Microsoft Word - Writing Assignment
1
Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard H. Thaler
and Cass R. Sunstein
Writing Assignment:
Each student is required to write a 5-page paper discussing 2 Chapters of Nudge:
Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R.
Sunstein. Several copies of the book are available on hold in the li
ary.
Students may choose to write about:
• The Introduction and Chapter 1
• The Introduction and Chapter 2
• The Introduction and Chapter 3
• Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 (For those of you who like to skip to the end of a book.)
The write-up should be 5 pages, typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, 1 inch margins,
Times New Roman font. It is due on Thursday March 16th at 5pm. To hand in, put an MS
Word or PDF formatted paper in the dropbox folder in D2L. (10% of your grade) There
are 5 categories that are graded, each worth 20% of the grade. See the Paper Grading Ru
ic
for more details on how the grade is calculated. Be specific and reasoned in your discussion to
eceive full credit.
The Introduction introduces some terminology and lays out the basic ideas of the concept
of a nudge and how nudges can or should be used to affect people’s choices. Each of the first 3
chapters’ focuses on a different behavioral trait in which nudges may be implemented to change
an individual’s choices. Chapter 4 and 5 conclude the first section arguing for when and how to
implement nudges.
Your paper is only 5 pages so focus your essay on the stories, topics, or examples that are
most interesting to you. Discuss the authors’ definition and examples of nudges. Describe and
analyze the authors’ stories of our behavioral traits. Examine their arguments regarding these
traits and the benefits of a nudge in the various situations discussed. Use examples or stories
from the chapter, your own experience, and/or other sources in your discussion. The essay must
e in your own words.
Questions to Think About for Your Essay
Are the examples that the authors discuss realistic?
Are nudges a realistic way to change human behavior?
Do people need or want to be nudged in their choices?
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Do you agree or disagree with the authors’ arguments about the benefits of nudges?
Are there times when the theory regarding nudges holds and times when it doesn’t?
Are nudges relevant for society today? In your life today?
Is a nudge the only or best way to alter our choices?
Final Draft – formatting
Each essay must include
1. An introduction – Introduces your essay and the topics that you are planning to focus on
2. Body - Summary and Discussion, Descriptions, Arguments supported with facts,
quotes, anecdotes (in your own words)
3. Conclusion - Drives home your main points
Citations and References
Be clear on which ideas are yours and which ideas you have developed from another source
• If you don’t it is plagiarism and you will receive a Level 1 or Level 2 University
Academic Integrity Sanction. (https:
academicintegrity.okstate.edu/)
o All text that is closely paraphrased from the book also must include an in text
citation.
• If you include other sources besides the Nudge book, you need to list them in a
eferences
ibliography section at the end of the essay and include a citation within
the text.
o The citations and references
ibliography can be in any standard format, i.e.
APA, Chicago, etc. and do not count toward the 5-page limit.
• All direct quotes must be in quotes and include an in text citation, i.e. (Author, page
number) or footnoted citations, after the quote.
o Direct quotations should not exceed 10% of the paper - it needs to be in your
own words. If there are excess quotations, the student will receive a failing
grade.
• Wikipedia is not a valid source.
Graphs and Figures
Graphs and Figures can be added to illustrate your arguments. They do not count toward the
5-page limit.
https:
academicintegrity.okstate.edu
3
Writing Centers
Writing Outpost
102 Q, R, S Edmon Low/ XXXXXXXXXX
http:
osuwritingcenter.okstate.edu
• 30-minute walk-in consultations for writing projects are offered on a first come-first
served basis on Monday-Thursday evenings 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Writing Center
440 Student Union/ XXXXXXXXXX
http:
osuwritingcenter.okstate.edu
• The Writing Center helps writers throughout the composing process; plan to visit early
and often throughout the semester, not just the day before an assignment is due. Tutors
work with students to improve
ainstorming, organizational, and composing
techniques.
Writing Center West
103 Ag Hall/ XXXXXXXXXX
http:
osuwritingcenter.okstate.edu
• 30-minute walk-in consultations for writing projects are available Monday-Friday from 11:30
a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Grading Ru
ic - writing assignment
Grading Ru
ic
% of Grade Metric Maximum Points (20) Partial Points (14) Minimum Points (0)
1 20 Formatting/Length 4 ½ to 5 ½ pages in
length
Times new roman
font, 12 point, double
spaced, 1 inch
margins
approximately 4 to
4 ½ pages
or 5 ½ to 6 pages
or long heading
with formatting
generally co
ect
less than 4 pages in
length
or more than 6
pages in length or
non-standard font
and/or margins, and/or
not double spaced
2 20 Student’s
perspective/position
Student’s perspective
and/or position is
clearly stated
Student’s perspective
and/or position is stated,
ut not clearly
Student’s perspective
and/or position is not
provided
3 20 Supporting data,
evidence, anecdotes
Evidence, examples,
anecdotes, and/or data are
clearly presented, carefully
examined, and sources are
properly cited
Evidence, examples,
anecdotes, and/or data are
presented, but not clearly,
not carefully examined
Supporting evidence,
examples, anecdotes, and/or
data is not provided
4 20 Organization Paragraphs are clearly
organized and there are
appropriate transitions
etween topics.
Paragraphs are not
clearly focused,
and/or organization
is weak.
Paragraphs rambling,
unfocused, no clear
overall organization OR
paper is overly cluttered
with citations.
5 20 Style and/or
mechanics
Co
ect mechanics,
clear writing, appropriate
vocabulary, variable
sentence structure
Some improper
mechanics, but still
understandable
Frequent, improper
mechanics, difficult to
understand OR paper is
overly cluttered with
citations.
Directions for Applying the Grading Ru
ic
1. The rows in the table represent the 5 categories which make up the final paper grade.
2. Each category is worth 20% of the overall grade.
3. The table contains an explanation for each of the five categories for each of the 3 grades (pass, marginal pass (MP), fail (NC).
4. For each category a pass is worth 20 points, a marginal pass is worth 14 points and a fail is worth 0 points. The final grade is
calculated by adding up the total points earned in each category.
FEEDBACK in dropbox
5. In the comments section of the dropbox folder, there is a number followed by one of the following codes: MP (marginal
pass), NC (fail).
6. If you received full credit in that category, then there will be no feedback in the dropbox folder.
a. For example, if you received full credit on categories 3, 4, and 5 and a MP on categories 1 and 2 – your feedback will be:
1 MP 2 MP.
. You score will be XXXXXXXXXX + 20 = 88.
Rapid #: XXXXXXXXXX
CROSS REF ID: XXXXXXXXXX
LENDER: NED :: Snell Li
ary
BORROWER: OKS :: Main Li
ary
TYPE: Book Chapte
BOOK TITLE: Nudge : improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness / Richard H. Thaler, Cass R.
Sunstein
USER BOOK TITLE: Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness
CHAPTER TITLE: Biases and Blunders
BOOK AUTHOR:
EDITION:
VOLUME:
PUBLISHER: Penguin Books
YEAR: 2009
PAGES: 17-39
ISBN: XXXXXXXXXX
LCCN:
OCLC #:
Processed by RapidX: 2/26/2018 7:38:09 AM
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code)
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