Syllabus

 

ECON 2020-3

Principles of Macroeconomics

Spring 2013

CRN 12783

 

David Tufte, Ph.D.

 

Description:

Emphasis on the problems of unemployment, inflation and economic growth. Government policy directed at these problems is analyzed. International economic issues and the relation of the U.S. economy to the global economy are examined.

 

 

Pre-Requisites:

None

 

 

Location:

Room 102, Dixie-Leavitt Business Building

 

 

Time:

10:00 to 10:50 a.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday

 

 

What You Need to Buy:

1)      Macroeconomics by David C. Colander, 8th edition.

2)     Access to a class site at McGraw-Hill Connect

 

The bookstore carries these materials in two formats: a) a hard copy of the book bundled with an access card to Connect only, or b) an access card to Connect and an online version of the text.

 

If you already have a copy of the text, you can also go to the Connect site (http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/d_tufte_9_am) and buy standalone access to Connect.

 

Office:

Room 313

 

 

Office Phone:

586-5407 (leave a callback number if you leave a message)

 

 

Office Hours:

Monday, 8:10 to 9:00 a.m.

Monday, 5:20 to 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday, 5:20 to 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Friday, 8:10 to 9:00 a.m.

Appointments are available at other times.

 

I have kids that aren’t old enough to drive: I’m generally here all day when they’re in school. I’m in at other times, but irregularly.

 

E-Mail and Texting:

Tufte@suu.edu (not case sensitive)

 

Of course, you can text to that address too.

 

E-mails and texts from students are increasingly being caught by spam filters. If you’d like to make sure that I get your e-mail, write it professionally rather than like a text (i.e., no l33t or CamelCase), and put one of the following keywords in the subject line: ECON2020 or macroeconomics.

 

Websites:

http://www.suu.edu/faculty/tufte/

http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/d_tufte_10_am

 

Canvas:

Canvas is SUU’s system for doing classes over the internet. I have the capability of integrating Canvas into this class, and will probably experiment with this a little bit. Don’t plan on it being used a lot though.

 

Micro and Macro:

ECON 2010, Principles of Microeconomics, is not required for this class. Be advised that this class may be more difficult if you have not taken ECON 2010, or are taking it this semester.

 

Material Sections:

The text is divided into 6 sections.

 

The first is unnumbered, and is common to the Macro and Micro “splits” of the text. I don’t cover this section in ECON 2020.

 

The Macro part of the text starts with Chapter 7 and is composed of 5 sections.

 

For the most part, you will have an exam after each section. The only exception is the first exam: Chapter 9 will be covered with Section 1 instead of Section 2.

 

 

 

Grades:

Your grade is the percentage of points you earn out of 30o points: 130 from chapter quizzes, 40 from comprehensive quizzes, and 130 from (online) homeworks.

 

There is an automatic 9 point curve. There are opportunities to earn up to 21 more points of extra credit: if you want a curve, you do that extra credit work!

 

There is a possibility that I will run some simulations in class that will allow you to earn some more extra credit.

You may also be able to pick up some extra credit points from the comprehensive quizzes.

 

I do give pluses and minuses, but only to the top and bottom 20% of the grade ranges. Note that when I post letter grade forecasts during the semester, I do not forecast the pluses and minuses.

 

The grade ranges are:

A         276 or above

A-        270-276

B+       264-270

B         246-264

B-        240-246

C+       234-240

C          216-234

C-        210-216

D+       204-210

D         186-204

D-        180-186

F          Below 180

 

Chapter

Quizzes:

Each chapter has a quiz that is 10 questions long, and each correct answer counts for one point.

 

Chapter quizzes are offered only on exam days: in this class an exam is a collection of chapter quizzes.

 

If we do not finish a required chapter before the end of the semester, you still have to take the quiz, but 5 points will be added to the number you got correct on its quiz.

 

You will be given the opportunity to retake chapter quizzes. If you do, you keep the new score, not the high score.

