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MACRO SYLLABUS
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INSTRUCTOR: Anthony T. Lee
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OFFICE HOURS TTH, 4:40 – 5:40 p.m The Portable Bldg., or as arranged.
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TELEPHONE: TBA EMAIL: atlee@austincc.edu
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TEXT: Economics Today, The Macro View, Miller 17th ed.
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COURSE: Principles of Macroeconomics Econ 2301 44433 Lec 050 RGC1 303
TTH 7:05 – 9:20 p.m.
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BLACKBOARD NOTE: I will put as much material up on blackboard as I can.
Certainly the grade book, syllabus, and other materials will be there. This will
include class handouts. I may also include links to articles that will be of value.
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COURSE DESCRIPTION: Principles of Macroeconomics deals with consumers
as a whole, producers as a whole, the effects of government spending and taxation
policies and the effects of the monetary policy carried out by the Federal Reserve
Bank. Macroeconomics is concerned with unemployment, inflation, and the
business cycle.
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COURSE RATIONALE: : This course is meant to give students insight into the
dynamics of our national economy. The knowledge gained in the course will
make students better informed citizens and allow them to follow the debates over
national economic policy reported in the news media. This course is also a
foundation course that will prepare students to be successful in upper division
finance, marketing, business administration, economics, government, and social
work course.
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INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY: This is a lecture course that relies on
short answer quizzes and classroom written essays over the entire course content.
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COURSE OBJECTIVES/ STUDENT OUTCOMES. Students who complete this
course will be able to understand: the meaning of unemployment and inflation
data and how that data is collected and computed; the meaning and components of
the National Income Accounts, especially GDP; the meaning of the business
cycle and its phases; how to manipulate the basic Aggregate Supply, Aggregate
Demand model of the macro economy; how fiscal policy operates, its tools, and
its advantages and drawbacks; how a fractional reserve banking system works;
how monetary policy operates, its tools, and its advantages and drawbacks.
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POLICIES
1.
ATTENDANCE: I have the OPTION to withdraw you for missing 5
classes. Withdrawals for lack of progress are the STUDENT’S
responsibility.
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REINSTATEMENT: case-by-case basis
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INCOMPLETES: virtually never given
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RETESTING: none, but you get an optional final
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ACADEMIC FREEDOM: Students are encouraged to express other
viewpoints, ideological or otherwise, that are relevant to the subject under
discussion. Should the student disagree with the standard subject matter
presented in this course, he or she is nevertheless required to know it. If
necessary the student should preface his or her answer with the caution
“According to the instructor …”
6.
CONDUCT: inappropriate conduct will be penalized; such conduct
includes swearing, eating in class, public demonstrations of affection,
studying for another class, severe attitude problems, and anything else that
prevents the class from going forward in an orderly manner. CHEATING
IS SUBJECT TO DISMISSAL.
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SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY: Acts prohibited by the college for which
discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but
limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized
collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work is
defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or
on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and
homework.
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STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Each ACC campus offers support
services for students with documented physical or psychological
disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable
accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the
campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students
are encouraged to do this at least three weeks before the start of the
semester.
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GRADING
1.
There are 400 total points. A = 370 pts. B = 335 pts. C = 270 pts.
D = 230 pts. There is no curve. Percentages don’t count. If you have the
points, you have the letter grade.
2.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance is taken at the end of class. The first two
absences are free. Subsequent absences cost 2 points each.
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QUIZZES: 20 essay/ short- answer quizzes, each worth 10 points. They
will be given at the beginning of each class. The essays are designed to
teach you how to discuss an economic point or problem. The short answer
quizzes are designed to keep recent material in your memory. They are 12
minutes long and the topics will be announced in advance. The topics will
be posted on Blackboard, and an announcement made. Should I fail to
announce the topic, or we otherwise miss a quiz, you will be awarded 10
points automatically. Should we fall short of 20 quizzes, I will grant you
the difference at 10 points per quiz. If you miss a quiz, you will need a
written excuse in order to take it in my office. You may make up at most
two quizzes, and quizzes must be made up promptly; you may not make
up quizzes at the end of the semester.
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EXAMS: 2 exams, each worth 100 points. The exams will be in
mixed format and contain both essays and short- answer questions You
will see the actual exam sheet at the review session. I will select the actual
questions at random on test day. You will see me do it.
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OPTIONAL FINAL: The optional final covers the entire class material
and counts 100 points. It stands in place of your lower EXAM score and
cannot lower your score.