SIRIUS ACADEMICS COURSES
Syllabus
12/3/2012
Principles of Economics II
3 Credit Hours
Term/Year:
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Classroom:
Instructor:
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IMPORTANT COLLEGE DATES
Course Start Date:
Drop with 100% refund:
Withdraw with “W” grade:
Course End Date:
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an introductory course in microeconomic principles. The problems and policies of
free enterprise, including the private and social implications of profit maximization, market
structure, and resource markets will be evaluated. Students will also learn how to apply
elementary microeconomic principles to international trade issues.
REQUIRED TEXT
Sachse, A., & Barrett, P. (2013). Principles of Economics II. (2nd ed.). Jacksonville: Florida
State College at Jacksonville, SIRIUS Academics. ISBN: 978-1-938418-13-6 (digital);
ISBN: 978-1-938418-14-3 (print).
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LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing this course, the learner will be able to
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Explain basic supply and demand analysis and the concept of elasticity
Explain the structure and the role of costs in the economy
Describe, using graphs, the various market models: perfect competition, monopoly,
monopolistic competition, and oligopoly
Explain how equilibrium is achieved in the various market models, in both the long
and short run
Explain how resource markets relate to the product markets
Identify problem areas in the economy and possible solutions using the analytical
tools developed in the course
Explain how all the parts of the economy integrate into the economy as a whole
Describe the international economy and explain how it works
Specific Learning Objectives: Specific learning objectives are found at the beginning of each
chapter in the book. Use the objectives to identify what the chapter will cover and what you
should know when you are finished reading. In a sense, this is much like scanning the headlines
of a newspaper before delving into a particular story. The objectives provide a basic framework
for learning and understanding; however, these objectives should not limit your knowledge or
interest of the subject.
LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (COURSE PLATFORM)
The online component of the course is delivered in a learning management system supported by
the institution.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
Please use the following checklist to determine your computer readiness. You should own or
have access to
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Computer with personal access to the Internet (e.g., DSL, cable, or Wi-Fi)
An email account
Web-browser software—at least Internet Explorer 7.0. Firefox 3.0, Safari 3.1, or
higher (if you have problems viewing the course, try another browser)
Windows XP, Vista, or higher operating system (or MAC OS X or higher)
Antivirus software
Word-processing software
Current versions of plugins, including PowerPoint viewer, Acrobat Reader, Flash
Player, JAVA, and QuickTime
Additional hardware, including printer, speakers, and microphone (when needed)
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ACCESSIBILITY
If you require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact your institution’s
coordinator for disability services; you may also wish to notify your instructor.
FIRST WEEK OF CLASS
First Week Online Course Requirement
To receive credit for attendance during the first week of class, send an email to your professor
introducing yourself and indicating you agree to abide by the course conditions outlined in the
syllabus. You should then post and respond to Student Introductions on the Discussion Board.
LEARNING COMMUNITIES
Students learn through interactions with each other, with the instructor, and with written,
auditory, and visual learning materials. To facilitate interactive learning among students and
between students and faculty, a major goal of this course is to encourage the development of
learning communities, that is, to help learners and faculty become acquainted and better
understand each other. Towards this end, during the first week of class, the instructor will post a
brief written autobiography online to introduce her/himself. You are also asked to introduce
yourself by posting a brief autobiography on the Discussion Board; a picture is also
recommended but not required. In addition, a discussion forum (Cyber Café) has been provided
to informally discuss things with other classmates without intervention of the faculty member.
And finally, the Discussion Board contains a place where you can post questions for the
instructor.
ASSESSMENTS
The assignments comprising the final course grade include quizzes, discussion questions,
individual paper, team project, a mid-term exam, a final exam, and assignment(s) chosen by the
instructor.
Quizzes
A total of 14 online quizzes will be given on specified dates as identified in the Calendar of
Activities of this Syllabus. The online quizzes will be based on assigned readings in the book.
