KAMEHAMEHA HIGH SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT
SCHOOL YEAR 2010-2011
COURSE SUMMARY
AP MICROECONOMICS
Instructor:
Cell number/e-mail:
Kamehameha info.:
Required text:
Kim Kimball Fale
382-8054 and kim.fale@gmail.com
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 consumption, production, and
distribution of goods and services. 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 Microeconomics takes a more in-depth look at economic principles as applied to the
individual segments of the economy. The decision-making processes of consumers, businesses,
and government will be analyzed in their roles as participants in a market economy.
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
Microeconomics Exam which is administered in May. Successful achievement on the AP Exam
allows the student to earn three hours of college credit.
Microeconomics
-scarcity and opportunity cost
-marginal thinking and the rule of maximization
-comparative advantage, specialization and trade
-market forces and price theory
-Elasticity
-price constraints and taxes
-efficiency of markets
-market failures and solutions
-market structures and firm behavior
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-market forces in factor markets
-role of government
COURSE MATERIALS/REQUIRED REVIEW CLASSES **
*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
** In order to be prepared for AP Micro exam in May, students taking AP Micro in Semester One
must attend review classes starting the last week of April and ending the first week of May. It is
expected all students will attend these sessions right after period 8 until 3:35pm so students can
catch buses home.
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, 2009 (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
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.
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 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 anytime in Quarter 2
 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.
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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
Micro Analysis paper (Q1)
50
Learning by Teaching Project
Q2
TOTAL POSSIBLE*
100
1,210*
Semester grade
40% Q1 + 40% Q2 + 20% Sem final
*may vary; only approximate points possible given
COURSE OUTLINE
FIRST QUARTER
Week
Chapter Topic
1
1, 2
Fundamental Economic Concepts
Thinking Like an Economist
2 (Test #1)
3
Interdependence and the Gains from Trade
Quiz#1 (20)
3
4
Market Forces
Quiz#2 (10)
4 (Test #2)
5
Elasticity
Quiz#3 (20)
5
6, 7
Gov’t Price Controls/Welfare Economics
Quiz#4 (10)
Micro paper given
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6 (Test#3)
8, 12
Cost of Taxation & Tax System Design
Quiz#5 (20)
7
10
Externalities
Quiz#6 (10)
8 (Test#4)
11
Public Goods
Micro analysis paper due
Quiz#7 (20)
END OF FIRST QUARTER
SECOND QUARTER
Week
Chapter Topic
9
13
Costs of Production
Quiz#8 (10)
10 (Test#5)
14
Firms in Competitive Markets
Quiz#9 (20)
11
15
Monopolies (Normal and Natural)
Quiz#10 (10)
12 (Test#6)
16, 17
Oligopolies and Monopolistic Competition
Quiz#11 (20)
13
18
Factor Markets
Quiz#12 (10)
14 (Test #7)
19, 20
Earnings, Discrimination and Equity
Quiz#13 (20)
15
21
Theory of Consumer Choice
Review AP Exam Questions
Learning by Teaching Project given
Quiz#14 (10)
16 (Test#8)
22
Frontiers of Microeconomics
Review AP Exam Questions
Learning by Teaching Presentations
Quiz#15 (20)
Semester Finals: AP Exam
Final Exam
17
END OF QUARTER 2 AND SEMESTER 1
*Revised Fall 2009
Kim Kimball Fale
*****REVIEW SESSIONS DURING THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL DURING STUDY HELP TIME
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