Syllabus
ECON 2010-3
Fall 2015
Check the class folder on the G drive for updates and corrections.
Dr. Tufte
Last Updated 3/23/2016
Syllabus
ECON 2010-3
Principles of Microeconomics
Fall 2015
CRN 31393
David Tufte, Ph.D.
Description:
Introduction to basic microeconomic principles: price theory, theory
of the firm, trade and comparative advantage, public goods, taxation,
welfare economics, and industrial organization. Public policy with
regard to the environment, consumer protection, and other problems
is also examined.
Pre-Requisites:
None
Location:
Room 110, Dixie Leavitt Business Building
Time:
10:00 to 10:50 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday
What You
Need:
1) Access to the class site at McGraw-Hill Connect
This is required, and you can’t buy it used or share it. Financial
excuses will not be accepted for missing assignments from Connect.
If you are using Connect for another class, you can and should use the
same username and password, but you must buy access for each
course separately.
2) Microeconomics or Economics by David C. Colander, 9th edition.
This is required too. But I don’t object if you buy it new, share it, rent
it, borrow it, or buy it used.
You may use an earlier or international edition at your own risk.
How to Get
What You
Need:
First, figure out if you want to buy Connect and a text together or
separately. It’s gotten a lot harder to save money by buying things
separately the last few years.
Connect access cards can be bought through the bookstore, or by
going directly to McGraw-Hill’s website.
The bookstore also sells Connect access cards bundled with a text at
a discounted price.
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Syllabus
ECON 2010-3
Fall 2015
Check the class folder on the G drive for updates and corrections.
Dr. Tufte
Last Updated 3/23/2016
Second, figure out if you need a text for one class or for two. Most of
you are just taking ECON 2010, but some of you are taking both
ECON 2010 and 2020. Do note that Colander’s text is used for most,
but not all, sections of those classes.
Microeconomics is the 1 course textbook for just ECON 2010.
Economics is the 2 course textbook for both ECON 2010 and 2020.
Microeconomics is available both in loose-leaf (cheaper, but lower
resale value) or paperback (more expensive, with more resale value).
Economics is only available in hardcover (most expensive, but with
the most resale value).
So, I’ve given you 5 options. I apologize that the software used by the
bookstore is not capable of displaying this clearly:
1) Buy a Connect access card for this course only. Find a text on
your own.
2) Buy a Connect access card for this course and ECON 2020.
Find texts on your own.
3) Buy a Connect access card for ECON 2010 only, bundled with
a loose-leaf version of Macroeconomics.
4) Buy a Connect access card for ECON 2010 only, bundled with
a paperback version of Macroeconomics.
5) Buy a Connect access card for both ECON 2010 and ECON
2020, bundled with a hardcover version of Economics.
Office:
Room 313, Business Building
Office Phone:
586-5407 (leave a callback number if you leave a message)
Office Hours:
Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 9:00 am
Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 to 10:00 am
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 2:00 pm to 2:20 pm
Appointments are available at other times.
I have a daughter that isn’t old enough to drive: I’m generally here all
day when she’s 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. I’ll reply to whatever
device you used.
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
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Syllabus
ECON 2010-3
Fall 2015
Check the class folder on the G drive for updates and corrections.
Dr. Tufte
Last Updated 3/23/2016
professionally rather than like a text (i.e., no l33t or CamelCase), and
put one of the following keywords in the subject line: ECON2010 or
microeconomics.
No, you can’t have my smartphone’s number.
Websites:
http://www.suu.edu/faculty/tufte/
http://connect.mheducation.com/class/d-tufte-10-am-1
Canvas:
Canvas is SUU’s system for doing classes over the internet. There is a
shell for this class on Canvas. However, we won’t be using Canvas for
too much this semester (if at all).
Micro and
Macro:
ECON 2020, Principles of Macroeconomics, is not required for this
class. There’s nothing in ECON 2010 that’s easier because you’ve
taken ECON 2020. However, it’s fairly common for students to ask
questions in ECON 2010 that are more applicable to ECON 2020.
How Micro and
Macro “Splits”
Work:
There are texts for Principles of Economics that include both
microeconomics and macroeconomics, and are usually used for two
semester sequences.
Most classes, including this one, use a “split”: all the chapters for that
subject, plus a few chapters that are shared between the splits.
Your text is divided into Part I and Part II. Part I is the 5 chapters
shared by the macro and micro splits, while Part II is the 18 micro
chapters (plus 2 web chapters).
Please note that some students buy books in which chapter numbers
are incorrectly printed. If you paid full price for the split, your
chapters should be numbered 1 to 23. It is your responsibility to sort
this out if they aren’t numbered that way.
Material
Sections:
The text is divided into 2 parts and 8 sections. I have no idea why the
authors are intent on confusing you, but both of these are numbered
with Roman numerals.
Part I is one section, and that section is not numbered. I cover all this
material in class.
Part II has 7 sections, numbered I through VII.
I will cover all of Sections I, III, most of IV, and part of V. This is
chapters 1-8, 11-15, and 17.
