ECN
232 Microeconomics On Line
Syllabus
Spring/Summer
2003
Mark
Schopmeyer
mark_schopmeyer@jccmi.edu
Jackson
Community College
2111
Emmons Rd.
Jackson
MI 49201
Office:
517 796 8563
Fax:
517 796 8632
About
the Course
Microeconomics
explains how consumers and businesses behave in the economy. Students will
understand supply and demand, competitive and monopolistic businesses,
international trade and finance, how wages are determined, and how and why
government regulates businesses.
ECN
232 is the introductory microeconomics course given at colleges and
universities across the US. It transfers to nearly all schools. Most business
majors are required to take Microeconomics but many other people take it to
get a general understanding of how the economy works.
This
course will contribute to your skills in the following areas:
¨
Ability
to write clearly, concisely, and intelligibly.
¨
Ability
to comprehend and use written and oral information.
¨
Computational
skill and understanding.
¨
Critical
thinking and problem solving.
¨
Understanding
of social, political, and economic systems.
¨
Understanding
an international perspective and the interdependency of all peoples and
nations.
Taking
Economics On Line
Economics
is a time consuming course for most people. Successful students say they spend
at least six hours a week studying economics. If you have difficulty
with your computer or spend a lot of time doing research or discussion you may
spend more time than that. Successful on line students create a schedule for
their work so they don't put it off and get behind.
Even
though the course is on line you are not expected to work alone. Use email and
the discussion area to ask the instructor and other students for help. You can
contact other students or set up study groups to work together on assignments,
just remember the work you turn in should be your own.
Computer
Requirements
You
will need access to a computer with internet capability and a printer. You
must also be able to send and receive email. Free email is available from a
number internet services or you may use the JCC email system (JCC students
automatically have email accounts).
For
this course you should have Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1 loaded in your computer.
Many government documents come in this format. Acrobat Reader can be
downloaded free from www.adobe.com.
You
may find it useful to use spreadsheet software such as MS Works, Excel, or
Lotus for making graphs. If you don't have a spreadsheet, or it's too much
trouble you can draw graphs by hand and mail or fax them in.
Texts
The
course textbook is Microeconomics by McConnell and Brue, 15th
edition, 2002, published by McGraw-Hill. (ISBN 0072340371) On line students
may also want to purchase the accompanying Microeconomics Study Guide. These
books are resources to help you with the assignments. They have questions and
problems that are similar to assignment questions and allow you to practice.
There is also a web site that accompanies the text at www.mhhe.com/economics/mcconnell
with good information for students.
Textbooks
are available at the JCC bookstore on main campus any time. During the first
week of the semester books are available at JCC's off campus centers. If you
would like to order on line from the JCC bookstore go to www.jackson.bkstr.com,
www.half.ebay.com, www.bookfinder.com
or another on line bookstore.
Class
Requirements
Assignments
Students
must complete 14 assignments during the semester. For each assignment students
will write answers to questions and problems using one chapter of the text
plus other readings. Assignments will be worth about 35 to 45 points depending
on the amount of work required. There will not be any tests or final exam.
Assignment
Grading
Most
questions can be answered in one to two paragraphs. You should write a
thorough answer, including all the background information necessary to explain
your ideas. If you aren’t sure whether to include some information or not,
it’s best to include it. Write your answer as if you were writing for a
reader who is not taking the class and include the information that
person would need to understand your answer.
Each
assignment question is usually worth 5 points and will be scored as follows:
5
points
The answer is explained clearly and thoroughly in your own words, not
copied from the text. Economic terms are used correctly. Original examples
(not ones from the text) are used when appropriate to illustrate your ideas.
Information from sources other than the text is used when appropriate.
4-4
1/2 points The
answer is mostly correct but there are slight errors. The writing is not the
student’s own words. Examples are taken from the text or assigned readings.
3-3
1/2 points The
answer is accurate but not explained completely, or may be partly incorrect.
Important examples or explanations are missing.
1-2
½ points
There is some correct information but the answer is poorly explained.
0
points
The answer is wrong, no correct information is given.
Numerical
problems (points will vary):
Maximum
points Correct
formulas are used and the answer is correct. All signs (+, -) and labels ($,
%, etc,) are provided and are correct.
Partial
credit
Signs or labels may be missing. Formula is correct but answer is
miscalculated. Important information is missing or wrong.
0
points
No correct information provided.
Graphs
and tables (points will vary):
Maximum
points Correct graph
is provided, all axes and lines are labeled correctly. All changes are clearly
indicated, important points and intersections are labeled. A title is
included.
Table information is complete and correct. Necessary signs, labels and
a title are included.
Partial
credit
Graph is mostly correct, some labels or lines are missing or incorrect.
Some table information, signs or labels are missing or incorrect.
0
points
No correct information provided.
