Chabot College, Spring 2023
Dr. Patrick Zhicheng Liang
ECN 10 General Economics
Course Syllabus (CRN 31216)
Spring 2023
Instructor Contact Information
Instructor: Patrick Zhicheng Liang
Email: pliang@chabotcollege.edu or contact me through the Canvas Inbox.
Once the course begins, I prefer to get messages through the Canvas Inbox. I will respond to all
course email within 24~48 hours during the week and 72 hours over the weekend.
Course and Instruction Information
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This is a synchronous online course with scheduled live meetings via video conferencing.
We will meet every Monday and Wednesday 10:30AM - 11:45AM (via Zoom).
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82067026773?pwd=Mnd1cE1lY1QzNXVvNDhpT2FMdktzUT09
(Meeting ID: 820 6702 6773 Passcode: 740998)
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Canvas Course Website: https://clpccd.instructure.com/courses/34715
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Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00AM – 9:00AM
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81729553486?pwd=aWpmYWdRQUxCLzhtbXZ6TU5NZUxtUT09
(Meeting ID: 817 2955 3486 Passcode: 082085)
or alternative time by appointment. If you want to meet with me outside of the regularly
scheduled office hours, please email me to schedule an appointment.
Course Description
This course is an introduction to modern Economics. It covers both microeconomics and
macroeconomics topics. Microeconomics studies the decision-making process of representative
agents (e.g., consumers, manufacturers, firms). Macroeconomics deals with the overall performance
of the economy. Topics covered in this course include supply and demand analysis, firms’ output
and pricing decisions, international trade, comparative economic systems, economic growth,
unemployment, inflation, business cycles, fiscal and monetary policy, and money and banking.
Pre-Requisites: none
Students Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of the course you will be able to:
1. Demonstrate ability to use economic problem solving.
2. Demonstrate ability to understand and analyze economic graphs.
3. Demonstrate ability use economic terminology.
Source: Course Description & Outline
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Chabot College, Spring 2023
Dr. Patrick Zhicheng Liang
Required Textbook
Contemporary Economics: An Applications Approach, 8th ed., Robert Carbaugh (published by
Routledge, 2017).
Accommodations and Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS)
Students who believe they may have physical, learning or other special circumstances or disabilities
that affect their class work are encouraged to make an appointment with me or email me to discuss
solutions, and contact a DSPS counselor (DSPS Center, Building 2400, phone number: (510) 7236725) to learn more about possible accommodations and other special programs. Students who
require accommodations must inform the instructor in advance and provide documentation
which states the specific type of accommodation required. It is the student’s responsibility to
give advance to the instructor and to coordinate exams time and location with DSPS.
Course Policies and Standards
Equal Opportunity /Non-Discrimination Statement
Chabot College is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and the prevention of
discrimination and harassment in any program or activity of the College District on the basis of race,
color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, religion, age, gender, gender identity,
marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, disability or AIDS/HIV status, medical
conditions, or status as Vietnam-era veteran, or on the basis of these perceived characteristics, or based
on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
Attendance / Drop Policy
I strongly encourage regular class attendance. Each class session will cover new material. Since
material in each week builds upon the material from previous weeks, it is imperative that you not fall
behind. I therefore strongly encourage students to attend fully every class.
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Be sure to attend the first day of class. If you do not attend the first class meeting, without
communicating in advance with the instructor, you may be withdrawn from the class.
If you know in advance that you will not be able to attend a class meeting or that you will
need to leave a class meeting early, please let me know. Please be informed that a student who
is absent for a total of four consecutive or six cumulative instructional hours, without
communicating in advance with the instructor, may be dropped from the course by the
instructor for excessive absences.
You are fully responsible for following up on all announcements made in class and on the
Canvas course website. Students must check daily for class updates and communication from
the instructor. These include your college email, Canvas messaging, comments in Canvas
assignments, and announcements made on the Canvas course website.
Students have the ultimate responsibility for dropping courses they no longer attend.
Academic Integrity
Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the
appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others’ academic endeavors. When there is
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Chabot College, Spring 2023
Dr. Patrick Zhicheng Liang
evidence of cheating1 or plagiarism2 in students’ work, the instructor may assign a failing grade, “F,”
or zero points to the examination or assignment in which the alleged cheating or plagiarism
occurred. Instructors have the authority to use plagiarism detecting instruments to detect academic
dishonesty.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
The Chabot-Las Positas Community College District encourages all its students to pursue academic
studies that will promote intellectual growth and personal development. In pursuit of these goals, the
student should be free of unfair or improper action from any member of the academic community.
