ECON 2020-010 Principles of Macroeconomics

Econ 2020 – 010: Principles of Macroeconomics
Spring 2013
MWF 12:00 – 12:50 in CHEM 142
Instructor: Rebecca Jennings
Email: [email protected]
Office: Econ 307
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 10:30 –11:30 and by appointment
Website: MyEconLab
Course Description
“Economics is a study of mankind in the ordinary business of life.” - Alfred Marshall, Principles of
Economics
This is an introductory course to the concepts of macroeconomics. The course serves to introduce you
to the basics of economic theory which tries to model feature of the economy. Broadly, these concepts
include output, supply and demand, unemployment, and inflation. The introduction will prepare
students for future study of economics at the intermediate level, as well as serve as a good foundation
for future study in business, law, political science, sociology, and life in general. Understanding
economics goes a long way toward understanding why things are the way they are. As this is an
introductory course, you will spend a lot of your time learning the language of the field, as well as
learning how to ‘think like an economist.’
Textbook
Hubbard and O’Brien Macroeconomics 4th Edition
MyEconLab
MyEconLab is the learning environment associated with out text book. We will discuss this in detail on
the second day of class. There are a number of purchasing options, ranging from purchasing the book,
which will come with an access code, to only purchasing the lab, to purchasing the lab with associated
eText. MyEconLab will have a number of practice problems and explanations in addition to homework,
experiments, and articles.
Prerequisites
This is an intro class with no prerequisites; however you will be expected to have an understanding of
algebra and graphical analysis.
TAs
Alexander Hill – [email protected]
Nan Xu – [email protected]
Recitation
Number
-011
-012
-013
Time and Location
T 9:00 - 9:50, EDUC 132
T 5:00 - 5:50, ECON 2
TH 8:00 - 8:50, ECON 2
Instructor
Hill
Hill
Xu
-014
-015
-016
-017
-018
TH 9:00 - 9: 50, EDUC 132
M 8:00 - 8:50, ECON 13
M 4:00 - 4:50, ECON 205
W 4:00 - 4:50, ECON 2
W 5:00 - 5:50, ECON 2
Hill
Xu
Hill
Xu
Xu
Grading:
 Midterms – 40% (20% each)
 Recitation – 20%
 Final – 30%
 Clickers/Homework – 10%
I will drop the lowest of your Midterms Because of this, make-up exams will not be given for any
reason. The Final will not be dropped. I cannot discuss grades through email – you must discuss them
with me in person.
Midterms
Each midterm is worth 20% of your grade, and the lowest one will be dropped.
Midterm 1 – Friday, February 8th
Midterm 2 – Friday, March 8th
Midterm 3 – Friday, April 12th
Midterm 1 will cover topics until February 8th, Midterm 2 will cover topics from the first midterm until
March 8th, and Midterm 3 will cover topics from the second midterm until April 12th. They will consist
mainly of multiple choice questions, although there will be short answer questions. You will need a
blue book and calculators will not be necessary (or allowed).
Recitations
These meet weekly starting the second week of school (Week of Jan 21st). Your TAs will decide how
the recitation grade will be determined and will tell you at your first recitation. As this is a 4 credit
course, 1 of those credits is your recitation, and I expect you to take it seriously. Your TAs are a valuable
resource that you should utilize.
Clickers/Homework
Your clicker and homework are worth 5.5% each. This means that you only need 10% from a possible
11%. As such all reasons to miss clicker points or a homework assignment are excused. If you forget
your clicker, your internet is out and you couldn’t complete that week’s homework assignment, you
have to go out of town, you are sick, or have to miss for any other reason, consider it part of the excused
ones. Clicker questions will start the second week of class.
You need to get and register your CU Clicker for this course. Clickers will be used in class in addition to
homework to gauge your understanding of the material. I will try to have questions during every class
meeting, although one or two days may be missed. Incorrectly answered clicker questions will receive
half credit. You should only be using your own clicker in class. Students caught answering with more
than one will at minimum lose all clicker points for that day. Tell your friends to go to class themselves if
they want the points. The class before Spring Break will be the only opportunity for extra credit clicker
points.
Homework is done online through MyEconLab, the online learning environment for the text book.
There will be more information regarding this later, and the first assignment won’t be until the second
week of class.
Final
The final is Saturday, May 4th from 7:30 to 10:00 PM. It will be comprehensive and cover the entire
course.
If you have three or more final examinations on the same day, you can arrange to have the last one
taken at an alternative time. It is your responsibility to notify me no later than six weeks into the
semester. If you request to reschedule your final after February 22nd I will say no.
Laptop/Tablet and Cell Phone Policy
Laptops in class are a negative externality. Besides this, much of the notes you will be taking will involve
graphs and/or math, which you can do much easier with pen and paper than on a computer. I will post
lecture PowerPoint slides before the class when they are used so you can print them out and bring them
to class. If you want to use your laptop/tablet you may do so, but must sit in the last three rows of the
classroom.
Regarding cell phones – do not have them out and put them on silent. I reserve the right to kick
anybody out of class for inconsiderate use of cell phones or laptops, as well as penalize points if
necessary.
Grades
The percentages bellow will guarantee the corresponding letter grade (at least – there may be
additional curving; however I will not round grades up or down).
Percentage
93.00 - 100%
90.00 – 92.99%
87.00 – 89.99%
83.00 – 86.99%
80.00 – 82.99%
77.00 – 79.99%
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
Percentage
73.00 – 76.99%
70.00 – 72.99%
67.00 – 69.99%
63.00 – 66.99%
60.00 – 62.99%
< 60%
Grade
C
CD+
D+
DF
Additional Policies
Students with Disabilities
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability
Services in a timely manner so that your needs be addressed. Disability Services determines
accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Center for Community
N200, and http://www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices.
If you have a temporary medical condition or injury, see guidelines at
http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices/go.cgi?select=temporary.html.
Disability Services' letters for students with disabilities indicate legally mandated reasonable
accommodations. The syllabus statements and answers to Frequently Asked Questions can be found at
http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices.
Religious Observance Policy
Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal
reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with
scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class, if you have a conflict, please contact
me at the beginning of the term so we can make proper arrangements (no later than 2 weeks into the
semester). See full details at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html.
Classroom Behavior Policy
Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment.
Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional
courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with
differences of race, color, culture, religion, creed, politics, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender,
gender identity, and gender expression, age, disability, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to
the instructor with the student’s legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an
alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I
may make appropriate changes to my records. See policies at
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at
http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code.
Discrimination and Harassment Policy
The University of Colorado at Boulder Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Procedures, the
University of Colorado Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures, and the University of Colorado Conflict
of Interest in Cases of Amorous Relationships Policy apply to all students, staff, and faculty. Any student,
staff, or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of sexual harassment or discrimination
or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion,
sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or veteran status should contact the Office of
Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127, or the Office of Student Conduct (OSC) at 303492-5550. Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies, and the campus resources
available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at
http://www.colorado.edu/odh.
Honor Code
All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the
academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism,
aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of
academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council ([email protected]; 303-7352273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both
academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to
university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and at
http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/.