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BASIC INFORMATION |
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BASIC INFORMATION |
These web pages will be used by two different class sections:
COURSE DESCRIPTIONOFFICIAL: "Covers economic problems faced by the individual and the firm. Examination of market structures, price and output determination. The microeconomic approach. IAI S3 902" This course will cover the area of economics commonly defined as microeconomics which is concerned with the individual parts of the economy such as individual businesses or industries, individual consumers, and individual products. Our goal is to study whether the economy uses our limited resources to obtain the maximum satisfaction possible for society. We will concentrate on three issues or goals: ALLOCATIVE EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY, and EQUITY. Microeconomic Issues:
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This course requires students to have basic skills in mathematics, including the use of graphs. If your math skills are weak you should consider building them before taking this course. If you are required to take MTH 060 or MTH 082 and have not yet done so, do not take this economics course until you have successfully completed it. There is a 20 question practice math quiz on Blackboard. You should be able to score 15 or better. If your math skills are weak, drop this course now.
In recent years nearly 40% of students who have enrolled in an
ECO 211 course at Harper College (all sections, all instructors) have
not successfully completed the course. This means that 40% either
dropped the course or received a grade of D or F. This is
unacceptable. We need to do something different to improve the
success rate.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The basic structure of this course will be:
Experience has taught me that the 40% who do not pass do not read the assigned readings in the textbook and/or do not watch the assigned videos. If you usually do not do all of the assigned readings and videos in a class then you should seriously consider dropping this class now.
A "Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader" has been employed to assist you in this course. The SI leader will conduct study sessions during the week. Students are strongly encouraged to attend these SI study sessions and seek the assistance of the SI leader. More information will be distributed in class and posted on our Blackboard site.Supplemental Instruction is a series of weekly study sessions for students taking historically difficult courses. SI is provided for all students who want to improve their understanding of course material and improve their grades.
Attendance is voluntary. It is a chance to get together with people in your class to compare notes, discuss important concepts, to develop strategies for studying the subject, and to test yourself before your instructor does, so you will be ready. At each session, you will work with your SI leader, a competent student who has previously taken the course.
If you attend the SI sessions regularly, chances are you will earn a better grade. You will develope a better understanding of course content as well as more effective ways of studying. This will help you in other classes, too.
SI times will be announced in class and posted on our Blackboard site.
COURSE MATERIALS |
REQUIRED:
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Microeconomics, by
McConnell, Brue, and Flynn, 20th edition, McGraw-Hill,
2015
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REQUIRED:
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Tomlinson Videos on ThinkWell BUYING the Tomlinson Videos on ThinkWell
USING the Tomlinson Videos on Thinkwell:
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REQUIRED:
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The Yellow Pages are packet of worksheets We will do most of the graphing exercises in class and some of the Quick Quizzes. You will not get points for doing them, but I think you will find them very useful while you prepare for the quizzes and exams. The Yellow Pages will be distributed, for free, in class. They are also available on our Blackboard site. The ANSWERS to all Yellow Pages can also be found on our Blackboard site. |
VERY USEFUL:
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MIC WEB APP: The MicWebApp has all of the information found on our LESSONS page. How to put an icon to the app on the homescreen of your mobile device:
The app is not designed to replace your textbook, computer, or paper and pencil. To learn the class material you will have to read the textbook, watch the Tomlinson video lectures, and DO PROBLEMS. When doing problems you will need to use pencil and paper. The app is designed to introduce you to the lesson topic and show you what you need to learn. It will also help you do a quick review after you have studied the material. The app is organized according our twenty-six lessons. For each lesson you will usually find a quick introduction, an interesting topic, the reading and video assignments, key term flashcards, a quick review quiz, key graphs, and YouTube review videos. Be sure to put an icon to the app on your mobile devices !!! |
BLACKBOARD, WEBSITES, E-MAIL |
All students in ECO 211-004 and ECO 211-005 will use the same Blackboard site: "ECO211 004 005 - MICROECONOMICS (Spring 2019)"
All students must log-in to our Blackboard website, study the syllabus, and take the required 5-point, online, "Syllabus Quiz". The syllabus quiz may be taken as many times as necessary and only the highest score will be counted.
