) that you wrote about. Example: John Smith, 25a-c. You can write about multiple
topics, just so your project falls within the 3-6 page limit. The attachment itself should also include your
name, chapter, and section. The object of these projects is to produce a free on-line economics textbook.
Go to the class web page and click on “Online Textbook”—“Table of Contents”
(http://www.csun.edu/~hceco008/tablecontents.htm). You will find a table of contents that lists 300-some
topics that are covered in a typical textbook. Students can pick a topic or group of topics from the list and
write an explanation of the topic, keeping in mind that the object is to produce a useful textbook. You can
do topics not listed in the table of contents, but they must be standard textbook topics. Consult me first. As
students submit their topics, I will add them as links to the table of contents. As a rule, I would prefer that
you choose topics that haven’t already been done by someone else, but if you see an explanation that could
be improved, or if you think you could give a useful alternative explanation for a topic that someone has
already covered, then you’re welcome to submit it. Plagiarized projects will get a zero, and your class grade
will be reduced in proportion to the severity of the offense. The deadline to submit projects is the last day
of class.
Guidelines:
1. All projects should be typed in Microsoft Word and saved as a “.doc” file. (If you don’t know what a
“.doc” file is, don’t worry. Word saves files this way automatically.) The type size should be 10-point, and
the font should be “Times New Roman” (Same size and font as this paper used.)
2. Graphs must all be in the same format. Almost any economics graph should be exactly 2-5/8” high by 31/2” wide. When I draw graphs, I exit Word and start Excel. Then I use the drawing tools in excel to make
the diagram, using text boxes to make labels. Click on “view”—“toolbars”—“drawing” to get the drawing
toolbars. On a standard excel worksheet, I make the graph 15 cells high by 5 cells wide. That gives the 25/8”x3-1/2” size mentioned above. When I’m done I use the arrow icon and “select” the whole diagram.
Then “edit”—“copy”, and exit excel. Go back into word and hit “edit”—“paste special”. Then select
“enhanced metafile” and the diagram should show up in your word document. Doing a graph that is not
quite perfect is a sure way to lose a point on your project. The same goes for grammar and spelling
mistakes.
3. Figure 23.a.1 shows how graphs should look. A few things to notice:
a) If you’re writing about chapter 23, section a, then your diagrams should be numbered as
23.a.1, 23.a.2, etc., and you should refer to the diagram by that number in your text.
b) The supply and demand curves are 1-1/2 points wide and they use color.
c) When possible, avoid showing prices and quantities as variables (Po, Qo, etc.) It’s better
to use numbers (10, 14, etc.), but draw them to scale or you will create problems for
yourself.
d) The lines dropping to 10 and 14 are dashed.
e) Colored areas are identified with letters A, B, C, D, E and each area is briefly described
IN THE DIAGRAM. The easiest way to color an area is to first trace it with the freeform
drawing tool, then fill the area with a color, then make the border of the area the same
color as the fill. When using the freeform tool you have to lift your finger off the mouse
button in order to make straight lines.
f) The colors used to fill in the areas should be light—otherwise they obscure the letters.
g) The font to use for diagram labels is 10-point Arial.
h) Most diagrams should have legends, as shown below. The legend should give a
reasonably complete description of what’s in the diagram.
4. A textbook also needs practice problems (with answers), both at the end of the chapter and inside the
chapter. Also, there should be a couple of 10-question practice quizzes for each chapter. Your project can
include sample questions, or you can do a project consisting solely of sample questions or practice quizzes.
5. If you use text boxes in your project, and they are not part of a diagram already, then the text boxes have
to be pasted into your word document as an “enhanced metafile”. Go ahead and type the text box in MS
Word. Then “select” the text box, “cut” it, then “edit”—“paste special”, and choose “enhanced metafile”.
Then use the arrow pointer to move the text box into position.
SAMPLE DIAGRAM AND LEGEND
Price
Consumer Surplus
(no imports) (A)
Loss of domestic producer
surplus caused by imports (B)
Net domestic gain
from imports (C+E)
Supply
(domestic)
A
Gain in domestic consumer
surplus=B+C+E
New Supply
(with imports)
$12
Remaining domestic producer
surplus after imports (D)
B
$9
C E
D
Demand
10
14
Quantity
Figure 23.a.1. With no imports, equilibrium occurs at the intersection of the demand curve and the
domestic supply curve. Price is $12 and quantity is 10. Domestic consumer surplus is shown as area A,
while domestic producer surplus equals areas B+D. When imports are allowed, total supply increases as
shown. Price falls to $9 while quantity rises to 14. The drop in price reduces domestic producer surplus by
area B, while it increases domestic consumer surplus by areas B+C+E. The gain to consumers exceeds the
loss to producers by areas C+E, so the country as a whole gains C+E because of the imports.