Each quiz will be worth 20 points for a total of 280 course points. Upon completion of the
material and activities in the chapter and online learning management system, you should be
ready to access and take the online quiz. The items for each quiz are randomly drawn from a
large database. Each quiz has a 40-minute time limit, although you may retake the quiz as many
times as you choose without penalty. Your final score for the quiz will be your highest score.
The goal is to achieve mastery of the course content, with mastery set at 90% or above on the
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quizzes. If you achieve mastery on a quiz, you will be credited with 100% of the points;
otherwise, points will be assigned according to the highest achieved score.
Discussion Questions
Each student must actively participate in online discussion forums. This course includes 11
discussion questions. It is important to remember that these discussions occur throughout the
duration of the course; you will need to post your response on the Discussion Board and read and
reply to at least two other classmates' posts. Note that for full credit you must support your post
with external research (NOT the textbook or Wikipedia) and reply to at least two other students'
posts.
Learners who participate in discussions are likely to experience a higher level of learning and
retention of the information contained in the course. To encourage active participation in the
course, points are given for contributions to the discussions. Each discussion question will be
worth 20 points, for a total of 220 points toward the final grade. Your grade will be based on the
thoroughness, accuracy, and insightfulness of your response. You will be expected to provide
responses to the discussion questions in correct sentence and paragraph format; your responses
should also be checked for correct spelling and grammar.
The following is an example of an online discussion question:
After Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana and Mississippi, the price of gasoline increased
dramatically. How would an economist use supply-and-demand analysis to explain the
increase in the price of gasoline in the United States right after Hurricane Katrina?
Students whose last names begin with A-M should argue that while both supply and
demand had an impact, the post-Katrina price increase was primarily attributable to the
change in the supply curve. Students whose last names begin with N-Z will argue that the
change in the demand curve for fuel was the primary reason for the price increase.
Post your response on the Discussion Board, citing evidence from research articles or
periodicals found in the library’s research databases, such as The Wall Street Journal,
Barron’s, or Fortune, and/or from government sources. Be sure to include enough details
so that your classmates can understand the findings, and be sure to include the titles and
URLs of articles in support of your position. Then read and respond to two or more of
your classmates' posts. Be sure to state the points with which you agree and those with
which you disagree, as well as your reasons for agreeing or disagreeing.
Individual Paper
Students are required to complete one individual paper. Students will research the economics of
human organ donation in the United States and write a 2-3 page paper that is grounded in current
and credible research. Specific directions for completing this assignment are in the online
learning management system under Assignments. The paper is worth 100 points.
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Team Project
The business model of today is for people to work together in teams to achieve a common goal.
To help you prepare for today’s workforce, there will be a team project worth 150 points. Teams
will be formed early in the course after the drop/add period ends; your instructor will provide
information as to the method for forming teams.
The team project is scenario-based requiring students to research and apply behaviorist economic
theories to a real-world scenario. Students will play the role of an economist working for a
market research firm. Teams must craft a marketing strategy based on their knowledge of
consumer behavior as expressed in the behavioral school of economic thought. Teams must
describe the product that will be marketed and barriers to entry or obstacles it faces. Teams will
select the target consumers for the product and reasons why the consumers must be convinced to
purchase the product. Given seven behaviorist economic theories, teams will identify the theories
that most significantly impact adoption and the explanation of the potential impact of each on the
target consumers. Teams must cite five to seven credible research-based sources and use APA
format guidelines for the assignment.
Teams will use a group discussion board to share ideas, references, research findings, problem
solve, and make informed decisions to complete the given assignment. A grading rubric and
specific directions for completing this assignment are in the on line learning management system
under Assignments. The team project is worth 150 points.
Mid-Term Exam
The mid-term exam will consist of 50 questions and include a combination of multiple choice
and fill-in-the-blank formats. The mid-term exam will cover content from chapters 1-7 and will
be worth 50 points. The mid-term must be completed within 120 minutes and the exam must be
completed in one session— it cannot be saved and resumed at a later time.