 

 

Required

Chapter

Quizzes:

I will cover 13 chapters in class: 7-11, 13-14, and 16-21.

 

Each will have a chapter quiz.

 

Optional

Chapter

Quizzes:

There are 3 chapters I will not cover in class (12, 15, and 22): you are welcome to take quizzes on these chapters, giving you a chance at more points.

 

But, here’s the thing: some of you will take these and just guess the answers, and I really don’t need to bother grading those. If you guess, you’d probably get about 3 out of 10 right, so I’ll just set the minimum score for everyone to 3 points for each of these quizzes. That way you don’t have to take them and I don’t have to grade them.

But, if you want a shot at the other 7 points for each of these three quizzes, you have to take the quiz, and you have to score a 4 or better. If you take the quiz, I’ll give you credit for the number you got right, or 3, whichever is larger.

 

Three quizzes, with 3 free points on each, is the 9 point curve mentioned above. Three quizzes, and the chance at 7 points on each of them, is the 21 points of extra credit I mentioned above.

 

Comprehensive Quizzes:

Quizzes that cover material covered throughout the semester will be offered 6 times. Each quiz is 10 multiple-choice questions.

 

The raw scores from these quizzes will be elevated (not curved). The elevation is an addition to the number you got right, so it is conceivable to get extra credit from these quizzes. The curve will be:

 

8 points on the 1st quiz (so 8 to 18 is the possible score)

6 points on the 2nd quiz (so 6 to 16 is the possible score)

5 points on the 3rd quiz (so 5 to 15 is the possible score)

3 points on the 4th quiz (so 3 to 13 is the possible score)

2 points on the 5th quiz (so 2 to 12 is the possible score)

0 points on the 6th quiz (so 0 to 10 is the possible score)

 

I will count your 4 highest elevated scores on these comprehensive quizzes.

 

Scantrons:

Bring the long, bluish-purple half-sheet kind.

 

 

Exams:

An exam consists of the set of zero or more quizzes that you choose to take on a scheduled exam day.

 

Please note that you will be given the entire class for exams.

 

You may take a quiz for a grade on a chapter once on each exam day, but you may retake that chapter quiz on later exam dates. There will be a different set of 10 questions each time you take a quiz on a chapter.

 

After the first exam, I will bring quizzes for all chapters that were on earlier exams if you need to take or retake them. Note that if you retake a chapter’s quiz, you do not need to retake all the chapter quizzes available on that day — just the ones you want.

 

 

Exam Dates and Material:

Wednesday, January 30th – Chapters 7-9. Bring one scantron.

Wednesday, February 20th – Chapters 10-12. Bring one scantron.

Wednesday, March 20th  – Chapters 13-16. Bring two scantrons.

Wednesday, April 10th – Chapters 17-18. Bring two scantrons.

Wednesday, April 24th  – Chapters 19-22. Bring two scantrons.

 

There will also be a final at the scheduled final exam time. Bring 2 scantrons – quizzes for chapters 7-22 will be available.

 

The final exam is scheduled by the university for Thursday, May 2, at 9 a.m. Because I allow you to retake chapter quizzes, and all quizzes are given at least once in class, the final exam will not be offered at any other time under any conditions.

 

 

Exam Attendance:

Your current score for the quizzes on each chapter is zero. The only way you can raise those score is by taking quizzes on exam days (there are no make up exams). If you miss an exam date, you may make up the quizzes given on that date on one of the later exam days. Quizzes that you do not complete by the end of the scheduled final exam time automatically get scores of zero.

 

Makeup Exams:

There are no makeups. You may take any chapter quizzes you like on any exam day, but only on exam days.

 

 

Homeworks:

Connect is a site that offers online assignments. It is required for this class: you are not excused from doing homeworks because you have not paid for Connect.

 

Each exam will mark the end of a section of the class. In each section there will be as many homeworks as there are chapters on the exam that follows, plus one extra. Within each section I will drop one homework score.

