ECON 202 Reading/Writing Assignment Worth 100 points For this assignment you are going to examine an important policy issue: farm subsidies. Be sure to have reviewed pages 85-89 in your textbook on the topic of farm subsidies and Chapter 23 in your textbook and related handouts on Perfect Competition before completing this assignment. Watch the video on farm subsidies at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8G1HIlRppo Then read the following selections which are referenced below. These first three selections are included within the Points of View Reference Center database which the CCBC library subscribes to and can be accessed through the following URL that can be pasted into a browser window. http://0-web.ebscohost.com.library.ccbcmd.edu/pov/results?sid=f51054fe-0728-43f7-b4085fd0ed9116d7%40sessionmgr15&vid=2&hid=19&bquery=Farm+AND+Subsidies&bdata=JmNs aTA9RlQmY2x2MD1ZJnR5cGU9MCZzaXRlPXBvdi1saXZl “Farm Subsidies: An Overview” “Point: Farm Subsidies Are no Longer Necessary” “Counterpoint: Farm Subsidies Are Needed for American Farmers” The following selections are available on the Internet. “Our Crazy Farm Subsidies Explained” at http://grist.org/food/our-crazy-farm-subsidiesexplained/ “Betting the Farm” at http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-farm-bill/ “Milking Taxpayers” at http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21643191-crop-pricesfall-farmers-grow-subsidies-instead-milking-taxpayers “In Signing Farm Bill, Obama Extols Rural Growth” at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/us/politics/farm-bill.html Respond to the questions on the next page with proper application of economic theory in a minimum of three solid paragraphs per question, and your answers to all of the questions in total should include a minimum of 1,500 words. To check your word count, select the text for each answer you provide. Microsoft Word will give a word count for the selected text. Be sure to write your answers in your own words and to cite all sources used fully in APA Style, including the textbook and the sources listed above as well as any other credible sources you choose to use to support your answers. The CCBC Library has a citation guide for APA style on their website at the following link: http://library.ccbcmd.edu/screens/web/apa_fall2015.pdf Strive to write in a clear, logical and organized style using standards of proper written English. Use a word processing program to prepare your paper. Be sure to correct errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Be sure to proofread your paper carefully. It is helpful to print out a draft(s) and read it later, preferably the next day. Errors that were not apparent initially will be more obvious using this technique. Some people find it is helpful to read their paper aloud. They are able to identify errors by hearing them as well as seeing them. Questions 1. The most common example of a market with perfect competition is agriculture. How could farm subsidies distort a model of perfect competition? Explain. 2. American corn farmers receive billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies each year. These subsidies allow them to sell their grain at prices below what it costs to produce it, particularly for export markets. How do U.S. corn subsidies hurt Mexican farmers? 3. Summarize the arguments both in favor of and against eliminating farm subsidies. After your evaluation, where do you stand on this issue and why? Grading Rubric Criteria Includes a minimum of three solid paragraphs for each of the three questions, and the total word count for the answers includes a minimum of 1,500 words. Answers the three questions with proper application of economic theory Provides sufficient, documented support for all relevant statements Weight 10% 10—The paper meets this criterion. 7—Each answer includes a minimum of 3 solid paragraphs, and the total word count is at least 1,300 words. 5—Some answers may include less than 3 solid paragraphs, and the total word count is at least 1,200 words. 3—Some answers may include less than 3 solid paragraphs, and the total word count is at least 1,000 words. 0— All answers include less than 3 solid paragraphs, and the total word count is less than 1,000 words. 10—missing no data; all questions posed by the assignment are answered with a high level of quality and completeness 10--All facts and information that are not common knowledge are properly cited in APA or MLA format. 7—most key data is present or most of the questions were answered, but missing minor points 5—missing roughly half of key data or questions 3—missing most key data or answered questions with a low level of quality and/or completeness 0 —missing all key data or did not directly answer the questions posed by the assignment 70% 7--All facts and information that are not common knowledge are cited, but there are specific problems with citation style and format. 5--Most obvious facts are cited; other data is provided without support. 3--Some obvious facts are cited; other data is provided without support. 0--Statements are completely unsupported. 10% Score Paper is written in a coherent, logical style using standards of proper written English. Paper is typed using a word processing program, proofread carefully, and virtually free of spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors. 10—The paper meets this criterion. 7—The paper is typed, well written, and contains no more than 10 spelling, grammatical, and/or punctuation errors. 5—The paper is typed, has some issues with writing style and coherence, and contains no more than 10 spelling, grammatical, and/or punctuation errors. 3—The paper is typed, has multiple issues with writing style and coherence, and contains no more than 15 spelling, grammatical, and/or punctuation errors. 0— The paper is typed, has multiple issues with writing style and coherence, and contains more than 15 spelling, grammatical, and/or punctuation errors. 10%
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