Discussions
Discussion
is an important part of the class. It is where students and the instructor can
talk about topics in detail and explore difficult issues. Each week there will
be a new discussion on a topic related to the Assignment. The weekly
discussion will be open for about 10 days and students may post as many
responses as they like. You are encouraged to find articles (from the internet
or other sources) and share them with the class.
Discussion
Etiquette
Discussion
should be a learning experience for everyone who posts or just reads the
postings. It's a great opportunity to present information as well as ask
questions. For this reason it is important that no one is turned off by
someone's remarks. We want to examine controversial ideas but we want the
ideas to conflict, not the people involved. If you disagree with something,
make it clear that you are disagreeing with the idea, not the person
posting (who may not even agree with the idea themselves). In short, treat
people and their remarks with respect, even when disagreeing. The instructor
will remove postings that in his judgment are abusive or inhibit the free
discussion of all students. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/
for examples of good and bad behavior during electronic discussions.
Discussion
Grading
For
each weekly discussion you should post at least two messages on different
days. You should read other student’s postings and contribute to the ideas
being discussed.
A
good posting stays on the subject and explains some information or provides
some new information to the discussion. Asking an important question about
some information is a good way to add new energy to a discussion. A posting
expressing an opinion must be explained carefully and supported by some
information.
The
best postings bring information from sources other than the text. Tell why you
feel the information is important. If possible attach the article to your
posting (this doesn’t always work in Blackboard). Provide a web address or
source so others can find the original article.
Often
students post simple messages agreeing with another posting. Or a student may
want to express a personal opinion about something. It’s fine to post these
messages but they won’t earn any points.
¨
Each
posting is worth up to 5 points and you can earn up to 5 points per day. You
may earn up to 15 points per discussion by posting on three different days.
Over the semester you may earn a maximum of 130 discussion points.
¨
You
may post as many messages as you like but for each weekly discussion a
maximum of 15 points can be earned.
¨
You
may post messages any time but messages posted after the closing date will
not be graded.
Discussions
will be graded as follows:
5
points
A message brings new information or ideas to the discussion. The
message may have an opinion that is supported with some information from the
text or an article. The message may bring some relevant information from an
article. The article is successfully attached or a web address is included.
4-4.5
points
A message has some new information or ideas. Opinions are weakly
supported. Information from the text or an article is provided but there is no
explanation about it. No attachment or address is provided for an article, or
the attachment doesn’t work.
3-3.5
points
Message has little new information. Opinions are not supported with any
information. No information from outside the text is provided.
1-2.5
points
Message has very little new or relevant information. Message gets off
the subject. The message just agrees with another message and adds very little
to the discussion.
0
points
Messages bring no information to the discussion.
Due
Dates and Late Work
Late
assignments will be accepted with no penalty for two weeks after the due date.
After two weeks late assignments will not be accepted.
Discussions close on the closing date, no exceptions. Messages can
be posted after the closing date but they will not be graded.
Grading
Scale
Grades
are assigned according to the percentage of total points earned out of total
points possible using the following scale:
|
90-100% |
4.0 |
|
85-89 |
3.5 |
|
80-84 |
3.0 |
|
75-79 |
2.5 |
|
70-74 |
2.0 |
|
65-69 |
1.5 |
|
60-64 |
1.0 |
|
50-59 |
0.5 |
You
can figure your grade at any time by dividing your current points by the total
possible at the time. Figure the percentage and find your grade on the scale.
Schedule
|
Assignment
1 |
due
May 23 |
Discussion
closes midnight May 23 |
|
Assignment
2 |
due
May 30 |
Discussion
closes midnight Jun 2 |
|
Assignment
3 |
due
Jun 5 |
Discussion
closes midnight Jun 9 |
|
Assignment
4 |
due
Jun 11 |
Discussion
closes midnight Jun 13 |
|
Assignment
5 |
due
Jun 17 |
Discussion
closes midnight Jun 19 |
|
Assignment
6 |
due
Jun 23 |
Discussion
closes midnight Jun 25 |
|
Assignment
7 |
due
Jun 30 |
Discussion
closes midnight Jul 2 |
|
Assignment
8 |
due
Jul 7 |
Discussion
closes midnight Jul 9 |
|
Assignment
9 |
due
Jul 14 |
Discussion
closes midnight Jul 16 |
|
Assignment
10 |
due
Jul 18 |
Discussion
closes midnight Jul 21 |
|
Assignment
11 |
Due
Jul 24 |
Discussion
closes midnight Jul 28 |
|
Assignment
12 |
due
Jul 30 |
Discussion
closes midnight Aug 1 |
|
Assignment
13 |
due
Aug 5 |
Discussion
closes midnight Aug 7 |
|
Assignment
14 |
due
Aug 11 |
Discussion
closes midnight Aug 12 |