Principles of Microeconomics

Econ 201: Principles of Microeconomics

News Analysis

Directions: You will need to locate, read, analyze, summarize, and react to a (reputable) news article, news broadcast, or speech that is related to a subject that we have covered in this microeconomics class. The goal of this assignment is to have you think about the specific concepts, principles, and theories that you are learning in class and apply them to real-life events. You must submit it over Blackboard, but make sure you attach all relevant files. Graphs can be hand-drawn and submitted as a JPG or PNG file, or the photo inserted into your analysis.

Article must be:
1. Relevant to the subject of microeconomics (avoid Macroeconomic topics such as GDP and inflation)
2. From a reputable news source (look for examples on Blackboard)
3. Written within the last five years.

Each essay must be approximately 3 pages and include:
1. A brief summary of the news article (limit this to one page)
2. An explanation of why it relates to microeconomics
3. An analysis of the article using the tools you have learned from this course.
4. A graph (microeconomic model such as supply and demand, budget line, etc)*
5. Works cited
6. A copy of the original article (link provided in your analysis or submitted as separate file in Blackboard)

Layout:
1. Use plain (e.g. Times New Roman) 12-point font
2. Double spaced
3. Normal margins (1 inch)
4. Include page numbers

Rubric: The essay will be graded out of 100 points and worth 20% of your final grade.
• 30 points for the choice of article and summary
• 30 points for explaining how the subject is related to microeconomics and the economic analysis
• 30 points for your graph (using the correct model, using it correctly to analyze what is happening in the article)
• 10 points for general mechanics (spelling, works cited, article included, structure, flow of the essay, etc)

* Your graph needs to (1) be properly labeled and (2) reflect what is happening in the article and your analysis and (3) be of your own making. While the rest of the paper should be typed, you can draw your and label your graph by hand. This graph must be of an economic model. A bar chart, line graph, pie chart, etc will not be accepted.