In your Position Statement outlines you need to include: (1) your topic, (2) your position on the topic, (3) economic arguments against your position, (4) economic arguments supporting your position, (5) a brief concluding paragraph, and (6) at least three appropriate citations NOT including the textbooks including 2 to 3 sentences explaining why you believe each of your citations (minimum of 3 of your citations) to be credible.Steps (3) and (4) must be done in outline form using complete sentences.
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position_statements__spring_2019_.doc
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Some Possible Topics for Position Statements 1 and 2
Position Statement #1 (Due Monday, March 18th)
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Should the minimum wage be eliminated, left alone, or increased? If you believe it should be
increased, state how much it should be increased and why.
Legalization / decriminalization of drugs
Should marijuana be decriminalized (or legalized)? Yes or No
Should all drugs be decriminalized (or legalized)? Yes or No
Should the U.S abolish the death penalty? Yes or No
Global warming
Should the U.S. commit more resources to the global warming issue? Yes or No
Should the U.S. energy policy include a carbon tax? Yes or No
Progressive tax system (income inequality)
Should the Federal Income Tax system be more progressive (reduce income inequality)?
Yes or No
Should the federal government be doing more to reduce poverty in the U.S.? Yes or No,
and if so, what should they do?
Social security
Should Social Security be privatized? Yes or No
(If you argue that it should be privatized, define what you mean by privatization.)
What should be done to fix the social security problem? (Remember to use economic
arguments)
Immigration
Do illegal immigrants hurt the U.S. economy? Yes or No, and what should the
government do about it (what changes should be made)?
Do any restrictions on immigration limit growth and innovation in the U.S.? Yes or No
• Position Statement #2 (Due Monday, April 15th)
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Student debt
Does the size of the student debt present an economic problem to the U.S. economy? Yes
or No
Health care
Should the U.S. have nationalized health care? Yes or No. If you answer “yes”, how
should it be structured?
Should Obamacare be repealed? Yes or No. If you answer “yes”, what should replace it?
Should the U.S. Government be the “single buyer” of drugs to offset the market power of
the large pharmaceutical companies? Yes or No
Agriculture
Should U.S. farm subsidies be reduced or eliminated? Yes or No
Econ 0858 (The American Economy)
Spring 2019
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Should the U.S. subsidize the development of biofuels (e.g., ethanol)? Yes or No
Should the U.S. eliminate food tariffs and subsidies that have harmful effects on
underdeveloped countries? Yes or No
Tariffs and quotas
Do U.S. trade tariffs help the U.S. economically? Yes or No
Is Fair Trade policy superior to Free Trade policy? Yes or No
(If you choose this, be sure to define what you mean by fair trade.)
Market power (e.g., Wal-Mart)
Is Amazon good for the American economy? Yes or No
Should the U.S be more aggressive in bringing antitrust actions against large companies?
Yes or No
The National Debt
Does the size of the national debt present an economic problem to the U.S.? Yes or No
Other topics are permitted. If there is another topic or issue you would like to present,
please see me for approval.
Econ 0858 (The American Economy)
Spring 2019
ECON 0858 (The American Economy)
Sections 006, 007, 008, 011, 012, and 013
Spring 2019
Position Statements (two Position Statements are required: The first is due Monday, March
18th, and the second is due Monday, April 15th)
Your Position Statements are to be NO MORE THAN A THREE TO FOUR PAGE DETAILED
OUTLINE on the topics you select. I suggest going to the writing center for some help and
guidance in putting together your Position Statements.
In your Position Statement outlines you need to include: (1) your topic, (2) your position on the
topic, (3) economic arguments against your position, (4) economic arguments supporting your
position, (5) a brief concluding paragraph, and (6) at least three appropriate citations NOT including
the textbooks INCLUDING 2 TO 3 SENTENCES EXPLAINING WHY YOU BELIEVE EACH
OF YOUR CITATIONS (MINIMUM OF 3 OF YOUR CITATIONS) TO BE CREDIBLE. Steps
(3) and (4) must be done in outline form using complete sentences.
You are to submit a paper copy of your Position Statements on the dates they are due (BE SURE
TO SAVE AN ELECTRONIC COPY). Points will be deducted if the Position Statements are
handed in late.
Your grade in part will be a function of the economic arguments you present both against and for
your position and your economic reasoning in support of your position. For more detail, check the
rubric which is on Canvas. Your tone should be that of an economic policy maker (e.g., the chair of
the Council of Economic Advisors, or the President of a branch of the Federal Reserve System), or
an expert economic consultant witness testifying for a client. THE POINT IS THAT YOU
SHOULD NOT GET INVOLVED IN EMOTIONAL ARGUMENTS THAT ARE NOT BASED
ON ECONOMIC REASONING.
IMPORTANT:
• USE MULTIPLE RELIABLE SOURCES OTHER THAN THE TEXTBOOK.
• THIS IS AN ECONOMICS ISSUES CLASS. USE ECONOMICS TO SUPPORT YOUR
POINTS.
• USE REAL DATA (PROPERLY CITED) TO SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENT.
• BE SURE TO SUPPORT AT LEAST THREE OF YOUR CITED PUBLICATIONS.
Possible topics that you may select for your Position Statements are listed in another document on
Canvas.
The American Economy (ECON 0858)
Position Statement Rubric and Framework
Category
Length of
Statement/Formatting
1
2
Not of sufficient
length, long winded,
poor format, not in
outline form
Points
3
Sufficient length
without being longwinded or redundant,
in outline form,
proper margins and
font.
Several grammatical,
spelling, or
punctuation errors.
choice of diction is at
a minimum level
Spelling, Grammar,
and Diction
Too many errors for a
University level
assignment
Economic Foundation
Statement has nothing
to do with economics
Economics plays only
a supporting role in
the statement
Understanding of
Course Material
Displays no personal
knowledge of the
material, complete
disconnect with
course material
Research
Reflects no additional
research
Displays minimal
personal knowledge
of the material,
displays some
connection with
course material
Limited research,
improper citation
Use of Data
No data to support
any argument
Highest possible score: 30 points
1.5 line spacing
Suggested margins: 1”
Suggested font: Times New Roman
Some data
incorporated into the
statement
4
5
Well organized, easy
to follow, in outline
form, proper margins
and font.
Little or no
grammatical, spelling,
or punctuation errors,
diction is acceptable
for a University level
assignment
The foundation of the
research is sufficient
for a position
statement, issues are
communicated in a
clear and logical
manner
Strong evidence of
personal knowledge,
strong connection
between research and
course material
Displays research
from credible sources,
proper citation
Ample data from
credible sources cited
properly
Position Statement Framework
(1) Position Statement Topic: Example: Eliminating the minimum wage
(2) My position is that the minimum wage should be eliminated (brief paragraph)
(3) Economic arguments against my position:
a. This is a complete sentence.
i) This is a complete sentence.
ii) This is a complete sentence
b. This is another complete sentence.
c. This is another complete sentence.
d. This is another complete sentence.
e. This is another complete sentence.
(4) Economic arguments supporting my position:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
This is a complete sentence.
This is another complete sentence.
This is another complete sentence.
This is another complete sentence.
This is another complete sentence.
(5) Brief concluding paragraph summarizing why you believe your position is the correct one.
(6) At least three properly cited articles NOT including the textbook, with two or three
sentences explaining why you believe each of your citations to be credible.
…
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