Blackboard Instructions:
Always
use the Google Chrome browser when using Blackboard (download for
free at: Google
Chrome)Some Links on Blackboard:
BEFORE CLASS
- LESSONS or MICWEBAPP: This is where you see what you have to learn for each lesson. This link has (1) an Introduction, (2) Something Interesting, (3) Assigned Readings and Videos (4) Outcomes, (5) Flashcards, (6) Key Problems, (7) WebQuizzes, (8) Key Formulas, (9) Key Graphs, and (10 Review Videos. Begin your lesson here!
- VIDEO NOTES: Notes I took when I watched the videos. The video lecture notes list the important concepts in the video, compares the vocabulary used in the videos with the vocabulary used in the textbook and exams, and adds some additional material.
- VIDEO LOGIN is a link to the Tomlinson video lectures that you must purchase online. Assigned video lectures are listed on the LESSONS page and MICWEBAPP with a numbering system that looks like: 1.1.1, 1.1-2, 2.1.1, etc. (Once you log in to the Thinkwell class site click on the "Chapter Checklist" link for a list of the videos by their number.)
- KEY TERM FLASHCARDS
- PRE-QUIZ. A ten-question quiz must be taken before class each day. Some pre-quizzes can be retaken as many times as is necessary, others can only be retaken twice.
DURING CLASS
- YELLOW PAGES: Blank Yellow Pages and the ANSWERS are available online
- LECTURE OUTLINES
- CLICKER QUIZZES: the Clicker Quizzes used in class will be available on Blackboard after the chapter is completed
AFTER CLASS
- REQUIRED ACTIVITIES: This is where you access the Required Activity quizzes that must be taken after every chapter.
- YELLOW PAGES: Answers to the Yellow Pages distributed in class.
- WEB QUIZZES can be taken on a computer, tablet, or cell phone. They are easily accessed from the LESSONS webpage or the MICWEBAPP.
Blackboard Discussion Board
Option to Forward Mail from your Harper E-mail Account
You should always use your Harper email account when e-mailing your instructor. All e-mails from harper will be sent to your Harper e-mail account. If you do not check your Harper e-mail account often, you can find instructions on how to forward e-mail from that account to one you check frequently by logging in to the Harper Student Portal and clicking on the "My Harper E-Mail" tab. All correspondence in this class will be sent to your Harper E-mail account.
When E-mailing your instructor always put "ECO 211", your section number, and a message in the subject line. Please use proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Click on TEXTBOOK WEBSITE 20th / 19th, then select a chapter from the "Choose One" drop-down menu.
The final grade for the class will be awarded according to the
following point system. Changes may be made to this grading
policy. All changes will be announced in class, posted on the class
Blackboard page, and an email will be sent to all
students.
GRADING
Activity Number Total Points Approximate % of total
points Syllabus quiz 1 @ 5 points = 5 1 % Prequizzes 25 @ 2 points each = 50 15 % Required Activities 16 @ 1 points each = 16 5 % Papers 4 @ 10 points each = 40 12% Comprehensive Unit exams Unit 1: 40 points = 135 42% Comprehensive Final Exam 1 @ 80 points each = 80 25% TOTAL: 326
Unit 2: 45 points
Unit 3: 50 points
The syllabus quiz, prequizzes, required
activities, papers, and unit exams can be retaken or re-written. See
below for details.
Extra Credit: Each of the three unit exams will also have an extra credit essay question worth 3 points. For more information see the EXTRACREDIT link on Blackboard.
Letter Grades: Letter grades will
be awarded as follows: 100-90%=A, 89-80%=B, 79-70%=C, 69-50%=D, below
50%=F.
Letter grades may be "curved" down a little. Our goal is
for students with similar scores get similar grades. So scores are
ranked from highest score to lowest and I look for gaps. So, if there
are students at 91%, 90%, and 89%, but then the next student is at
85%, I will move the A grade down to 89%.
Exam Retake Scores: Exam Retake scores will NOT be included in your "My Grades" total on Blackboard. If your retake score is higher I will add the extra poInts before I assign grades at the end of the semester.
Syllabus Quiz (5 points): The syllabus quiz will be taken online via our class Blackboard site. It can be taken as many times as you wish. Only the highest score will count.
