Paper requirements

You can choose to write a term paper in lieu of taking midterm and final.  The paper has to be empirical, on the topic that is relevant to the class and has to be of a quality suitable for the chapter of your dissertation (which does not mean that you have to complete a chapter of your dissertation in one semester). Do not set ambitious goals - it is just a term paper, it could be short and should be simple.  It can overlap with your econometrics paper, if you choose.  Students in the third year of their graduate studies and beyond are strongly encouraged to write a term paper instead of taking exams. The following deadlines and requirements have to be satisfied:

1. In order for the midterm to be waived, the paper proposal has to be approved prior to midterm.  The deadline for proposal is Thursday, February 24, 2pm, which is one week before the midterm. It is strongly recommended that you submit it earlier, in case the first version is not approved.  You may not wave midterm or the final if the paper proposal you submitted is not approved.
2. Paper proposal should be 5 to 10 pages and has to contain: description of the question the paper addresses, motivation, relevance for current research, description of related literature, proposed method to address the question and the bibliography.  If proposed paper is theoretical, a summary of empirical evidence on the issue is required, if proposed paper is empirical, a summary of existing theory is required.  Ideally, the proposal would include some preliminary results and their interpretation.
3. Consultations with either me are crucial before submitting the proposal.  You are encourage to keep me informed of your progress on the paper after the proposal is approved.  No change of topic is allowed after the proposal is approved.  You may choose to take the final if the paper does not work out as well as you expected or you think you are not able to meet the deadline. This is not encouraged, however.
4. The deadline for the paper is Monday, May 3, 5pm.  If you miss this deadline you have to take a final to pass the class (exceptional extensions of up to one week can be granted on individual basis if there is a very good reason).
5. We will probably arrange for short presentation of the paper drafts during the week of April 19, either in class or over lunch.
6. The paper should be 10-15 pages (double spaced, 11pt), not including addenda, figures, tables and the like.  It has to be well written and edited.  Pretend you are submitting it to the journal.   It will be graded mostly for academic merit, but also for style and clarity.