Course Syllabus

Lansing Community College
Social Science Department
Course Code: ECON 202
Semester: Fall 2009 Unit/Section Code: 40135
Title: Principles 0f Economics-MACRO

Course Info

Title
Principles of Economics-MACRO
Unit/Section Code
ECON 202:   section 40135
Class meetings
Thursdays, 4:10-6:00pm, Room GB184   and  ONLINE -- 

Instructor & Contact Info

Instructor
Jim Luke
Office
Room 361E in A&S Building
Office Hours
T & Th 11am-12pm; 2-4pm; others by appointment;  check my schedule here for availability.  Always best to call/email/text ahead for an appt.
Email
lukej@lcc.edu
(it is best to use regular Internet email or your student GoogleMail. I prefer that you not use the Angel internal "email" feature. It is difficult for me to answer as efficiently. If you send me mail from the internal Angel "mail" page, my response to you will show up in your LCC student GoogleMail box.)
Telephone
cell, voice mail, and texting: 313-550-8884  (best number to call)
office voice mail: 517-483-5384
note: when leaving voice messages, please speak slowly & clearly. State your name, which class you attend and whether you need me to call you

I. COURSE CODE: ECON 202

Credit: 4

Lecture: 64

II. PREREQUISITES

ECON 201:1.0 minimum grade or concurrent registration

Reading Level 5 and Math Level 4

III. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course addresses the theory of national income, employment and the price level, and government fiscal and monetary policies designed to influence aggregate economic activity. It also addresses exchange rates, international financial relationships, and economic growth

IV. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Textbook (required):

Taylor, Timothy;  Principles of Economics,  published by Freeloadpress,  2008, ISBN: 1-930789-05-X

Where to get the textbook: Traditional economics textbooks generally cost $150-$190, which the Econ faculty at LCC considers too much.  Instead we use a textbook that is available for free online or in a printed version for only $29.  The book is available online only at www.textbookmedia.com .  You may choose either the online or printed versions, or both.  HOWEVER I STRONGLY RECOMMEND GETTING A PRINTED OR PRINTABLE VERSION.  Students with printed versions seem to do better in the course and student feedback suggests it is the better option.  The free online version has a full page ad every 5 or 6 pages, but the ads are easy to skip past.  You can purchase a paperback copy of the text printed in black and white without ads for $29.90 plus $5.00 shipping through the textbook's website, but that is not required.  I have developed a detailed tutorial explaining how to register online and access the textbook which you can view at jimluke.com/taylor/DownloadTaylor.html.    

Other Materials/Resources

V. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course the successful student will be able to:

  1. Calculate, explain, and evaluate measures of aggregate output, aggregate income, the price level, unemployment and the balance of payments.
  2. Describe the types of unemployment.
  3. Describe the components of aggregate demand, their relative size in the U.S. economy, and their historical volatility.
  4. Describe and explain the aggregate flows of an economy between households, firms, government, and rest-of-world sectors through product, resource, and financial markets.
  5. Describe and evaluate macroeconomic policy goals and trade-offs.
  6. Describe the federal budget process, surplus or deficit, and public debt, and their impact on the economy.
  7. Explain verbally and graphically and apply the aggregate demand and aggregate supply model.
  8. Explain and analyze the classical theory of macroeconomic equilibrium and the resulting implications for the role of government.
  9. Explain and analyze the Keynesian theory of macroeconomic equilibrium and expenditure multiplier effects and the resulting implications for the role of government.
  10. List and explain the tools of fiscal policy and describe and show graphically how those tools can be used to achieve macroeconomic goals.
  11. Define money, describe the banking system, and explain the process by which the banking system creates money.
  12. Describe and define the functions and policy tools of the Federal Reserve System and explain how actions of the Federal Reserve System affect money supply and interest rates.
  13. Describe and show graphically how actions by the Federal Reserve can be used to achieve macroeconomic goals.
  14. Explain and analyze the Monetarist view of policy, macroeconomic equilibrium and the resulting implications for the role of government.
  15. Explain and contrast the views of the effectiveness and desirability of using activist and discretionary policy to achieve macroeconomic goals.
  16. Describe the process by which exchange rates are determined and the macroeconomic impact of changes in exchange rates.

VI. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

This is a hybrid section, meaning it includes substantial (50%) online work combined with traditional face-to-face instructional methods. The online portion utilizes substantial self-study, online work, online quizzes, and online discussion.  Online participation is mandatory. More detailed information on activities, scheduling, and methods is provided in Unit 1 of the course online.

VII. METHODS OF EVALUATING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT/ PROGRESS

Calculation of Final Grade

Required Assessments

Quizzes -  140 points
Quizzes are multiple-choice and true-false question tests with only one best answer for each question. Some graphs and calculations may be involved. After completing each unit, students will complete a short quiz of approximately 10 questions.  Quizzes are administered online through Angel. Students will be shown their score (# correct) immediately. Students will not be provided correct answers after completing the quiz or later in the course. This is necessary since students will be taking the quizzes at different times and will also have the opportunity to re-take quizzes. Quizzes do not have time limits. Any quiz may be re-taken, but each quiz may only be taken a maximum of two times. The highest of the two quiz submissions will be counted.
Worksheets - 90 points
There will be 9 worksheet assignments worth 10 points each. These worksheets are assigned in various different Units.  Most, but not all, units will have a worksheet assignment.  A worksheet consists of either a table of data and/or graph about an economic situation or problem, or a description of an economic problem. Some initial data is provided and students are expected to calculate the remaining data. After completing the blank parts of the worksheet, you will answer a short series of questions online. The data you calculate will be needed to answer the questions. Worksheet answers may submitted as many times as the student chooses.  In addition, students are encouraged to collaborate and discuss the worksheet problems on the discussion forums. Students who "go the extra mile" in helping other students in the online forums may receive bonus points
Midterm Tests - 70 points
A midterm in-class test of 40 questions is taken in class, most likely on October 15 . A second mid-term test of 30 questions will be online during week 14.  These tests are closed-book, timed, and may be attempted only once.  Some graphs and calculations may be involved - you may want to have a simple calculator and/or scratch paper available when you take the test.
Final Examination - 100 points
The final exam will be comprehensive and will have two parts. The departmental part will consist of 25 multiple choice questions and the instructor part will be 25 questions.  Each question will count for 2 points each.

