William Rainey Harper College

ECO 212 - Macroeconomics in a Global Economy

Spring 2017

ECO 212-003
(Monday/Wednesday, 12:30-1:45, J-253)

~/~ Home ~/~ Syllabus ~/~ Schedule ~/~ Lessons ~/~ Video Notes ~/~ Papers ~/~ Mac Web App ~/~ Textbook Website ~/~ Online Lectures ~/~ Blackboard ~/~

Get Ahead !

BASIC INFORMATION
GENERAL INFORMATION

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Almost every day we hear news reports of economic problems and successes from around the world. All over the world, countries are undertaking economic reforms (often called GLOBALIZATION or STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT POLICIES) that their leaders believe will provide their citizens with lower unemployment and higher living standards.

This course will cover the area of economics commonly defined as macroeconomics. The main goal of macroeconomics is to gain a better understanding of the causes of, and remedies for, UNEMPLOYMENT and INFLATION, as well as the factors that affect ECONOMIC GROWTH (unemployment, inflation, and economic growth).

We will study these macroeconomic issues in an international context to try to understand the economic reforms many countries are undertaking.

For more information see: The 5Es of Economics

COURSE STRUCTURE
We will do the following:

  • Online video lectures and textbook readings will be assigned for each day that we have class. Students must complete these BEFORE coming to class. [See: LESSONS]
  • A 10 question PRE-QUIZ worth 2 points based on the reading and video will be assigned for each day of class. Students must complete these on Blackboard "PREQUIZZES" before class.
  • Class time will be used to study the material.
  • Students will be tested on the material in the video lectures and textbook readings.
  • 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: Students have their first contact with the material by watching the video lectures, reading the textbook, and doing a short daily prequiz.
  • DURING CLASS: Class time is used for questions, discussions, applications, collaboration, and assessment.
  • AFTER CLASS: Review activities to assure you understand the material [Yellow Pages, Practice Exercises, and Blackboard Required Activities]

As you can see you will need to:

(1) Come to class prepared. BEFORE EACH DAY OF CLASS you must (a) watch the video lectures, (b) read the textbook, and (c) compete the prequiz.
(2) Attend class regularly, and
(3) Do out-of-class review activities. Begin with the Yellow Pages and Required Activiries (see below) then do as many of the Practice Exercises as you can or as you need to to learn the material.
(4) Do the assigned readings in the textbook and 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.

COURSE MATERIALS
Brief list:

  • Required Textbook: Macroeconomic by Campbell R. McConnell, Brue, and Flynn, 19th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2012 (Be sure to get the 19th edition.)
  • Required Online Videos: Tomlinson Videos on Thinkwell
  • Required Yellow Pages, (Free, distributed in class and available on our Blackboard site)
  • Mac Web App: An app for your cell phone or tablet
  • Recommended Textbook Study Guide: Study Guide For Macroeconomics, McConnell/Brue/Walstad, 19th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2012

REQUIRED:

 

Macroeconomic by Campbell R. McConnell, Brue, and Flynn, 19th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2012
Just the textbook. No textbook access codes. No "Connect". NOTE: be sure to get the 19th edition even though there is a 20th edition available

  • ISBN: 9780077337728

Used textbooks can be bought online for less than $30. Search 9780077337728"

REQUIRED:

 

Tomlinson Videos on ThinkWell

BUYING the Tomlinson Videos on ThinkWell
(Once you log in to the Thinkwell class site click on the "Chapter Checklist" link for a list of the videos by their number.)

  • Go to: http://www.thinkwell.com
  • Click on "Register" in the upper right corner
  • In the "Classroom and Distance Learning" area use the pull-down menu to select your state: "Illinois"
  • Use the pull-down menu to select your school: "Harper College"
  • Use the pull-down menu to select your class:
  • Click on
  • Then click on Checkout to purchase for $49.
  • Follow the instructions to enter the required fields.
  • Next time you go to Thinkwell.com click on the "Sign In" button to enter your username and Password.

USING the Tomlinson Videos on Thinkwell:

  • VIDEO LOGIN is a link to sign into the Tomlinson video lectures that you must purchase online. Assigned video lectures are listed on the LESSONS page 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.
  • Note that each video can be watched FULL SCREEN.
  • Also, for each video you will have access to a "Thinkwell Excercise" of from six to fifteen multiple choice review questions, as well as Video Transcripts. The exercises are quite useful.

Finally, you will want to have the VIDEO NOTES handy when you are watching the videos

REQUIRED:

 

The Yellow Pages are packet of worksheets. We will do many 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 are available to you for free in class or on our Blackboard site. Answers to the Yellow Pages are also available on Blackboard. Make sure you CHECK YOUR ANSWERS.

