Analytical Project/ASSESSMENT TYPE    Analytical Assessment

1.    This assessment is worth 30% of your final result for this unit of study.
2.    This assessment is to be completed individually

Article Review 1 due week 10 – strictly Thursday 23rd April
Article Review 2 due week 14 – strictly Thursday 21st May

Required
Students are required to analyse and prepare 2 article reviews that reflect on the current Australian economy. The objectives of this assessment are to gain a more comprehensive understanding of some key economic indicators; and to be able to use these economic indicators to make judgements about how well Australia is performing economically.
Students are advised to reflect on what is currently happening in the Australian economy and analyse possible consequences and impacts of economic decisions made.

Specifications
1.    The articles must be no older than 9 months and must be from an Australian media source (newspaper, Journal or Finance/Economics Magazine)
2.    Word length: approx. 600 words for each article
3.    Students are show their teacher the article they are going to use the week before the assessment is due: Week 9 i.e. week beginning 13th April  (Article 1) and Week 13 i.e. week beginning 11 May (Article 2)
Students that have the same article with be penalised with an automatic reduction of 10 marks
4.    You must include the articles as part of your project
5.    The Harvard Referencing System must be used. Unreferenced work, including any ‘cut and paste from the internet’, will NOT be assessed. Likewise, your teacher will NOT assess any hand written article reviews.

How to write an analytical review of an article
An article review is both a summary and an evaluation of another writer’s article. Understanding the main points and arguments of the article is essential for an accurate summation. Logical evaluation of the article’s main theme and supporting arguments are an important element of a review.
Steps to follow
1.    Read the article several times. Begin by looking at the opening statements, headings and opening sentences of each paragraph and the conclusion. Then go back to the beginning and read the article in its entirety. Read the article a third time with a highlighter or pen and make notes or highlight important sections.

2.    Create a summary outline. This is an outline of the main points made in the article and any supporting research or arguments. It is strictly a restatement of the main points of the article and does not include your opinions.

3.    Write an outline of your opinions. Review each item in the summary outline to determine whether the author was accurate and clear.

a.    Create a list of strengths and weaknesses. The strength of the article may be that it presents a clear summation of a particular economic issue(s). Its weakness may be that it does not offer any new information or solutions.

b.    Use specific examples and references. For example, the article might have incorrectly reported the facts of a popular study or may be contradicting what other media sources (including newspapers) are suggesting. Write down this observation in your outline and reference these media sources to confirm your findings.

4.    Write your review.
a.    Start your review by referring to the title of the article, the date it was written and the name of the author in the first paragraph.
b.    Express the main points and arguments of the article in your own words, referring to your summary outline for assistance. Explain the economic principles and applications in this section. This may be done in several paragraphs, depending on how many principles you need to discuss.
c.    Review what you have written. Read over what you have written several times to ensure that your words are an accurate description of the article.

5.    Write the opinion portion of your article review. Use your outline of opinions to write several paragraphs explaining how well the author addressed the topic. Express your opinion about whether the article was a clear, thorough and useful explanation of the subject.
a.    Use a topic sentence and supportive arguments for each opinion. For example, you might address one particular article strength in the first sentence of the opinion section, followed by several sentences elaborating on the significance of the point.

6.    Conclude the article review. In a paragraph, summarize the main points of the article, as well as your opinions about its significance, accuracy and clarity. If relevant, also comment on implications for further research or discussion in the field.