Economics 380:
Approaches to Research in Economics

[ Basic Information | Objectives | Online Course Resources |
| Your Research Proposal | Attributes of a Quality Research Paper |
| A. Course Requirements | B. Grading Policy | C. Attendance Policy |
| D. Cheating and Plagiarism Policy | E. Snow Policy | F. Disability Policy | G. Schedule ]


 

A.

Course Requirements

  1. Class participation:  Participate in all scheduled meetings.  This includes completing the assigned readings and exercises by their due dates.  It also includes offering helpful advise and constructive criticism to your classmates (including advise and constructive criticism offered privately).
  2. Research journal:  Maintain a journal listing research activities and time spent each week and goals for the next week.
  3. Consultations:  Arrive on time and with updated research journal for all scheduled consultations.
  4. NCUR presentation grant proposal and abstract:  Submit an NCUR travel grant proposal and 150 word abstract written to the UNCA Undergraduate Research program’s standards to your Econ 380 instructor.  These materials will be due in time for you to apply to participate in NCUR, but whether or not you do so will be up to your proposed advisor and you.
  5. Research proposal:  Present a research proposal.  The proposal will describe your general topic, list the basic references, specify the hypothesis or set of hypotheses to be examined, identify the variables that must be quantified and measured, identify the sources of information on these variables, describe the method or methods you will use to interpret your variables, and explain what it is about your project that interests you.  You will have 18 minutes to present your proposal to your classmates and they will have 7 minutes to ask questions and offer advice.  You will give me two word processed copies of your research proposal.  The text should devote a paragraph to each of the topics above and be 3-5 double-spaced pages in length.
  6. Peer evaluations:  Submit evaluations of each of your classmates’ research proposal presentations.  You will do so using a form based on a handout and discussion of the competencies to be demonstrated and the criteria for assessment.
  7. Outline:  Submit an outline.  The outline will list and describe each of the sections and sub-sections to be included in your paper in the order in which they will appear.  It will be 2-4 double-spaced pages in length.  You will give me two word processed copies of your outline.
 
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B.

Grading Policy

  1. All assignments and presentations are due on specific dates. Exceptions to this policy will only be granted only under compelling extenuating circumstance, preferably at least 24 hours in advance. You will, however, have the opportunity, however, to re-submit improved research proposals and outlines.
  2. All course elements are graded on a pass/fail basis.
  3. To receive a grade of S, you must pass all the course elements.
 
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C.

Attendance Policy

  Attend all regularly scheduled classes.  I take attendance and consider it when deciding whether or not to give a student close to a cut-off the benefit of the doubt when assigning course grades.  Regular class attendance and good note taking skills strongly influence learning and performance in my courses.  Don't skip class!
 
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D.

Cheating and Plagiarism Policy

  As stated in the UNCA Student Handbook, I have the authority to give you a failing grade in this course as punishment for any act of plagiarism or cheating (including knowingly assisting another in cheating).  At the minimum, I will:
  1. Give you a grade of 0 on the assignment in which cheating or plagiarism occurred.
  2. Report the incident to the Economics Department Chair.
  3. Report the incident to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs who will determine whether the gravity of the offense warrants additional punishment.  Options open to the Vice Chancellor include cancellation of scholarships, suspension and expulsion.
   
  Take the time now to read the description of plagiarism and how to avoid it.  Re-read it before writing your proposals and outlines.  If you have any questions, see me.  You have no reason to fear penalization for plagiarism if you follow the simple rule, "when in doubt, footnote."
 
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E.

Snow Policy

  Classes always meet unless officially canceled by the University; on "Late Start" days class meets from 4:30-5:10 pm (link to late start schedule).  The University snow telephone number is 259-3800. Information on school closings is provided by radio stations WWNC, WCQS and WNCW. If an assignment is due or a test scheduled on a day when the roads are too hazardous for you to come to school even though classes have not been cancelled, call me to arrange an alternate due or test date.
 
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F.

Disability Policy

  I am eager to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. Examples include (but are not limited to) wearing an FM transmitter and writing out all assignments for students who are hard of hearing and allowing students with identified cases of ADD/ADHD to take their tests by themselves. Students seeking accommodations must identify themselves and discuss the possibilities with me before the end of drop/add (or as soon as possible after a disability is identified mid-semester). They must also notify UNCA’s Director of Disability Services, Dr. Heidi Kelley (251-6980; hkelley@unca.edu; 219 Zageir Hall).
 
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Copyright © 2001-2 [Chris Bell, Department of Economics, UNC Asheville].
All rights reserved.  Revised: March 30, 2006.