Department of Economics
Economics 214
(12084 - 214)
General Module Outline
2024
Updated: 12 February 2024
Economics 214 | 2024
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5
Introduction .................................................................................................. 3
1.1.
The purpose of the module framework ...................................................... 3
1.2.
Module prerequisites ................................................................................ 3
1.3.
Module outcomes .................................................................................... 3
1.4.
Language of instruction ............................................................................ 3
1.5.
Writing- and information enriched module ................................................. 3
AdminIstration .............................................................................................. 4
2.1.
Module convenor ..................................................................................... 4
2.2.
LecturerS & other information .................................................................. 4
2.3.
Lecture times AND TUTORIAL TIMES ........................................................ 4
Resources ..................................................................................................... 5
3.1.
Prescribed textbooks ................................................................................ 5
3.2.
Suggested additional resources and literature ............................................ 5
Learning methodology ................................................................................... 5
4.1.
Method of instruction ............................................................................... 5
4.2.
Participation In module activities .............................................................. 5
4.3.
Tutorial classes ........................................................................................ 5
4.5
SUNLearn ................................................................................................ 6
4.6
Consultation times and the use of the SUNLearn discussion forum .............. 7
4.7
Copyright ................................................................................................ 7
Flexible Assessment for semester modules ...................................................... 7
5.1
Assessment opportunities ......................................................................... 8
5.2
Pass requirements ................................................................................... 9
5.3
Access to Assessment 3 (A3) .................................................................... 9
5.4
Work covered per assessment opportunity .............................................. 10
5.5
Turnover time/feedback ......................................................................... 10
5.6
Handout of tests and appeal procedure ................................................... 10
5.7
Alternative method to calculate your final mark…………………………...…10
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1.
THE PURPOSE OF THE MODULE FRAMEWORK
This module framework contains important information regarding the contents,
assessments and administration of the module. The module framework is a document
that is regarded as an agreement between a lecturer and student.
1.2.
MODULE PREREQUISITES
Prerequisite pass module: Economics 114
Prerequisite pass module: Economics 144
1.3.
MODULE OUTCOMES
Please consult the module framework of each submodule for the outcomes.
1.4.
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
Economics 214 is presented according to the language option as indicated in the
faculty language plan:
Both Afrikaans and English are used in the same class group and the combination of
facilitated learning opportunities is as follows:



1.5.
During each lecture, all information is conveyed at least in English and summaries
or emphasis on content are also given in Afrikaans. Questions in Afrikaans and
English are, at the least, answered in the language of the question.
Students are supported in Afrikaans and English during a combination of
appropriate, facilitated learning opportunities (e.g. consultations during office
hours, or scheduled tutorials and practicals).
For first-year modules, SU makes simultaneous interpreting available during each
lecture. During the second and subsequent years of study, simultaneous
interpreting is made available by SU upon request by a faculty, if the needs of the
students warrant the service and SU has the resources to provide it. If two weeks
have passed with no students making use of the interpreting service, it may be
discontinued.
WRITING- AND INFORMATION ENRICHED MODULE
This module is classified as a writing- and information enriched module. This means
that your writing skills will be developed through the writing of an essay.
Economics 214 | 2024
2. ADMINISTRATION
2.1.
MODULE CONVENOR
Name
Office
E-mail address
Telephone
number
Consultation
hours
Prof AP de Villiers
Schumann 502
apdv@sun.ac.za
021 808 2206
By appointment
2.2.
LECTURERS & OTHER INFORMATION
Submodule and
lecturer
Micro
Prof AP de Villiers
Macro
Me L Nieuwoudt
Office
E-mail address
Telephone
number
Consultation
hours
Schumann 502
apdv@sun.ac.za
021 808 2206
By appointment
Schumann 512
lnieuw@sun.ac.za
021 808 2416
By appointment
Internal moderator: Dr M Nchake
Physical address of the department: 5th & 6th floors, CGW Schumann Building, Bosman
Street
Departmental telephone number: 021 808 2247
2.3.