Final Exam
The final exam will consist of 50 questions and include a combination of multiple choice and
fill-in-the-blank formats. The final exam will cover chapters 8-14 and will be worth 100 points.
The final exam must be completed within 120 minutes and the exam must be completed in one
session— it cannot be saved and resumed at a later time.
Instructor Choice Assignment
One hundred points will be based on an assignment(s) chosen by the instructor. The assignment
details and due date will be communicated by the instructor.
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GRADING
Your final letter grade will be determined by totaling the points for all of the assessments as
indicated in the table below. All grades will be shown in the online learning management
system's grading center.
Quizzes (14 @ 20 points each)
Discussion Questions (11 @ 20 points each)
Individual Paper
Team Project
Mid-term Exam
Final Exam
Instructor Choice Assignment
Total Points
A
B
C
D
F
280
220
100
150
50
100
100
1000
900-1000 points
800-899 points
700-799 points
600-699 points
0-599 points
CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES
WEEK
TOPIC
DATE
Week 1
Course Orientation
Introduction Discussion Question
Submit Learner Agreement
Chapter 1: Introduction to Microeconomics
Quiz #1
Discussion Question #1
Week 2
Chapter 2: The Production Possibilities Model and Trade
Quiz #2
Week 3
Chapter 3: Supply and Demand
Quiz #3
Discussion Question #2
Assignment of Individual Paper
Week 4
Chapter 4: Surplus
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Week 5
Quiz #4
Discussion Question #3
Chapter 5: Government Intervention
Quiz #5
Discussion Question #4
Submit Individual Paper for final grading
Week 6
Chapter 6: Elasticity of Demand
Quiz #6
Discussion Question #5
Week 7
Chapter 7: Elasticity of Supply
Quiz #7
Discussion Question #6
Week 8
Mid-term Exam
Week 9
Chapter 8: The Consumer
Quiz #8
Discussion Question #7
Assignment of Team Project
Week 10
Chapter 9: The Firm and Costs
Quiz #9
Discussion Question #8
Week 11
Chapter 10: Factor Market
Quiz #10
Week 12
Chapter 11: Perfect Competition
Quiz #11
Week 13
Chapter 12: Monopolistic Competition
Quiz #12
Discussion Question #9
Week 14
Chapter 13: Oligopoly
Quiz #13
Discussion Question #10
Week 15
Chapter 14: Monopoly
Quiz #14
Discussion Question #11
Submit Team Project for final grading
Week 16
Final Exam
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE AT
JACKSONVILLE STUDENTS
1. What learning management system is used at Florida State College at Jacksonville for the
online portions of this course?
This course is delivered in the Blackboard® online course platform.
2. Where do I acquire the required texts and instructional materials for this course?
All SIRIUS Academics course materials are purchased at the time of registration. Once you have
paid your college tuition and fees, you will have access both to the course materials in
Blackboard and through Connections to your SIRIUS Academics e-book.
If you have not already accessed your e-book for this course, please view your schedule in
Connections for your CaféScribe instructions.
Quick tutorials and instructions on how to get started with CaféScribe are available at the
following website: http://www.afpd-fscj.org/cafescribe.html
If you are having difficulty with the operation of CaféScribe and would like more in-depth help,
access one of the following:
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24/7 Customer Support at 1-877-612-2233 (toll-free)
The Café Scribe help page at http://www.cafescribehelp.com
3. Do I have to have Internet access at home?
No. The College has computer labs available to students who wish to use them.
4. What if I need special accommodations to take the course?
If you require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact Services for Students
with Disabilities and notify your instructor.
5. What’s in the course shell of the learning management system?
The Course Content area includes folders for each chapter which contain links to learning
activities, a discussion question, and a chapter quiz. The Course Information section contains
information such as the Syllabus and Student Orientation.
6. How long will I have to wait for a response from the instructor to my email?
Faculty respond to emails within 24-48 hours.