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Syllabus
ECON 2010-3
Fall 2015
Check the class folder on the G drive for updates and corrections.
Dr. Tufte
Last Updated 3/23/2016
You will have two exams during Part I. Then in Part II, you will have
exams after we finish Sections I and III, and after Chapter 14 and 17.
Web Chapters:
The text includes 2 web chapters. I do not cover these.
Grades:
Your grade is the percentage of points you earn out of 300 points: 140
from chapter quizzes, 40 from comprehensive quizzes, and 140 from
(online) homeworks.
Yes, that adds up to more than 300 points. There is no curve, and
you’ll probably need those extra 20 points.
There is an automatic 12 point curve. There are opportunities to earn
up to 28 more points of extra credit from taking quizzes on optional
chapters: 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
A270-276
B+
264-270
B
246-264
B240-246
C+
234-240
C
216-234
C210-216
D+
204-210
D
186-204
D180-186
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.
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Syllabus
ECON 2010-3
Fall 2015
Check the class folder on the G drive for updates and corrections.
Dr. Tufte
Last Updated 3/23/2016
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, up to a maximum score of 15 out
of 10 points.
You will be given the opportunity to retake chapter quizzes. If you do,
you keep the new score, not the high score.
Whether or not you retake a chapter quiz is up to you. I generally
advise no one to retake a quiz on which they already got an 8 or better:
there’s too much chance of making a random error or “stupid
mistake”. I encourage everyone who scored a 6 or lower on a quiz to
consider a retake.
Required
Chapter
Quizzes:
I will cover 14 chapters in class: 1-8, 11-15, and 17.
Optional
Chapter
Quizzes:
There are several chapters in the text that I will not cover in class.
There are four of those (16, and 18-20) for which you are welcome to
take optional quizzes, giving you a chance at more points.
Each will have its own chapter quiz, as part of the exams.
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.
Four quizzes, with 3 free points on each, is the 12 point curve
mentioned above. Four optional chapter quizzes, and the chance at 7
points on each of them, is the 28 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 amount will
be:
8 points on the 1st quiz (so 8 to 18 is the possible score)
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Syllabus
ECON 2010-3
Fall 2015
Check the class folder on the G drive for updates and corrections.
Dr. Tufte
Last Updated 3/23/2016
6 points on the 2nd quiz (so 6 to 16 is the possible score)
4 points on the 3rd quiz (so 4 to 14 is the possible score)
2 points on the 4th quiz (so 2 to 12 is the possible score)
1 points on the 5th quiz (so 1 to 11 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, half-sheet, 100 question 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:
Earlier exams cover less material: bring one scantron.
Wednesday, September 16th – Chapters 1-3.
Wednesday, September 30th – Chapters 4-5.
Wednesday, October 21st – Chapters 1-8.
Later exams cover more material: bring two scantrons.
Wednesday, November 4th – Chapters 1-8, 11-12.
Wednesday, November 18th – Chapters 1-8, 11-14.
Friday, December 4th – Chapters 1-8, 11-15, and 17.
The final exam is scheduled by the university for: Thursday,
December 10th at 1 pm.
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 and
earning more points.
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Syllabus
ECON 2010-3
Fall 2015
Check the class folder on the G drive for updates and corrections.
Dr. Tufte
Last Updated 3/23/2016
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.
Makeup
Exams:
There are no makeups. You may take any chapter quizzes you like on
any exam day, but only on exam days.
Homeworks:
Homeworks in this class are done online through Connect. Connect
is required for this class: you are not excused from doing homeworks
because you have not paid for Connect.
Connect offers two types of assignments: LearnSmart and Pre-Built
Assignments. In each section, LearnSmart Assignments are due
earlier, and Pre-Built Assignments are due later.
Each exam will mark the end of a section of the class. In each section,
either 2 or 3 chapters will be covered. There will be a LearnSmart and
a Pre-Built Assignment for each are chapter on the exam that follows.
Within each section I will count your highest homework score for
each chapter, as many as there are chapters in that section.
The homeworks have different numbers of questions. Your
percentage correct will be scaled to give you a score out of 10 points.
LearnSmart
Assignments:
LearnSmart is designed to be something that you do after having
started a chapter but before you finish it. LearnSmart assignments
are interactive: Connect will feed you more questions if you’re doing
poorly, and fewer as you do better.
LearnSmart assignments are due earlier in the section, staggered by
chapter, before the start of class. Typically, these are due about the
time I start lecturing on the material, or a little after I start.
LearnSmart grading is based on the proportion of the assignment
that you finish. This means that you can score well on this just by
being diligent.
Pre-Built
Assignments:
Pre-Built Assignments are similar to multiple choice quizzes, with a
bit of online interactivity.
Pre-Built Assignments are designed to be done after you’ve finished
a chapter. All the Pre-Built Assignments are due at 11 pm, two days
before the exam.
Pre-Built Assignments can be done twice, with new questions the
second time. If you take it once or twice, it will be your average score
that counts.
