Degrees in Economics

Overview

The Senior Thesis is the culmination of Duquesne Economics program. The Senior Thesis is a self-directed project in which the student produces an original, publishable piece of independent research. It is the student's responsibility to conceive the thesis. It is the student's responsibility to meet deadlines. It is the student's responsibility to seek out advice and guidance.

View semester paper formatting and style guide »

Criteria for Grading

1. Clear thesis (argument or analysis), organization, and continuity. Detailed understanding of the problem; sound organization; few or no mechanical mistakes; clear, unambiguous sentences, perhaps with a touch of elegance—in the best A papers, a lively and intelligent voice seems to speak; it has something interesting to say, says it clearly and gracefully to an appropriate audience, and supports the thesis fully.
   
   
2. Probably some minor mechanical errors but no major ones; slightly awkward style at times; ideas that are reasonable and are anchored in the text—thought has obviously gone into the paper; it is solid but not striking; the writer has a definite point to make and makes it in an organized and competent way, and to a definite audience; the paper is good, but not great.
   
   
3. A weak, fuzzy thesis (argument) and/or perhaps even illogical arguments; a certain amount of confusion about what the text at hand actually says; many minor mechanical errors and perhaps some major ones (such as incomplete sentences); example given for their own sake or just to demonstrate that the writer has read the texts (i.e., a book report), not to develop a point; organization rambles or disappears, words are misused, diction is inconsistent; proofreading is weak; the intended audience is unclear—there are some ideas there, but the writer needs help and work to make them clear to another reader.  Poor effort is also a factor.
   
   
4. Thesis (argument and analysis) missing; major mechanical problems; poor organization; serious misreading of texts and articles; stretches in which the writer simply gives a narrative account of a text for no apparent purpose; the paper is much shorter than the assigned length—the writer doesn't really have a point to make and has serious problems in writing and reading at an appropriate level.  Especially poor effort also results in a D grade.
5. 
   
6. The paper shows general weaknesses exceeding those of a D paper.

Outstanding Past Theses

• Ausherman, Grant, 2007. Differentiating the Method of Compensation to Illustrate the Differences Between a Publicly and an Employee Owned Firm: An Experimental Analysis.
• Lepro, Michael, 2007. A Forecast of the U.S. Business Cycle Using Three Different Approaches.
• Loewer, James, 2007. Estimating the Amount of Time Spent: Household Production and Caring & Helping.
• Manchester, Patrick, 2007. Can Foreign Investment in U.S. Treasury Bonds Explain the Municipal Bond Puzzle?
• Monfredi, Joe, 2007. Evaluation of a Laddered Rate Method Versus Various Discount Methods in Wrongful Death Litigation.
• Semanchik, Michael, 2007. An Estimation of the Substitution Effect of Casino Revenue on Lottery Revenue in the State of Pennsylvania.
• Whitaker, Mark, 2007. The Impact of Foreign Aid on Economic Growth. Recipient of the Outstanding Thesis Award for 2007.
• Curcio, Chris, 2006. A New Economic Measure of the Standard of Living Ranking U.S. Metropolitan Areas. Recipient of the Outstanding Thesis Award for 2006.