Economics

Course Intro:

This academic course is designed for seniors who are preparing to attend a four year college or university. The purpose of this course is to give students a fundamental understanding of our market style economic system. Throughout this course students will become familiar with the philosophies, institutions, external and internal influences, and regulatory policies that affect our economy. Students will get hands on experience through the use of role play to understand how economic decisions are made and the consequences of those decisions. In addition, this course will cover personal financial management to better prepare students for the rigors of participating in our market economy.

• Course Syllabus

Course Objectives:

• Students will demonstrate proficiency in the areas of economics as defined by both the district and state curriculum standards.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of how to personally function within our economic system to include; personal financial management, developing and managing credit, and retirement planning.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of the institutions, processes, and influences that make up our economic system.

Mandated Educational Standards

Click on a link below to open up each set of standards in PDF format.

• UC A-G Requirements for Social Studies
• California History Content Standards
• California Standards for Reading/Writing in English and Social Studies

Course Overview:

Unit I Economic Fundamentals – This unit will cover the fundamental concepts, theories, and terms that are the basis of economic thinking.

Unit II Microeconomics – This unit will cover basics of supply and demand, pricing, and competition.

Unit III Free Enterprise at Work – This unit will examine the structure of the US economy including business organization, labor, and the capital markets.

Unit IV Macroeconomics – This unit will cover the various factors that influence the economy as a whole.

Unit V Government and the Economy – This unit will examine effect of governmental regulatory policy on the economic behavior of businesses and individuals.

Unit IV International and Global Economics – This unit will examine the global market and the general economic interactions between nations.

Unit Plans are posted to the website for review before we begin each unit. The purpose of the website is for parents and students to be fully aware of the curriculum and due dates of all assignments. In addition, copies of each will be posted in the classroom. Hence, excuse of not knowing about assignments or due dates will not be accepted!

Semester Project:

Students will develop an individual financial portfolio that includes a budget Credit Building, Investments, and Tax Preparation.

Online Forum:

            I use an online forum for further discussion of classroom topics and current events. Students must sign up for the forum linked on the website during the first week of class. Students must make at least 20 posts per quarter with at least 2 per week. These posts can be in the form of questions, answers to questions and at least the posting of or commenting on 1 current event per week. The current event should include a weblink to the news article and a short synopsis of it. Posts will be totaled and points assigned one week before the end of the grading period. A maximum of 2 posts will be counted in the week prior to grading. The purpose of the forum is for ongoing relevant discussion throughout the semester.

User Account Format: First Name Last Name  Example: Joe Smith

Email Account: The supplied email account must be a Gmail account, either the one issued by the school or a privately created one.

Forum Verification Code: see syllabus for code

Assignments:

1. Daily in-class work and homework in the form of individual and group work that will culminate in an average of 5 assignments a week. Homework will average about 2 assignments a week.
2. Frequent quizzes of material covered.
3. Unit tests

Materials Needed:

These materials will be required for participation in this course and the student must have them by the end of the first week of class. They will then be required to bring them to class every day.

            Textbook

            1 three-ring binder with paper (no spiral notebooks!)

            Pencils and pens (standard blue or black ink only)

Grading:

Grading will be based upon an objective point system using a running total as assignments are added to calculate the grade. The percentage of points earned based upon the total points possible will determine the letter grade. The semester grade is an average of the grade from both quarters. Percentages are already rounded up to the next grade, so what is indicated on the progress report is the final grade. I do not give grades. You earn them.

Semester Grade Calculation

Tests & Quizzes:                                             40 %

Participation/Class work/Homework:                 40 %

Personal Finance Project                                 10 %

Final                                                             10 %

Quarter Grade Calculation

Tests & Quizzes:                                             50 %

Participation/Class work/Homework:                 40 %

Personal Finance Project                                 10 %

Grading Scale

A= 100-90%

B=  89-80%

C=  79-70%

D=  69-60%

F=   59% and below

Grades are rounded to the nearest percent.

i.e 89.5% = A 89.4% = B

Grades are posted and displayed on the web through IlluminateEd.

lluminateEd

Late Assignments:

Late assignments will NOT be accepted, unless due to absence. If a student misses an assignment due to absence, they will have the time allowed for the assignment starting from the day they receive it, after that it will not be accepted. It is the responsibility of the student to get the work missed on the next day of attendance. Make up work at the end of the grading period for missed assignments will not be allowed.

Cheating and Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is defined as the use of someone else’s ideas or work without following fair use guidelines, proper citations, or obtaining permission. Plagiarism is a crime and any student caught plagiarizing material for any class project will receive an automatic F for the project. Repeat offenders will be referred to the administration for expulsion proceedings.

Extra Credit:

I allow an opportunity for students to earn a maximum of 50 points of extra credit. To be eligible for this they must first complete any missing assignments for which they will receive no credit. The students then must fill out an extra credit work submission form  and submit it to me for approval prior to beginning the project. I will assign it a possible point value based upon its level of difficulty. It is the responsibility of the student to decide upon a project, the more challenging the project, the more credit they can receive. Projects must be received two weeks prior to the end of the next grading period.

Extra Credit Form

Behavior Standards:

1. Be respectful to everyone.
2. No swearing or put downs
3. Non academic electronic devices are forbidden during class time. I see it I take it.
4. No grooming is allowed.
5. The teacher’s desk is off limits.
6. The teacher, not the bell, will dismiss students at the end of class.
7. No one leaves until the classroom is clean and orderly.
8. No food, drink, or gum allowed in class. (Except water)
9. No hats, bandanas, etc. are to be worn in class.
10.  You make a mess, you clean it up.