William Rainey Harper College ECO 211 Microeconomics: An Introduction to Economic Efficiency Syllabus SPRING 2013 ECO 211-008 /~ Home ~/~ Syllabus ~/~ Daily Schedule ~/~ Practice Exercises ~/~ Video Lecture Notes ~/~ Textbook Website ~/~ Blackboard ~/~ X

GET AHEAD !

GENERAL INFORMATION INSTRUCTOR: Mark Healy OFFICE: J-262 OFFICE HOURS PHONE: Office: 847-925-6352 Home: 815-728-1571 Cell: 815-861-7265 E-MAIL: mhealy@harpercollege.edu BLACKBOARD WEBPAGE: http://harper.blackboard.com/ COURSE DESCRIPTION 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, or "efficiency, efficiency, and equity". COURSE STRUCTURE 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. I plan to do the following: Online video lectures and textbook readings will be assigned for each day that we have class. Students will be tested on the material in the video lectures and textbook readings at the beginning of each class. Class time will be used to study the material. Exercises will be distributed and completed each day. Review material will be assigned for students to improve their understanding of the material outside of class The basic structure then will be: BEFORE CLASS: First contact with the material: watch the video lectures and read the textbook DURING CLASS: Class time is used for questions, applications, discussions, collaboration, and assessment AFTER CLASS: Review activities to assure you understand the material As you can see you will need to (1) come to class prepared having already watched the video lectures and read the textbook, (2) attend class regularly, and (3) do out-of-class review activities. If you cannot do all of these activities you will lose points and you will not be successful in this class. MATHEMATICS SKILLS This course requires students to have basic skills in mathematics, including the use of graphs. If your math skills are weak you might consider buiding them before taking this course. If you are required to take MTH 055 and have not yet done so, do not take this course until you have successfully completed it. REQUIRED MATERIALS Brief list: Textbook: Microeconomics, by McConnell, Brue, and Flynn, 19th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2011 Online Videos: Tomlinson Universal LearningPath Videos Instant Access Code, 1st Edition Textbook Study Guide: Study Guide For Microeconomics, McConnell/Brue/Walstad, 19th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2012 Details: [The prices below are not guaranteed by your instructor. They are provided only to give students information on some of the options available. Students should verify the information before purchasing.] REQUIRED:   Microeconomics, by McConnell, Brue, and Flynn, 19th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2011 ISBNs: Paperback: 9780077337735 Ebook: 978-0-07-733773-5   Textbooks can be bought or rented at the Harper College Bookstore (L building) or online at: http://www.harperstore.com buy new for $186 plus sales tax [Students can sell the book back for up to 50% ($93) of what they paid, (total coat = $186 - $93 = $93)] buy used for $140 plus sales tax [Students can sell the book back for up to 50% ($70) of what they paid, (total cost = $140 - $70= $70)] rent for $84 and pay NO sales tax. OR You can purchase the ebook at http://www.coursesmart.com/ Students can also rent the book for about $42 plus $5 shipping from http://www.chegg.com REQUIRED:   Study Guide For Microeconomics, McConnell/Brue/Walstad, 19th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2012 The Study Guide is available in an online version for only $15: To purchase: Go to: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0077337735/information_center_view0/ and click on "First Time Users" (see figure below) Click on "I am a Student" Then, in the right column you can buy the online version of the Study Guide by clicking on: OR The printed version of the Study Guide can be bought at the Harper College Bookstore (or elsewhere) or online at: http://www.harperstore.com ISBN 978-0-077338-00-8 Cost about $56 plus tax REQUIRED:   Tomlinson Universal LearningPath Videos Instant Access Code, 1st Edition PRICE: $24.49 for 365 days of access TO BUY: Go to: www.cengagebrain.com Search for ISBN: 978-0-324-58136-2 you will create an account and purchase access to the videos with a credit card once purchased click on "My Home" to access videos or see below. TO ACCESS THE VIDEOS LATER: Go to: http://login.cengage.com Log in: using the account that you created when you bought access Videos are usually between 5 and 10 minutes long and there usually between 5 and 10 per chapter. Also, most of them have a written transcript available and a multiple choice review quiz. BLACKBOARD All students must log-in to our Blackboard website, study the syllabus, and take the required 5-point, online, "Syllabus Quiz" before 11:59 p.m., Monday, January 21. The syllabus quiz may be taken as many times as necesssary and only the highest score will be counted. Blackboard Instructions: Always use the the Firefox browser when using Blackboard (download for free at: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/) Go to http://harper.blackboard.com Follow the instructions to "log-in", If you need help see the Student Service Desk link below the Login button.. You should see "ECO211 008 - MICROECONOMICS (Spring 2013)" in the "My Courses" box. If you do not please e-mail the instructor: mhealy@harpercollege.edu  Links on Blackboard: BEFORE CLASS DAILY SCHEDULE: This is where you see what you have to do for each day of class. This link has the exact video lectures and reading assignments that are to be completed each day before class. There is also a link (eg. 1a, 1b, 2a, etc.) to the daily web page. Remember: GET AHEAD! VIDEO LECTURE NOTES has your instructor's notes that he took when he watched the videos. It compares the vocabulary used in the videos with the vocabulary used in the textbook and exams. CENGAGE LOGIN is a link to the Tomlinson video lectures that you must purchase online. Assigned video lectures are listed on the Daily schedule with a numbering system that looks like: 1.1-1, 1.1-2, 2.1-1, etc. AFTER CLASS REQUIRED ACTIVITIES: this is where you access the Required Activity quizzes that must be taken after every chapter PRACTICE ACTIVITIES lists the optional review activities that students should be doing to prepare for the exams including Study Guide problems, textbook end-of-chapter questions, and textbook website activities. Answers are provided for all of the practice activities. TEXTBOOK SOLUTIONS