Download Top of Form AP MACROECONOMICS Course Syllabus

AP MACROECONOMICS
Course Syllabus
INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION
Adam Koester, Business Office, Room A119
Office Hours: 8:26am-9:20am, before or after school, or by appointment
Email: [email protected]
School phone: 656-7100 x20119 (Business Office)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
AP Macroeconomics (LCCC - ECON 151 PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS)
Explores the evolution of economic systems, modern economic theory including fiscal and monetary theory
and institutions, current economic problems and comparative economic systems.
Dual credit through Lewis & Clark CC (Econ 151) for this class is available to those who qualify. As this is a
class where college credit can be obtained, students will be treated (and expected to act) as such at all times.
If a student misses more than ten class periods they can be dropped from the dual credit portion of the course
at the discretion of the instructor at any time.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to:
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Demonstrate a familiarity with economic terms and their use
Demonstrate the basic techniques of economic analysis
Explain the causes and effects of economic change
Relate current events to economic theory
Apply some elementary tools for economic prediction
Describe various economic institutions and practices
Provide economic perspectives on social and political trends
Demonstrate an awareness of alternative methods of solving economic problems
Explain conflicting economic opinions and ideas
MATERIALS OF INSTRUCTION
Textbook:
The Macro Economy Today, Ninth Edition. Schiller, Bradley R. McGraw-Hill, 2003.
Supplemental Material:
Student Problem Set for use with the Economy Today, The Macro Economy Today, The Micro Economy Today,
Ninth Edition. Schiller, Bradley R. McGraw-Hill, 2003.
Study Guide for use with the Macro Economy Today. Schiller, Bradley R. prepared by Linda Wilson and Kevin
Klein. McGraw-Hill, 2003.
Advanced Placement Economics Macroeconomics: Student Activities. Morton, John S. National Council on
Economic Education, 1998.
EVALUATION OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Grading Scale:
90 – 100
80 – 89
70 – 79
60 – 69
0 – 59
A
B
C
D
F
Course Grades:
Tests/Assignments/Activities
Quarter Project
Assignments/Activities
65%
20%
15%
Class attendance and participation are a factor in every aspect of your grade. Projects may include written essays and oral
presentations.
The comprehensive semester final will be 20% of your overall semester grade.
COURSE CONTENT
The following topics are to be covered during the instructional process:
1. Fundamental Economic Concepts
a. Definitions of basic economic terms
b. Economic analysis, assumptions, and models
c. Overview of economic systems
d. Using graphs in economics
2. Economic Choices and the Production
Possibilities Curve
a. Scarcity of resources and opportunity cost
b. Absolute and comparative advantage and trade
c. Specialization and economic efficiency
d. Production possibilities curve
3. Demand and Supply
a. Laws of demand and supply and the market model
b. Determinants of demand and supply
c. Market equilibrium and disequilibrium
4. Application of demand and supply analysis
a. Analyzing shifts of demand and/or supply
b. Predicting changes to market equilibrium
c. Price system and controls
5. The government and the economy
a. Dealing with spillovers or externalities
b. Economic functions of government
c. Major sources and uses of tax funds
d. Public choice
6. Economic fluctuations, unemployment and
inflation
a. The business cycle
b. Types and calculation of unemployment
c. Natural rate of unemployment
d. Types of calculation of inflation
7. Measuring the performance of the economy
a. Circular flow model
b. Components of national accounting
c. Nominal and real gross domestic product
d. Expenditure and income approaches to calculating
GDP
8. Foreign economic activity
a. Exports and imports
b. Balances of trade and payments
c. Determination of exchange rates
d. Type of exchange rate systems
9. The aggregate expenditure model
a. Aggregate demand and supply
b. Equilibrium price level and output
c. Determinants of aggregate demand and supply
d. Long-run and short-run analysis
10. Classical and Keynesian economic theories
a. Say's law and classical economic theory
b. Keynesian macroeconomic theory
c. Aggregate demand and supply shocks
d. Recessionary and inflationary gaps
11. Keynesian economic model
a. Keynesian economic assumptions
b. Aggregate expenditure components
c. The simplified Keynesian model
d. The multiplier effect
12. Fiscal policy
a. Changes to government expenditures and/or taxes
b. Automatic and discretionary economic tools
c. Direct and indirect offsets to fiscal policy
d. Supply side intervention
13. Money and financial institutions
a. Functions of money
b. Approaches to measuring money supply
c. Financial markets and intermediaries
d. Federal Reserve System
14. The creation of money
a. Reserves and the fractional reserve system
b. Three Fed methods of changing the money supply
c. Creation of money in the banking system and the
multiplier
d. Problems in the financial sector
15. Monetary policy
a. Demand and supply of money and interests rates
b. Tools of monetary policy
c. Equation of exchange and output versus inflation
d. The transmission mechanism
16. Economic stabilization
a. The Phillips curve
b. New Keynesian and new classical macroeconomic
theory
c. Comparative analysis of various macroeconomic
models
d. Significance of supply side alternatives, productivity
and growth.
