Instructor:  Mr. Kevin Magnani

Department:  Social Studies

Length of Course:  Full year

Prerequisite:  none

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

AF Economics provides the senior student the opportunity to understand the mechanics of the financial world by examining the individual, industrial and global marketplaces.  In the Fall Semester, students will devote their attention to the field of Macroeconomics, targeting the topics of unemployment, national income measures and governmental policies to remedy recession and inflation.  In the Spring, the course switches gears to concentrate on Microeconomics.  In this semester, students learn the about individual decision-making principles, varying business structures, governmental regulation of the market and market inefficiencies.

   The discipline of Economics has been well-known as “the dismal science” due to its dull, dry and often difficult subject matter.  Economics is not for everyone and seniors should give serious consideration to their motives and goals for committing the entire year to this elective.  While I cannot promise the course material to be your most exciting, I can ensure that it will prove to be one of your most beneficial toward a college major, career option, or simply your overall success in the real world.  

MATERIALS NEEDED:

1.  Text:  Mankiw. Principles of Economics.

2.  Notebook (3 ring binder preferred)

3.  basic calculator

COURSE POLICIES

1. Textbooks are expected to be properly signed out and covered at all times.  Those texts found uncovered after warning issued will be re-collected.  This is the first lesson of economics – scarce resources need to be preserved, esp. during times of recession!

2. Any student late to class MUST sign in on the Tardy Record Sheet, which is submitted to the office for office detention (per student handbook).  For every five tardies accumulated by a student each term, one point is removed from their term average.  The tardy / absent record of a student will also factor into the Class Participation portion of each term grade.  Any altering, forging, falsifying or acts of deception toward the Tardy Record Sheet is treated as an extension of the teacher’s grade book and will result in a office detention, with possible suspension.

3. All class work and homework must be authentic to the student.  There will be opportunity to work in groups to share ideas, but this does not give license for copying of work, and will result in an automatic zero on the assignment for all parties involved.

4. ANY SLEEPING IN CLASS WILL RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM THE CLASSROOM FOLLOWED BY A TEACHER AND/OR OFFICE DETENTION.

5. Economics tends to be very difficult to grasp, especially the graphing.  Any student requiring extra help must see the teacher personally and set up times by appointment.

6. Any work submitted late will receive a 50% credit.  Any project or test weighted assignment receives a grade off for each day late (1.5 grade off over a weekend).

7. Any student making up work due to absence will receive full credit so long as it is submitted within three days of return.  All tests and quizzes needing to me made up during absences must be scheduled within 3 days of return and it up to the student to initiate.

8. This course will feature multi media and computer lab opportunities.  Any misuse of the computer or internet will result in a banning of the equipment and therefore a zero on those assignment.

9. Extra credit is only given at teacher discretion and only for students with a current average of 79% or below.

10. Consistent patterns of disrespect and disruption to the class learning environment after prior warnings will result in procedures to remove you from the class, with loss of credit.  Please remember when making behavioral decisions that education is a “public good” – the sanctity of the classroom as a whole always comes before the individual. 

MODES of EVALUATION:

1. Chapter Tests – in class assessment based mainly on class notes and chapter readings (text, handouts). Tests will be structured as multiple choice and graphical analysis.  Student test average contributes 45% toward their term average. 

2.  Quizzes – announced and unannounced, pertaining usually to the material covered over the previous few days.  Quizzes focus on reading assignments, videos, and notes, used mainly to ensure “quality control” in student work.   Amount per term varies, but cumulatively a student’s quiz average contributes approximate 5% toward their term average.

3.  Class/Homework – graphing problem sets, written textbook questions, computer lab assignments and other written assignments.  Homework collectively will factor in as approx. 30% of students’ term average.

4.  Semester Project – Students will be assigned along-term project for terms #2 and #4 that involves research.  This project will contribute two test grades toward that term’s averages.

5.  Class Participation:  Awarded or denied based on teacher discretion.  Class participation encompasses not only class volunteerism, but the student’s ability to create a positive learning environment in the class through their actions.  The teacher will consider attitude, approach, effort, punctuality / attendance and discipline factors when awarding class participation points to deserving students.  Class participation will consist of 5% of students’ term average.

5.  Midterm / Final Exam  - Students midterm will be in the area of Basic Economics and Macroeconomics and their final exam covering Microeconomics.  ALL seniors must take the midterm exam without exception.  Seniors with a SEMESTER TWO average of 90+ will be exempt from taking the final exam.  Both exams represent 10% of students’ final course grade.