1. Pointers for Papers

2. Using Tables & Figures Tables and Figures need: 1. A number and title (usually at top)  Refer to table by table number in the text. 2. A source (usually at the bottom) 3. To be on one page if possible 4. To be same font throughout Copying and pasting may not be the way to go If difficult to reproduce, cut and paste but  Don’t copy unneeded text  Crop to an appropriate size  Still need a number, title and source 5. Carefully label so the units are clear 6. Make sure all tables are formatted in the same way

3. Using Tables & Figures Table 1: Title Source: …… Source is in smaller font

4. Using Tables & Figures Integrate numbers into text  Don’t have reader flip back to tables to get numbers.  Text must stand alone and tables support.  e.g. Between 1970 and 2000 the infant mortality rate dropped 40 percent from 100 to 60 deaths per 1000 live births. as apposed to The infant mortality rate dropped.

5. Other Common Problems Tell what the percent is a percent of.  HIV rate is 50% is this 50% of adults, all population ? Careful of use of quotes.  Quotes are used help prove a point.  Not to describe something. You do this in your own words and then cite the source. Seems like you are too lazy to write description in own words.

6. Other Common Problems Use citations.  If you have a number in the text and don’t have a blanket statement about where numbers come from, you need to give a citation. Citations are done incorrectly in text  Use the style from the American Economic Review  Look at examples to get it right  Typical in economics (last name author date) if one author ( last name author 1 and last name author 2 date) if two authors ( last name first author et al. date) if more than 2 authors

7. Other Tips Read over your work carefully  Check for missing prepositions  Misspellings  Incorrect capitalization Pay attention to formatting  Make sure headings aren’t at bottom of page Put a page break so on top of next page  Leave appropriate spacing between sections Watch out for long paragraphs Watch out for long, wordy sentences Have someone else read your paper to help you edit it

8. Other Tips Don’t repeat the same word or verbs too many times  especially in the same sentence or paragraph Get a grammar book and learn how to  do word lists  use ;  when to use, Look at published writing to learn how to do something if you are not sure  e.g. how to do a table Don’t use abbreviations  Stats, yrs, Euro area

9. Other Tips Data needs to be comparable across countries  Number of cases not appropriate Country with less population will have less cases  Make things a rate or per capita These are not opinion pieces  any claims about the health care system is substantiated (i.e. needs a citation) No need to overstate the facts  Your country does not need to have the best outcomes  You description in words of the change or difference in indicators as to match the magnitude of the change

10. Other Tips No need to overstate the facts  Your country does not need to have the best outcomes  You description in words of the change or difference in indicators needs to match the magnitude of the change If Canada as 2.18 doctors per 1000 people and US has 2.45 doctors per 1000 people you wouldn’t want to say there is a big difference. Use appropriate verbs  The health care system increased (?) The health care system improved  Ireland has smaller figures that Germany (?) Ireland has lower mortality rates than German