Research, investigate, analyze and learn about an economic topic which has relevance in the UAE

ECON M400 Project Outline 2016 (25%)

Final Output – Professional PowerPoint Presentation supported by research and descriptive notes Note: You may work alone or in groups of 2 or 3. Groups of 4 or more are not allowed. The following requirements are for EACH person. Double each requirement for a pair and triple for a group of 3.

Research, investigate, analyze and learn about an economic topic which has relevance in the UAE and then share your findings with your classmates in the form of a professional presentation. Prepare a presentation of approximately 8 slides and 7 minutes in length. Creativity and imagination along with excellent clarity and organization will enhance your grade. You will be evaluated on both the style and substance of your presentation. If you end up with a presentation that is over the maximum length, select the most interesting parts for your class talk. You may submit a slightly longer version of the presentation to me if necessary. Giving a presentation that is too short or too long is not in your interest. Due to limited time, videos are not recommended in the presentations.

You are expected to provide an interesting presentation, but also to pay attention and learn from your classmates. Although a written report is not required, this does not mean research and development is not important. The presentation is meant to be a synthesis of a collection of information.

Project Requirements

 Selecting a topic: Since economics is a wide field, the range of topics are substantial. There are thousands of options such as: Looking into a particular sector or industry, learning about a specific economic topic like exchange rates, delving into economic relationships with partner countries, future strategies, etc. Be specific enough to make the subject relevant. You can’t, for example, just give an overview of Abu Dhabi. You can start by doing some Google searches on topics you are interested in and begin brainstorming project ideas from there.

 If you would like to expand your project topic to the Middle East—a regional focus, this is fine. Alternatively, if you prefer to focus only on Abu Dhabi, that is also an option. You may, for example, want to compare Abu Dhabi to Dubai on some economic area.

 Topics will be approved on a first-come-first served basis. If duplicate topics are submitted, whoever emails their topic first will get approval, others will be asked to modify the topic or select a new one.

 Your presentation must include at least 3 different qualified sources. Qualified sources include journals, periodicals, news and financial websites and recent reports. An interview with an expert individual can also qualify as an excellent source.

o At least 1 or more of these sources must be an article or data from 2016.

o Include at least 2 or more charts/graphs with relevant data.

2  Make your references clear in the presentation and also include a Bibliography in the appendix. [The bibliography slide is considered an appendix and not included in the total slide count.]

 Organization is important: Make sure you have an introduction, body and conclusion to your presentation.

 The project should do more than present facts. You should have questions that need answering. I also expect you to discuss the various implications (both positive and negative) of economic situations. There are nearly always some losers or negative aspects to any economic course of action. Who are the gainers and who are the losers? What other approaches could be taken? How will this affect people and businesses in the UAE? What does this mean for the future of the UAE?

 More than anything, I want evidence that you have searched for information, organized your thoughts and learned something new. I’m looking for original thinking and a presentation that helps your classmates to expand their knowledge.

 You must also submit your Slide Notes. This will be a brief description of each slide and will help you prepare for your presentation. The Slide Notes are not expected to be in essay format, but rather a chance to further explain your material and ideas in a simple way. Bullet points are acceptable as long as the information is clear. It must be sent along with your presentation as a Word document.