has the answers to the textbook end-of-chapter questions practice activities  E-MAIL 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" and a message in the subject line. Please use proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar. TEXTBOOK WEBSITE Click on TEXTBOOK WEBSITE, then select a chapter from the "Choose One" drop-down menu. BLACKBOARD DISCUSSION BOARD Use the Blackboard Discussion Board for any question which might be of use to you AND to other students - like asking a question in class. Do not ask such questions via e-mail. If you use the Discussion Board everyone can "hear" the answer. To ask a question or leave a comment, go to the course Blackboard site and click on the "Discussion Board" link. Then click on "STUDENT QUESTIONS". Since we do not use the Discussion Board a lot, it is strongly suggested that you SUBSCRIBE to the discussion board thread so that you get an e-mail whenever a new message is posted. Just click on the "Discussion Board" link, click on "STUDENT QUESTIONS", then click on the "Subscribe" button.   GRADING 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. Activity Number Total Points Approximate % of total points Syllabus quiz 1 @ 5 points = 5 2 % Class Quizzes and Activity 22 @ 2 points each = 44 18 % Required Review Activities 14 @ 2 points each = 28 10% Unit exams * 3 @ 40 points each = 120 42% Comprehensive Final Exam 1 @ 80 points each = 80 28 % TOTAL: 277 * Each of the three unit exams will also have an extra credit essay question worth about 3 points Letter grades will be awarded as follows: 100-90%=A, 89-80%=B, 79-70%=C, 69-60%=D, below 60%=F 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 before 11:59 p.m., Monday, January 21 and only the highest score will count. Class Quizzes and Activities (4 points each day of class): At the beginning of each class a short quiz will be taken on the assigned video lectures and textbook readings. At the end of class there may be another short assessment. Required Review Activity (2 points 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. Unit Exams (40 points each): There will be three in-class unit exams consisting of 40 multiple choice questions 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 Final Exam (80 points): A final exam consisting of 80 multiple choice questions will be given during final exam week. MAKE-UP POLICY Class Quizzes and Activities: Class quizzes and activities are worth 2 points a day (total 50 points or approximately 18% of the total grade. You must come to class every day and come prepared. You will be allowed to miss up to 3 days without loss of points. In other words, the first three days that you miss you will still receive the two points for the class activities for that day. You will receive no points for the class activities for days missed after the first three. Exams: Students will be allowed to take an exam at a time other than the scheduled class period only 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. BRIEF COURSE OUTLINE IMPORTANT: For exact reading assignments see: Daily Schedule Unit 1: An Introduction To Economics, Efficiency, and the Market System Ch. 1 -- Limits, Alternatives, and Choices and the 5 Es Ch. 2 -- The Market System: The Market and the 5 Es Ch. 3 -- Individual Markets: Demand and Supply and the 5 Es Ch. 5 -- Market Failure and the Role of Government Unit 2: Consumer Decisions and the Costs of Production Ch. 4 -- Elasticity: Deciding How Much Ch. 6 -- Consumer Behavior and Utility Maximization: Consumer Decisions Ch. 7 -- The Costs of Production: Producer Decisions / Costs Unit 3: Product Markets: Decision Making and Efficiency Ch. 8 and 9 -- Pure Competition Ch. 10 and 18 -- Pure Monopoly and Regulation Ch. 11 -- Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly Unit 4: Resource Markets: Decision Making, Efficiency, and Equity Ch. 13 -- The Demand for Resources Ch. 14 -- Wage Determination Ch. 20 -- Income Inequality, Poverty, and discrimination Ch. 22 -- Immigration NOTE: This outline may be changed! Changes will be announced in class. ATTENDANCE POLICY There will be in-class activities worth two points each day (about 50 points total or about 18% of your total score) so class attendance is very important. You will be allowed to miss up to 3 days without loss of points. In other words, the first three days that you miss you will still receive the two points for the class activities for that day. LIBRARY RESERVE A textbook and a study guide have been placed on reserve in the library in case you misplace yours or leave at Grandma's house. They can be checked out from the circulation desk for two days at a time. HOW TO PASS ECONOMICS The following suggestions should help you learn economics: 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. 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 Daily Schedule. View the video lectures and read the assigned readings BEFORE class. You will be tested on the material. 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. For most of the video lectures there is Passive watching of the video lectures is not very helpful either. Most of the Tomlinson videos have an online review quiz, transcripts, and lecture notes. Use them. Also, I have watched each of the assigned video lectures and taken my own notes. They are available on our Blackboard site Come to class each day and come prepared to work. You will get a lot of your studying done during class. don't be late. NO CELL PHONES After class, do review problems until you feel you know the material well. The assignment web page lists the problems from the textbook, study guide, and textbook website that you are responsible for in each unit. If you can't do these problems you will do poorly on the quizzes and exams. The Required Activity review quizzes on Blackboard are "required" and worth 2 points each. See the instructor for assistance. This should be done EARLY in the semester. The Tutoring Center also offers help. Or, or ask questions in class and on the Blackboard Discussion Board Try to APPLY the concepts learned in class to the "real world" including issues in the news and aspects of your personal life.     DAILY SCHEDULE

Accessibility Statement / Access and Disability Services

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 D, D119, 847.925.6266 or TTY (847) 397-7600

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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.

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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.