Macroeconomics in a Global Economy

Spring 2017

ECO 212-W01

 

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

Welcome to ECO 212 ONLINE! - Macroeconomics

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

MATH SKILLS

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. There is a Math quiz on our Blackboard website in the FOR PRACTICE section. Please take it as soon as possible and if you score poorly, 15 or less correct out of 20, then you should consider withdrawing from ECO 211 and take it later. If you are required to take MTH 060, or MTH 082 and have not yet done so, do not take this economics course.

BLACKBOARD, WEBSITES, E-MAIL

BLACKBOARD WEBPAGE
http://harper.blackboard.com/

Blackboard Instructions:

All students must log-in to our Blackboard website, study the syllabus, and take the required 5-point, online, "Orientation Quiz" . The orientation quiz may be taken as many times as necessary and only the highest score will be counted.

  • 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 your course Blackboard site in the "My Courses" box. If you do not please e-mail the instructor: mhealy@harpercollege.edu 

DISCUSSION BOARD

E-MAIL

I will be sending you emails several times throughout the semester. You must check your Harper G-Mail account periodically. Most students have their Harper e-mail automatically forwarded to their regular e-mail account (see below) so they only have one account to check. Whatever you do, CHECK YOUR HARPER EMAIL!

Some of the emails that I will send can also be found on our Blackboard class site. See the FOR STUDYING section on the menu bar and click on UNIT EMAILS.

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 212", your section number, 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.

ONLINE ORIENTATION

There is NO ON-CAMPUS ORIENTATION. Instead, there is an extensive course syllabus and an orientation quiz which must be competed during the first week of the semester. The orientation quiz is worth 5 points and you can take it as many times as is necessary. Only the highest score will be included in the gradebook. The orientation quiz will cover information found in the course syllabus and on the course Blackboard site. You will find all this information, and the orientation quiz, on the course Blackboard site.

If you have any questions please post them on the Blackboard Discussion Board so that all students can read the question and reply, or email me.

For your online orientation: read this syllabus, review the course Blackboard site, and take the ORIENTATION QUIZ on Blackboard

COURSE STRUCTURE

LESSONS

The entire course is divided into 25 lessons. Some chapters are divided into a few lessons (like chapter 3: lessons 3a, 3b, 3c) and other chapters have only one lesson (like chapter 8: lesson 8a).

On the Blackboard LESSONS link or on the MAC WEB APP you will find the following for each chapter:

PRACTICE EXERCISES

To do well you need to practice doing problems. Many are available to you but where should you begin?

I recommend that you begin with:

Then, do other exercises that can be found on Blackboard in the FOR PRACTICE section:

COURSE MATERIALS

Brief list:

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
  • Textbooks can also be bought or rented at the Harper College Bookstore (L building) or online at: http://www.harperstore.com

     

REQUIRED:

 

Tomlinson Videos on ThinkWell

BUYING the Tomlinson Videos on ThinkWell (one year subscription; same as my Microeconomics -211 class)
(
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 a 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 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.

On your cell phone or tablet go to: http://www.harpercollege.edu/mhealy/eco212/macwebapp/macwebapp.htm, then click on the link at the bottom to put an icon to the app on your device screen. Please put an icon to the app on your device so that you have quick access. Without the icon you will most likely not use the app. The app will also work on any computer.

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 flachcards, a quick review quiz, key formulas, 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

GRADING AND EXAMS

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 posted on the class Blackboard page and an email will be sent to all students.

ACTIVITY

INFORMATION

POINTS

1 orientation quiz

5 points, must be taken online at: http://harper.blackboard.com/

5 points

16 Required Activities

2 points each. The Required Activities are online (Blackboard) chapter review quizzes of about 20 questions - usually multiple choice. They can be retaken as many times as you wish and only the highest score will be included in the final grade.

32 points

5 online quizzes

10 multiple choice questions, 1/2 point each each

25 points

Comprehensive Unit Exams

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

135 points

Comprehensive Final Exam

80 multiple choice questions, COMPREHENSIVE

80 points

|

|

TOTAL: 277 POINTS

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 will be awarded as follows: 90%=A, 80%=B, 70%=C, 60%=D, below 60%=F

ONLINE ORIENTATION

There is NO ON-CAMPUS ORIENTATION. Instead, there is an extensive course syllabus and an orientation quiz which must be competed during the first week of the semester. The orientation quiz is worth 5 points and you can take it as many times as is necessary. Only the highest score will be included in the gradebook. The orientation quiz will cover information found in the course syllabus and on the course Blackboard site. You will find all this information, and the orientation quiz, on the course Blackboard site.