Prequizzes (2 points each day of class): BEFORE CLASS a short quiz must be taken that will cover the material in the assigned video lectures and textbook readings. See the SCHEDULE for the date of each lesson prequiz. Some prequizzes can be taken three times, some can only be taken twice. All prequizzes must be finished by 9:00 the morning of the lesson. After that they will no longer be available. Once you have completed a prequiz and when it is no longer available you can still access your results by going to MY GRADES on Blackboard and clicking on your score. This could be helpful when studying for exams.
Required Activities (1 point for each chapter): The "Required Activities" are to be taken on Blackboard after we have competed each chapter. They usually consist of about 20 multiple choice questions. They can be taken as many times as you wish and only the highest score will count. Required activities for each unit should be finished BEFORE the unit exam. In order to be allowed to take a unit exam retake (see below), you must have finished all the unit's required activities BEFORE the unit exam.
Papers (Four papers at 10 points each) Papers can be rewritten for full credit with the following restrictions:
Comprehensive Unit Exams (135 points): There will be three in-class unit exams. The unit 1 exam will consist of 40 multiple choice questions and a three point extra credit essay question. The exam for unit 2 will have 45 questions (40 from unit 2 and 5 from unit 1) and a three point extra credit question. The exam for unit 3 will have 50 questions (40 from unit 3 and 10 from units 1 and 2) and a three point extra credit essay question.
The exams are NOT open book, NOT open notes, and you can NOT bring in a sheet of notes or formulas.
Comprehensive Retake Exams The unit exams will have an OPTIONAL RETAKE EXAM for those who want to study harder and improve their grades. In order to be allowed to take the retake, you must have finished all the unit's Required Activities (see link on Blackboard) BEFORE the unit exam. The number of questions will be the same as the unit exams. They will be comprehensive and they will have a three-point extra gredit short answer question.
Comprehensive Final Exam (80 points): A final exam consisting of 80 multiple choice questions will be given during final exam week. The final exam will cover material from all four units.
Prequizzes:
Prequizzes are worth 2 points a day (total 50 points or approximately 15% of the total grade). These must be completed before 9:00 a.m. on the day of class. No make-ups are allowed. See the SCHEDULE for the date of each lesson prequiz. "Stuff" happens. GET AHEAD! Some prequizzes can be taken only twice and some can be taken as many times as necessary.
Exams:
If a student must miss taking an exam at the scheduled time taking the retake exam is their only make-up option. They may be allowed to take the retake (make-up) exam IF:1. the instructor is notified BEFORE the scheduled exam time AND
2. the student has a very good reason to miss the exam at the scheduled time.
Required Activities:
These can be taken as many times as necessary. Only the highest score will count.
Papers:
Class attendance is strongly recommended, but not required. Former students have indicated that the material covered in class is very helpful at the time of the examinations.
DAILY SCHEDULE OF LESSONS, EXAMS, and ASSIGNMENTS |
The numbers (1a, 1b, 2a, etc.) in this calendar refer to daily lessons that can be found on the LESSONS web page or MICWEBAPP. There you will find the reading and video assignments, and much more. Click on the date and lesson number to go directly to the assignments for that lesson.
| | | | 1/31
- 3a 2/12 No Classes 2/21 Review 2/26 Exam 1 3/12
- 7a 3/19-
7c 3/21 Exam 2 3/26 Break 2/28 Break 4/9
-10a 4/23 Exam 3 | | 5/9 Review 5/14 Final Exam
9:30 Class 5/16 Final Exam
8:00 Class
LAST DAY TO DROP THE CLASS: Monday, 4/22
- Syllabus Quiz
- Last day for paper 2 rewrites
- Last day for paper 3 or rewrites
- Last day for paper 4 or rewrites
9:55-11:40
J-253
8:00-9:45
J-253
IMPORTANT: We may not read the whole chapter, or a "chapter"
may include pages from other chapters, so always check the
LESSONS
page or the MICWEBAPP
before reading.
BRIEF COURSE
OUTLINE / OFFICIAL STUDENT OUTCOMES
BRIEF COURSE OUTLINE
NOTE: This outline may be changed. Changes will be announced in class and posted on Blackboard.