Student Handbook Clarification
All student rules as listed in the Student Handbook apply in this class. The list of clarifications for this class are as follows.
Grades for unexcused absences, truancy, and suspension will be adjusted according to the Student Handbook. Where deference is
given to the teacher 50% credit will be given. There will be no student notification of the grade adjustment once I have been notified
of your indiscretion other than it’s reflection in TigerView/gradebook.
There will be in-class assignments in this course. If you are present and do not have your book that day you may turn in your
assignment late the next day for 50% credit. You will not be permitted to use someone else’s book while they are using it.
Because a tardy that is in excess of five minutes is treated as an unexcused absence, partial credit for that day’s assignments will be
given in accordance with procedures for unexcused absences (Student Handbook 5.07). Grades may be changed to reflect
excused/unexcused absence as information is available to the instructor.
There will be in-class assignments in this course. If you are present and do not have your book that day you may turn in your
assignment late the next day for 50% credit. You will not be permitted to use someone else’s book while they are using it.
Make up work for days missed due to the first two suspensions will be accepted for 50% credit. For subsequent suspensions, no credit
will be given. However, it is in the student’s best interest to complete makeup work even though no credit will be granted (Student
Handbook 6.02). Grades may be changed to reflect suspensions as information is available to the instructor.
As with any absence, it is YOUR responsibility to find out what you missed and what you need to do to make up any missed material.
Not being magically told when you walk into class is no excuse. If you are absent on a day we review you will not be given an
additional day to study. You will take the test on the test date.
Other rules from the student handbook
The calculator feature of cellular telephones is not an acceptable calculator. School rules prohibit the use of cellular telephones during
the school day; use as a calculator is also prohibited (Student Handbook 6.01).
Not all people are in agreement as to what words are considered profanity. The classroom teacher shall determine what is and is not
acceptable in the classroom. If you are in doubt about the use of a word or phrase, chances are it is inappropriate (Student Handbook
6.01).
Classroom expectations
We are here to learn, from the beginning of class until the end of class. Tardiness will be recorded and disciplinary action will be
applied according to the Student Handbook. Written passes will be required for late admission into class. Therefore, you are expected
to be in your seat and ready to learn when class is scheduled to begin, and you are expected to continue learning until the teacher
dismisses you. Do NOT leave your seat until dismissed.
In Consumer Education, many of our learning activities involve moving around the room, talking with classmates, and using varied
materials for exploring topics of study. For this type of learning to be successful, your cooperation and participation are required. I
guarantee that if you work respectfully with your classmates and me, you will be satisfied with the outcome of your experience in this
class.
Due dates
Due dates are not flexible-when something is due. If you are going to be absent, turn in work on or before that date. If a due date is
flexible, I will let you know when the assignment is made. Please do not ask for exceptions unless you have encountered a real,
unavoidable, and verifiable emergency situation. (You will learn a lot about deadlines, due dates, and the real world in this class.)
Additionally, no additional time will be given for your printer’s sudden inability to function.
Computer use
Students MAY NOT use the computers in this classroom for anything other than work for this course. Under normal conditions,
computer use is prohibited and may not be turned on without expressed permission of the instructor.
When the computers are allowed on for instructional purposes, there are some additional guidelines that must be followed. Use of
personal email at school is prohibited per school rules. Along similar lines, social networking sites (i.e. FaceBook, Twitter Myspace, etc)
and IM (any form of Instant Messaging) is not permitted under any circumstances at any time. Failure to comply will result in a nonnegotiable zero on the assignment and potential disciplinary action.
Food/drink in the computer lab is prohibited at all times. If any is found, it will be thrown away. No exceptions (including water) will
be made.
EHS has the ability to open the following file extensions for word processing: doc, docx, txt. If you do homework that you need to
refer to in class please make sure you save it as one of these formats or you will be unable to open it. No additional time will be given
because you failed to comply with this restriction.
Guest speakers
Respectful behavior is expected when anyone speaks to the class. This includes classmates, the instructor or substitute teacher, and
guest speakers. Do not lay your head down. Do not converse with other students while someone is addressing the class. Give your
attention to the speaker. Raise your hand to ask questions or to make observations.
Academic integrity
While it can be tempting to take someone else’s work and call it your own, this practice should be avoided at all costs. The first
occurrence of academic dishonesty in my class results in a non-negotiable zero on the assignment, and in the case of any assignment
worth 20 points or more, involves a discipline referral and a call to parents. Any subsequent instances of academic dishonesty,
regardless of point value of the assignment, will result in a non-negotiable zero, discipline referral, and call to parents.
Further clarification of academic dishonesty, rules of plagiarism, etc. can be found at:
http://www.library.illinois.edu/learn/research/academicintegrity.html
Giving answers to another student is treated in the same manner as taking answers from another student.
Need for Assistance
If you have any condition, such as a physical or learning disability, for which you need extra assistance, please see me immediately. If
you have already met with Special Services, please provide me with information regarding your special needs as soon as possible so
that appropriate accommodations can be made.