Student Papers

These are two examples of research papers undertaken by students in the 2004 class. The first is by far the better paper. The second paper had great promise but lack of time and organizational problems created a much diminished result. The two papers exemplify two possible approaches to research papers in a regional development course -- a regional or town study and a study of a particular type of business or industry (remember Markusen's "studying regions by studying firms"). Either approach is acceptable. You would be surprised which students wrote these two papers. You know them both. The paper by the M.I.T. student is on reserve in the library. The study of Lowell, Mass., although clearly a professional research effort (it won numerous prizes), is a great example of a comprehensive and lively piece of writing about how a town grows and dies on the back of its industrial infrastructure. Okay, it appears I have exceeded my website's disc quota -- oh, oh. I'll have to put these on hardcopy reserve in the library.

Historical Study of Poultney Industrial Development

A Survey of General Stores in the Slate Valley