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WRITING EXPLANATIONS
Micro Economics 1101

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OUTLINE The assessment task: write a short explanation Sample student texts ones that work and ones that dont A model explanation why it works textual features of effective explanations A close look at each feature Follow up

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ASSESSMENT TASK write an explanation of an economic concept or principle in response to a question. The explanation should be one to two paragraphs of 500 to 750 words in length. The text needs to be appropriately structured, clearly and grammatically expressed.

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ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1. Accuracy of information and relevance to question 2. Logical development of the answer paragraphs; structure; relations between sentences 3. Clarity expression, grammar, spelling

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EXPLANATION TEXT-TYPES
The question: What is meant by the term elasticity of demand? What are the major determinants of price elasticity of demand? Explain the effect each has on the estimated value of elasticity. Define what X is. X = Y Explain a process, what happens, why it happens e.g., what causes X What is effect on X

SAMPLE EXPLANATION 1: FIRST, THE QUESTION

Consider an industry whose production process releases chemical into a large river in a heavily populated area

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Explain the Coase Theorem. Will the Coase Theorem be applicable in this case? Give reasons for your answer

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THE RESPONSE Coase theorem is whereby the cost of producing a product are high there may not be an efficient outcome achieved due to the presence of an externality the Coase theorem will be applicable in this case but it will not affect the industry since the population has not complained about the externality been the chemicals released into the river.
(cont)

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Reasons why Coase theorem is applicable is that there is an externality be it the large river. When the population complain about the decipating of the chemical in the river it will then activate the Coase theorem

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YOUR EVALUATION
How would you rate this response out of 6?

Consider the criteria:

1.

Accuracy of information and relevance to question

2. Structure of the answer; logical development and relations between sentences 3. Clarity expression, grammar, spelling

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THE EXAMINERS RATING

It was awarded 0/6 (A little harsh, perhaps) Can you say why?

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WRITING AS AN ECONOMIST

requires you to : Demonstrate Understanding of Economics Use Economics terms, theory Recognise Economics text-types How explanations are used

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AND Write in an academic style (or register)

Impersonally, conceptually, Showing relations between ideas/topics Using grammatically complete sentences Foregrounding significant topics sentence structure

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WRITING COMPLETE, GRAMMATICALLY

ACCURATE SENTENCES A sentence is a complete idea, i.e., some thing (noun) and some process/ happening (verb) E.g., Economists work. a simple sentence A sentence can be one clause (meaningful N + V combination) or multiple clauses. A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence

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MORE ON RULES ABOUT SENTENCES

Every sentence has a thing (Noun) which is the subject of the sentence.

E.g., Economics is the study of markets.

A sentence has a process which is a complete Verb (ie., has tense, so we know when it exists/happened)

eg. Economics is the study of markets.

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SENTENCES DEVELOP IDEAS

To complete an idea, sentences develop the subject and process with a third element (may be an object, phrase, another clause). e.g., The new legislation appears to be effective. Economists work very efficiently. Economists work on problems. This third element = new information

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WHICH ONES ARE SENTENCES? WHICH ARE NOT? WHATS MISSING?

1.

Research supports the idea The virus in all samples Each of these animals at risk of extinction In terms of higher education

2.

3.

4.

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OTHER FEATURES OF EXPLANATIONS

Grammar of explanations will be returned to later Lets now consider the other features of explanations in Economics

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SAMPLE 2: HOW ABOUT THIS EXPLANATION?

The question: What is meant by the term elasticity of demand? The response:

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The term elasticity of demand refers to the responsiveness of demand for a good or service to changes in another variable. In simplest terms it is the percentage change in quantity demanded in response to a percentage change in another variable. Elasticity of demand for a product may be in response to a change in price of the good itself in which case it is called price elasticity of demand. It may refer to a response in demand to changes in the price of other goods in which case it is called Cross Price elasticity. Or it may refer to the responsiveness of demand to changes in income and it is then called Income elasticity of demand

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A BETTER TEXT?
How do the features we described of good texts occur in this text:

Answering the question Understanding the economics Writing impersonally, conceptually Writing logically Writing clearly and grammatically

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UNDERSTANDING THE ECONOMICS

The term elasticity of demand refers to the responsiveness of demand for a good or service to changes in another variable. In simplest terms it is the percentage change in quantity demanded in response to a percentage change in another variable. Elasticity of demand for a product may be in response to a change in price of the good itself in which case it is called price elasticity of demand. It may refer to a response in demand to changes in the price of other goods in which case it is called Cross - Price elasticity...

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WRITING IMPERSONALLY, CONCEPTUALLY

The term elasticity of demand refers to the responsiveness of demand for a good or service to changes in another variable. In simplest terms it is the percentage change in quantity demanded in response to a percentage change in another variable. Elasticity of demand for a product may be in response to a change in price of the good itself in which case it is

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WRITING LOGICALLY SHOWING RELATIONS BETWEEN IDEAS

The term elasticity of demand refers to the responsiveness of demand for a good or service to changes in another variable. In simplest terms it is the percentage change in quantity demanded in response to a percentage change in another variable. Elasticity of demand for a product may be in response to a change in price of the good itself in which case it is called price elasticity of demand. It may refer to

WRITING CLEARLY -

USING GRAMMATICALLY COMPLETE SENTENCES

Subject/topic The term elasticity of demand verb refers to New information the responsiveness of demand for a good or service to changes in another variable the percentage change in quantity demanded in response to a percentage change in another variable.

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In simplest terms, it

is

Elasticity of demand for a product

may be

in response to a change in price of the good itself in which case it is called price elasticity of demand. a response in demand to changes in the price of other goods in which case

It

may refer to

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SENTENCE STRUCTURE
The beginning of the sentence Topic, orients reader by connecting to what went above or to what follows middle End

Verb anchors sentence, can show relations between beginning and end parts

New information Emphasises the point, whats new, whats important

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SENTENCE STRUCTURE - COMPLEXITY

Sentences can have several clauses, phrases to qualify information e.g.,

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2 MAIN CLAUSES, 3 DEPENDENT CLAUSES, 5 + PHRASES

Price elasticity of demand, which as already mentioned, is the responsiveness of the quantity demanded
of a good to a change in the price of that good,

all other factors which affect demand are held unchanged (ceteris paribus), and is determined by three factors.
while

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APPROACH TO WRITING AN EXPLANATION

1.

Interpret the question: what is the topic and what aspect of the topic requires explanation

2. What is the relevant information, theory, concepts

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WHAT TYPE OF EXPLANATION IS NEEDED?

1.

Define a concept

2. Explain a process 3.Describe logical relations between aspects of topic, e.g., cause, effect, comparison,

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STRUCTURING THE TEXT

1. 2. 3.

What are the parts of the explanation how will you structure them in a sequence How will you indicate the relationship between the parts

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WRITING CLEARLY
1.

Does each sentence present the meaning

completely accurately clearly

2. Does each sentence present meaning

3. Does each sentence express meaning

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SOURCES AND REFERENCES

Microeconomics 1101 Course Outline. ECON1101 past exam questions and responses. Belmont W & M. Sharkey, 2006, The Easy Writer. Louise Fitzgerald & Ginette Farcell, Learning Advisors, EDU. In collaboration with Diane Enahoro, lecturer-in-charge, ECON1101.

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FOLLOW UP

Writing and presenting explanations is a fundamental aspect of what economists do Develop your skills by attending PASS Peer assisted study sessions See schedule at: www.business.unsw.edu.au/pass