 

The homeworks have different numbers of question. Your percentage correct will be scaled to give you a score out of 10 points.

 

 

Make-Ups:

 

There are no make-up homeworks.

If You

Need

Help:

Help yourself first.

·         Read the text before class. Outline it.

·         Look up words you don’t know.

·         Attend class and pay attention.

·         Ask questions if you need to.

·         Take notes, but so many that you’re just copying instead of understanding.

·         Revisit the text and your notes, ideally within 24 hours. Rewrite the notes if they are messy.

·         Do the Connect assignments sooner rather than later (the due dates are at the end of the period when doing the assignments will help the most).

·         Form a study group.

Ask for help.

·         Come to office hours.

·         Send me an e-mail.

·         Go to the tutoring center.

 

SUU’s

Essential Learning Outcomes

This is an SUU class; the Provost’s website offers details about the following essential learning outcomes:

 

·         Knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world

·         Intellectual and practical skills

·         Personal and social responsibility

·         Integrative and applied learning

 

This class supports your achievement of all four.

 

 

General Education Learning Outcomes:

This is a general education class; the course catalog details the following:

The following proficiencies form the core of general education:

·         Inquiry and analysis

·         Critical and creative thinking

·         Written and oral communication

·         Quantitative literacy

·         Information literacy

·         Teamwork and problem solving

This class supports your achievement of the first, second and last items.

 

School Learning Outcomes:

This course is offered by the School of Business; the course catalog details the following:

We will produce business graduates at the Baccalaureate level who:

1.       Are able to communicate effectively through written documents and oral presentations.

2.      Understand ethical issues and standards as they relate to business within society.

3.      Possess the technical and analytical skills that are generally used to facilitate decision making in complex environments.

4.      Are familiar with the fundamental principles and tools associated with each major functional area of business.

5.      Have strong critical thinking skills. 

This class supports your achievement of learning outcomes 2-5.

 

 

Department

Learning Outcomes:

 

This course is offered by the Department of Economics and Finance; the course catalog details the following:

In fulfilling the mission of the program, economics graduates will:

·         Have effective written and verbal communication skills

·         Have strong analytical and critical thinking skills

·         Understand microeconomic principles at an intermediate level and be able to apply them to the analysis of individual, firm and market behavior

·         Understand macroeconomic principles at an intermediate level and be able to apply standard models to contemporary policy questions and problems

·         Understand basic probability and statistical inference and be able to apply these concepts in data analysis and decision making

·         Be able to conduct basic econometric analysis; appreciate the major issues involved in estimating, using, interpreting and evaluating econometric models

·         Be able to model and solve a wide range of optimization problems in economics and related fields

This class supports your achievement of the second and fourth bullet points.

 

 

 

Course Outline

 

After today, holidays, and exam days, we have 36 days to cover 13 chapters. We will cover a chapter in 2-4 days. Chapters 7-11, 13, 14, 17-21 will be covered in that order. Chapters 12, 15, and 22 will not be covered.

 

Course Fee Disclosure

 

The course fees will be used for classroom mediation, computer lab usage and updating equipment, and instructional materials distributed throughout the semester. 

 

Academic Integrity

 

Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. You are expected to have read and understood the current issue of the student handbook (published by Student Services) regarding student responsibilities and rights, and the intellectual property policy, for information about procedures and about what constitutes acceptable on-campus behavior.

 

Disability Statement

 

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Southern Utah University Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), in Room 205C of the Sharwan Smith Center, or phone (435) 865-8022. SSD determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of these services and aids.

 

SANS Statement

 

I care about your success and therefore will participate in the Student Assessment Notification System (SANS) an early alert program designed to provide peer mentor support and resources. If I feel you are struggling in my course, you will receive a notice of concern from me through SANS. I expect you to utilize these resources designed for your benefit.

 

 

Disclaimer

 

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.