The district accords every student the right of protection. Students, however, must also be aware that
they are responsible for complying with all college regulations and for maintaining the appropriate
requirements as established by the instructor for each course in which they are enrolled.
Course Evaluations and Grading Scheme
There are four components to your grade: three midterm exams (36%), one final exam (12%), twelve
homework assignments (48%), and eight discussions (4%).
Grade Policy
12 Homework
8 Discussion
Mid-term Exam#1
Mid-term Exam#2
Mid-term Exam#3
Final Exam
Grade Total
Points
480 points
40 points
120 points
120 points
120 points
120 points
1,000 points
Percentage of Grade
48%
4%
12%
12%
12%
12%
100%
Grade
A = 900 – 1,000 Points (90% –100%)
B = 800 – 899 Points (80% – 89.9%)
C = 700 – 799 Points (70% – 79.9%)
D = 600 – 699 Points (60% – 69.9%)
F = 0 – 599 Points (Below 60%)
Mid-term and Final Exams
There are three midterm exams in this course for a total of 36% of your grade. The final exam works
12% of your grade. The following table lists the dates of exams.
: Cheating refers to the use of any materials or devices or strategies which provide undue advantage on any exam,
assignment, activity or other method of assessment for a course. This includes, but is not limited to, looking at another
student's exam, using phones or other communication systems to text message during exams, taking pictures or images
of exams, talking with others during exams, using Internet to find information, or any other system of inappropriate
“help”.
2: Plagiarism means presenting someone else's words or ideas as if they were your own and is a form of cheating. Please
make sure you write your own final answer. Written assignments are a way for you to show your understanding of basic
economic concepts by putting them in your own words. To write acceptable answers to assignments, don’t copy wordfor-word from the source you’re using – this is plagiarism. Instead, summarize the main points or basic ideas of the
material you are discussing in your own (different) words and phrasing, and always give credit to the source. If you are
not sure whether your work would be considered plagiarism, please come discuss it with me.
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Chabot College, Spring 2023
Dr. Patrick Zhicheng Liang
Timetable of Exams
Chapters Covered
Date and Time of Exams
Mid-term Exam#1
Chapters 1, 2, 3
Mid-term Exam#2
Chapters 4, 5, 6, 8
Mid-term Exam#3
Chapters 10, 11, 12
Final Exam
Chapters 13, 14, 15
Available on Friday, February 10;
due on Monday, February 13 at 11:59 p.m.
Available on Friday, March 24;
due on Monday, March 27 at 11:59 p.m.
Available on Friday, April 28;
due on Monday, May 1 at 11:59 p.m.
Available on Friday, May 19;
due on Monday, May 22 at 11:59 p.m.
Midterm exams are due on their announced due date and time. Any late submission of midterm exam
must be completed in a timeframe not to exceed one week from the due date. If you face a sudden
emergency and need an extension, let me know before the due date. If you turn in a late midterm
without having asked for an extension before the due date, I shall deduct 2% from your score for each
day it is late (including weekends and holidays). For example, for an exam that is worth 120 points, if
you turn in one day late then you would be deducted 2.40 points; if you turn in two days late then you
would be deducted 4.80 points; and etc. Midterm exams that are more than 7 days late (without
permission) will get a score of 0.
No late submissions (penalty or not) will be accepted for the final exam except in provably extreme
circumstances3. If you face a sudden emergency and need an extension, let me know before the due
date of final exam. Otherwise, you will receive a score of 0 for your final.
Homework Assignments
There will be twelve homework assignments posted with due dates on Canvas. The homework
assignments are provided as a learning aid for students and are designed to synthesize information from
lecture, textbook and outside sources. It is highly recommended for students as it gives a great idea about
the type of questions asked in a midterm exam as well as the final exam.
Homework assignments are due on their announced due date and time. If you face a sudden emergency
and need an extension, let me know before the due date. If you turn in a late homework without having
asked for an extension before the due date, there is a late penalty associated with each assignment:
1) After a homework assignment is due, you can still submit it with 2% late penalty each day for up to 7
days. That means if you submit a homework 2 days after it's due, that assignment will have a 4%
penalty. If you submit a homework 7 days after it's due, that assignment will have a 14% penalty.
2) If you submit a homework 8 or more days after the original due date, there is a late penalty of 16%.
For example if you submit a homework 2 weeks after it's due, that assignment will have a 16%
penalty. If you submit a homework 3 weeks after it's due, that assignment still has a 16% penalty.
3) All late work should be submitted no later than May 26. This is an absolute deadline. No assignments
will be accepted after May 26.