USEFUL:

 

MAC WEB APP:

The MacWebApp 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:

  • On your cell phone or tablet go to the MacWebApp home page (http://www.harpercollege.edu/mhealy/eco212/macwebapp/macwebapp.htm).
  • Android: Launch Chrome for Android and open the website or web page you want to pin to your home screen. Tap the menu button and tap Add to homescreen. You’ll be able to enter a name for the shortcut and then Chrome will add it to your home screen.
  • iPhone, iPad, & iPod Touch: Launch the Safari browser on Apple’s iOS and navigate to the website or web page you want to add to your home screen. Tap the Share button on the browser’s toolbar — that’s the rectangle with an arrow pointing upward. It’s on the bar at the top of the screen on an iPad, and on the bar at the bottom of the screen on an iPhone or iPod Touch. Tap the Add to Home Screen icon in the Share menu.

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 allow you to to do a quick review after you have studied the material.

The app is organized according our twenty-five 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.

RECOMMENDED:

  

Study Guide For Macroeconomics, McConnell/Brue/Walstad, 19th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2012

 Printed:

  • Can be bought online for less than $20. Go to your favorite book site or search for: ISBN 9780077337964

    or

  • The Study Guide can be bought at the Harper College Bookstore (L building) or online at: http://www.harperstore.com
    • ISBN 9780077337964
    • Cost about $65 new, $40 used, plus tax

     

Online:

  • The Study Guide is also available in an online version for only $15:
  • A USED PRINTED STUDY GUIDE can be bought online for less than $15

BLACKBOARD, WEBSITES, E-MAIL
BLACKBOARD

All students must log-in to our Blackboard website, study the syllabus, and take the required 5-point, online, "Syllabus Quiz".

Blackboard Instructions:

  • Always use the the Firefox browser when using blackboard (http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/)
  • Go to http://harper.blackboard.com
  • Follow the instructions to "log-in",
  • You should see "ECO 212-003 - MACROECONOMICS (Spring 2017)" in the "My Courses" box. If you do not please e-mail the instructor: mhealy@harpercollege.edu 

E-MAIL

When e-mailing your instructor always put "ECO 212" and a message in the subject line. Please use proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Option to Forward Mail from your Harper E-mail Account

If you are not planning on using your Harper email account, you can find instructions on how to forward email 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. All correspondence in this class will be sent to your Harper e-mail account.

TEXTBOOK WEBSITE

Click on TEXTBOOK WEBSITE, then select a chapter from the "Choose One" drop-down menu.

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 and posted on Blackboard. 

Activity

Number and Points

Total Points

Approximate % of Total

1 syllabus quiz

5 points

5 points

1 %

Prequizzes

24 @ 2 points each.

48 points

15 %

Required Activities

16 @ 1 point each

16 points

5 %

Papers

3 @ 10 points each.

30 points

10%

3 comprehensive unit exams

Unit 1: 40 points
Unit 2: 45 points
Unit 3: 50 points

135 points

43 %

Comprehensive Final Exam

80 multiple choice questions, COMPREHENSIVE

80 points

25 %

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TOTAL: 314 POINTS

Letter grades will be awarded as follows:
90%=A, 80%=B, 70%=C, 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. See schedule. 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. Some prequizzes can be taken three times, some can only be taken twice. All prequizzes must be finished by 7:30 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 Activity (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 (3 at 10 points each) Papers can be rewritten for full credit with the following restrictions:

  1. original papers must be turned in by the due date to earn the chance to be rewritten. Papers turned in late cannot be rewritten. Please note that papers are either graded as an "1" or an "10", so the chance to rewrite the paper is important.
  2. No rewrites can be handed in later than the 6th class period from the date the original is handed back. NOTE: the paper3 must be handed in BEFORE the final exam.
  3. You must hand in all earlier drafts with each rewrite.

    For more information see PAPERS.

Exams (NOTE: All exams are compreshensive)

  • 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.

MAKE-UP POLICY

Prequizzes:

Prequizzes are worth 2 points a day (total 48 points or approximately 15% of the total grade). These must be completed before 7:30 a.m. on the day of class. No make-ups are allowed. "Stuff" happens. GET AHEAD! Some prequizzes can be taken only twice and some can be taken three times.

Exams:

If a student must miss taking an exam at the scheduled time taking the retake exam is their only option. They may be allowed to take the RETAKE 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:

  • If the papers are handed in by their due dates then they can be re-written as many times as necessary until the final due date.
  • No rewrites can be handed in later than the final due date which is usually the 6th class period from the date the original is handed back. See paper final re-write due dates on our class schedule.
  • If a paper is handed in late (after the original due date) then no rewrites will be allowed, but the paper can still be handed in before the final rewrite due date. Remember, papers are either graded an "F" (1-3 points) or an "A" (10 points). Hand your papers in on time!

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

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
January
February
March
April
May

Mon.
Wed.

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No Classes

1/18- 1a

1/23 - 1b

1/25 - 1c

1/30- 2a

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Mon.
Wed.

