SYLLABUS

 

 

 

 

1.                  INSTRUCTOR:  Anthony T. Lee

 

2.                  OFFICE HOURS T-H 1:30 -2:30, The Portable, or as arranged.

 

3.                  TELEPHONE:  TBA  EMAIL:  atlee@austincc.edu

 

4.                  TEXT:  Economics Today, The Macro View, by Roger LeRoy Miller, 15th ed.

 

5.                  COURSE:  Principles of Macroeconomics Econ 2302 07003 LEC 017 RGC6 A251  T-H 10:35 – 11:50 p. m.

 

6.                  BLACKBOARD NOTE: I will put as much material up on blackboard as I can. Certainly the grade book, syllabus, and other materials will be there. This will include class handouts. I may also include links to articles that will be of value.

 

7.                  COURSE DESCRIPTION:  Principles of Macroeconomics deals with consumers as a whole, producers as a whole, the effects of government spending and taxation policies and the effects of the monetary policy carried out by the Federal Reserve Bank.  Macroeconomics is concerned with unemployment, inflation, and the business cycle.

 

8.                  COURSE RATIONALE:  This course is meant to give students insight into the dynamics of our national economy.  The knowledge gained in the course will make students better informed citizens and allow them to follow the debates over national economic policy 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 course.

 

9.                  INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY:  This is a lecture course that relies on both blackboard chapter quizzes in short answer or multiple choice format, and classroom written essays over the entire course content.

 

10.              COURSE OBJECTIVES/ STUDENT OUTCOMES. Students who complete this course will be able to understand: the meaning of unemployment and inflation data and how that data is collected and computed; the meaning and components of the National Income Accounts, especially GDP;  the meaning of  the business cycle and its phases;  how to manipulate the basic Aggregate Supply, Aggregate Demand model of the macro economy; how fiscal policy operates, its tools, and its advantages and drawbacks; how a fractional reserve banking system works; how monetary policy operates, its tools, and its advantages and drawbacks.

 

11.              POLICIES

 

1.                  ATTENDANCE:  I have the OPTION to withdraw for missing 5 classes

:  withdrawals for lack of progress are the STUDENT’S responsibility

 

2.                  REINSTATEMENT:  case-by-case basis

 

3.                  INCOMPLETES: virtually never given

 

4.                  RETESTING: none, but you get an optional final

 

6.         BEHAVIORAL CODE: Certain behaviors interfere with the teaching process and students will be penalized 5 points per offense if they engage in them. These penalties may recur within a single class session. They include:

 

1.         Eating Meals in class: if you have peanuts or crackers, unwrap them before class and chew quietly. Liquids are basically ok.

 

2.         Uncovered Yawning and Worse: if you must yawn, keep silent and cover your mouth. The same goes for sneezing of course, except that you cover your nose. There are rude behaviors even worse than uncovered yawning and sneezing. Don’t do them at all.

 

3.         Putting Your Head on the Desk: if you are too tired to learn, come to class and do the quiz of the day and then leave and take a nap; if it’s just a habit, get a new one.

 

4.         Studying for Another Class: if you need more study for an upcoming exam, come to class and take the quiz of the day and then leave.

 

5.         Failing to Turn Cell Phone Off: this goes for other noise-making devices as well.

 

6.         Failure to Keep Hands on Desk: this is designed as a further precaution against cell phone use, but is not limited to that particular item.

 

I WILL STATE THE CODE BEFORE CLASS. THE CODE IS IN FORCE EVEN IF I FAIL TO STATE IT.

                       

 

 

 

1.                  ACADEMIC FREEDOM: Students are encouraged to express other viewpoints, ideological or otherwise, that are relevant to the subject under discussion. Should the student disagree with the standard subject matter presented in this course, he or she is nevertheless required to know it. If necessary the student should preface his or her answer with the caution “According to the instructor …”

 

2.                  CONDUCT: inappropriate conduct will be penalized; such conduct includes swearing, eating in class, public demonstrations of affection, studying for another class, severe attitude problems, and anything else that prevents the class from going forward in an orderly manner. CHEATING IS SUBJECT TO DISMISSAL.

 

3.                  SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY:  Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work.  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.

 

4.                  STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:  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 do this at least three weeks before the start of the semester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.              GRADING

 

1.                  There are 430 total points. A = 380 pts.  B = 340 pts.  C = 300 pts.

D = 260 pts.  There is no curve. 

 

2.         ATTENDANCE:  Each student begins with 30 points.  Each absence costs 2 points, regardless of reason. Attendance is given at the END of class

 

3.         QUIZZES: 10 essay quizzes, each worth 10 points, given at the beginning of each Thursday class. The essays are designed to teach you how to discuss an economic point or problem. They are 12 minutes long and cover a single topic, which is announced in advance.  The topic will be posted on Blackboard, and an announcement made.

 

4.         MULTIPLE CHOICE QUIZZES: 10 Chapter Quizzes, each worth 10 points,      given on Tuesdays  at the beginning of class.  They are 12 minutes long. The chapters covered will be posted on Blackboard, and an announcement made.

 

4.         EXAMS: 2 exams, each worth 100 points. The exams will be in

mixed format: essays, short answer, and multiple choice. You will see the actual exam sheet at the review session. I will select the actual questions at random on test day. You will see me do it.

                       

5.                  OPTIONAL FINAL: The optional final covers the entire class material and counts 100 points. It stands in place of your lower EXAM score.