ADVANCED PLACEMENT ECONOMICS
Instructor Mr. Garcia Room IT-‐6
Eastlake High School 1120 Eastlake Parkway Chula Vista, CA 91915 E-‐mail juan.garcia-‐
[email protected] Website sites.google.com/site/ehsapeconomics
COURSE DESCRIPTION AP Economics is a college-level course divided into two semesters. The first semester will cover important theories and concepts in Microeconomics, the study of how individual consumers and firms face trade-offs and make decisions in a world of scarcity. Topics covered in microeconomics include: basic economic principles, supply and demand, costs of production, profit, competition, factor markets, market failure, and the role of government. Second semester will focus on Macroeconomics, the study of the national and international economy as a whole. Topics of importance in macroeconomics include: measurements of national economic performance, economic growth, fiscal policy, monetary policy, and international economics. This course is designed to prepare students for the AP exam(s) in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, and is designed in accordance with the most recent AP Economics course description from the College Board. As a condition of enrollment in the course, students are required to take at least one of the two AP exams administered in May. There will be NO GRADE CHANGES based on AP exam results. This course meets the A section of the A-G requirements for high school graduation and college admission. In order to meet university eligibility, you must pass this class with a C or better. In order to meet high school graduation requirements, you must pass this class with a D or better. PREREQUISITES The completion of the following courses with a grade of B or higher in each semester: U.S. History and Intermediate Algebra (Algebra II). MATH All mathematical problems given on the AP Micro/Macro exam(s) can be done without the use of a calculator. Strong graphing skills, however, are essential due to the extensive course emphasis on graphs to interpret and analyze economic data. TEXT Krugman, Paul and Robin Wells. Economics. New York: Worth Publishers. STUDY GUIDE Dodge, Eric. 5 Steps to a 5 AP Microeconomics/Macroeconomics. New York: McGraw-Hill. REQUIRED MATERIALS n n n
Three-‐ring binder 5 dividers: Warm-‐ups, Lecture Notes, Classwork, Homework, Problem-‐Sets Clear front report cover with 3-‐hole fasteners
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS AP Economics is a very challenging college-‐level course. As such, it is assumed that students have a strong desire to be in the class and to earn college credit by passing the AP exam. Students are expected to: n Take notes and participate during lectures n Complete all in-‐class assignments and homework on time n Study for quizzes and tests n Be prepared for class and bring textbook to class on all block days GRADING POLICY Student grades will be a reflection of their performance on a variety of assessments and will be weighted as follows: Final Exam (20%) Classwork (10%) Lecture Notes/Warm-ups (5%) Unit Exams (30%) Problem-Sets (10%) Quizzes (20%) Homework (5%) Letter grade minimum percentiles (NO EXCEPTIONS): 98% A + 88% B+ 78% C+ 68% D+ 90% A 80% B 70% C 60% D 89% A79% B69% C59% D ABSENT/LATE WORK
Students are expected to submit assignments on time and be present for all lectures, quizzes and tests. Please consult the following policies and procedures regarding absent and late work: 1. Assignments missed due to unexcused absences or truancies will not be accepted for credit. 2. The deadline to receive credit for work assigned during an excused absence is the next class period following the day you get back. 3. Homework is checked at the beginning of class. If you are late to class your homework is also considered late. 4. Students will receive half-credit for late assignments turned in within one class period of the due date. Late work will NOT be accepted for credit if more than one class period has passed from the due date. 5. If you are absent on the day of a quiz or test, be prepared to take it the day you return. SUPPORT AND INTERVENTION Tutoring is available during ELP, or after school on Tuesdays from 2:30 – 3:30 pm. If a student
receives a D or F on an exam, they may re-take the exam for additional credit. The maximum replacement grade for an exam that is re-taken is a C. CITIZENSHIP This is a college-‐level class and will be taught accordingly. You are expected to attend all
class sessions, be on time, and participate in class. Citizenship grades will suffer for failure to bring working materials such as a textbook, assignments, and notes to class, disruptive behavior, working on other subjects, reading unrelated materials, sitting idly, and the like. If you are absent, and/or habitually late, you are not participating and will receive a low citizenship grade.
FOOD/DRINKS
No food or drinks allowed in class at any time, with the exception of clear bottled water. Please plan to eat all snacks and meals during nutrition break and lunch. ELECTRONIC DEVICES
No iPods, phones or other electronic devices are allowed in class at any time. Please turn off phones and put away iPods and earphones before entering the classroom. Having a phone visible during an exam is automatically considered cheating, and will be dealt with in accordance with the academic integrity policy below. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students are expected to abide by ethical standards in preparing and presenting material which demonstrates their level of knowledge and which is used to determine grades. Any student who is found to have engaged in academic dishonesty—cheating, plagiarizing, copying another student’s work, giving another student work to copy, viewing another student’s work during a quiz or test, passing off another student’s work as his/her own, or otherwise engaging in behavior that purposefully undermines the intent of the learning activity—will face both academic and disciplinary consequences. The academic punishment for academic dishonesty is zero credit for the assignment in question with no opportunity to make up the points. The student may also be given a referral to a school administrator, who will administer the appropriate disciplinary consequences. CITIZENSHIP
A
SUPERIOR Always on task and prepared for class. Excellent attitude and behavior. Superior participation and effort. 1 unexcused tardy or absence.
B
C
D
F
VERY GOOD
SATISFACTORY
BELOW AVERAGE
POOR
Always on task and prepared for class. Very good attitude and behavior. Above average participation and effort. 2 unexcused tardies or absences.
Usually on task and prepared for class. Infrequent and minor disruptive behavior (eating, talking, cell phone). Average participation and effort. 3 unexcused tardies or absences.
Usually off task or unprepared for class. Frequent disruptive behavior. Little participation and effort. 4 unexcused tardies or absences.
Always off task or unprepared for class. Frequent disruptive, defiant or disrespectful behavior. No participation. 5 or more unexcused tardies or absences.