Book Report Prompt

AP Macroeconomics Book Analysis Assignment

Due Date: January 29^th, 2010

Grade Value: 100 Test Points

Books to choose from:

Nudge by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein

Armchair Economist by Steven Landsburg

More Sex is Safer Sex by Steven Landsburg

The Undercover Economist by Tim Hartford

Logic of Life by Tim Hartford

Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Superfreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Naked Economics by Stephen Weelan

Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

New Ideas from Dead Economists by Todd Buchholz

Assignment:

Write an essay analyzing one of the books off of the given list. Your essay must be five paragraphs minimum and about 3 pages long. For your essay you should select one of the following topics of Economics (incentives, short term vs. long term thinking, opportunity costs, rationality, competition, specialization, and advantages of trade are all options) and explain how it affects your world. If you read your book and want to pursue another theme discuss it with me first.

To explain how it affects you you must answer the following over the course of your essay:

What exactly is the topic that I've selected?

What real life examples (at least two) did the author use to explain my topic?

What examples of this topic do I see in my day-to-day life?

Most importantly (ie what your whole essay is trying to explain), why is the author teaching you about the topic? Why does he believe its relevant? How does he use his economic knowledge to propose solutions to real world issues?

If you have a rough draft you would like for me to read they should be turned in by January 22^nd.

This essay will be graded on all of the elements of quality writing. Grammar will only be counted against if it interferes with the understanding of your paper. I DO NOT want a walkthrough of the book. From a reading of your paper it should be clear that you read the book, but I want you to write what I've asked you to write.

Failure to complete this essay by the deadline will result in a failing grade for the 1^st six weeks. Unsatisfactory papers will be given back, minus a letter grade, and given an additional week for you to make it satisfactory.