CTW ASSIGNMENT
(Guidelines)
CTW DESIGNATION
This course is a designated Critical Thinking through Writing (CTW) course. Georgia State University generally and the Robinson College of Business in particular are dedicated to helping students in improving their approach to critical thinking and expressing that through enhanced writing skills. With this in mind, BUSA 3000 includes an assignment where criteria of evaluation for better critical thinking and writing will be applied.
Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role in shaping education at Georgia State. Upon completing the course, please take the time to fill out the online course evaluation
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TERM PAPER: At the start of the semester, your instructor will assign you a country. The CTW assignment involves making a clear and logical international business proposition that involves your assigned country. The proposal topic must be previously approved by the instructor before going ahead on the research. Students will explore the topic in reference to assigned countries. The Term Paper will be developed through a process of drafts that build on provided analysis and feedback. The paper should be at least 5 pages (no more than 7, typed, double spaced, with a cover page, and a list of sources cited in APA Style (your references). Please note that the cover page and list of references are not counted among the required number of pages.
Suggested Topics: Exporting, Importing, agency relationships, Outsourcing, Off-Shoring, Licensing, Franchising, Foreign Direct Investment FDI, Strategic Alliances, Joint Ventures, Greenfield Investments, Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, Acquisitions, etc. Your country is the focus for any business undertaking. All good papers, presentations, or arguments have the following format: introduction that builds to a supposed thesis, reasons why the thesis is true, and a conclusion restating the thesis.
In your paper, underline the thesis and put the main arguments in italics. Do keep in mind that in your paper as opposed to this example you do NOT say, “I think” or use any other personal pronoun (I or me)! The reader knows it is your opinion.
The final CTW version will therefore be organized as follows:
Part I. COUNTRY BACKGROUND:
Students are expected to develop a paragraph about the country background including all following items (bullet points are not accepted):
Name of the country
Location? Neighboring countries?
Territorial size of the country?
Size and make-up of the Population?
Type of Political System?
Who are the political leaders?
What political party is in power?
Derivation of the form of law: Common, civil, other?
How would you classify its economic system?
What are the GDP and the GDP per capita PPP?
Major Natural Resources?
What major products are exported and to which countries?
What are the major imports and from which countries?
Member of what economic integration organizations?
Name of the currency? Is it freely exchanged? Is it stable?
Other major and notable facts about your country?
Suggested places to start: The WorldFact Book, and your GSU Library. (5 points)
Part II. BUSINESS PROPOSITION: things like “ABC Corp is looking to outsourcing as a beneficial to reduce its cost. ABC Corp. will set-up a call center in India to …” or “Russia is ripe for foreign investment, I will invest in XYZ in Russia to …” Your thesis must be approved by the instructor via your assigned CTW Graduate Assistant (15 points).
Part III. EVIDENCE: Outline three reasons and the evidence for your conclusion. Site your sources. Include in your evidence at least one article from a newspaper/media source published in the country you have been assigned. Do not use the following sources for your local media source: AP, UPI, Financial Times, New York Times, WSJ (all editions), Deutsche Welle, Kyodo, Bloomberg, International Herald Tribune or CNN, unless you cannot find an English-language article and have your instructor’s approval. Critically evaluate the sources as to coverage and potential bias. . Your local article has to be approved by your instructor. The requirement is to learn about news, analysis and commentary from a local point of view, not from global news wire services (60 points).
Suggested international newspaper directory: FACTIVA or Lexis-Nexis databases available through your GSU Library. See the BUSA3000 Library Resources page designed specifically for this CTW project.
Part IV: CONCLUSIONS: Show that your thesis has been proved (5 points).
For example, you may describe your experience at GSU as follows:
“I am learning many interesting and potentially valuable things at GSU. My decision to attend Robinson College of Business (RCB) was an excellent choice.
This is true because: (1) The M.B.A. program at the Robinson College of Business has been listed in the US News & World Report top 10 for thirteen consecutive years, which means that the faculty and program for undergraduate students is likely also very good. (2) While at RCB I also take advantage of the Georgia HOPE scholarship, an excellent way to finance a college education. (3) GSU is located in the heart of Atlanta and one of the nation’s most dynamic business communities, providing students with access to and job opportunities in Fortune 500 corporations and small entrepreneurial firms that includes high tech, leading consumer and retail brand names as well as major players in international commerce.
Given these important considerations I made an excellent choice when I selected Robinson for my college education.”
In this simple argument, the thesis is “My decision to attend Robinson College of Business (RCB) was an excellent choice.” The reasons that the thesis is true are, “RCB is ranked as an excellent business school, HOPE helps to pay for the education you get at RCB, and RCB is located in and well integrated into a vibrant business community offering many job opportunities.” They prove that the thesis is correct. And then finally, a restatement of the thesis is provided, “I made an excellent choice when I selected Robinson for my college education.” In your paper, underline the thesis and put the main arguments in italics.
In this course we use a rubric to assess your work. Five standards are applied to assess your critical thinking skills presented in your paper. These are:
Clarity, Precision, Relevance, Breadth, and Logic. A detailed rubric is available in iCollege (CTW paper resources)
Please keep in mind that the CTW GRA will review all versions, and your instructor will only grade the last version. Students are expected to use at least eight references, and to cite them using APA style. Sources such as the World Bank and Global Edge are highly recommended.
References, citations, format, number of pages will account for 15% of the CTW grade.
CTW structure
Cover Page
I – Country Background
II – Thesis (Business Proposition)
Present your thesis in italic
III – Three reasons (Evidences)
3.1. First evidence – presented in italic
3.2. Second evidence – presented in italic
3.3 Third evidence – presented in italic
IV – Conclusion
References (APA style)
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