Syllabus for Macroeconomics for Advanced Placement Fall ...



Syllabus for Macroeconomics for Advanced Placement Fall/Spring 2012-2013

John Focht

A-26 Conference Period: 8th

Email: jfocht@

School Phone: 236-2000

Required Text: Economics, McConnel and Brue 15th Edition

Macroeconomics is the study of large segments of the capitalist or market economy. This overview course may be subdivided into several broad categories forming the basic structure of the course.

These are:

1. Basic Economic Concepts

2. Measurements of Economic Performance

3. National Income and Government Policy

4. Economic Growth

5. International Trade

The course is structured to build on basic economic concepts. This means that full attention to what is going on early in the course is as important as what is going on later in the course.

Purpose:

The purpose of the course is to prepare students to take the AP Economics examination in May of 2012. For this reason, assessments necessarily reflect the AP exam. Reading quizzes will be given; multiple exams in the style of the AP exam will be given; and free response questions that emulate those on the exam will also be given. All will give the students the opportunity to work towards success on the AP exam. Of course, the course may be taken without an eye towards taking the AP exam; however, the same regimen and standards apply to all students.

Grades and Assessment:

Exams: multiple choice exams in the AP Exam style 45% of nine wks grade

Reading Quizzes: multiple choice quizzes in the AP exam style 20% of nine wks grade

Free Responses: Graphing and essay questions 25% of nine wks grade

9 Weeks Exam: Multiple choice or free response exam 10% of 1st 9 wks grade

Final: if not exempt as per school policy 10% of semester grade

When I teach the AP economics course I am aware that it is one of several difficult courses many of you are taking so the following will be in effect for this course:

1. All exams will be graded on a square root curve. This is essentially how AP scores these exams. It works like this. If you score a 50 on an Eco exam I will take the 50 find the square root of it and multiply by 10. This would result in a grade of 71. Therefore, if you get half the Answers correct on any given exam you will pass it. If you receive a 70 your score would be 8.36 X 10 or 84, an 80 would be 8.9 X10 or 89.

2. Free response questions will be assessed with an eye to proper use of graphing, labeling, and resulting economic outcomes.

3. Quizzes will be graded in the same manner as exams.

4. Chapter Key questions can be done for extra points on exams or quizzes or you may opt to do test corrections.

Behavior Issues and non-academic responsibilities:

RULES FOR CLASS BEHAVIOR:

1. Understand that this is MY classroom and these are MY rules. Some rules are flexible, some are not.

2. Be in the classroom when the tardy bell rings. Be in your desk and ready for learning.

3. All electronics should be off and not in use in this classroom. Use of any electronic device during any exam, quiz, or free response will invalidate that work and result in zero grade.

4. Always have your necessary materials with you.

5. Respect the property of others and of the school.

6. Raise your hand to speak; listen when others are speaking. Don’t interrupt even if you are right and they are wrong!

7. Turn all work in on time and with your name on it.

8. Return all forms sent home.

9. Work independently and do not plagiarize.

Consequences for rule violations: Please refer to student handbook for consequences for violating classroom procedure

Tardiness:

Chronic tardiness implies a lack of character and a lack of concern for others. It interrupts the class and takes away from other students’ time. If you are going to have a problem being on time you need to speak with me as soon as possible so that we can find you a teacher who is okay with this as it won’t be me.

Attendance:

Because the fall semester in particular is so short, I encourage students to attend class as often as health permits. I do understand that students will have other reasons to miss class that are valid. Please be sure that YOU undertake the necessary steps to make up work that is missed when you are not here. I expect all missed exams, quizzes, and free responses to be made up within ONE week of the original date it was given.

Academic Tutoring and help:

The instructor will be available for help at most times. This needs to be scheduled in order for it to not become irksome. See me for details.

In the spring, my hope is to have some after school tutoring as well as one or two Saturday practice AP exams. This will be most important for students taking this course in the fall. I will let you know what will be done in this regard as soon as possible.

About the course:

You will need to read the textbook to get the basic understanding of what I will be lecturing you on and discussing with you each day. I understand that text book reading is not the most interesting or exciting form of information gathering. I do wish that we were equipped to do this in some other way. Failing that, we have to rely on the old fashioned way of getting things done. Graphing is an integral part of the free response section of the AP exam so expect to be learning and memorizing some graphs and labeling as well. You will be better off if you are able to keep up with the reading as much as possible. You should take notes on lectures and reading or at least on one of them.

I believe that this course will give you a much fuller understanding of economics than you would receive in the regular economic course. I hope that you will find much here that you can use in other areas of your education and daily life. My own belief is that almost all human endeavor is actuated by economic motivations regardless of what we think is motivating it. Others do not believe this. They are incorrect. Welcome to the class!

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