Steps: 1. Read “Don’t Ask Me About My Salary History”. In one paragraph, briefly summarize the paper’s primary conclusion and the evidence the author uses to support her hypothesis.

2. Explain the difference between taste-based and statistical discrimination. Will the proposed policy change hiring patterns if firms have taste-based discrimination against women? What if firms statistically discriminate against women? Provide economic reasoning in your answers to these questions.

3. Do you think this policy will help to close the gender wage gap? Do policies that intend to reduce discrimination always have their intended consequence? Refer to a paper on our reading list to answer the second question.

4. Talk to 2 people who have worked for at least 5 years—people you know well enough to have a conversation about wage negotiations. Discuss with each of these people their experiences negotiating their wages. Were they asked about their past salaries? Do they think their salary was tied to assumptions about how much they had previously earned? How do their experiences compare with those described in the paper?

5. Revise your draft. • Check: does each paragraph express one clear idea? Do you tell the reader what that idea is in a topic sentence? • To make sure that your writing is concise and clear, take a word count of each paragraph, and then cut 10% of the words. • Print your draft and read it out loud to help you identify spots where the language or ideas could be clearer.

Format: You have 900 words to say everything you want to say. Write freely and then revise to express your ideas clearly and concisely. You do not need to write an introduction or conclusion. Be sure that each paragraph states its focus in a topic sentence. You can write in the 1st person, using “I” statements (e.g. “I was surprised by what the test asked”). To make it easier for us to read, use Times New Roman 12 point font with double-spaced lines and 1.25-inch margins.

Grading: A good response will respond to the questions above using clear reasoning to support its claims. A great response will also draw clear and interesting connections between the answers.

Step 1: summary Full: 8 points Partial: 4 points Zero: 0 points Step 2: taste-based/statistical Full: 8 points Partial: 4 points Zero: 0 points Step 3: gender wage gap Full: 8 points Partial: 4 points Zero: 0 points Step 4: real-life experiences Full: 8 points Partial: 4 points Zero: 0 points Step 5: legibility Full: 8 points Partial: 4 points