LECTURE TIMES AND TUTORIAL TIMES
Lectures will be presented on the following days and times during 2024:
Group
1
2
Day
Monday
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Friday
Time
15:10
12:10
14:10
09:10
11:10
12:10
Venue
Maths/Ind Psyc
Maths/Ind Psyc
Maths/Ind Psyc
Maths/Ind Psyc
Maths/Ind Psyc
Maths/Ind Psyc
1005
1005
1005
1005
1005
1005
The attendance of all synchronous activities is compulsory.
Tutorial times and venues
Language
Afrikaans
English
English
Day
Tuesday
Thursday
Friday
Time
13:10
13:10
14:10
Venue
CGW Schumann 104
CGW Schumann 104
Van der Sterr 1046
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Economics 214 | 2024
3. RESOURCES
3.1.
PRESCRIBED TEXTBOOKS
De Villiers, P. & Frank, R. 2014. Microeconomics and Behaviour (Second Southern
African Edition). McGraw-Hill.
Williamson, Stephen. 2017. Macroeconomics (6th Edition). Pearson.
3.2.
SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND LITERATURE
Class notes and additional resources will be provided on SUNLearn. From time to time
additional material may be used in the classes. If you were not in the class you can
fetch it within 2 days at Me Wanza in Room 508.
4. LEARNING METHODOLOGY
4.1.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
Principles of adult learning, with an emphasis on blended learning, will be applied in
this module. Methods of instruction include theoretical inputs, class discussions,
formative assessments, practical exercises, tutorial classes and case studies. You are
invited to participate interactively in this module and ask questions in class whenever
anything is unclear. The Department places a high premium on class attendance and
class participation and lectures will normally not be recorded. Only recordings of the
most difficult work will be uploaded on SunLearn on a selective basis.
4.2.
PARTICIPATION IN MODULE ACTIVITIES
Stellenbosch University is a contact university that is currently providing teaching via
face-to-face contact and an online platform (SUNLearn). This means that a large part
of your learning takes place via active learning in class time. Therefore, attending of
lectures is very important. Research confirm that poor class attendance has a negative
impact on your ability to pass this module. To ensure that you master the learning
outcomes of this module, you are expected to keep up to date with all learning
activities and actively participate in all activities. Because the Department places a
high premium on class attendance and class participation classes will normally not be
recorded. Only recordings of the most difficult work will be uploaded on SunLearn on
a selective basis.
4.3.
TUTORIAL CLASSES
Tutorials offer students the opportunity to put the theory of the classroom into practice.
In the Microeconomics part the tutorials will also be used to revise certain sections of
Economics 114. These sections will NOT be repeated in the formal lectures although
you may be tested on it in the assessment opportunities. Tutorials help to practice the
work covered in lectures as well as the handling of more numerical questions that
require some mathematical calculations. Tutorials start already in the second week of
the semester and tutorial answers will only be discussed in the tutorial periods.
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Economics 214 | 2024
4.4
ESSAYS AND PLAGIARISM
Each student will be required to write one essay. This gives you the opportunity to
develop your ability to collect, arrange and present economic information. The writing
skills of Economics students are a great asset in their careers. You are expected to
comply with normal conventions and requirements for academic reports. More
information will be provided at a later stage. You also have to load an electronic copy
of the final version of your essay on www.turnitin.com.
The Department views plagiarism as a very serious offence. Therefore, ensure that
there is no plagiarism in your essay. Plagiarism offences will be referred to the
disciplinary committee of the university. You also have to complete and sign the
“plagiarism declaration form” which is available on SUNLearn.
You can only hone your writing skills if you learn from mistakes from honest and
transparent writing attempts. While the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to improve
your writing is allowed, it cannot be used for substantive or creative parts of the work
you submit, as this is both dishonest and does not help you learn the core skills
required in a professional career in the modern economy. You are required to
familiarise yourself with the guidelines provided on the appropriate and allowable use
of these tools, and you will be required to make declarations on whether and how you
have used these tools before you will be allowed to submit an essay(s) in this module.