If you have any questions please post them on the Blackboard Discussion Board so that all students can read the question and reply, or email me.

For your online orientation: read this syllabus, review the course Blackboard site, and take the ORIENTATION QUIZ on Blackboard

REQUIRED ACTIVITIES

For each chapter you will need to complete the online "Required Activity" (Note: there are two each for chapter 1 ). These can be found on Blackboard under the "REQUIRED ACTIVITIES" link. The required activities are worth two points each. You can do them as many times as you wish and only the highest score will be recorded. Most Required Activities are twenty multiple choice questions. Every time you open a Required Activity, even if you do not answer a single question, you must click on the SUBMIT button before you close the page.

Click on SUBMIT EVERY TIME, even if you haven't finished all of the questions.

QUIZZES

The five quizzes are online at our Blackboard site and they will be taken at home via the internet. They consist of 10 multiple choice questions each and will be worth 5 points per quiz. They can be attempted ONLY ONCE (i.e. you must finish the 10 questions the first time you access them), but there is no time limit.

STUDY: Before you take a quiz: (1) read the chapter reading assignments and take notes, (2) watch the VIDEOS and study the VIDEO NOTES, (3) do the YELLOW PAGES, (4) check the chapter "Outcomes - What you should learn" on our LESSONS page, (5) do the Required Activities, (6) see the REVIEW QUIZZES link on Blackboard, and (7) do as many of the PRACTICE EXERCISES as needed to learn the material.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS

There will be three unit exams and one final exam. All exams are comprehensive.
  • 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 5 each from units 1 and 2) and a three point extra credit essay question.
  • The comprehensive final exam is 80 multiple choice questions with NO extra credit. It will cover all units, 1 through 4.

The exams are NOT open book, NOT open notes, and you can NOT bring in a sheet of notes or formulas. You can use only a basic, simple calculator.

The three unit exams and the final exam will be taken on the Harper campus in the Assessment Center, Student and Administration Center, room A-148, phone 847-925-6541 [see: Assessment Center hours]. To take the exams you simply go to the testing center with a picture ID and ask for the appropriate exam for ECO 211.

The exams will be taken online, at the Testing Center, through our Blackboard site. Read that again. The exams are taken on-campus at the Testing Center. You will need to log in to our Blackboard site to take the exams on-campus.

Exams should be taken on, or before, the day listed on the "SCHEDULE" link on Blackboard, but they may be taken later without penalty. Try to stay on schedule, or better yet, get ahead.

Exams 1, 2, and 3 consist of multiple choice questions (each worth one point) and an extra credit essay (worth three points). After you SUBMIT your answers to the multiple choice questions the extra credit essay link will appear under the Blackboard "EXAMS" link. The Blackboard link "EXTRA CREDIT" will give you more information on the extra credit questions.

STUDY: Before you take an exam:

  • read the chapter reading assignments on our LESSONS page and take notes,
  • watch the VIDEOS and study the VIDEO NOTES,
  • do the YELLOW PAGES and check your answers,
  • check the chapter "Outcomes/Must Know" on our LESSONS page,
  • do the Required Activities,
  • see the REVIEW QUIZZES link on Blackboard, and
  • do as many problems as needed to learn the material. For problems see the following on Blackboard

WHAT YOU NEED: When going to the Testing Center be prepared to give the staff the following information:

  • Picture ID
  • Course number: ECO 211
  • Instructor name: Mark Healy
  • Test number
  • Whether the test is the first attempt or a retake
  • Be prepared to log on to our Blackboard site
  • A basic, simple calculator (or borrow one from the testing center staff)

GRAPH SHEET: When you take an exam at the Testing Center the staff will help you log into the exam and they will give you a "graph sheet" that contains all of the graphs, tables, and figures that are found on the online exam. You should use the graph sheet like sratch paper. Write on the graphs and the tables and do your calculations on the sheets. When you are finished with the exam you will give your graph sheet back to the Testing Center staff.

Exam Extra Credit Questions

After each of the three unit exams (including the retake exams) will be a three point extra credit short answer question. For descriptions of these three questions see the EXTRA CREDIT link on Blackboard in the FOR POINTS section of the menu.

To access the extra credit short answer question:

  • Finish the multiple choice questions and click on the SUBMIT button,
  • Then click on the "EXAMS" link on the Blackboard menu and there will be a link for "Exam Extra Credit".
  • Click on that link, type your answer in the space provided, and click SUBMIT.
  • After the extra credit is graded you can see your answer and the correct answer by clicking on your SCORE in the Blackboard gradebook: MY GRADES. Be sure to check the correct answer before taking an exam retake. Note: the retake exams (see below) will have a similar, but different, question.

