MGEC34

Economics of Health Economics

Communications Assignment
Description:
The Department of Management has implemented a communications requirement in all its courses.
This assignment is to help you develop and advance your writing skills. The assignment will entail
applying some of the methods or models presented in the course to the analysis of a general interest
magazine article. Here are the articles that you can pick from:

Michael Specter, A Deadly Misdiagnosis: Is it possible to save the millions of people who die
from TB? (see http://homes.chass.utoronto.ca/~campolie/readings.zip)
Atul Gawande, The Cost Conundrum: What a Texas Town Can Teach Us About Health
Care, The New Yorker, June 1, 2009. (see
http://homes.chass.utoronto.ca/~campolie/readings.zip)

The assignment should apply some of the models that we cover in the course to the above readings.
The assignment should also discuss whether there are any lessons for policy makers in Canada. This
means that you can write yes or no and then briefly explain why. An assignment could be structured as
four or five paragraphs. For example, there can be an introductory paragraph, which highlights the
economic aspects that will be discussed, one paragraph with a few sentences for each point you
highlight in the introduction and a summary paragraph that includes a discussion of whether there are
any lessons for Canada.
You can work in groups if you wish, the maximum number of persons in a group is 3.
The marks for the assignment will assigned for both economic reasoning and grammar. This means
that if an assignment is poorly written (e.g., grammatical and spelling mistakes) then the mark will be
lower.
All assignments must use the following formatting guidelines. The assignment should be 1 to 2
pages in length, with single spaced pages and in Times Roman font with 12 pt font size.

Management, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada

www.utsc.utoronto.ca/mgmt

Evaluation and Grading:

The assignment is 10 percent of your final mark. Marks will be assigned as follows:
Component

Value

Discussion of Implications for

Canada

2 marks

Economic Content

3 marks

Grammar and Writing

5 marks

Total

10 marks

Due Date: The Assignment is due on March 17, 2015 in class.

There is a penalty of 2 marks per day if it is late.

Academic Support
The Department of Management, in collaboration with the UTSC library, will be providing academic
research support in the IC Building. To refine your research skills or to learn more about various
scholarly resources, please contact the Librarian for Management and Economics students.
Lola Rudin, Subject Librarian, Management and Economics
Room IC375
Please email for a one-on-one research appointment.
Email: lrudin@utsc.utoronto.ca
Web: http://guides.library.utoronto.ca/utsc_mgmt
The English Language Development Centre (ELDC) helps students develop the critical thinking,
vocabulary and academic communication skills essential for achieving academic and professional
success. Personalized support includes: RWE (for academic writing); Communication Cafs (oral);
Discussion Skill-Building Cafs; Vocabulary Cafs; seminars/workshops; personal ELD consultations;
drop-in sessions. http://ctl.utsc.utoronto.ca/eld/

Management, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada

www.utsc.utoronto.ca/mgmt

The Writing Centre (TWC) offers invaluable services to students (learn to become a better writer!) and
offers many different kinds of help: drop-in sessions, individual consultations, workshops, clinics, and
online writing handouts. http://ctl.utsc.utoronto.ca/twc/
Academic Misconduct
Students should note that copying, plagiarizing, or other forms of academic misconduct will not be
tolerated. Any student caught engaging in such activities will be subject to academic discipline
ranging from a mark of zero on the assignment, test or examination to dismissal from the university as
outlined in the academic handbook. Any student abetting or otherwise assisting in such misconduct
will also be subject to academic penalties.

Management, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada

www.utsc.utoronto.ca/mgmt