KAMEHAMEHA HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT SCHOOL YEAR 2010-2011 COURSE SUMMARY AP MACROECONOMICS Instructor: Cell number/e-mail: Kamehameha info.: Required text: Kim Kimball Fale 382-8054 and kim.fale@gmail.com home ph 293-1462 Office: 843-3348; email: kifale@ksbe.edu Mankiw, N. Gregory, Principles of Economics, 4th Edition. Thomson/South-Western Publishers 2007 COURSE DESCRIPTION Economics is a social science that studies the allocation of limited resources to satisfy the unlimited wants and needs of individuals, firms, and societies. Thus, scarcity is the economic problem. Economics concerns itself chiefly with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services as well as the control of money supply and the creation of credit. In reality, economics is a study of choices. Choices made by individuals and firms which is known as microeconomics, and choices of nations or economies which is known as macroeconomics. AP Macroeconomics takes a more in-depth look at huge economic aggregates like national output, employment, the money supply, bank deposits, and government spending as well as how our economy deals with inflation and recession. This course is equivalent to a first-year university course. Integration of Technology Kamehameha Schools provides access to many technological tools to enhance the teaching and learning process such as laptops, online resources, BlackBoard, probes, etc. We support the integration of technology as a critical component in preparing students to thrive in our global society. As appropriate to each course, teachers will provide further classroom expectations and guidelines as to the extent technology (e.g. laptops, websites, BlackBoard, etc) will be utilized for research, instruction, assessment, and communication purposes. COURSE GOAL/S The student will demonstrate an understanding that the study of economics provides a set of tools that helps us to use our scarce resources efficiently. Each student is expected to take the AP Macroeconomics Exam with is administered in May. Successful achievement on the AP Exam allows the student to earn three hours of college credit. Macroeconomics -determinants of REAL economic growth - measurements of the macroeconomy: GDP -comparative advantage, specialization and trade -unemployment, price indices, interest rates, EconAPMacro Fale.doc 3/6/2016 p.1 and other economic indicators -theories of the business cycle -role of government in the macroeconomy through the use of fiscal policy -monetary policy and its effects -inflation and unemployment -basic principles of international finance -various economic macro theories COURSE MATERIALS *Cover for textbook and appropriate covers for papers submitted *Economics notebook/folder for economic handouts, notes, quizzes, tests *Blue and Black pen (make sure you have both) *Graph paper, index cards (optional) *MLA handbook or similar for writers of research papers *Binder/folder for banking at the end of the Semester GRADING PROCEDURES & POLICIES Semester grades will be based on an even weighting of each quarter (40% each) with the remaining 20% of the grade based on the semester final exam. All decimals/fractions of a percent will be rounded up to the nearest full percentage point to determine all final grades. Quarter grades will be assigned according to a student’s percentage of possible points earned from tests, quizzes, current events and analysis paper with the letter grade according to the scale described in the Student & Parent Handbook 2008-2009 (page 14). Banked homework. At the beginning of each unit, a list of accepted assignments (usually about 16) will be given with ten (10) of these assignments to be completed in order to qualify for additional marks earned on the unit test. Homework deadlines must be met in order to have an assignment banked (or accepted). The student is responsible for submitting all work by 3:30 p.m. (stamped if submitted to my faculty box in the Unit Office) on the assigned due date. Just because an item is submitted does not guarantee it will be banked. You should have a buffer of at least one assignment. If students choose NOT TO BANK for the unit test, it is still expected that students will complete the required work by the end of the unit in order to be prepared for the test. Each banked items should be submitted with the following information given on the upper right hand corner like this : Kim Fale (your name) Period 6 (your period) May 25, 2010 (date submitted) Bank Item #1 (number on handout) All tests and analysis/written papers must be completed to receive a passing grade. Missed tests must be completed prior to the return to class (during a free period prior to class or before school). Arrangements to take the test must be made with the teacher in EconAPMacro Fale.doc 3/6/2016 p.2 advance. Regardless of the reason for the absence, the student is responsible for contacting the teacher to make such arrangements. No bonus questions will be given on make up tests. *All tests are worth 100 points and are usually given on Fridays. Late analysis/written papers will receive no more than half of