How to write seminar papers

1
How to write seminar papers

• Formulate the topic. Not just a headline, but a
  problem or a question.
• Theoretical background. Find and describe
  economic theory that may be relevant.
• Source books or academic articles
• Analysis relating to China. Empirical info or
  policy discussion
• Source Newspaper or magazine articles
• Official publications from for instance IMF, WTO
  or other
• Conclusion Should relate to the topic, should
  address the question or the problem defined in
  the beginning

2
Step 1. Defining the topic

• Revised list of topics
• Discuss with Søren or Tim
• Pick a good topic and stick with it dont
  change in the middle of the process

3
Step 2 Finding theoretical material

• www.scholar.google.com
• Department Library database www.econ.ku.dk
• Copenhagen Business School database (access from
  www.econ.ku.dk)
• Individual articles in the econlitt database
• Journal of International Economics
• Once an interesting article has been found
• Dont read the entire article at first
• Check the abstract
• Check the references (may lead you to just the
  article you were looking for)
• Go back to your topic does the article and the
  topic match, or are you being distracted from
  your topic
• For further introduction to searching the Library
  databases, contact Ms. Vibeke Ring at the Library
• You also need a password

4
Step 3 Finding documentation for empirical or
policy part of paper

• www.imf.org
• www.ibrd.org
• Www.wto.org
• www.um.dk and www.wtorunden.dk
• www.economist.com
• www.ft.com
• www.rgemonitor.com
• www.nber.org (the nber working papers are
  available on econlitt)
• www.unctad.org (world investment report)
• http//www.econ.ucdavis.edu/faculty/fzfeens/index.
  html (Robert C. Feenstras Homepage)
• Again, check against your topic

5
Step 4 Conclusion

• A very important part
• Emphasize your personal analysis on the basis of
  the material you have found
• Emphasize the work that you have done personally
  
• figures,
• Discussion of models or modifications to models
• Comparisons between different sources
• Comparisons between theory and reality
• Conclusions, ideas, suggestions, policy
  recommendations
• Questions left open by your paper
• It is not enough to provide a resume of the
  material
• The conclusion is normally the basis for the
  discussion in class
• The main question why is this interesting, why
  did I spend so much time on this paper, what have
  I learned about China and what should other
  seminar students remember from the paper
• Relate to the overall topic of the seminar
• China between Competition and Coordination