Economics 2010 Syllabust


	Page Last Updated: November 28, 2007 7:17 AM

	Syllabus Links
		Find the required texts Find the recommended texts including the link to the on-line study guide. Find the Liberal Education and course objectives Find the Economics 2010 attendance policy Find the Dixie College special needs policy Find the semester grading formula Find the criteria used to create your exam grade Find the criteria used to create your homework grade Find the extra credit policy Find the extra credit book list Find the extra credit video list

	Required Texts
		Gregory Mankiw, Principles of Microeconomics, 3rd Edition ISBN 0-324-17188-9



		Subscription to the The Wall Street Journal (either the hard copy or the on line version is acceptable although the on-line version will be more difficult to use for our purposes.) 15 week subscription cost: $30.00 10 week summer subscription is $20.00 WSJ Subscription Phone #: (800) 568-7625



	Highly Recommended Text
		The publisher has produced a study guide for the Mankiw textbook: Robert B. Harris, Study Guide for Mankiw's Principles of Economics. You can use the study guide on-line by using the fillowing link: Study Guide Link It is also available under Mr. Green's name at the reserve desk at the Browning Library at Dixie State College, and it can be purchased at the bookstore,. (If the bookstore is out of the Study Guide, find Mrs. West of the bookstore staff and get her to order you a copy.)


	General Education
		Economics 2010 satisfies the Social Science category of Dixie State College's General Education Requirements. The college has not established any prerequisites for Microeconomics. However, to successfully complete the course requires good writing, reading, and math skills. Mr. Green, therefore, strongly recommends that you complete English 1010 Introduction to Writing and Math 1050 College Algebra thereby giving yourself every chance to complete the course successfully.


	Class Interruptions
		Please turn off your cell phones, radios, walkmans, and alarms such as watches and palm pilots during class. Electronic disturbances of this class will not be allowed.


	Dixie State College's Liberal Education Program Objectives
		Students will demonstrate knowledge of human development and the human condition. Students will understand the ideas, people, and events in the past that are generally thought to be important. Students will develop informed points of view based on knowledge in psychological, social, economic, and/or political theory which can be expressed orally or in writing

	Dixie State College's Economics Program Objectives
		Introduce the basic concepts of Microeconomics. We will study the ideas and concepts necessary for you to compete successfully in the next level of economic theory that will be available in your junior year. Introduce the theoretical world of economic analysis. We will look at the ideas behind supply and demand including elasticity, price controls, consumer and producer surplus, the welfare effects of a tax, of a tariff, and of an import quota. Next, we will examine the theory of externalities and public goods. Finally, we will build the theory of the production and cost functions followed by polar concepts perfect competition and monopoly and the more realist models of monopolistic competition and oligopoly Introduce a rational way of looking at the social world. We will show a method of analysis based an internally consistent set of assumptions and theory. This is the economist’s world and we will contrast this view with that of politicians, other social scientists, and even what passes for commons sense. Emphasize that the world of ideas as having value in itself as a source of satisfaction and understanding. We will come to understand the world view of the economist. In addition, we explore the ideas of great thinkers even though those ideas will seem foreign and strange at first look. Provide the opportunity for academic work. We will working through a full semester's program of study and critical thinking through rigorous reading, writing, and oral discussion assignments

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	Student Responsibilities
		"An eminent mathematician once remarked that he was never satisfied with his knowledge of a mathematical theory until he could explain it to the next (person) he met in the street. This is hardly exaggerated; however, we must remember that a satisfactory explanation entails duties on both sides.”


	Gifts
		Gift from students to the teacher can be misinterpreted. While the thought will be appreciated, Mr. Green cannot accept gifts under any circumstances. I would be better for all concerned if they were not offered.


	Attendance
		Missing class will involve costs. There will is no such thing as an excused absence even for athletics, forensics, or field trips. As a matter of policy, I will not to go over or in any other way make up lectures, exams, or other activities for students who miss class although consideration will be given for illness or accident. I will make no adjustments nor will I allow exceptions to policies regarding missing assignments, papers, worksheets, or exams when the reason is discretionary such as a family vacation, the deer hunt, or a visit home. Finally, in the grading criteria reward regular attendance.

	Special Needs
		If you are a student with a documented physical or mental impairment that will substantially limit a major life activity, please contact the Disability Resource Center on the main campus. The Center Coordinator and staff will assist you in analyzing your eligibility for services. If you are deemed eligible, reasonable accommodations that are appropriate for your disability will be assigned. If you have any questions concerning this process, please contact the Center at 652-7516; we are located in the Student Services Center , Room #201 of the Edith Whitehead Building


	Grading
		Grades will be calculated using the following formula:
		Exam Grade ........................ 60%
		Homework Grade ................ 40%
		Extra Credit .......................... +

		Grade Creation
		All exam and worksheet grades will be determined using one of the following two methods. First, your score on your will be divided by the high score in the class. If your score is within 95% o f the high, you will receive an A. The breakdown will then descend by percentages of the high until the a score that is 60% of the high earns a D-. However, if the average grade for the class, calculated using the first method, is less than a C, a second method will replace the first. Instead of dividing by the high score, the denominator will be manipulated until the average grade for the class is set near C. Further adjustments will be made if there are several sections of the class and significantly differentiated denominators between the classes. If there are multiple sections of the class that use the same measuring instrument, as when all section take the same exam, the average will calculated from all sections rather than from just your class.

