Economics homework help. LEARNING OPPORTUNITY #2
Spring Term 2020 Marxist Political Economy
Learning Opportunity #2 involves formulating a thesis that can be developed with a
supportive argument that makes use of bibliographical sources. This is the first and
key step in writing a research paper for our EC345 course.
Research papers of quality are not typically written in one shot. More typically,
ideas are written down coarsely, and then developed into a first draft. Ideas are
then refined, further refined, and then refined even more in subsequent drafts. Our
approach accepts the notion that with refinement, the ideas written down initially
are of grand importance, as these initial ideas can be pushed steadily towards higher
and higher levels of clarity, reflecting what it is that you⎯the author⎯are striving
to communicate. Considering our time constraints in this ten-week course, we shall
proceed with composing a research paper as an exercise made in two shots, with its
arguments supported by cited literature.
This Learning Opportunity #2 will lead you towards completing the first draft of
your research paper. This is due on Friday, 22 May, and by sending to my email
address. This draft is worth a potential 25 points.
This first draft should include an Outline that takes up a full page. Your “Outline” is
worth 10 points towards content. Keep this in mind and avoid messing this up. Your
outline page should be rendered as Page “0.” And then the number “0” is
suppressed. In this outline please include a thesis sentence. It is in your interest to
work with me that your thesis is close to what you would like to develop and that its
posed as clear as a bell, as this thesis sentence serves as the foundation upon which
research inquiry will be built. Above the thesis sentence include a title. Below the
thesis sentence, you need an opening sentence. Below that, please include the two or
three parts that you plan to include in order to support your thesis. This opening
sentence typically begins with: This inquiry seeks to establish that…then you
plug into your thesis sentence.
Then, you need the first sentence of your conclusion. This sentence typically starts
with: This inquiry has sought to establish that … and then you plug into your
thesis sentence.
Please keep in mind that this Outline is worth 10 points towards content. So get it
straight. I’m on hand during office hours to assist.
Formulating a Thesis: For this course, your cited research paper needs to have a
thesis. Your topic and thesis should ideally have some special relevance and
importance to you. People tend to take an interest in your research if you believe in
its importance. Best if your thesis is verbally run by me, and also approved. If you
need assistance, you will need to speak with me during office hours. I hold four 50-
minute sessions each week. Consider speaking with me for at least ten good
minutes. If you can work well on your own, five minutes could suffice. If you need
more assistance, please then make use of my office hours.
Page 1 of your first draft should start with a variant of your thesis sentence. Then
you proceed with an Introduction. A good way to start is:
This inquiry seeks to establish ….
This inquiry seeks to convince the reader ….
With this inquiry, I shall seek to establish ….
Introductions run about ½ to one full page, and are not noted with a heading.
The two or three parts of your outline are then presented in bold face font as the
headings for each section.
When you reach Conclusion, a useful and balanced approach involves starting
with the sentence: This inquiry has sought to establish that ….
A conclusion typically rehashes the thesis in altered form, and then considers how
the thesis was developed with the two or three sections. A conclusion is essentially
a rehashed version of an introduction, in summary format, with some profound
ideas for the reader to consider at the end of the conclusion. One page should be
sufficient.
This leaves the main sections of your paper. Over the long span of history the
number “three” earns a high place among numbers. For examples, consider the
number of leaves on most shamrocks, and also the Irish emphasize that their
whiskey is distilled three times. So, a useful and standard rhetorical method is to
develop a thesis supported by three points: presented as sections of your paper. So,
you have a title page as “0” (suppressed). Then, comes Page 1, the Introduction
that runs from ½ to one page. Then you have three sections running about 2.5 to 3
pages. Add a Conclusion, and a Bibliography, and you have a 10 to 11 page
research paper. The conference papers that I write are typically limited to 2,850
words of text and up to four pages of notes, including bibliography. Cite the
relevant literature relying on standards emphasized in this course and are found in
the last section of Learning Opportunity #1. With this approach footnotes are
hardly relied upon. And, if relied upon, should serve to clarify or extend a topic
raised in the text.
An alternative is you develop your thesis in two parts, each about four pages.
For “Learning Opportunity Two,” you introduce this novel thesis and then proceed
to develop it as best you can.
Example of a Page 0 of L.O. #2. Please present your Outline for your inquiry.
Title: SUBREPTION AND ITS APPEARANCES AND USES
IN LAW, PHILOSOPHY AND POLITICAL ECONOMY
Thesis Sentence: Subreption has appearances and uses in law,
philosophy, and political economy.
Opening Sentence: This inquiry seeks to establish that subreption
has appearances and uses in Roman Law, Kantian Philosophy,
and Veblenian political economy.
Part 1 Subreption’s appearances and uses in Roman Law
Part 2 Subreption’s appearances and uses in Kantian Philosophy
Part 3 Subreption’s appearances and uses in Veblenian
political economy
Conclusion: This inquiry has sought to establish that indeed
subreption has appeared in and been used in Roman Law,
Kantian Philosophy, and Veblenian Political Economy.
Bibliography
Title: KEYNES, UNEMPLOYMENT AND EFFECTIVE DEMAND
Thesis: In his General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, John
Maynard Keynes associates unemployment with the level of effective
demand.
Introduction
Part 1 Keynes’ understanding of three forms of unemployment
Part 2 Keynes’ critique of the classical theorists, especially
Professor Pigou
Part 3 Involuntary unemployment and effective demand
Conclusion
Your opening sentence could start like this.
This inquiry seeks to establish that in his General Theory of Employment,
Interest and Money, John Maynard Keynes relates involuntary
unemployment to the level of effective demand.
The first sentence of your Conclusion should then go something like
this.
This inquiry has sought to establish that in his General Theory, John
Maynard Keynes relates involuntary unemployment to the level of
effective demand.