Grading Scale for Overall Course Grade

Total Points % Course Grade
364-400 91% 4.0
344-363 86% 3.5
324-343 81% 3.0
304-323 76% 2.5
284-303 71% 2.0
264-283 66% 1.5
244-263 61% 1.0
< 243 <61% 0.0

Extra Credit

No extra credit is available in this course..

VIII. COURSE PRACTICES

College-wide policies are stated in the Lansing Community College Catalog and include those on attendance, withdrawals and incomplete grades. The catalog is available on the internet at http://www.lcc.edu/catalog/.  Additional Course Practices in this class are found on the Angel website for this course.

Late Enrollment

In keeping with the department and program policy on late enrollment, students may not enroll in this course after September 4, 2008.

Scheduling and Due Dates

We will be covering approximately one unit each week.  Since this is a hybrid course, it is essential that students come prepared for class by having read the material for that Unit.  Quizzes for units may be taken as the student feels prepared for them. STUDENTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO KEEP PACE WITH THE LECTURES.

All online materials, quizzes, tests, forums, and worksheets must be completed before the final exam on Dec. 10.
The Final Exam must be taken in class Dec 10. 

Drop for Non-Attendance

Attendance will be recorded in-class but doesn't count toward the final grade. Students may determine their own schedules for working online. Students may be DROPPED for NON-ATTENDANCE, IF EITHER of the following occurs:

  1. they fail to attend class for 3 consecutive weeks without notifying the instructor.
  2. they do not access the course online and do not complete a quiz for three whole weeks without informing the instructor of their plan

The instructor will review the participation and submissions of students several times throughout the semester.  Students who do not make regular submissions and do not notify the instructor of their plans will be dropped.  

Withdrawal

Students are advised to familiarize themselves with the LCC Withdrawal Policy. It is available on the Internet at http://www.lcc.edu/policy/policies_9.aspx#W_GRADE.  Under this policy, students may withdraw themselves from the course until the end of the eighth week. Between the 8th week and the end of the 14th week, students must be passing and have the permission of the instructor to withdraw. Such requests should be addressed to the instructor by email. There can be NO WITHDRAWALS after the 14th week.  All students remaining enrolled in the class after the 14th week must receive a final course grade. Students who have extended absences from class without discussing it with the instructor, or who miss two or more tests without notice, or who engage in uncivil activity are subject to Administrative Withdrawal by the Instructor before the 14th week.The instructor can and will drop students for non-attendance prior to Nov 23 if he sees prolonged periods of inactivity (see Drop for Non-Attendance policy above).

Discussion & Collaboration

Students are encouraged to assist each other in learning and mastering the material, particularly when dealing with the problem worksheets. A discussion forum will be provided for this use. Collaboration, however, is only for students to help each other understand the material. Trading, sharing, or publishing of specific answers to specific quiz or exam questions is prohibited and will be considered a violation of academic integrity.

Access

Lansing Community College has accommodations available for students with documented disabilities.  If you need accommodations, contact the Office of Disability Services at 483-1207 in room 2300 GVT to coordinate reasonable accommodations for documented disabilities.

IX. OUTLINE OF COURSE CONTENT

The course is divided into 14 Units.  Unit 1 and Unit 14 are an introduction to the course and a summary/conclusion of the course.  The organization of the course does not directly follow that of the textbook chapters. Required readings for each Unit are described in each Unit's Reading Guide.  For more information and details see the Lessons tab of the course website on Angel.

X. TRANSFER POTENTIAL

For transferability information, please consult the Transfer Equivalency List located on the Internet at http://www.lcc.edu/transfer. For additional transferability information contact the LCC Counseling Services Department, (517) 483-1255. The MACRAO Transfer Agreement simplifies the transfer of students from one Michigan institution to another and appears in the catalog.

XI. STUDENT ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

College Policy

The very nature of higher education requires that students adhere to accepted standards of academic integrity. Therefore, Lansing Community College has adopted a code academic conduct adn a statement of student academic integrity. These may be found in the Lansing Community College Catalog. The violations of academic integirty listed and defined are cheeating and plagiarism. It is the student's responsibility to be aware fo behaviors that constitute academic dishonesty.

Classroom behavior that interferes with the instructional process is not tolerated. The consequences are addressed under Administrative Withdrawal.

Additional Instructor's Policy

I wish to encourage discussion between students and sharing of ideas and information.  One of the best methods for learning and truly grasping economic concepts is to explain them to others.  Students are welcome to assist each other in learning.  However, the direct exchange of answers to questions without discussion, argument, or reasoned explanation is viewed as academic dishonesty.  I reserve the right to reject the score of any assessment that I suspect may have been obtained dishonestly and not through student learning, even without proof of any dishonest actions by the student.  In such cases, an alternative assessment will be made available except if it is the Final Exam.