Unit 1: Markets are Efficient, Except . . . Intro to Microeconomics
1a - The Class and the Math
1b - The 5Es of Economics
1c - Making Choices: Scarcity and Budget Lines
1d - Making Choices: Production Possibilities and Benefit-Cost Analysis
2a - Market Economies and Trade
3a - Demand
3b - Supply
3c - Market Equilibrium and Efficiency
5a - Gov't Interference in Markets and Market Failure (Negative Externalities)
5b - Market Failure Con't: Positive Externalities and Public Goods
4a - Price Elasticity of Demand and Tax Incidence
UNIT 2: Elasticity, Consumer Choice, and Costs
4b - Other Types of Elasticity
6a - Consumer Decisions: Utility Maximization
7a - Econ. Profit and the Production Function
7b - Production Costs in the Short Run
7c - Production Costs in the Long RunUnit 3: Are Businesses Efficient? Product Markets and Efficiency
8/9a - Pure Competition: Characteristics and Short Run Equilibrium
8/9b - Pure Competition: Long Run Equilibrium and Efficiency
10a - Monopoly: Characteristics and Short Run Equilibrium
10b - Monopoly: Long run Equilibrium, Price Discrimination, and Regulation
11a - Monopolistic Competition: Are Businesses Efficient?
11b - Oligopoly: Are Businesses Efficient?
12a - Demand For Resources
Unit 4: Labor and Efficiency: Resource Markets, Inequality, and Immigration
13a - Wage Determination: Labor Markets
20a - Income Inequality and Discrimination
22a - Immigration
OFFICIAL STUDENT OUTCOMES
The student should:
- demonstrate a good understanding of the methods and principles of microeconomic theory including opportunity costs, gains from exchange, and apply benefit-cost analysis (marginal analysis) to economic issues.
- demonstrate the ability to use graphical models.
- show mastery of the theories of demand, supply, consumption, production and cost, and market structures.
- explain how markets work and how market prices are determined in different market structures.
- assess the impact of imperfect information, externalities, and public goods on efficiency and welfare, and evaluate possible public policy remedies.
- apply quantitative reasoning to understand and solve problems.
LIBRARY RESERVE
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
A few textbooks and study guides have been placed on reserve in the library in case you leave yours at Grandma's house. Some can be checked out from the circulation desk for two days at a time and one is for in-library use only.
The following suggestions should help you learn economics:
- GET AHEAD!. There will be assignments for each day of class. You should try to be at least one to two days (one week) ahead. See the LESSONS or MICWEBAPP and the SCHEDULE.
- STUDY This is a difficult course! There is an old rule of thumb concerning studying for college courses: on average students should study TWO hours for every ONE hour of class. Since this is a 3 credit-hour course you should plan to study microeconomics 6 hours per week. This is an average, which means some courses require more study time and some less. You may find that economics requires more.
- BEFORE CLASS EACH DAY: (a) begin with the LESSONS webpage or the MICWEBAPP to read the "Introduction" and "Something Interesting", (b) watch the video lectures, (c) read the assigned readings, and (d) take the prequiz, and (e) learn the vocabulary by using the Quizlet Key Term Flashcards.
- READ THE BOOK! Passive reading of the textbook is not very helpful. Read with a pen in your hand and a notebook on which to list, repeat, copy, calculate, etc. ALSO, pay close attention to the TABLES and GRAPHS. THEY ARE IMPORTANT. Many students do not read the textbook and many students fail the class or withdraw. I believe the two are related.
- WATCH THE VIDEOS! Passive watching of the video lectures is not very helpful either. Most of the Tomlinson videos have an online review quiz (Thinkwell Exercise), transcripts, and lecture notes. Use them. Also, I have watched each of the assigned video lectures and taken my own notes. These VIDEO NOTES are available on our Blackboard site. Once you log in to the Thinkwell class site click on the "Chapter Checklist" link for a list of the videos by their number. Many students do not watch the videos and many students fail the class or withdraw. I believe the two are related. Students have told me that the videos are VERY HELPFUL. If you want a good grade then watch the videos.
- ATTEND CLASS Come to class each day and come prepared to work. You will get a lot of your studying done during class. Please don't be late. NO CELL PHONES can be used in class.