COMPLETING THE ESSAY IS COMPULSAY AND YOU CANNOT PASS THIS
MODULE IF YOU DID NOT HAND IN AN ESSAY.
The essay is due before midnight (i.e., at the latest 23:59) on 28 March 2024.
Penalization is 10 percentage points for first day late hand-in (even a few seconds
late) and 5 percentage points for every subsequent day or part thereof
No late essays will be accepted after 10 May 2024.
More information regarding the essay topics and online submissions will be made
available closer to the due date. Essays contribute a meaningful portion of the final
mark (FM) and must be viewed as very important.
4.5 SUNLEARN
SUNLearn is an integral part of this module. It should be consulted regularly for
resources, communication (including marks) and learning activities.
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4.6 CONSULTATION TIMES
DISCUSSION FORUM
AND
THE
USE
OF
THE
SUNLEARN
Send an e-mail to your lecturer to make an appointment or you can also do it right
after class.
The Discussion Forum function on SUNLearn should be used for all queries relating to
the course content of the module. The Discussion Forum enables peer-to-peer learning
and students are encouraged to answer each other’s questions. Peer learning and
individual student engagement are incredibly important in an online learning
environment. For this reason, posts should not be addressed to the lecturers. It is not
necessary to start and sign-off the posts with formal greetings as you would an email.
If your query consists of multiple questions, please number your questions. Questions
posted on the Discussion Forum will be answered in the language in which it was
raised.
All queries not relating to the course content can be emailed to the lecturer. If a query
about course content is of such a nature that it is difficult to ask and / or answer by
means of the Discussion Forum, you are welcome to make an appointment with the
lecturer.
Please note that the SUNLearn Discussion Forum is a public platform.
4.7 COPYRIGHT
Stellenbosch University holds the copyright to all material in this module. Material
which is made available through SUNLearn may be subject to certain licencing
conditions. You may only use the material for your own private study and research at
the University and not for any other purpose. Printed material is also only made
available for class discussion, private study and research purposes. Further
reproduction or distribution of such material is prohibited. Contravention of these rules
will result in disciplinary action and may result in legal action.
5 FLEXIBLE ASSESSMENT FOR SEMESTER MODULES
Economics 214 makes use of summative and formative assessment. Summative
assessment compiles out of main assessment A1; main assessment A2 as well as a
main assessment A3. There is also a further assessment opportunity FA (essay) that
will be taken into consideration when compiling the final mark.
This approach to assessment puts the responsibility of learning in the student’s hands.
Make use of all available assessment opportunities and ensure that you understand
how assessment in the module works.
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Economics 214 | 2024
5.1 ASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Assessment 1 (A1)
Test
22 March 2024
Contribution to FM: 30 %
Further Assessment (FA)
Summative (FAS)
Essay
Submission date: 28 March 2024
Contribution to FM: 10%
Assessment 2 (A2)
Test
31 May 2024
Contribution to FM: 60 %
Assessment 3 (A3)
Test
24 June 2024
Contribution to FM: 60 %
Please note: It is your responsibility to request special arrangements for main
assessment opportunities that have been scheduled on religious holidays. The
following apply:
 For A2 and A3 the examination office will make the necessary arrangements where
possible. Visit the Examinations Office in Admin A in the course of the last two class
weeks of the semester.
 For A1 the department will make the necessary arrangements if it can be feasibly
done in accordance with the arrangements usually made by the examination office
for A2 and A3. If you want to request special arrangements contact your lecturer
at least two weeks before each assessment opportunity.
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Economics 214 | 2024
The calculation of your final mark (FM) is based on a weighted formula. The formulas
used to calculate the FM after A2 and A3 are as follows:
FM after A2 =
(
weight of A1
total weight
x A1 mark) + (
weight of A2
total weight
x A2 mark) + (
weight of FAS
total weight
x FAS mark)
FM after A3 =
(
weight of A1
total weight
x A1 mark) + (
weight of A2
total weight
x A2 mark) + (
weight of FAS
total weight
x FAS mark) + (
weight of A3
total weight
x A3 mark)
When calculating a FM using the formulas please note the following:
 The total weight is the sum of the weights of all the assessment opportunities that
you have completed (minimum 100). Even if you missed assessment opportunities,
the total weight will be at least 100.
