Austin Community College
Department of Economics
ECON 2301
Principles of Macroeconomics
Name: Shirin Murrassa-I-Khuda
Course Name: Principles of Macroeconomics
Course Number: ECON 2301
Section Number: 060, Synonym: 08546
Class Hours: MW 12:00 - 1:50 pm
Class Room: 2228, Building 2000, Austin Community
College, Cypress Creek.
Office Hours: MW 11:25-11:55am, Room 1104, Building 1000, Austin
Community College, Cypress Creek, 1555 Cypress Creek Rd, Cedar Park, Texas,
78613.
Special office
hours: Only by appointment at
Room 1104, Adjunct Faculty Offices, Bldg 1000, Austin Community College, Cypress Creek.
Office Phone: 223-1790 Ext 26443. Please call 223-8132, leave
a message with Rachel and she will contact me if you need to leave me an urgent
message.
Email: smurrass@austincc.edu.
Email is the best way to reach me.
Website: http://www.austincc.edu/smurrass/
Blackboard: Go to http://www.austincc.edu/ and click on
blackboard option on the left of the screen to login to blackboard.
Username is first letter of your first name and your ACCeID after that.
Password and ACC email is listed in the registration documents for this
class. Check http://www.austincc.edu/acceid/faq.php for ACCeID
and Password related questions. If you need additional help with
login to Blackboard call help desk at 223-4357 during regular office
hours. At any point in time, if you have problem in accessing blackboard
contact help desk and get it fixed. If it does not get fixed, please
bring it to my attention in class or email me about the issue.
Course
Description: Principles of
Macroeconomics deals with consumers as a whole, producers as a whole, the
effects of Fiscal Policy (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.
This course will teach
you macroeconomics, problems in an economy and tools to manipulate the economy.
This class will help you to develop and improve your analytical, problem
solving, writing skills and team work.
Textbook: Required: Macroeconomics, by
Roger A. Arnold, 9th Edition (South-Western College Publishing,
2008). ISBN 032478550X, Study Guide (Optional) 0324785534
Back Ground Requirements
for Students: Microeconomics or
Economics knowledge covering the concepts of demand/supply, resources,
scarcity, opportunity cost, production possibilities frontier is a plus for
this class. If you do not have this economic concepts then please read
Chapter 1, Appendix A of Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 on your own. This will
enable you to understand topics covered in the class better. Required MS Word knowledge to type your research paper.
MS Excel to make graphs for your research paper/group
presentation. (Knowledge of copy and paste graph
or table from Excel to Word). Basic Math/Statistics, and graph
skills is a plus for this class. (Simple algebraic equation and how
variables sign changes when they change side. Understanding
the concept of percentage.)
Course Rationale: This course is meant to give students insights
into the dynamics of our national economy. The knowledge gained in the
course will make students better informed citizen 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 courses.
Common Course
Objectives/Student Outcomes as established by the economics department.
Students who complete
this course will be able to understand:
-the meaning of
unemployment and inflation data and how the data is collected and computed;
-the meaning and
components of the Nation Income Accounts, especially GDP;
-the meaning of Business
Cycle and its phases;
-and 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 systems works;
-how monetary policy operates, its tools, and its advantages and
drawbacks.
Instructional
Methodology: The instructional
methodology involves lectures and discussion. I will use Power Point
slides, white board, Blackboard academic software and internet for
instructions. Please read your assigned chapter before each
class. Reading the assigned chapter prior to the class will help greatly
in understanding, grasping well the concepts, issues as well as solving
problems both in and out of the class room for the course. Class
participation is highly encouraged. Feel
free to ask questions in class. If you have questions outside of class
and office hours, please email me with your problem. I will
schedule a time to meet with you at Cypress Creek Adjunct Faculty Offices, Room
1104.
Student
Requirements: Calculator, Textbook,
Pen, Pencil, Eraser for In Class assignments, and Exams. Students are required
to submit homework in a separate handwritten/typed sheet. Homework should
be submitted on the dates assigned in the class schedule. You are
responsible to collect your homework assignments from blackboard. If you
cannot access it please email me at:smurrass@austincc.edu. Don’t miss
submitting homework(s), in class(es), exam(s), as
there is no makeup. You are responsible for turning your In class, Homework, and Exam to me. You will sign in a
“sign in sheet” for each in my class list when you turn in these things to me
in class.
Course
Evaluation/Grading System: There will be 3 Exams, 3 Homeworks, 3 In Class works. There
will be no makeup homework, in class work, or exams. Only
under special circumstances makeup exams can be taken later or earlier than the
specified exam day. Special arrangements have to be made with me depending on
the time of the issue's occurrence. If you are sick and cannot take the
exam on the day of the exam, you would need a “doctor’s note” and “receipt of
the visit” as documentation. I will arrange for a makeup test for you at
a later date that works for you (late exam have to be taken within next two class
days of the previous exam with the exception of the final exam. Final
exams can only be taken earlier. No late finals accepted). However, the
questions on the exam might be different than one taken on the exam day by
other students. If you want to take the exam earlier then contact me and tell
me the reason and document it and I will arrange an earlier exam for you.
