ELOY GOMEZ
PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS
ECON 2302-017
FALL 2008
COURSE INFORMATION
SYNONYM: 22290
LECTURE:
MON/WED/FRI 01:04 PM - 01:52 PM, Room 302
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Office: Room 1029, Pinnacle Campus,
Phone: Office: 512-223-1795 x 26259 cell: 817-235-7206 (for emergencies only)
E-mail: egomez2@austincc.edu or nmcpa@tx.rr.com
Office Hours: 1:55 – 2:25 PM MWF at Room 302, or By Appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Principles
of Microeconomics deals with the interactions between individual households and
business
firms. The
concepts of supply and demand will be studied; students will learn what these
concepts mean,
how they
operate, and how prices are determined. Market structure, market failure and
income distribution
will also
be considered.
Principles of Microeconomics is a 3 credit hour course, and consists of 3 lecture hours per week. Class attendance is mandatory.
REQUIRED TEXTS/MATERIALS:
¿
Required: Principles
of Microeconomics, 4th Ed, Mankiw, Thompson/ South-Western
SCANS COMPETENCIES:
SCANS is the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills. Please go to http://www.austincc.edu/mkt/scans.htm#whatis for complete definitions and explanation of SCANS. This list summarizes the SCANS competencies addressed in this particular course.
1. Student exhibits responsibility: Exerts a high level of effort and perseverance toward goal attainment, works hard to become excellent at doing tasks by setting high standards, paying attention to details, working well and displaying a high level of concentration even when assigned an unpleasant task; and displays high standards of attendance, punctuality, enthusiasm, vitality and optimism in approaching and completing tasks.
2. Student acquires information: Identifies need for data, obtains them from existing sources or creates them, and evaluates their relevance and accuracy. Competently performing the tasks for acquiring data and evaluating information includes posing analytical questions to determine specific information needs, selecting possible information and evaluating its appropriateness, and determining when new information must be created.
3. Student communicates information: Selects and analyzes information and communicates the result to others using oral, written, graphic, pictorial, or multi-media methods. Competently performing the tasks of communicating and interpreting information to others includes determining information to be communicated, identifying the best methods to present information (i.e. overheads, handouts, etc.), and if necessary, converting to desired format and conveying information to others through a variety of means including oral presentation and written communication.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY:
The objectives of this course will be met by incorporating a variety of instructional methods. These include lecture, class exams and quizzes, class problem-solving, written analysis, spreadsheet, and word processing.
COURSE RATIONALE:
This
course is meant to give students insight into the dynamics of a market based
economy and how through its mechanism scarce resources are allocated. The theoretical
and actual role of the government in this market system will also be addressed.
The knowledge gained in the course will make students better informed citizens
and allow them to follow the debates over various economic events and policies
reported in the news media. This course is also a foundation course that will
prepare students to be successful in
upper
division finance, marketing, business administration, economics, government,
and social work courses.
COMMON COURSES LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES:
Students
who complete this course will be able to understand:
-the basic
concepts of scarcity and opportunity cost;
-the
forces of demand and supply and how they interact to determine an equilibrium
price;
-how and
why equilibrium prices might change and their impact on resource allocation;
-the
theory of consumer behavior;
-the
theory of the firm;
-the
theoretical market structures of perfect competition and monopoly.
ACC POLICIES
Academic
Freedom Statement:
Each student is strongly
encouraged to participate in class. In any classroom situation that includes
discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be many differing
viewpoints. These differences enhance the learning experience and create an
atmosphere where students and instructors alike will be encouraged to think and
learn. On sensitive and volatile topics, students may sometimes disagree not
only with each other but also with the instructor. It is expected that faculty
and students will respect the views of others when expressed in classroom
discussions. (See Student Handbook: www.austincc.edu/handbook)
Student Discipline: Classroom behavior should support and enhance learning. Behavior that
disrupts the learning process will be dealt with appropriately, which may
include having the student leave class for the rest of that day. In serious
cases, disruptive behavior may lead to a student being withdrawn from the
class. ACC's policy on student discipline can be found in the Student
Handbook: www.austincc.edu/handbook
Scholastic Dishonesty:
Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be
administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to
cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, unauthorized collaboration with
another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be
the result of their thought, research or self-expression. Academic work is
defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or
on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and
homework. Electronic devices may not be
used for exams unless specifically authorized by the instructor. Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will
depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one
assignment to an F in the course and/or expulsion from this institution.
