ECON 109 and Assessment of Reading, Comprehension, and Writing in Economics
ECON 109 - Basic Writing in Economics I is a program requirement for students Majoring in Economics. ECON 109 will be waived upon successful completion of the Assessment of Reading, Comprehension, and Writing in Economics.
Economics students must either:- Take (and pass) the Assessment of Reading, Comprehension, and Writing in Economics; or
- Enroll in ECON 109
It is recommended that students complete this requirement within the first 60 units of their program
About ECON 109
ECON 109 is a course in basic writing in Economics, with a focus on developing the ability to write clearly on economic concepts, and illustrate the results of data analysis. ECON 109 is not open to students who have successfully completed the Assessment of Reading, Comprehension and Writing in Economics. ECON 109 cannot be used to fulfill Junior English requirements from any Faculty.
About the Assessment of Reading, Comprehension, and Writing in Economics
The assessment is offered in person at the LAC (See Completing the Assessment.)
The Assessment will measure students' ability to read, comprehend, and summarize a non-scholarly article on a broad economic topic. Results will be released on eClass within three weeks of writing. The Assessment will be marked on a Pass/Fail basis, there will be no exam review after the exam, and the result cannot be appealed.
Students can attempt the Assessment at most twice. The first attempt will be paid for by the Department of Economics. Students who wish to attempt the Assessment a second time will be required to pay a fee to the LAC.
Students who pass the Assessment will have ECON 109 waived. Students who fail the assessment twice will be required to take ECON 109. Students who fail the Assessment once can choose to enroll in ECON 109 rather than attempting the Assessment a second time.
Sample Assessment and Resources
Completing the Assessment
The Assessment will take approximately one hour to complete. Students are responsible for booking a time to write during the scheduled exam windows. For further details regarding completion of the Assessment, including a link to the registration form, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I required to take ECON 109?
Only students who do not pass the Assessment are required to take ECON 109.
Can I take the Assessment online?
No, the Assessment is available in person only.
I am a graduate student in Economics. Am I required to take ECON 109 or the Assessment?
No. This requirement is waived for all graduate students.
Am I required to take the Assessment?
No. You can skip the Assessment entirely, and enroll into ECON 109 directly if you prefer.
I'm not an Economics major; does this requirement apply to me?
No, ECON 109 is no longer a prerequisite for our courses, and the requirement only applied to Economics majors in Arts.
Do I get 3 credits for successfully completing the Assessment?
No. Completing the Assessment only waives the requirement of ECON 109; you do not get any course credit for completing the Assessment.
ECON 109 Course Description
ECON 109 - Basic Writing in Economics I The course will introduce students to basic writing in the economics discipline. The focus is on developing the ability to write clearly on economic concepts, as well as illustrating results of data analysis. Prerequisite: ECON 101.