ECON2101 Major Project
The Project (subject to minor variation and clarification)
This project provides an opportunity for you to analyse some economic work as it appears in popular media. You may choose to analyse work presented in newspapers, extended-form videos, extended-form podcasts, or other similar media (other requires written permission). Your task is to take one of these pieces of popular media, and create a response piece critiquing the original work from an Intermediate Microeconomics perspective. You may comment positively and/or negatively on the work, extend the work, evaluate the contribution of the work, or similar. Your work could take the form of either a report, video, podcast, or similar (other requires written permission).
Report: If you choose to write a report, you should produce a standard economics report on the original media. I would expect to see a description of what the original media claims, and then an extended critique of that work. The word limit is 1500 words (±10%). Your report must include an appendix containing (i) your bibliography, and (ii) your peer review comments, and (iii) how you incorporated your peer reviewers comments into your report (or why you chose not to).
Video: If you choose to create a video, you should produce a short 3-5 minute video, briefly outline the main points of the original media, and then making a critique of that work. The video cannot just be you reading a report. When submitting your video, you must also submit a written appendix containing (i) a transcript of the video, (ii) your bibliography, (iii) your peer review comments, and (iv) how you incorporated your peer reviewers comments into your report (or why you chose not to).
Podcast: If you choose to create a podcast, you should produce a short 5 minute podcast, briefly outline the main points of the original media, and then making a critique of that work. The podcast cannot just be you reading a report. When submitting your audio, you must also submit a written appendix containing (i) a transcript of the audio, (ii) your bibliography, (iii) your peer review comments, and (iv) how you incorporated your peer reviewers comments into your report (or why you chose not to).
You are required, as part of the assignment, to engage in further readings beyond just the original media. That is, you need to do additional research. This must be written up in your bibliography.
Limitations: You must choose a piece of media that was produced/written in 2024. If your original work was made prior to 2024 you will receive zero for the assignment.
Important Details
Due Dates:
. Draft to Peer Reviewers: 13/5/24 at 5pm (Monday Week 11).
. Comment back to Peer Reviewees: 20/5/24 at 5pm (Monday of Week 12).
. Final Report to Turnitin: 24/5/24 (Friday Week 12).
Word Limit: 1500 words (or more if working in a group)
Video Limit: 3-5 minutes (or more if working in a group)
Audio Limit: 5 minutes (or more if working in a group)
Submission: On Wattle; report/transcript submitted through Turnitin on Wattle
Requirements and Recommendations
You are required to:
. Find an article/video/podcast from 2024
. Complete an original evaluation on your chosen article
. Submit your work on Wattle by the deadline. If doing a video/podcast, you must also submit the appendix through Turnitin on Wattle.
I encourage you to:
. Start thinking about this now. Much better to write about something you find naturally over the next few weeks than to try looking for something later.
. Talk about your ideas with other people from class or your social circles. Bouncing ideas off others is great for clarifying your ideas.
. Complete a draft,which can be looked at during the Consult times, and with Aca-demic Skills.
. Submit the work to Turnitin a little early. Drafts can always be re-submitted.
Group-Work Options
You may, if you wish, work in groups of up to 3 for this assessment. If you work in a group, the following changes to the assessment apply:
. Word limit increases to 2500 words for groups of 2, and 3500 words for groups of 3.
. Video limit increases to 6-8 minutes for groups of 2, and 10-12 minutes for groups of 3.
. Audio limit increases to 8 minutes for groups of 2, and 12 minutes for groups of 3.
. Group-work will be marked at a slightly higher standard. Particularly when looking at quality of expression.
. When submitting a group assessment, you MUST (i) indicate very clearly that it is a group assessment and the names of all members involved, and (ii) only have ONE person upload the work to Turnitin.
Marking Guide
You will be graded based on a combination of the following factors:
. Quality of Analysis: How well your review captures the context, methods, results, and impart of your chosen article; and how well your report utilises the skills from ECON2101 to evaluate/extend the ideas in the original media. Can be judged on Accuracy, Precision, Logical Soundness, Lack of Bias, and Breadth and Depth of Analysis.
. Quality of Expression: How well the report is written and expressed. This is primarily concerned with the flow of argument.
. Use of Appropriate References: The quality and relevance of references used.
. Length Limit: The assignment must fall into the length limits described above.
. Referencing: References must be provided, the referencing system used must be consistent, and of sufficient detail to be able to find the references. We do not specify which referencing system must be used.
. Proper Academic Conduct: As always, submitted assignments must be your own original material. Penalties for improper academic conduct range from a 10% penalty on this assessment to suspension from the university. If you are not sure whether a piece of conduct is acceptable, please ask (though if you’re not sure, it probably isn’t).