See Student
Handbook: www.austincc.edu/handbook
Students with Disabilities Statement: Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to make their requests three weeks before the start of the semester. (See Student Handbook: www.austincc.edu/handbook)
Grade Change Policies: Click on this link to view the
policy. See Student Handbook: www.austincc.edu/handbook/policies2.htm
Rule of Three:
Per state law, effective spring
2006 any student taking a class for the third time or more may be charged an additional $60 per credit hour unless exempted. Click
on this link for more information:
http://www.austincc.edu/admiss/ruleofthree
COURSE EVALUATION/GRADING SYSTEM:
Course
Grading:
ITEM POINTS
Exam 1 100
Exam 2 100
Exam 3 100
Exam 4 100
Exam 5 (Final) 100
Total Points 500
Exams: The exams will be a
combination of multiple choice and problems.
DO NOT MISS EXAMS. If you must
miss an exam, please contact me BEFORE the start of the class following the
exam by email, phone or a call to the school’s counseling department. No make-up exams will be given. If you
have a reasonable reason for missing the exam, and you make the effort to
contact me as discussed above, then the missed exam will be an “excused exam”
and the final exam score will also be used as the missed exam. PLEASE NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT A STUDENT CANNOT
MISS MORE THAN ONE EXAM AND PASS THIS COURSE.
Quizzes: There will be 8 in-class unannounced quizzes, and each quiz will be worth 20 points. The lowest 3 quiz grade will be dropped. There will be NO MAKE-UPS on quizzes. Quizzes are the only source of extra credits, and cannot hurt you. The top five quiz grades may be used to offset any of the first four exams where the quiz grade total exceeds the exam grade, but only if the exam was actually taken. The quizzes may not be used to offset the fifth or final exam or an exam that was missed.
Basis
for Grading:
|
Points |
Grade |
|
450-500 |
A |
|
400-449 |
B |
|
350-399 |
C |
|
300-349 |
D |
|
Below 300 |
F |
COURSE POLICIES:
Attendance: Your attendance is expected at all classes. Since the exams are a reflection of the material covered in class and assigned homework, it is to your advantage to attend.
Withdrawal: November 24, 2008 is the last day to withdraw from this class and receive a grade of “W”. If you wish to withdraw, it is your responsibility to do so. DO NOT ASSUME THAT I WILL WITHDRAW YOU. I have no obligation to do so.
Incomplete: Incomplete grades are given only on rare occasions at my discretion. Generally, to receive an Incomplete, a student must have completed all examinations and assignments to date, be passing, and have personal circumstances that prevent course completion that occur after the deadline to withdraw.
Homework: At my discretion, several quizzes will be restructured as homework assignments, and their due dates will be announced in class. The assignments will cover important issues that lend themselves to essay and/or problem solving methodologies.
Class Activities: Class activities will consist of lecture, class discussion, and problem solving.
Tutoring: The availability and scheduling of tutors will be discussed in class.
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
DATE CHAPTER
Aug 25 Course
Introduction
27
Chapter
4
29 Chapter 4
Sep 01 SCHOOL
03
Chapter
5
05 Chapter 5
08 Chapter 6
10 Chapter 6
12 Review for Test 1 –
Chapters 4-6
15 TEST 1 – CHAPTERS 4-6
17 Chapter 7
19 Chapter 7
21 Chapter 8
23 Chapter 8
25 Chapter 8 – Review for
Test 2 – Chapters 7 & 8
29 TEST 2 – CHAPTERS 7 & 8
Oct 01 Chapter
13
03 Chapter 13
06 Chapter 13 & 14
08 Chapter 14
10 Chapter 14 & 15
13 Chapter 15
15 Chapter 15
17 Review for Test 3 – Chapters 13-15
20 TEST 3 – CHAPTERS 13-15
22 Chapter 16
24 Chapter 16
27 Chapter 16 & 17
29 Chapter 17
31 STUDENT
Nov 03 Chapter
17
05 Chapter 18
07 Chapter 18
10 Review for Test 4 – Chapters 16-18
12 TEST 4 – CHAPTERS 16-18
14 Chapter 19
17 Chapter 19
19 Chapter 20
21 Chapter 20
24 Chapter 21
26 THANKSGIVING
28 THANKSGIVING
Dec 01 Chapter
21
03 Chapter 21
05 Review for Final Exam- Chapters 19-21
DECEMBER 8-12 FINAL EXAM WEEK – TEST DATE TO BE
DETERMINED