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2/1 - 2b
- Syllabus Quiz

2/6 - 3a

2/8 - 3b

2/13 - 3c

2/15 - 20a
- Paper 1 due

2./20 No Classes

2/22 - 20b

2/27 Exam 1

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Mon.
Wed.

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3/1-12a

3/6 - 12b

3/8-12c

3/13- 9a
- last day for paper 1 rewrites

3/15 - 9b
- Paper 2 due

3/20 Break

3/22 Break

3/27 - 7a

3/39 - 8a

Mon.
Wed.

4/3 - 22Wa

4/5 - Exam 2

4/10 - 14a

4/12 - 15a

4/17 - 16a
- last day for paper 2 rewrite

4/19 - 16b
- Paper 3 due

4/24 - 10a

4/26 - 13a

Mon.
Wed.

5/1 Review

5/3- 13b

5/8 - Exam 3

5/10 Review
- last day for paper 3 rewrite

5/15 - Final Exam -
- 1:45-3:30 J253
-Study Guide

Optional Exam 3 retake:
9:55-11:40 J253

5/17
Optional Exam 3 retake:
9:55-11:40 J253 -
1:45- 3:30 J253

LAST DAY TO DROP THE CLASS: Sunday, 4/23

DUE DATES / EXAM DATES:

Papers:

  • Paper 1 - Supply and Demand - Wed., 2/15
    Last day for rewrites: 3/13
  • Paper 2 - Agg. Demand and Agg. Supply - Wed., 3/15
    Last day for rewrites: 4/17
  • Paper 3 - Monetary Policy - Wed., 4/19
    Last day for rewrites: 5/10

For more information on the papers see:
http://www.harpercollege.edu/mhealy/eco212/macpaper.htm

Prequizzes: Due EVERYDAY (except exam and review days) by 12:00 am.

Exams:

  • Syllabus Quiz, on, or before, Wed., 2/1
  • Exam 1: Mon., 2/27
  • Exam 2: Wed., 4/5
  • Exam 3: Mon., 5/8
  • Final Exam: Mon., 5/15
    1:45-3:30 in room J-253

COURSE OUTLINE: MACROECONOMICS IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

IMPORTANT: For exact reading assignments see: LESSONS. We may not read the whole chapter or a "chapter" may include pages from other chapters, so always check the "LESSONS" page before reading

UNIT 1 - WHAT IS ECONOMICS and GLOBALIZATION

Ch. 1

Introduction to Efficiency and to the Study of Economics

Ch. 2

The Role of Government in the Global Economy

Ch. 3

Efficiency and Markets: Supply and Demand

Ch. 20

Efficiency, Specialization, and Exchange (Trade)

UNIT 2 - INTRODUCTION TO MACROECONOMICS

Ch. 12

A Model of the Macro Economy: AS and AD

Ch. 6

An Introduction to Macroeconomics

Ch. 9

Business Cycles: Unemployment and Inflation

Ch. 7

Measuring Domestic Output

Ch. 8

Economic Growth

Ch. 22 W*

The Economics of Developing Economies
* Chapter 22W is online at:

UNIT 3- -MACROECONOMIC POLICY

Ch. 14

The Money Market

Ch. 15

How Banks Create Money

Ch. 16

Monetary Policy

Ch. 10

The Spending Multiplier

Ch. 13

Fiscal Policy

NOTE: This outline may be changed. All changes will be posted on the Blackboard announcements, announced in class, and sent via e-mail.

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
LIBRARY RESERVE

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.

HOW TO PASS 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. This is an average, which means some courses require more study time and some less. You may find that economics requires MORE.

The following suggestions should help you learn economics:

  1. 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 and the SCHEDULE.
  2. 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.
  3. BEFORE CLASS EACH DAY: (a) watch the video lectures, (b) read the assigned readings, and (c) take the prequiz. See LESSONS for the daily assignments.
  4. 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.
  5. 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 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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) and the YELLOW PAGES. Then, do other exercises that can be found in the PRACTICE EXERCISES section of the Blackboard menu. Also, there are review quizzes (THINKWELL EXERCISES) for most of the online video lectures (VIDEO LOGIN).
  8. GET HELP
    • See the instructor duing office hours.. This should be done EARLY in the semester.
    • Or, ask questions in class and on the Blackboard Discussion Board.
    • The Tutoring Center also offers help.
    • You may also want to make use of SUCCESS SERVICES FOR STUDENTS AT HARPER COLLEGE (see below).

  9. APPLY the concepts learned in class to the "real world" including issues in the news and aspects of your personal life.

LEARN TO STUDY SMARTER: SUCCESS SERVICES FOR STUDENTS AT HARPER COLLEGE

Make the most of your college experience this fall 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 our new location in D-202, call 847.925.6715 or email success@harpercollege.edu to schedule an appointment. See: http://www.harpercollege.edu/academicsupport  

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 I, I-103, 847.925.6266 or TTY (847) 397-7600

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

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.

STUDENT E-MAIL NOTIFICATIONS

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/  

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

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.