Economics, Fall 2006

Instructor:  Mr. Dennis                 
San Mateo Middle College High School
Classroom: 14-220 MWF, 14-216 TTh
Class Times:  12:10 – 1:00pm
Office: Building 11, Room 60
Office Hours: Daily 9-11:00AM and by appointment
Phone (650) 574-6114
Email: gdennis@smuhsd.org

Overview of Course:
Economics is the study of scarcity.  Living in a world of limited resources, as humans we are faced with making decisions about how we satisfy our unlimited needs and wants.  The choices we make impact not only our personal lives, but our individual decisions ultimately have local, national, and global effects.  Alfred Marshall, a well known economist from the 19th century defined economics as the “study of mankind in the ordinary business of life.”  Perhaps this definition is more illustrative of the nature of this subject, that is, a study of our daily life decisions.  A major goal of this course is to teach you how to think like an economist and to appreciate why it can be useful to do so.  In order to accomplish these goals, I will have you apply economic concepts to real world problems and tasks you are likely to face now and in the future.  By the end of the semester, I expect you to have mastered the framework of ideas I’ve outlined below (as prescribed by the State and District Content Standards for Economics).

Economic Standards
12.1 Students understand common economic terms and concepts and economic reasoning.

12.2 Students analyze the elements of America’s market economy in a global setting.

12.3 Students analyze the influence of the federal government on the American economy.

12.4 Students analyze the elements of the U.S. labor market in a global setting.

12.5 Students analyze the aggregate economic behavior of the U.S. economy.

12.6 Students analyze issues of international trade and explain how the U.S. economy affects, and is affected by, economic forces beyond the United Status’s borders.

These six standards will be organized into four basic categories with the following emphasis:
I.    Fundamental economic concepts (10%)
II.    Microeconomics (40%)
III.    Macroeconomics (40%)
IV.    International Economic Concepts (10%)

Class Norms:

Method of Instruction:
•    Lecture
•    Discussion
•    In-class individual and group activities
•    Project Based Learning (PBL)

Materials:
•    Textbook, Economics: Principles and Practices, published by Glencoe.
•    Notebook
•    3 Ring Binder

Grading Policy:
Student can earn an A, B, C, or F in this class.  Grades of “D” are not issued at Middle College High School.  The final semester grade is based on a student’s mastery of the standards in the following categories:

Exams/Quizzes:              35%
Projects and Essays:             35%
Classroom Assignments/HW:      20%
Notebook:                 10%

The final grade will be determined by a numerical calculation of points according to grading scale below OR by portfolio.

A: 100-90
B: 89-80
C: 79-70
F: 69 or below

Quizzes prepare students for summative exams.  Some quizzes are graded, some are not.  Exams are worth substantially more than quizzes.  I give students multiple opportunities to check their understanding of the material by frequently quizzing students before administering a summative exam.  Students can retake tests, but not the final exam.  Students cannot retake a test due to an unexcused absence (in plainer language, if you cut a class to avoid taking an exam, you cannot retake the test).

Projects and essays provide a way to determine how well you can apply what you have learned in a real world setting.  It helps prepare you for situations you are likely to expect in the world of work or in college.  All major assignments will be graded on a rubric and given to students before the assignment is due.  

Daily participation in the life of the class is crucial for your success.  Homework preparation and completion of classroom assignments helps you learn the material.  Even though I ask for volunteers in class discussions, I more often call on students randomly or require participation in small or large group discussions/activities.  

Keeping a notebook to document and record ideas and information is an important learning skill.  It is a useful resource when it comes time to completing projects, essays, and preparing/taking exams.  I will periodically collect notebooks and grade them to check for note taking, journal writes, or other assignments I ask you to do in the notebook.

Extra Credit:
Extra credit assignments are periodically assigned to extend learning around a core standard.

Late Work:
I expect students to turn in assignments on time.  In general, I drop the value of a late assignment by a grade for every day it is late after the due date.  Major assignments (projects/essays) cannot earn more than a “60% after a week late and must be verbally negotiated with me.  A late homework assignment worth less than 10 points is not accepted.

Academic/Intellectual Honesty
I expect you to practice academic/intellectual honesty.  This is clearly specified in the Middle College Student Handbook.  If you are discovered to engage in cheating or plagiarism, it will result in a grade of “0” and a conference.  In general, copying or verbally sharing answers from another student or relying on impermissible resources (e.g. notes, text messaging) during an exam or quiz constitutes cheating.  Plagiarism is when you take ideas that are not your own and pass them off as yours in a paper or project without citing your sources.  Typically, this involves copying or paraphrasing information from a print source, the Internet, or a person and passing it off as your own work.  If you have questions about behavior that constitutes cheating or plagiarism, please ask.  

Attendance:
I expect students to attend class daily on time with needed materials.  If you are absent or late, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed.  If you are frequently absent or tardy, please expect a phone call home and/or a conference.  If you are ill or there is a family or personal emergency that prevents you from attending class, please contact me by phone, e-mail, or in person.

Office Hours/Study Skills Class:
Please come see me during my scheduled office hours, study skills class, or make an appointment if you have questions or need help with issues that arise at CSM.  Asking for help and asking questions is a real-life skill that successful individuals possess.  If you come to me for help, I will do my best to assist you.