 For all missed assessment opportunities, a zero mark is awarded.
5.2 PASS REQUIREMENTS
Firstly, a FM of at least 50 is required to pass the module. The formulas for the
calculation of the FM is set out above. Secondly, at least two main assessment
opportunities MUST be completed to achieve a valid FM in a semester module. In
other words, you must complete at least two of the following: (A1, A2 and A3). If you
do not obtain a valid FM you fail the module.
5.3 ACCESS TO ASSESSMENT 3 (A3)
Note that it is not necessary to submit medical certificates or any other documents for
missed assessment opportunities.
You have access to A3 if either of the following applies:
 If you completed all of the main assessment opportunities other than A3 (A1, A2)
but have not obtained a FM of 50 or more, you have access to A3 in order to
improve your FM to 50.
 You missed a main assessment opportunity (A1 or A2) for whatever reason. In this
case, a FM of 50 or more can still be obtained if you make use of A3.
 If you missed two main assessment opportunities (A1, A2), you cannot obtain a
valid FM and therefore you fail the module. However, you still have access to
A3 in order to allow you the opportunity to obtain a FM that could adhere to
prerequisites or other requirements.
No further assessment opportunities will take place after A3.
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Economics 214 | 2024
5.4 WORK COVERED PER ASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITY
The prescribed work covered per assessment opportunity is as follows:
 Assessment 1: Will be communicated through SUNLearn
 Assessment 2: Will be communicated through SUNLearn
 Assessment 3: Will be communicated through SUNLearn
5.5 TURNOVER TIME/FEEDBACK
Test marks will be available within 2 – 3 weeks.
5.6 HANDOUT OF TESTS AND APPEAL PROCEDURE
Information on this will be posted on the module’s SUNLearn page.
5.7 ALTERNATIVE METHOD TO CALCULATE YOUR FINAL MARK:
Economics 214 makes use of summative assessment. Summative assessment
compiles out of main assessment A1; main assessment A2 as well as a main
assessment A3. There is also a further assessment opportunity FA (essay) that will be
taken into consideration when compiling the final mark.
Students have to write at least two of the three main assessment opportunities.
Further summative assessment (FAS) is done with the aid of an essay.
The weights of the main assessment tests in the calculation of the final mark if
summative main assessments A1 and A2 are written is as follows:
Summative Main Assessment A1
Summative Main Assessment A2
Essay FAS
FINAL MARK
MARK
30
60
10
100
If a student did not achieve a final mark of at least 50% after summative main
assessment A2, the student may write summative main assessment A3. The
weights of the final mark are then as follows:
MARK
Summative Main Assessment A1
30
Essay FAS
10
Summative Main Assessment A2
60
Summative Main Assessment A3
60
FINAL MARK
160
In this case where a student uses A3 as a supplementary assessment to pass a
maximum final mark of 50% can be obtained.
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Economics 214 | 2024
If a student missed summative main assessment A1, such a student may write
summative main assessment A2. The student must then also write summative main
assessment A3.
The weights of the main assessments in the calculation of the final mark if
summative main assessment A1 is not written, but summative main
assessments A2 and A3 are written are as follows:
Essay FAS
Summative Main Assessment A2
Summative Main Assessment A3
FINAL MARK
MARK
10
60
60
130
In this case a student will not be entitled to any further assessment opportunities.
If a student wrote summative main assessment A1, but missed summative main
assessment A2 the student may write summative main assessment A3.
The weights of the main assessments in the calculation of the final mark if
summative main assessment A1 and the summative main assessments A3 are
written are as follows:
Summative Main Assessment A1
Essay FAS
Summative Main Assessment A3
FINAL MARK
MARK
30
10
60
100
In this case a student will not be entitled to any further assessment opportunities.
NB: If a student missed two summative main assessment
opportunities (irrespective of the reason) you cannot pass the
course, because no student can pass on the grounds of only one
main assessment opportunity.
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