AP MACROECONOMICS - CLASS SYLLABUS
Mr. Wussler
Introduction:
Over the next 18 weeks, we will be studying the subject of Macroeconomics. This course will
fulfill your senior social studies requirement, but also to prepare you for the Macroeconomics
Advanced Placement Test in May 2016. It is my hope that you have all entered into this course
with the intention of taking that exam. It is a comprehensive course that will cover a wide variety of
topics related to macroeconomics. We will cover approximately 20 chapters of our text. The
course is designed for and will be taught with successful completion of the AP exam as our main
goal. Economics is a subject that builds upon itself. It is important that you fully understand
previous material in order to comprehend future material. You have chosen to take this course
and I’m glad you did so. You will be expected to keep up with the work. With hard work, you will
understand a subject that many people have a difficult time grasping and you will be prepared to
take the AP exam in May.
Class Text: The Economy Today McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2008
Supplemental Sources: TBD
EVALUATION:
Tests – There will be 8 Unit Tests throughout the semester. One to three chapters will be covered
and we will spend about 2 weeks on each unit. You will be given a study guide for each of the
tests prior to the day of the test. (Unit 1 – 5 in 1st MP, Units 6 – 8 in 2nd MP)
**The average of your test grades will be 80% of your MP grade**
Group Projects – You will complete a group project during the course. The project will be
completed in the 2nd Marking Period. The details of the project will be provided at a later date.
**The project grade will included as a double grade in your 2nd MP test average**
Online/Class Discussions – You will be creating online discussion posts based on economics in
the news. You will be responding to articles posted by me (5 points) and then responding to one of
your classmates’ posts as well (5 additional points). There will be one assignment per unit.
**The total grade for the posts will be worth 10% of your marking period grade**
Quizzes/Homework/Other – We will have quizzes throughout the course on various topics.
Typically one per unit (but there may be more). Homework is assigned on a regular basis. A
typical homework assignment will be readings from the textbook. You will also be assigned current
articles to read as well as other activities. The major assignment from each unit will be the
completion of the test study guide. These assignments will not always be checked and/or graded
but is expected that you will complete them all in order to prepared for class.
**These activities will be worth 10% of your marking period grade**
Participation – Your active and constructive participation in class is expected*
Core Assessments – You will complete two core assessments during the course. The details will
be provided when they are assigned. One will be assigned in each marking period. The first will be
analysis of the current condition of the US economy. The second will be an argument piece in
which you will support or oppose a current economic policy
**Each core assessment will be worth 5% of your Final Grade**
Final Exam - At the end of the semester, you will take a cumulative final exam. This exam will
include all the information we have covered in the course. The exam will have two parts. The first
part will be series of three free response questions, written in class, which will be 33% of your final
exam grade. The second part will be an objective test (60 questions) worth 67% of your final exam
grade.
**The Final Exam will be worth 10% of your Final Grade**
Semester Grade: 1st MP Average
40% of Final Grade
2nd MP Average
40% of Final Grade
Final Exam
10% of Final Grade
Core Assessment 1
5% of Final Grade
Core Assessment 2
5% of Final Grade
(District Grading Scale used to determine letter grades)
Blackboard
https://cbsd.blackboard.com will be the way to access the class website. You will be able to
access the daily activity from the class, documents distributed in class and documents you are
expected to print out, complete and bring to class. This will also be the website we will use for
classroom discussions. You will be expected to access this site on a daily basis. If you have
missed class, this is your source to find out what you missed and access the day’s activities. Your
user name and password for this site is the same as you user name and password for signing on
to school computers.
Classroom Expectations:
1. Be on time and be prepared for class – Detentions assigned after 3 tardies.
2. Be respectful to everyone in the classroom
3. Don’t cut class
4. Don’t do outside work in class and do this classes’ work in someone else’s class
5. No eating in class, water only for drinks
7. No cell phones unless I have authorized BYOD in class
8. All other school rules apply
Academic Integrity:
Students are expected to meet academic challenges with the highest degree of integrity and
honesty. When questions arise about research or learning activities, students should demonstrate
the discipline necessary to seek guidance from their teacher, rather than resorting to inappropriate
behaviors that may undermine their own academic integrity and the learning process.
All students should read and understand the CBS Academic Integrity Policy, and ask questions
or seek clarification if they are unsure of how that policy relates to academic work in general or to
specific assignments for this course. Consequences will result when this policy is violated. The full
policy can be accessed through my SharePoint site.
Please go to the class Blackboard site, read the CB South Academic Integrity Policy, sign
the acknowledgement handed out, have your parents sign it as well, and then return it to
me.
Helpful Hints:
1. Complete all assignments before class and take good notes in class.
2. Keep yourself organized – there will be notes, handouts, tests, quizzes and other
things that need to be organized in a notebook. Organization will greatly help in your
success in this course. A loose-leaf notebook is highly recommended.
3. ASK QUESTIONS, ASK QUESTIONS, ASK QUESTIONS!!!
4. If you have been absent and missed work, find out what it was and make it up as
soon as possible. In the event that you have missed a unit test, you will have 5 DAYS
to make it up or you will receive a ZERO for a grade – Under normal circumstances,
class time is not to be used to make up tests. You must schedule, with me, a time to
make up your tests
5. If you need extra help or tutoring, get it!! I will be available when you need me, just
tell me when you are coming to see me. MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN. This is an 18 week
course, but it will go by fast. Don’t get off to a slow start. Everything builds on the previous
material. Don’t wait to get help if you need it.
6. Find a friend you can depend on to get notes from if you are out. I can meet with you
to go over what you missed, but my notes do not leave my classroom and are NOT
posted on the Blackboard site. Try to avoid this by coming to class everyday.
7. PARTICIPATE. Participation helps you in your learning and makes class more
interesting for you and me. I have learned more in the classes in which everyone
was involved in discussions than I ever did just sitting in a class quiet the whole time.
9. My e-mail address is jwussler@cbsd.org. Feel free to contact me if you have any
questions.