: Instructors will consider the following reasons for missing an exam as excusable: verified medical or
family emergencies; death in a student’s immediate family; military duty; major religious holidays, and others determined
by the instructor to be excusable. There is no penalty for taking the makeup exam in such documented circumstances,
provided you notify me enough in advance, and provide valid proof. Personal business, such as concerts, travel, etc. will
not be considered as a valid reason, and forgetting the time of the assignment will not be accepted.
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Chabot College, Spring 2023
Dr. Patrick Zhicheng Liang
Discussion Participation
Discussion topics related to current material will be posted on Canvas. Discussion is an important
part of the class. It is part of your grade. Discussion is where students can talk about topics in detail
and explore difficult issues. You are encouraged to share your ideas with the class.
Discussion assignments are due on their announced due date and time. If you face a sudden
emergency and need an extension, let me know before the due date. If you turn in a late discussion
without having asked for an extension before the due date, there is a late penalty associated with
each assignment:
1) After a discussion assignment is due, you can still submit it with 2% late penalty each day for
up to 7 days. That means if you submit a discussion 2 days after it's due, that assignment will
have a 4% penalty. If you submit a discussion 7 days after it's due, that assignment will have
a 14% penalty.
2) If you submit a discussion 8 or more days after the original due date, there is a late penalty of
16%. For example if you submit a discussion 2 weeks after it's due, that assignment will have
a 16% penalty. If you submit a discussion 3 weeks after it's due, that assignment still has a
16% penalty.
3) All late work should be submitted no later than May 26. This is an absolute deadline. No
assignments will be accepted after May 26.
Chabot College Student Services and Resources
All campus student resources can be found at the Chabot College Student Service Hub.
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Admissions & Records
Community Resources Guide
Counseling
DSPS (Disabled Students Resource
Center)
Employment
Financial Aid
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International Students
Online Services
Scholarships
Special Programs
Undocumented Students and
DREAMers
Veterans
Important Dates
Event
Dates
Begin date of course
Last day to drop with No-Grade-Of-Record (NGR)
Last Day to Apply for Pass/No Pass
Last day to withdraw with a “W”
Final Examination Due Date
January 17
February 5
February 22
April 16
May 22
Syllabus Change Policy
Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading) statement,
this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice.
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Chabot College, Spring 2023
Dr. Patrick Zhicheng Liang
Course Schedule
Date
Jan. 18
Jan. 23
Jan. 25
Jan. 30
Feb. 1
Feb. 6
Feb. 8
Feb. 13
Feb. 15
Feb. 20
Feb. 22
Feb. 27
Mar. 1
Mar. 6
Topics
Introduction
Scarcity and Choice
Scarcity and Choice
Demand and Supply Analysis
Demand and Supply Analysis
Elasticity
Elasticity
Review for Exam 1
1st Exam (due on Feb. 13)
Production and the Cost of Production
PRESIDENT’S DAY--NO CLASS
Production and the Cost of Production
Competition and Monopoly
Competition and Monopoly
Imperfect Competition
Mar. 8
Mar. 13
Mar. 15
Mar. 20
Imperfect Competition
Government and Market
Government and Market
Review for Exam 2
Ch. 6
Ch. 8
Ch. 8
Mar. 22
Mar. 27
Mar. 29
Apr. 3
Apr. 5
Apr. 10
Gross Domestic Product and Economic Growth
2nd Exam (due on Mar. 27)
Gross Domestic Product and Economic Growth
SPRING BREAK--NO CLASS
SPRING BREAK--NO CLASS
Business Cycle, Unemployment and Inflation
Ch. 10
Apr. 12
Apr. 17
Apr. 19
Business Cycle, Unemployment and Inflation
Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply
Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply
Ch. 11
Ch. 12
Ch. 12
Apr. 24
Review for Exam 3
Apr. 26
Fiscal Policy and the Federal Budget
May 1
May 3
May 8
May 10
May 15
May 17
May 22
Textbook (Robert Carbaugh)
Ch. 1
Ch. 1
Ch. 2
Ch. 2
Ch. 3
Ch. 3
Ch. 4
Ch. 4
Ch. 5
Ch. 5
Ch. 6
Ch. 10
Ch. 11
Ch. 13
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3 Exam (due on May 1)
Fiscal Policy and the Federal Budget
Money and the Banking System
Money and the Banking System
Federal Reserves and Monetary Policy
Federal Reserves and Monetary Policy
Final Exam Review
Final Exam (due on May 22)
Ch. 13
Ch. 14
Ch. 14
Ch. 15
Ch. 15
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