the score but must be submitted in order to receive a passing grade for the class. Students should plan ahead and have contingency plans in case of absence of any type. Missed quizzes can be made up as soon as the student returns to class. When an absence is planned, the student is responsible for taking the quiz BEFORE absence is taken. No bonus questions will be given for made up quizzes. Some quizzes are worth 20 points each week, and they consist of 10 points on defining and distinguishing terms and 10 points on problems and/or multiple choice. Other quizzes are only worth 10 points with only defining and distinguishing components. Quizzes will alternate between review/ comprehensive quizzes or quizzes related to the current, specific unit of study and are given on Tuesdays unless otherwise instructed. Extra credit. Completing the required assignments on their required due dates will boost a students score on tests. Keeping all requirement work, tests, quizzes, etc. for the semester will allow students to bank for the Semester final when presented to the teacher in an organized fashion Bonus questions on quotes are also given on quizzes and tests. Because of these opportunities to improve a student’s grade, no additional assignments will be given for extra credit. However, if you are only ONE assignment short of achieving your banked status, a request may be made to obtain an additional assignment from the teacher. If you need extra credit, it is more efficient to spend your time and effort preparing to bank for the next unit, taking the next quiz/ test, or changing your schedule to devote more time to economics class. Current Events: Students will be required to give a 2-minute oral report at the beginning of class on a current economic event found in a newspaper or magazine once a quarter. Students are expected to submit the article used to the teacher with the following information given: 1) Name of newspaper and date, 2) main economic concept illustrated in the article, 3) economic graph of at least one concept mentioned, and 4) explanation as to why this is important to know this. Only two (2) are allowed to be scheduled in one day so make sure you schedule early or there may not be enough days left. This is done on a first come, first served basis. If a student wants to bank for the final exam, the requirements are as follows: Complete the booklet of work required to be banked for the final and sign contract Submit flash cards or lists of terms given for the entire semester. Minimum of approximately 240 terms submitted to qualify. Submit a folder all quizzes and problems/application sections from tests with corrections shown for items missed. Above items must be submitted together PRIOR to taking final exam. EconAPMacro Fale.doc 3/6/2016 p.3 COURSE EVALUATION Students will be assessed on the total points earned during the quarter/semester. The allocation of points possible during the semester is as follows: (Teacher does reserve the right to make adjustments to these totals at any time). TASK Required Homework Assignments completed to boost test scores (student’s choice) Two Current Events (5 pts quality of article and write up + quality of presentation to the class) Quizzes (10/20 points each) POINTS POSSIBLE* Banked or not banked **but must be completed to be prepared for unit tests 20 240 Tests (4 each quarter or 8 each semester x 100) 800 Macro Analysis paper (Q3) 50 Macro Project: International Trade/Economics Q4 TOTAL POSSIBLE* 100 1,210* Semester grade 40% Q3 + 40% Q4 + 20% Sem final *may vary; only approximate points possible given COURSE OUTLINE SEMESTER TWO THIRD QUARTER Week Chapter Topic 1 1, 2 Basic Economic Concepts Thinking Like an Economist (Review) 2 4 (Review) Quiz#1 (20) 3 23, 24 Gross Domestic Product Cost of Living Intro: Aggregate graph Quiz#2 (10) 4 (Test #2) 28 Unemployment/Macro Measurements Give Macro project: IES Player’s Guide Quiz#3 (20) 5 25 Introduction of Macro Project Production & Growth Quiz#4 (10) EconAPMacro Fale.doc 3/6/2016 p.4 6 (Test#3) 26, 27 Savings, Investment & Financial System Quiz#5 (20) 7 29 The Monetary System Macro analysis paper given Quiz#6 (10) 8 30 Money Growth & Inflation Quiz#7 (20) Macro analysis due (Standard of Living) ______________END OF THIRD QUARTER____________________________ FOURTH QUARTER Week Chapter Topic 9 3, 9 Comparative Advantage International Trade Quiz#8 (10) 10 (Test#5) 31, 32 Open Economics & Macroeconomics Quiz#9 (20) 11 33 Aggregate Demand & Supply Quiz#10 (10) 12 (Test#6) 34 Influence of Monetary & Fiscal Policy Quiz#11 (20) 13 35 Trade-off between Inflation and Unemployment Quiz#12 (10) 14 (Test #7) 36 Macro Policy Debates Quiz#13 (20) 15 Macro project work Review AP Exam Questions Quiz#14 (10) 16 (Test#8) Review Exam AP Exam Free Response Quiz#15 (20) 17 Macro Project: International Economic Summit Semester Finals Review AP Exam Final Exam ___________________END OF QUARTER 4 AND SEMESTER 2_________________ *Course outline is subject to change. Chapters covered will be adjusted to meet student's interest and needs. *Revised Fall 2009 Kim Kimball Fale EconAPMacro Fale.doc 3/6/2016 p.5