Mrs. Adams, Room A159

817-237-3314 x8162

AP Macroeconomics

2015-2016 SYLLABUS

Tutoring: available as needed from 8:15am-8:55am daily or 4:30pm-5:10pm by appointment. Please notify me 24 hours in advance if you will be attending so that I can plan for you and make you aware of any schedule changes that may arise due to meetings, etc.

Note to students and parents: After 7th period, I will be out of my classroom and in the BHS dance studio for the remainder of the school day. If you leave a message on my classroom phone after that time, I will not receive it until the next school day. Please e-mail me if you need a faster response.

Class Guidelines:

Be Respectful

Be Responsible

Be Cooperative

Try Your Best

Class Rules:

Come to class prepared

Follow directions immediately

Stay on task

Focus on your own learning

Put away electronics during whole class or group instruction

Consequences:

1st Offense – Verbal Warning

2nd Offense – Student/Teacher Conference

3rd Offense – Parent Contact

4th Offense – Referral to House Principal

Serious offenses such as violence, illegal activity, or behavior that prevents class from taking place will be immediately referred to the office.

Supplies Needed:

Binder with economics section divider (can be a binder used for multiple classes) or an economics folder – keep all handouts and graded work for review & reference

Your internet-capable device of choice – smart phone, tablet, laptop

Notebook paper (enough for the whole semester, not just one pack)

Pens (blue or black ink)

Sharpened #2 pencil

Grading:

This is course is on-level with one you would receive at the sophomore level in college. Your grade is a reflection of your mastery of the course content, not a measure of your compliance with completing paperwork. If you want an A, you will have to work for it.

Here is the breakdown of your grades every six weeks:

Minor Grades (quizzes, free response questions, other classwork) = 30%

Major Grades (tests, projects, presentations, papers) = 70%

Please see the current district Grade Reporting Handbook for policies regarding late work, absent work, re-testing opportunities, and other grading procedures.

Course Requirements & Procedures:

Practice: This course is more business math than social studies. As the AP exam does not permit calculators, we will be practicing solving and analyzing economic problems often. Be prepared to show your work on basic mathematical calculations. We will practice in class and at home.

Group Work: Students will work in groups frequently. Establishing a goodrapport within the group is key to success in the class. If a student feels that the group’s work does not accurately reflect his or her academic abilities, he or she is free to submit an individual assignment along with the group assignment.

Electronic Devices: Students will need an internet-capable device in class from time to time and will be given instructions about when such use is expected.Students are not permitted to use cell phones, music players, gaming devices or other electronic devices in class unless specific permission is given. Electronic devices will be stored away during assessments and students who are found using their electronic devices during testsor writing assignments will have the device confiscated and turned over to their House Principal.

Assignments: Classwork and homework due dates are on the board and in Canvas – you are responsible for turning your work in on time. Not all assignments are for a grade – but all assignments are to build your mastery of the content. Earning a “good grade” requires your best effort on all assignments.

Concept Quizzes: Quizzes will be given periodically to assess the students’ mastery of a concept within a unit of study. Quizzes will be online in Canvas and opened for a 24-hour period – students are to access and take the quiz outside of class time. Students who do not have access to the internet may take their quiz during BOS time within the 24 hour window. No late quizzes will be allowed.

Timely Work: You are responsible for turning in your assignments on time. A percent-off penalty will be given to any late work received. Any assignments not received on the third date after the due date will receive a zero and will not be eligible for makeup at any point in the future.

Make-up Work: If you are absent, you are responsible to obtain and complete missing work and turn it in. Check the folder for missed assignments and check Canvas for quiz dates. For every day you are absent, you have one day to make up and turn in work. Makeup work turned in late is subject to the above Timely Work policy. If you are absent on a quiz or test day, you must arrange a time with me to make up the test.

Opportunities to Improve: Any major tests may be retaken for a maximum score of 70 (if original grade is below 70) or for a maximum of 85 (if the original grade was 70-84). Only one retake is permitted per test.

Grievances: If you disagree with a grade or policy, please come talk to me about it. I may not change the grade, but it will give me a chance to explain the grade in more detail. If you do not talk to me, I cannot correct or explain the situation.

Plagiarism:

This is an advanced course and you are expected to behave yourself. This includes cheating—copying from a classmate, using notes, books, or anything besides your brain on tests & quizzes, and plagiarism. Plagiarism, copying and cheating are never allowed. Plagiarism is when you take words or ideas and claim them as your own. When writing papers, you must cite your sources! Obvious cases of copying, plagiarism or other forms of cheating will receive a grade of zero for the assignment and disciplinary action.

Course Outline:

Unit I.Basic Economic Concepts

  1. Scarcity
  2. Opportunity Cost
  3. Absolute & Comparative Advantage
  4. Functions of Economic Systems

Unit II.Supply, Demand and Price Determination

  1. Demand
  2. Supply
  3. Prices

Unit III. Measurement of Economic Performance

  1. Circular Flow of the Economy (Earning a Living Game)
  2. GDP
  3. Unemployment
  4. Inflation
  5. The Business Cycle

Unit IV.National Income

  1. Aggregate
  2. Demand
  3. Supply
  4. Equilibrium Income & Price Level

Unit V.Financial Sector

  1. Money
  2. Monetary Policy

Unit VI.Inflation, Unemployment and Stabilization Policies

  1. Discretionary Fiscal Policy
  2. Automatic Fiscal Policy
  3. Deficits and Debt
  4. Fiscal and Monetary Policies Effects on Price Levels and National Income
  5. Inflation & Unemployment: Phillips Curve

Unit VII.Long-Run Economic Growth and Productivity

  1. Human Capital
  2. Physical Capital
  3. Research & Development
  4. Government Actions to Promote Long-Run Economic Growth

Unit VIII.Open Economy: International Trade and Finance

  1. International Trade
  2. Trade Balance
  3. Foreign Exchange Market

Dear Parents,

I am excited to be your child’s teacher this year! Please feel free to contact me to inform me of concerns or ask questions. My contact information is on the syllabus that I sent home with your child. It is very important to me that I am aware of any education or health concerns you have concerning your child. Please take the time to note any problems below. I do keep this on file throughout the year to refer to as needed.

Educational Concerns ______

Health Concerns ______

My child has use of the following items to complete assignments. Check all that apply.

Computer _____ Internet _____ Printer_____

USB/Flash Drive ______Microsoft Office (word, power point, excel, etc.) _____

My parents and I have read the syllabus and are aware of my responsibilities. We are aware of the grading policies set forth by the district.We understand that this is an ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSE and it is the expectation of Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD that I complete the course by taking the Advanced Placement exam in May. We understand that I have the opportunity to earn COLLEGE CREDIT and receive AP Scholar designation through this examination process.

Student’s signature ______

Student’s Name/Class Period ______

Parent/Guardian Signature ______

Parent/Guardian Name ______

Parent/Guardian Email address ______

Parent/Guardian Phone Number ( )______