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7. What is proper email etiquette?
Email to other learners and the instructor needs to be addressed in a manner appropriate to polite
interactions.
8. What will help me succeed in this course?
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Strong discipline and desire to succeed. You’ll need to login to class often during the
typical week, motivating yourself to meet the requirements for success.
Ability to work well independently. You’ll develop the support of fellow learners all
taking the same coursework together, but it will be different from a typical classroom
environment. If you work well independently, your chance of success is higher.
Computer savvy. If you’re not familiar with the Internet and email communication, we
recommend that you take a computer enrichment class prior to enrolling in this course.
Faculty will assume you know how to access and send data on the Internet.
9. What are “I” grades and when are they used?
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An “I” grade may be assigned at the instructor’s discretion upon request by the student to
permit the student time to complete required course work, which s/he was prevented from
completing in a timely way due to nonacademic reasons. The instructor may require the
student to document the request to assist in the decision. The instructor may choose not to
grant the request. The “I” grade should be considered only when the student has the
potential to earn a passing grade if the missing work is made up.
The instructor shall prescribe in a written agreement with the student the remaining
course work required for completion and removal of the “I” grade. A copy of this
agreement will be kept on file in the office of the appropriate dean. All work must be
completed within the first eight weeks of the subsequent term, unless the instructor agrees
to a longer timeframe extension of time (not to exceed one year). When the work is
completed, the instructor will submit a grade change form with the grade earned. If the
work is not completed within the prescribed timeframe, the “I” will automatically change
to an “F” grade. The student will be informed of the final grade assigned.
To be eligible for an “I” grade, the student must be passing the course at the time of the
request and must have completed at least 75 percent of the course work.
10. What is the Florida State College at Jacksonville Code of Ethics?
Consistent with The Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida, 6B-1.06, Principles
of Professional conduct for the Education Profession in Florida, an obligation to the learner
requires that an individual shall not harass or discriminate against any learner on the basis of
race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status,
handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background and shall make
reasonable effort to assure that each learner is protected from harassment or discrimination.
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11. What about academic dishonesty?
Academic dishonesty, in any form, is expressly prohibited by the rules of the District Board of
Trustees of Florida State College at Jacksonville. Academic dishonesty incorporates the
following:
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Cheating, which is defined as the giving or taking of any information or material with
the intent of wrongfully aiding oneself or another in academic work considered in the
determination of a course grade.
Plagiarism, which is defined as the act of stealing or passing off as one’s own work
the words, ideas, or conclusions of another as if the work submitted were the product
of one’s own thinking rather than an idea or product derived from another source.
Any other form of inappropriate behavior which may include but is not limited to
falsifying records or data; lying; unauthorized copying, tampering, abusing or
otherwise unethically using a computer or other stored information; and, any other act
of misconduct which may reasonably be deemed to be a part of this heading.
Any student alleged to have committed any act of academic dishonesty as defined herein shall be
entitled to due process as defined in District Board of Trustees’ Rule 6Hx7-2.18 prior to the
administration of disciplinary action, including suspension and dismissal.
12. May I repeat this course?
Learners repeat a course in an attempt to improve a grade previously earned. State Board Rule
6A-14.0301 limits such attempts to courses where a “D,” “F,” or “FN” grade was earned. A
learner has only three total attempts in any course, including the original grade, repeat grades,
and withdrawals. Upon the third attempt in a course, the learner must be given an “A,” “B,” “C,”
“D,” or “F.”
When students repeat a course at Florida State College at Jacksonville, only the last grade earned
is calculated in their cumulative grade point average (GPA). However, students with an
excessive number of “W” or “FN” grades, and students who repeat courses to improve their GPA
may jeopardize their admission to programs in the Florida State University System (SUS) or
other institutions.
13. Where can I find additional critical dates for this course?
Additional dates critical to this course are available at
http://www.fscj.edu/mydegree/academics/calendar/
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