CW Economics Updates

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Essay requirements

1. This should be a persuasive, rather than a descriptive, essay. It must have a thesis and supporting arguments.

2. That being said, it will not be in the form of a 5-paragraph English class essay. You should have an introduction and a conclusion. You should have a section at the beginning for information and research, in order to educate the reader about the current situation that you are writing about. You should have 3 strong arguments in support of your thesis. Arguments give answers as to why your thesis is right. Arguments are not examples.

Thesis: Cats are better than dogs.
Arguments: Why? Because: They don't need so much care, they are cuter, and they are smaller/less harmful to children.

Notice how the arguments are general and they effectively prove the thesis. Do not confuse examples with arguments. (Here is the wrong way: Cats are better than dogs. Why? Because there are indoor cats, tabby cats, and Persian cats.) I know it sounds crazy here, but it is very easy in an essay to give examples instead of arguments. Examples can be used to illustrate your arguments, but they are not arguments in and of themselves.

3. You must have a bibliography or list of sources used. You must use proper referencing for any material you are using that is not your own. Use APA, MLA, or Chicago style. Your choice, as long as it is consistent and correct.

4. Your essay must be 5 pages, double spaced, normal margins, no larger than 12 point font. This is not including the title page and bibliography. You may use headings throughout your paper. You must have a title page. Hand in 2 printed copies of your essay by 10:24am on January 24.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Grade 12 essay ideas - Banker to the Poor

You will come up with ideas based on the book you have read. The discussion on Monday, January 16 will have guided questions that can lead to ideas as well. Your essay must have a thesis, a description of the situation, and arguments to prove your thesis.

Essay Ideas

1. Describe the differences in women's experiences in Bagladesh compared with Canada.
2. - or between poor women's experiences in Bangladesh compared with Canada.
3. Would you want to take a job as a bank staffer with the Grameen Bank? Are Canadian young adults suited for this type of job?
4. How is Yunus different than many business people, adults, and traditional ways of thinking that you see in Canada today? In your opinion, should Canadian business people be more like him, or less? Would his attitudes work in Canada?
5. What do the recipients of Grameen loans do with the money they borrow? Would you consider them to be more or less entrepreneurial than people in North America today?
6. Is it easier to start a small business today in Bangladesh than in Canada?
7. See p. 149-151. Is credit a human right? Yunus has a new way of looking at people - he sees them as creative entrepreneurs and he sees micro-credit as an empowering, liberating force. This is different than the traditional economic view that sees people as consumers and labourers and results in credit being an enslaving force.
8. See p. 140-142 and p. 161. Why are the poor poor? Is this similar to the way people here view young people? Do they already have skills or do they need more and more training? Is the Ontario Summer Company program similar to Grameen?
9. See p. 176-188. Could micro-credit work in Canada?
10. See p. 201-212. What is actual economic growth? Is profit maximization the way to go? Look at our local businesses here and the value they place on trust and relationships. Are small town businesses in Canada similar to the ones described in this passage? Has Yunus changed the way you think about economics?

Ideas for Grade 12 essays - Wealthy Barber and Money Rules

You will come up with ideas based on the book you have read. The discussion on Monday, January 16 will have guided questions that can lead to ideas as well. Your essay must have a thesis, a description of the situation, and arguments to prove your thesis.

Examples:

Personal finance should be a mandatory course in high school.

Payday loan companies such as Money Mart only prey on the unfortunate and should be banned.

Payday loan companies provide a necessary service in society.

The CPP should be increased.

The CPP should be shut down and instead people should be responsible for their own retirement savings.

If everyone does as the personal finance writers say and start to save more and spend less, Canada will quickly go into recession.

There is no such thing as "good" debt.

You should save some money every week/ month, no matter what your age or income.

The very best investment you can make is to buy a house.

You should never rent if you can afford to buy a home.