PAPER ASSIGNMENTS

Each student must You have two options

1. Mock Trial paper
    Analyze the case as we would do in class. A brief summary of the facts is sufficient. Also, include how you voted and why you voted that way. What arguments were most convincing? Why? If you were not a juror explain how you would have voted and explain why.

    There are two options for mock trials:

    1) April 1. Largent v. Villa Peak is a real case in which Prof. Carlson consulted. it involved the hanging of a preisoner in an Atlanta suburb jail. The prisoner's mother sued the city under Section 1983 for wrongful death of her son.
    Due: Mock trial is on Mon. April 1 and the paper is due Tue. April 9. 

    2) April 8. Boxer v. Campbell involves a female law firm associate who sues the firm for harassment inflicted upon her by a co-employee.
    Due: Mock trial is on Mon. April 8 and the paper is due Tue. April 16.

2. Contracts paper
    Analyze a contract using what you have learned about contracts in class and the text. Choose a contract from either your own personal experience or your business and professional experience. Describe the contract, potential breaches, and penalties. What would constitute an efficient breach of this contact?

If the contract is posted online, you can include the url in the paper. If it is not online and is short, you may attach a copy of the contract. If it is  long, you may email it to me. If you cannot provide it to me, please clear that with me. If this is a private contract and you cannot or choose not to disclose information of parties, you may white out all private information.
    References: You probably will not use many references for this paper, but if you do, include a list of references at the end of the paper.

    Due: TBA April X, 2013

John Cochrane's "Writing Tips for PhD Students" contains good suggestions even though this is not a dissertation.

Argument/Evaluation:
    Use active voice not passive voice. Active voice makes the argument more concise and comprehensible.
    Get the facts right
    Both sides - costs and benefits
    Use words like "believe",  "argue", "contend", or "maintain" rather than "feel". Sound more analytical rather than subjective. 
    Can often eliminate "seems to" and "appears to". While sometimes appropriate, this phrase usually makes the argument sound less compelling. 

More accurate
    Very general about some things. Watch use of buzzwords (efficiency)
    affect-effect
    their-there
    to-two-too
    principal-principle

More Concise
    Eliminate the following phrases from your writing
        - “in order” - the industry must change "in order to" be more competitive. Can say the industry must change to be more competitive. Similar with "in order for".
        - "whether or not": Cut "or not" - it is implicit in the "whether".
        - "in an effort to regulate" -> "to regulate"
        - “in fact”
        - "in the fact that", "due to the fact that" and similar phrases can usually be replaced by "because"
        - phrases like "choose to" "decides to" "seeks to", etc. can usually be cut and you can use the verb that follows.
        - "needless to say" "It is needless to say that the regulation imposes costs and benefits."
        - "in other words"
        - "that is"
        - "itself", "themselves", "herself", etc. "The government regulated the industry itself" This is repetive.
        - "so as to" -> "to"
        - "actual" and "actually" - are typically unnecessary
        - because you are writing the paper, you can usually cut phrases like "I believe", "I feel", etc. 
 
Other
    "which" is often used incorrectly for "that".

Unpublished paper
     Freeman, Richard. 1991. "Crime and the Employment of Disadvantaged Youths." National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper #3875.

Published Single-author paper
    Mustard, David B. 2001. "Racial, Ethnic and Gender Disparities in Sentencing: Evidence from the US Federal Courts," The Journal of Law and Economics, Vol. 44, no. 1: 285-314.

Published Multiple-author paper
    Nagin, Daniel and Joel Waldfogel. 1995. "The Effects of Criminality and Conviction on the Labor Market Status of Young British Offenders." International Review of Law and Economics, Vol. 15 (January): 109-126.

Book
    Moore, Myra, and David B. Mustard. 2002. Test Bank for History of the American Economy. Southwestern, Mason, OH.

Website
    Engber, Daniel. "Markets vs. Exchanges: What's the Difference?" Slate Magazine, http://www.slate.com/id/2117171/. Accessed on April 22, 2005.

How should you cite references?

There are two appropriate ways and both involve listing the author(s) and the year of the paper:
    1. Nagin and Waldfogel (1995) conclude that ....
    2. Research consistently concludes that .... (Mustard, 2001).

1. Long Research paper
    Write a research paper that examines in detail some issue that we covered in class or that is an extension of class material. To the extent possible, try to integrate this with your vocational experience (if an MBA or MAcc student) or some aspect of public policy (MPA students).
    The paper should be a minimum of 12 pages plus a list of references. 

    Tue. Feb. 15, 2011:        A proposal that contains a summary of 3 different topic ideas. Each should be less than 1 page long.
    Tue. March 22, 2011:     An outline of your paper topic and an annotated reference list are due.
    Tue. April 12, 2011:       The rough draft is due.
    Tue. May 3, 2011:         The final paper is due. 

Other Papers

Defective Product Instructions
    The jury instructions state the following about defective products:
    "A product is in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user when it has a propensity for causing physical harm beyond that which would be contemplated by the ordinary user or consumer. A product is not defective or unreasonably dangerous merely because it is possible to be injured while using it. One engaged in the business of selling or distributing products that sells or distributes a defective product is subject to liability for harm to persons or property caused by the defect. Plaintiff also claims that defendant breached its duty to purchasers of the Polecat vehicle by failing to warn buyers of the fire danger inherent in the car."

Students may choose one of the following options. The due dates will be set later in the term. The requirements for all papers are as follows:

2. Regulation paper. 
    Analyze a current or historical regulation. The paper should contain a short description of the regulation, but should focus on analysis. Discuss what groups the regulation is designed to help and what groups may be hurt. What are possible unintended consequences of the regulation? To what extent did the regulation (or do you expect the regulation) assist who it was intended to assist. Evaluate the costs and benefits of the regulation, and assert whether you think the benefits outweigh the costs. Use evidence to support your analysis.
    Excluded topics: you will not be permitted to write about the following regulations: minimum wage laws, the Food and Drug administration (FDA), the American Disabilities Act (ADA), automobile safety devices and examples I used in class.
    References: You should cite research where appropriate and include a list of references at the end of the paper.