Essay Assignment
(Fixed Income Markets)
In this essay assignment you are taking up the role of an entry level analyst in your firm. Your supervisor has asked you to submit a report on the estimation and analysis of the term structure of interest rates around a particular significant event (or a series of related events).
A few Tips:
You can use data sources
You should use Tables/Graphs where relevant. Note that the graphs and tables do not count towards the 1500-2000 words mark. The marks awarded to this project will be based on your demonstrating in-depth understanding of the empirical analysis and on clarity of presentation. Your focus should be on quality and not quantity. Think of the intellectual issues and challenges involved rather than getting bogged down in data handling. You do not need to analyse a large amount of data, but you do need to analyse and discuss the issue well. Any form of data analysis technically is supplementary to your interpretation of the events.
Also, when analysing an event, it is good practice to examine the period before, during, and then after of the event.
Be careful of plagiarism. Do not copy paste from internet sources. Also, use properly references. No need to lose points there!
The most important thing in this report is that you need to have a good flow of your train of thoughts. Your previous paragraph must have some sort of connection with the previous. This way you ensure a flow in your essay that allows the reader to understand what you are trying to say. To ensure a good flow, not only you must have prepared yourself in terms of studying and preparing, but also you MUST have proper format in your essay. Paragraphs two or three sentences/line long are not proper writing. Your essay before being read must look pleasing to look at, as it automatically makes it easier to read. We will discuss this on the seminar as well.
The structure of the report
(Do not need for Abstract)
Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Empirical Analysis, Discussion, Conclusion and Reference (References do not count towards the word count)
You should use Tables/Graphs where relevant*
