Formal written assignment highlighting published current economic events or issues and explain how they relate to theories learned in this course. The paper must include a graph used as an explanatory tool of the economic principle presented.

Instructions for preparing this assignment are as follows:

1. Each paper is to be an analysis on the recent economic events or economic reports from the supplemental resources or references. The focus of this assignment is to relate and analyze current events to basic principles of macroeconomics covered in this course. It is not acceptable to just regurgitate statistics. The paper should indicate that you have a clear understanding of theory learned in class and its application/operation in the 'outside world.'

2. Use standard file format (.doc or .docx) for all deliverables (topic, draft, and final paper). Standard margins apply. Papers should contain proper documentation of the article(s) or other references used. If direct quotes are used (not contained in the article), appropriate footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical citations must accompany the quotes. Since a part of your paper will come from published sources, Internet references, etc., there should be sufficient evidence of where the information for your paper originated. Paper length should be a few pages - short enough to qualify as a commentary but long enough to adequately address the subject. Typically, six to eight pages are sufficient. Papers are graded on quality of content, not quantity. Standard APA style rules apply and clarity is important to your grade.

Here is a checklist that you may find helpful. 

• The objective of the assignment is to demonstrate the application of macroeconomic theory as presented in Arnold to a current topic you have chosen.

It is the application of the theory that is important; this is not just a research paper which describes a current situation with some economic features. 

• The selected topic must be one that relates to macroeconomics; that is, any of the subjects listed in the Arnold table of contents under macroeconomics, for example,

monetary policy. Microeconomic topics and analysis are not acceptable for a macro class.

• The paper should not be long. Provide enough information and detail on your chosen topic to serve as the basis for economic analysis. The topic must be relatively current; an analysis of some past event is not acceptable.
• Show how the theory you've learned from the course and presented in Arnold applies to or explains the current situation. The analysis need not be complex, but must include a written explanation and a graphical analysis similar to those used throughout Arnold.Basically, you are just selecting the appropriate tools from Arnold and showing how they apply to a specific situation.
• Write a short conclusion. This might include some predictions for the future.The paper should include the following:
• Insert page numbers
• Citations -cite all references in the body of the text and in the Reference list.
• Plagiarism - Do not copy text from another author or Web source unless it is quoted.

- Not necessary but may be appropriate for raw data.