ECONOMICS AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT

Preliminary Outline

  1. The outline should contain a general statement of purpose, the proposed major areas to be covered in the paper.

  2. The instructor will review and critique the outline. Suggestions will be made on how to proceed with the research. Students may be expected to follow the suggestions.

  3. Outlines are working documents, and will be revised during the course of the student's research and organization of the paper, as well as in the writing of the paper.

  4. Students should keep a copy of the outline for themselves, so their research will not be delayed while the instructor reviews the outline.

  5. The outline will be 1- 2 pages in length. Some instructors may allow handwritten.

  6. The outline is an integral part of the paper, and will be counted in the final grade for the paper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For more help in writing your outline, see Wyrick, Thomas L. (1994) The Economist's Handbook: A Research and Writing Guide. New York: West Publishing Co., especially pages 114-115, 180-188 and 229-249.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Sample Outline

I.  Introduction 

A. Thesis Statement

B. First Major Issue or Point

C.. Second Major Issue or Point

D. Third Major Issue or Point

II. Literature Review

III. First Major Issue or Point (Example: a theoretical issue)

A. Statement of the Issue or Point

B.  First Sub-Issue or Point

1. Specific Statement of the Issue or Point

2. Why does it matter?  Why is it important?

3. Approaches and Evidence

a. Mainstream approach

b. Dissenting approach(s)

c. Some evidence

4. Theoretical and Empirical Reasons for your argument

C. Second Sub-Issue or Point

D. Third Sub-Issue or Point

IV.  Second Major Issue or Point (Example: an emp;irical issue)

A. Statement of the Issue or Point

1.  Theoretical context

2. One reason why this is an empirical issue rather than a theoretical issue.

3. Another reason why this is an empirical issue rather than a theoretical issue.

B. Quantitative and/or Qualitative Evidence

1. Which data are appropriate

a.  Strengths and weaknesses of the data or information

b. Relationship of the data or information to theory

2.  What method(s) of Quantitative or Qualitative analysis is appropriate?

3. How was the Quantitative or Qualitative analysis performed

4.  What were the results of the empirical analysis?

V. Third Major Issue or Point

VI. Conclusion

A. Summary of your argument and findings

B. Strengths and weaknesses of the research approach

C.  Implications, questions raised, and implications for further research

Appendix (e.g. data tables)

Bibliography