For early exams, please let me know at least two weeks before you plan to
take the exam so I can prepare a special exam for you. Every student in
the class who have attended all class lectures will earn 5% extra
credit for all class attendance during the semester. Do not miss out
this extra credit point. I will also offer group presentation option to earn 3%
extra credit points. Please take advantage of this opportunity to push up your
grade level.
Research paper topic---
“Compare current economic crisis of the United
States of America with Great Depression (similarities and dissimilarities in
cause and solution). Please give arguments for/against the solution provided by
the current government and state your solution to the problem”.
Cypress Creek Library:
Check Cypress Creek Library Reserve for articles: either
* search
by instructor- Murrassa-I-Khuda, Shirin
http://alicat.austincc.edu/search/p
* search
by course: Econ 2301
http://alicat.austincc.edu/search/r
Library Location: 1555
Cypress Creek Rd Cedar Park, TX 78613 Phone: 223-2030
Library Hours: http://library.austincc.edu/loc/
4 categories in Reserve:
2 hours checkout/copier
Some of these papers are
from the internet and rests are copies from books.
Grading Points
Distribution Tables
|
Grade on |
Numbers |
Points Each |
Total Possible Points |
Average |
Grade Percentage |
|
Exams |
3 |
100 |
300 |
300/3 = 100 |
75% |
|
Homework |
3 |
25 |
75 |
75/3=25 |
10% |
|
In Class work |
3 |
10 |
30 |
30/3=10 |
10% |
|
Research Paper |
1 |
10 |
10 |
10/1=10 |
5% |
Exams will be mixture of multiple choice, True/False and Fill in the Gaps, Questions with
short answers, graphs, and math problems. Exams will take up one full
class hour. Exam closed book and notes. Exams will be based on
lectures, textbook, and in class works, homeworks, and other handouts given in
the class.
Homework will be assigned from the textbook’s
“Questions and Problems” and “Working with numbers and graphs” section or on
concepts from the textbook. I will provide the homeworks at blackboard.
If you have problems accessing it please email me at: smurrass@austincc.edu.
In class work will be done in groups of two students.
Each group will turn in one in class group work with the group members name
listed at the top. Absent students will miss in class work. There
will be three to six in class work depending on class performance.
Extra Credit Points
Distribution Tables
|
Grade on |
Points |
Points |
Points |
Points |
Points |
Points |
Grade Percentage |
|
Attendance |
5 for full attendance |
4 for one missed class |
3 for two classes missed |
2 for three classes missed |
1 for fourth missed class |
0 for fifth missed class |
5% |
|
Class Participation |
1 |
|
Ask questions, participates in
class discussions |
1% |
|||
|
Overall Behavior |
1 |
|
No misbehavior for the course reported during the semester |
1% |
|||
|
Group Presentation |
5 |
Content (2), Well Researched (2),
Presentation Style(1), Points = 5 |
3% |
||||
Group Presentation will
be done in Groups of 2 Persons. Topic and Groups need to be finalized by
5/5/10.
Grading System
A 90 - 100
B 80 - 89
C 70 - 79
D 60 - 69
F Below 60
Course
outline/Calendar: Tentative Class Schedule
|
Date |
Day |
Lecture |
Chapter Titles |
|
2/15/2010 |
M |
Syllabus, Course
overview and Background evaluation, Chapter 3 |
Demand and Supply |
|
2/17/2010 |
W |
Chapter 6 |
Macroeconomic
Measurements Part II: GDP and Real GDP |
|
2/22/2010 |
M |
Chapter 6, Chapter 5 |
Macroeconomic
Measurements Part II: GDP and Real GDP |
|
2/24/2010 |
W |
Chapter 5, Chapter 7, In class I |
GDP Macroeconomic
Measurements Part I: Prices and Unemployment |
|
3/1/2010 |
M |
Chapter 7, Homework I due, In
class I |
GDP Macroeconomic
Measurements Part I: Prices and Unemployment, Aggregate Demand and Aggregate
Supply |
|
3/3/2010 |
W |
Chapter 7, Homework I Solution
available at Blackboard |
Aggregate Demand and
Aggregate Supply |
|
3/8/2010 |
M |
Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Exam I
related Discussion |
Aggregate Demand and
Aggregate Supply, The Self-regulating Economy |
|
3/10/2010 |
W |
EXAM I |
CHAP 5, 6, 7 |
|
3/15/2010 |
M |
SPRING
BREAK |
|
|
3/17/2010 |
W |
SPRING
BREAK |
|
|
3/22/2010 |
M |
Chapter 8 |
The Self-regulating
Economy |
|
3/24/2010 |
W |
Chapter 8, Chapter 9 |
The Self-regulating
Economy, Economic Instability: A Critique of Self Regulating Economy |
|
3/29/2010 |
M |
Chapter 9, In Class I |
Economic Instability:
A Critique of Self Regulating Economy |
|
3/31/2010 |
W |
Chapter 9, In class I, Homework II
due, Chapter 10, |
Economic Instability:
A Critique of Self Regulating Economy, The Federal Budget and Fiscal Policy |
|
4/5/2010 |
M |
Chapter 10, Homework II available
on Blackboard, |
The Federal Budget and
Fiscal Policy |
|
4/7/2010 |
W |
Chapter 10, Chapter 11-12, Exam II
related discussion |
The Federal Budget and
Fiscal Policy, Money and Banking, The Federal Reserve System |
|
4/12/2010 |
M |
EXAM II |
Chapter 8, 9, 10, Chapter 11-12
parts |
|
4/14/2010 |
W |
Chapter 12-13 |
The Federal Reserve