- DO PROBLEMS. If you don't do the problems you will do poorly on the quizzes and exams. Many are available on our Blackboard site.
- Begin with the REQUIRED ACTIVITIES (since you earn points for doing them) .
- Do the YELLOW PAGES. These are important. They will help you do better on the exams. The answers are available on Blackboard. If you do not understand a problem you can get help on our Discussion Board.
- Watch the KEY PROBLEM videos found on our LESSONS page or MICWEBAPP
- Do the WEB QUIZZES for each lesson found on our LESSONS page or MICWEBAPP
- Then, DO PROBLEMS. For problems see the following on Blackboard:
- PRE-QUIZZES
- CLICKER QUIZZES
- REVIEW QUIZZES
- GET HELP
- See the instructor during office hours. This should be done EARLY in the semester.
- Ask questions in class and on the Blackboard Discussion Board.
- Attend the SI sessions.
- The Tutoring Center also offers help.
- You may also want to make use of SUCCESS SERVICES FOR STUDENTS AT HARPER COLLEGE (see below).
- GET AHEAD - Or at least keep up. It is easy to get behind. To get a good grade you will have to devote a significant amount of out of class time to studying economics. If you get behind there simply will not be enough time. GET AHEAD!
- APPLY the concepts learned in class to the "real world" including issues in the news and aspects of your personal life.
Make the most of your college experience this semester by visiting Success Services for Students. Be aware of your academic needs and work to effectively change behaviors to improve academic success. Schedule an appointment for one of the following free sessions: Study Skills, Test Taking Tips, Time Management, Memory, Motivation, Test Anxiety, Reading Strategies, Math Strategies, Note Taking Skills, Concentration, Study Behavior Inventory, Learning Styles, Test Performance Analysis, Accounting Tips, Economics Tips, Preparing for Finals, and Online Study Tips.Stop by F-110, call 847.925.6715 or email success@harpercollege.edu to schedule an appointment.
https://www.harpercollege.edu/academics/academic_support/index.php
Your success in this class is important to me. If you have a disability (learning, physical, psychological or other) and may require some accommodation or modification in procedures, class activity, instruction, requirements, etc. please contact me early in the semester so we can refer you to ADS who will discuss and arrange for reasonable accommodations. The Access and Disability Services department is in the Building I, I-103, 847.925.6266 or TTY (847) 397-7600
William Rainey Harper College provides equal opportunity in education and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability.
All notifications related to student registration or other business activities are sent to students via a G-mail account that is assigned to students upon registration. Students access the G-mail account via an icon in the student portal (where you registered for classes). Please check this e-mail frequently. To forward e-mails from this account to a personal e-mail account please follow the instructions for forwarding Harper e-mail available at http://harper.blackboard.com/
Harper College is strongly committed to the promotion of high ethical standards. Such standards can best be accomplished in an environment where honesty and integrity are practiced. For this reason the College strongly condemns academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism or other improper appropriation of another's work as one's own and falsifying records to advance one's academic standing.
Cheating includes but is not limited to copying answers, stealing and/or disseminating tests or answer keys, using someone else's data in preparation of reports or assignments, and assisting others in such practices.
Plagiarism involves the presentation of another person's words, ideas, or work as one's own. It includes but is not limited to copying any material (written or non-written) without proper acknowledgment of its source, and paraphrasing another's work or ideas without proper acknowledgment.
Falsifying records includes but is not limited to falsifying or improperly altering college records and documents, or knowingly supplying false or misleading information to others (e.g., the College, other educational institutions, or prospective employers).
Any form of academic dishonesty as defined by the faculty member or department is a serious offense requiring disciplinary measures. Discipline for academic dishonesty involving a specific course shall be first determined by the instructor of the course and may include failure of the specific assignment, project or test, or failure of the course. The student may appeal the instructor's decision in accordance with the College's Student Academic Complaint Procedures. In cases of academic dishonesty the faculty assigned grade supersedes a student-initiated withdrawal. In cases where disciplinary measures beyond course failure may be deemed appropriate by the instructor, or dishonesty that is not related to a specific course, the student may be disciplined in accordance with the Student Conduct Policy with the appropriate vice president involved in the decision.