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	Grading Percentages Breakdown

		Above 95%	= A
		90% to 94.9%	= A-
		87% to 89.9%	= B+
		83% to 86.9%	= B
		80% to 82.9%	= B-
		77% to 79.9%	= C+
		73% to 76.9%	= C
		70% to 72.9%	= C-
		67% to 69.9%	= D+
		63% to 66.9%	= D
		60% to 62.9%	= D-
		Below 60%	= F

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	Exams
		Six Exams will be held during the semester. Each Exam, worth 41 points, will cover either two or three chapters.

		Exam Schedule
		Exam #1 covers Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5. Exam #2 covers Chapters 6. 7, 8, and 9. Exam #3 covers Chapters 10, 11, and 13 Exam #4 covers Chapters 14, 15, 16, and 17

		Source of Questions
		The purpose of these exams are to insure that you thoroughly read, study, and understand the material in your textbook. All questions on the exam are written by the publisher, not Mr. Green. Each exam is constructed by a computer program that chooses the questions are random with approximately the same number of questions from each chapter. Literally anything mentioned in the text could be the focus of a test question. You must read the book, maybe several times, to do well

		Exam Rules
		Each Exam will have 49 multiple choice questions and one logistics question The first three exams will be conducted in the ASC testing center in the Browning building. The last exam will be conducted in the classroom during the final exam period. For the first three exams you will have several days including a weekend (where possible) to take the exam. You will be allowed to bring a SCANTRON sheet, a #2 pencil, a calculator, and a blank piece of scratch paper to the exam; in addition you will be permitted to use one 81/2 by 11 inch sheet of paper on which you may write any notes you may need to stimulate your memory. Please leave everything else home. You will have as much time as you need to finish the exam so long as you do it one sitting.


		Studying for the Exams
		Mr. Green strongly recommends that you use the Study Guide for Mankiw's Microeconomics that has been prepared by the publisher to compliment your textbook. Most students using this source score better on their tests. The bookstore will have hard copies or will get them, there is a copy at the library on reserve under Mr. Green’s name, the URL to the publishers website is included above, and a link to the on line version is included on the Syllabus page of the Microeconomics website

		Early or Late Exams
		Because each exam is available at the examining center over several days, it should not be necessary to ever ask to make one up. Class policy, therefore, discourages make-up exams.. Sometimes students miss exams for reasons beyond their control such as scheduled school sponsored activities or real emergencies. In these cases, a one make up exam per semester will be allowed. If arrangements are made before the exam is scheduled, and if there is a valid – college activity related reason – no penalty will be assessed. If no arrangements are made, a 10 point reduction of the exam score will be imposed. Under no condition whatever will more than one make up exam per semester be allowed.

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	Homework
		The homework category has two parts: Wall Street Journal reports and worksheets. (See the Homework breakdown box for the grading criteria.).

		Wall Street Journal Papers
		Each student must have access to the WSJ. As we progress through the semester, you will be assigned four papers dealing with the principles of economics we are studying. For each of these topics you will prepare a two page paper showing an example of a principle of economics illustrated by an article in a current WSJ. Each paper will be composed of a brief summary and a full-blown analysis of articles that relate to the ideas in the material we are studying. (Instructions for and examples of these papers are included in the lecture notes and will be explained when the first article assignment is made.)

		Homework Breakdown
		4 Papers ..................90% 7 Worksheets ...........10%

		Paper Grading
		Each paper will be graded A, B, C etc. (papers do not use the grading method described under the grade heading above) based on conformity to with the assigned format, the quality of the writing, and understanding of the assigned economic principle. If you wish, you may rewrite any paper for a higher grade, but you will receive the average of the first and second grade. Any late paper will lose a full grade (A to B, C+ to D+, etc.).

		Worksheets
		During the quarter there will be seven worksheet assignments. These will include take home and in-class worksheet assignments and an evaluation of the course. Each worksheet assignment is worth 10 points. Late home work will lose 5 points if it is turned in within a week of the due date. Late homework received more than a week after the due date received no credit.

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	Extra Credit
		First, no extra credit will be offered if you otherwise fail the course. Second, no extra credit will be accepted after the final begins. You can raise your grade a maximum of 2 steps through extra credit. Extra credit can be earned in two ways: reading special books and watching special videos. Books Earning extra credit from books involves three steps: First, select and read books from the Extra Credit Reading List (find this list on the readings page). Second, write a review which is at least 500 words or two full double spaced pages. Third, no credit will be awarded if you have read only one-half, three-fourths or even nine-tenths. Fourth, only the books on the list will count. All the books on the list are available in the library or can be ordered on line or from the bookstore. Some will be available in the bookstore for purchase. Fifth, turn in your review before the final begins or it will not be accepted. Sixth, the paper must by typed and double spaced. Finally, the review must convince me you read the book; you must read the whole book with a reasonable level of understanding. If any of these steps is left out, you will not receive the extra credit. Videos You must watch 14 videos from the Micro Video list to qualify for one grade step of extra credit. Watching 13 or fewer does not qualify for any extra credit. All the videos are available on line at the Annenberg web site (see readings page at our class' website) and they are in the Library; where some are available for overnight checkout. Earning extra credit from videos involves three steps. First , watch videos selected from the Economics USA Videos List for the Micro class (find this list on the readings page) . (Warning: There are 14 programs for micro and 14 for macro. Be sure to use the list in finding the right videos.) Second , make 15 copies of the Video Report Form (see below) and use them to review the films as you watch them (typing not required). Third , when you have watched all 14 videos, use the Video Summary Form (see below) attached to this syllabus to list the videos you watched. Use this form must be included as the cover sheet for the 14 video report forms when they are handed in. If you do not submit the cover sheet, or if it is not completely filled out, or if any of 14 sheet is missing, you will not receive the extra credit.

		Print the extra credit video summary form Print the extra credit video report sheet

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