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Syllabus
ECON 2010-3
Fall 2015
Check the class folder on the G drive for updates and corrections.
Dr. Tufte
Last Updated 3/23/2016
How Students
Tend to Feel
About Connect
Assignments:
Most students find the LearnSmart Assignments to be too easy, and
the Pre-Built Assignments to be too hard. LearnSmart Assignments
are definitely scored more easily. So try to do all the LearnSmart
Assignments, but don’t forget to do the Pre-Built Assignments even
if you know their low scores will be dropped.
Make-Ups:
There are no make-up homeworks of either sort.
Flexibility
My class is very flexible, and it gives you a lot of options for earning
Freedom, and
points in a way that works best for you.
Special
Considerations: My class also gives you a lot of freedom to manage your workload.
Please note that while there may be ways to procrastinate in my class,
there are few ways to get out of ultimately doing the work.
Because I give you freedom and flexibility, I am far less inclined to
make an exception for you in a special case. By all means, feel free to
ask — perhaps you do deserve an exception. But please keep in mind
that I am inclined to refuse such requests: the whole point of giving
you flexibility and freedom is so that you’ll address your own
problems in the best way you can manage.
How to Earn a
Grade You Find
Satisfying In
This Class:
There are two sorts of students taking this class: those who need this
course as part of their foundation core to achieve advanced standing
for a business major (including economics), and those who are taking
it for general education credit.
I recognize that different students will have a different target grade
in mind for this class: I don’t judge you if you only want to pass.
Doing the homeworks diligently is the way to put up enough points
to pass the class. Doing LearnSmart Assignments is an easier way to
get those points than doing Pre-Built Assignments. If you miss a
LearnSmart Assignment, definitely do the Pre-Built Assignment for
that chapter to pick up some points.
Doing better on the chapter quizzes offered on exam days is what
differentiates the A’s from the B’s from the C’s, D’s and F’s. Retake
chapter quizzes on later exam days to improve your scores.
The comprehensive quizzes are a tool I use to assess the progress of
the class. You get to keep all the points you earn, and I give you
enough extra credit on these to make it worth your while. Your best
strategy is to take these earlier rather than later in the semester.
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Syllabus
ECON 2010-3
Fall 2015
Check the class folder on the G drive for updates and corrections.
Dr. Tufte
Last Updated 3/23/2016
Lastly, avoid the optional chapter quizzes. If you’ve been struggling,
it will show up in lower scores for the required chapter quizzes. But
those are the chapters on which I’ve lectured, and you’ve done
homework: it’s unlikely that you’re going to do better on an optional
chapter that doesn’t have that level of support. But that’s weird, isn’t
it? Why would I allow you to take optional chapter quizzes at all? The
answer is that this opportunity is mostly for good students who’ve
screwed up: they’ve done well on a bunch of stuff (so they know they
can do the work), but they’ve skipped some stuff and gotten some
zeroes earlier in the semester.
If You
Need
Help:
Help yourself first.
 Read the text before class. Outline it.
 Look up words you don’t know.
 Do the LearnSmart Assignments.
 Attend class and pay attention.
 Ask questions if you need to.
 Take notes, but not so many that you’re just copying instead of
understanding.
 Revisit the notes with your text, ideally within 24 hours.
Rewrite the notes if they are messy.
 Do the Pre-Built Assignments as you gear up for the exam. Use
the day before the exam to review those.
Ask for help.
 Come to office hours.
 Send me an e-mail.
 Go to the tutoring center.
SUU’s
Essential
Learning
Outcomes
This is a general education class; the Provost’s website offers details
about fifteen essential learning outcomes. Three are incorporated
into each general education class. This class covers:



School
Learning
Outcomes:
Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural
World
Critical Thinking
Civic Knowledge and Engagement, Local and Global
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.
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Syllabus
ECON 2010-3
Fall 2015
Check the class folder on the G drive for updates and corrections.
Dr. Tufte
Last Updated 3/23/2016
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 third bullet
points.
Course Outline: After today, holidays, exam days, and other excused days, we have
about 34 days to cover 14 chapters. We will spend 2-3 days on each
chapter.
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.
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Syllabus
SANS
Statement:
ECON 2010-3
Fall 2015
Check the class folder on the G drive for updates and corrections.
Dr. Tufte
Last Updated 3/23/2016
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.
Required Additions
I’m required by SUU to include these in my syllabus.
Mistakes in the information below are not my responsibility.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be
prosecuted to the fullest extent. You are expected to have read and understood Policy
6.33 Academic Integrity and the current issue of the student handbook (published by
Student Services) regarding student responsibilities and rights.
ADA 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 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or phone (435) 865-8022. SSD
determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STATEMENT: In case of emergency, the University's
Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to
maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU
portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the
Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about
the University's emergency management plan can be found at
http://www.suu.edu/ad/facilities/emergency-procedures.html
HEOA Compliance statement: The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer
(P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law.
Detailed information can be found at http://www.suu.edu/it/p2p-student-notice.html.
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.)
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