Comprehensive Retake Exams

One optional "retake" exam (same chapters, different questions) is available for each of the three unit exams. There is no retake exam for the final. If you take a retake, only the higher score will be included in your total score. Be sure to tell the Testing Center personnel that you wish to do a RETAKE. Retake exams also have an extra credit essay question.

Please do not take the retake on the same day that you took the exam. If you need to retake an exam then you need to study more first. Retake exams can be taken at any time during the semester, but please try to have them done before final exams week. Also, check your extra credit answer (see above) before taking the retake.

Before you take a retake exam: (1) read the chapter reading assignments and take notes, (2) watch the VIDEOS and study the VIDEO NOTES, (3) do the YELLOW PAGES, (4) check the chapter "Outcomes/Must Know" on our LESSONS page, (5) do the Required Activities, (6) see the REVIEW QUIZZES link on Blackboard, and (7) do as many of the PRACTICE EXERCISES as needed to learn the material.

Exam Make-Up Policy / Exam Schedule

Students should take the exams according to the class "SCHEDULE"", but they can be taken early or late (without penalty). NOTE: Students who get behind often do poorly. Try to stay on schedule, or better yet, get ahead. No exam, quiz, or any other assignment can be taken after the final exam date. 

SCHEDULE

Unit 1 = 6 weeks
Unit 2 = 6 weeks
Unit 3 = 5 weeks

- Orientation Quiz: before Saturday, 2/4

- Unit 1 Exam: on, or before, Saturday, 2/25

Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 20
Required Activities,
Quizzes 1, 2, and 3
Exam 1

- Unit 2 Exam: on, or before, Saturday, 4/8

Chapters 6 and 12, 9, 7, 8, and 22W
Required Activities,
Quiz 4
Exam 2

- Last day to withdraw from the course: Sunday, 4/23

- Unit 3 Exam: on, or before, Saturday, 5/13

Chapters 14, 15, 16, 10, and 13
Required Activities,
Quiz 5
Exam 3

- Final Exam

The Comprehensive Final Exam must by completed on, or before, Friday, 5/19

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 during a regular 16 week semester, students should attend class 3 hours a week and they should study outside of class TWO hours for every ONE hour of class. Therefore for a regular semester 16-week three-credit-hour online class this means that you should plan for NINE hours a week (three hours of "class" PLUS 2 x 3 hours of studying). This is an average, which means some courses require more study time and some less. You may find that economics requires MORE.

For class sections of fewer than 16 weeks you will need to also study more hours each week. The 12-week -W65 section should study about 14 hours per week. The 8-week -W80 section, 18 hours per week.

The following suggestions should help you learn economics:

  1. READ THE BOOK! Read the assigned reading in the textbook and online. Passive reading of the textbook is not very helpful. Take notes. 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. NOTE: we may not read all pages of a chapter or a "Chapter" may incluyde pages from other places in the textbook. Always see the LESSONS link before reading.
  2. WATCH THE VIDEOS! Watch the assigned online videos. This is like attending class for a face-to-face course. "VIDEO NOTES" from your instructor are available on our Blackboard site. Students have said that they are helpful. Also, do the review quizzes (THINKWELL EXERCISES) that are available for most of 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. You will find the numbers of the assigned videos on our LESSONS link.
  3. STUDY - This is a difficult course! There is an old rule of thumb concerning studying for college courses: for 16 week semesters, on average students should study TWO hours for every ONE credit-hour of class. For online classes you need to add the three hours of class lecture time as well. So, for a typical 16 week, 3 credit-hour class, you should study 6 +3 = 9 hours per week. For 12-week and 8-week classes you need to study more. This is an average, which means some courses require more study time and some less. You may find that economics requires even more than this.
  4. 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.
    • Then, DO PROBLEMS. For problems see the following:
  5. GET HELP
    • Ask questions on the Blackboard Discussion Board
    • Call or email the instructor for assistance. This should be done EARLY in the semester.
      • email: mhealy@harpercollege.edu
      • cell: 815-861-7265
    • Free tutoring is available at the Harper College Tutoring Center
    • You may also want to make use of SUCCESS SERVICES FOR STUDENTS AT HARPER COLLEGE (see below).
  6. 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. Many students get an "F" grade in online courses because they get behind. Follow the SCHEDULE or GET AHEAD!
  7. APPLY the concepts learned in class to the "real world" including issues in the news and aspects of your personal life. The discussion questions foun on our LESSONS page is a good place to start.

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.