Professor Katy Rouse’s latest research offers a new writing project for intermediate microeconomics, emphasizing the benefits of using writing as a tool for understanding policy, applying theory, and building communication skills.
Katy Rouse, professor of economics in Elon University’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, published new research outlining a semester-long writing project designed for intermediate microeconomics students.
The article, Applying best practices in writing assignment design—A semester-long policy project for intermediate microeconomics, appears in The Journal of Economic Education and describes how structured writing assignments can offer students more ways to demonstrate learning and connect course content to real-world issues.
Students take on the role of a staff economist, analyzing a current policy issue such as a tax on sugary drinks or a price cap on prescription drugs. Using economic theory and research, they build toward a short policy paper written for a policymaker audience.
Along the way, students complete smaller assignments including media critiques, peer reviews, and annotated bibliographies. They receive feedback throughout the process and have the chance to revise their work. The course ends with a reflection on how their thinking has developed over time.
Key Findings:
- Students reported that the project helped them see how economic theory applies to real-world policy issues.
- Many found the structured approach, including staged assignments and feedback, supported their learning and confidence.
- Survey responses suggested the writing project complemented exams and problem sets by offering another way to demonstrate understanding.
- Students also noted that opportunities to revise their work contributed to deeper reflection and stronger final papers.
Rouse joined Elon University in 2009 and regularly teaches microeconomics. She is an applied microeconomist with scholarship interests in the economics of education and health economics. This article is her second publication focused on teaching practices that support student learning in economics. In 2022, she co-authored an article with Associate Professor Brooks Depro on an economic consulting capstone project.