System, Money and the Economy, |
|
4/19/2010 |
M |
Chapter 13, Chapter 14 |
Money and the Economy,
Monetary Policy |
|
4/21/2010 |
W |
Chapter 14 |
Monetary Policy |
|
4/26/2010 |
M |
Chapter 15 |
Expectation theory and
Economy |
|
4/28/2010 |
W |
Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Homework
III due |
Expectation theory and
Economy, Economic Growth |
|
5/3/2010 |
M |
Research paper Discussion, Chapter
16, Homework III review available at Blackboard |
|
|
5/5/2010 |
W |
Chapter 16, Chapter 19/18, Group presentation sign-up |
Economic Growth, Globalization and
International Impacts on the Economy/International Finance |
|
5/10/2010 |
M |
Research Paper Due, Chapter 19/18,
Exam III related discussion |
Globalization and International
Impacts on the Economy/International Finance |
|
5/12/2010 |
W |
EXAM III, Group Presentation
(Optional) after Exam |
Chapter 13, 14, 15, 16, (19/18)* |
Exam Schedule
EXAM I: MARCH 10
EXAM II:
APRIL 12
EXAM III: MAY 12
Homework Schedule:
Homework I: March 1
Homework II: March 31
Homework III: April 28
Course Policies—
All the policies
applicable to the course, class and grading are college level. You are
enrolled in ACC's Early College Program.
Class Policy
No electronic device
allowed in class. No texting, ipod or playing video games or any other kind of
games or watching movies or internet browsing during normal class hour.
Please turn your cell phones on vibration mode and if you need to take
the call, please go outside and take the call. If you are late, try not
to disturb the class when you enter. You will need a calculator to solve
class problems; I do not allow cell phone calculators in the exams.
Teaching Assistance
If you are having
problems with the class, please see me with your concern before it gets too
late in the semester. You can see me during my regular office hours or
email me. I will meet with you in the Adjunct Faculty Offices of ACC located at
Cypress Creek, Building 1000, Room1104. However,
if you are having problems with other things beyond my control, you need to
withdraw from the course rather than get an undesired grade at the end of the
semester. I highly recommend that you stay focused on the course and seek help
to get you through the semester rather than getting a “D”, “F” or have to
withdraw in the semester.
Academic Freedom
Everyone is encouraged
to participate in class discussions. Differing viewpoints breathe
enrichment of knowledge and generate new learning experience and may result in
new theories for the future. Please participate in discussions and make
the class lively with your thoughts and ideas.
Attendance
100% class attendance
will earn you 5% of the total grade for the class as extra credit to push up
your grade. If you miss one class you will get 4%, two classes you will
get 3% and three classes you will get 2% and 4 classes you will get 1% and 5
classes you will get 0% as extra credit points. I will do the attendance
at the beginning of the class, if you are late make sure
I register your attendance for that day.
Incomplete
I will not give you an
incomplete grade. So if you are having problems please withdraw before
the withdrawal date yourself. Withdrawl date is April 26, 2010.
If any major incidence
happens after the withdrawal date and you cannot continue with the class,
please document the incidence and show me. To get an incomplete, you have
to fill out an incomplete form and give it to me. Without filling the
form an incomplete grades will not be given.
Please read the
following note about withdrawals.
Withdrawals
Students are responsible for withdrawing themselves from this
course. I will assign you the grade you make in the class including the
extra credits, even if it is a "F"
grade. Withdrawal Policy of Fall 2007 states
that entering freshman is restricted to six non-punitive withdrawals for the
whole of their undergraduate careers (while attending state colleges).
The last day to withdraw from this course is April 26, 2010.
Scholastic Dishonesty
Acts prohibited by
the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic
dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on 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.
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 three weeks before the start of
the semester.
Class Handouts
I will provide you all
with copies of chapter lectures at the beginning of each chapter
lectures. In Class work and Exams will be distributed in class. Homework
problems, Homework Solution and In class work Solution
will be available at Blackboard. I will announce when In
class work solution will be posted one or two days before the exam day on
blackboard. If you cannot access it then email me.
Grades
Your class grades for
homework, In class, Quiz and exams will be available
at blackboard. I will assign you a letter grade for the class at the end of the
semester. Your grades will be posted in blackboard after completion of the
classes. If you need to check your grades earlier, please check with me in
class or send me an email.