University of Richmond
Economics 101: Principles of Microeconomics
Fall 2008
12:45-2:00 pm Rm 202
2:15-3:30 pm Rm 202
INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Jonathan Wight (RSB, Rm. 311)
TEL: 289-8570 (office); 780-2306 (home)
E-mail: jwight@richmond.edu Website: www.richmond.edu/~jwight
* Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:45-5:00 pm
* Wednesdays, 2-4 pm
You are welcome to drop by at other times or call for an appointment. Campus events sometimes
conflict with posted office hours. If you definitely need me, please call for an appointment.
Office Hours:
HOTLINE: In case of inclement weather, please call 289-8760 to check if UR classes are being held.
TEXTS:
a) Required: Hubbard and O’Brien, Microeconomics, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall 2008.
b) Required: Bound Readings. Contains handouts, homeworks, and study guides. Available in bookstore.
c) Required: Russell D. Roberts, The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism, Prentice Hall,
3rd edition, 2007. This is a novel about free trade. Be sure to buy the updated third edition.
d) Required: Jonathan B. Wight, Saving Adam Smith: A Tale of Wealth, Transformation, and Virtue,
Prentice Hall, 2002.. This is a novel about the role of social and moral capital in economics. [Note: all
proceeds from UR sales go to UR charities.]
e) Optional: Study Guide (print version). A study guide is helpful in preparing for quizzes. The specific
study guide you use is not important. The important thing is to buy one with practice multiple choice
problems. The textbook has a website fot this. See: http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_hubbard_micro_1/
f) Optional: QuickStudy Guide to Microeconomics. A handy study guide some students find helpful in
preparing for the final. Available in the bookstore.
g) On-line Practice Questions: http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_hubbard_micro_2
on the navigation bar. Quiz yourself!
Click a chapter number
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it—no matter if I have said it—
unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."
-- Buddha (563BC-483BC)
This is a class devoted to critical thinking about how society allocates scarce resources. The main
objectives are: 1) an understanding of the "economic problem"; 2) an appreciation of how society—
through markets, governments, and other means—addresses the economic problem; and 3) a cognizance of
the potential successes and failures of both market and government interventions. The broad objective is
to provide you with the analytical perspective to think critically about the pro’s and con’s of a mixed
market economic system and the objectives it may serve.
Field Analysis: Economics 101 utilizes the tools of social analysis. Social analysis is the systematic study
of individual and social behavior, including a self-conscious examination of what are generally
taken-for-granted assumptions regarding the nature of social life. It draws upon a variety of approaches,
both theoretical and empirical, in order to discern patterns of meaning in behavior.
WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE? Economics 101 is required for business students, liberal arts
majors in economics, and international studies majors who are concentrating in international economics.
Many others take it out of interest. There are no formal course prerequisites. It is assumed that students
have a working knowledge of algebra and graphing, and these skills will be utilized throughout the
semester (see Hubbard, Ch. 1 appendix for examples of the basic math skills required).
GRADES: Grading is an art, not a science. I try to be fair by providing a variety of grading
opportunities. Weights are as follows:
Class Participation:
Five on-line quizzes:
Two midterms (with take-home essays):
Cumulative final exam (optional essay):
10%
20%
40%
30%
The ultimate purpose of formal education is to expand your range of choices, motivate you to want to
learn, and teach you how to learn. Grades are sometimes an inexact reflection of how much you actually
learned. For example, someone with previous experience in AP economics might incrementally learn only
a modest amount and still get an A. Someone taking econ for the first time and mastering up to 75% of the
new material might get a C. But who learned more in this course? What ultimately counts is how much
you added to your human capital. Whatever your grade, I hope this is a challenging and fun learning
environment, and an experience you will long cherish. Feel free to review your progress at any time.
Please let me know how I can improve the learning environment.
Class participation includes attendance, discussion, homeworks, extra credit, and occasional pop quizzes.
Role is taken at the beginning of class using a seating chart. Students arriving late may request partial
credit by seeing me after class. Excessive lateness or absences will result in a geometrically reduced grade.
Please make your travel plans accordingly. As one shrewd person once put it, “Never underestimate the
value of showing up.” Your presence enriches not only yourself, but also your classmates.
Class time is generally devoted to Socratic discussion and debate. You will be called upon frequently: in
fact, you can expect be called on in every class session. If you are a bit shy, this can be intimidating. I
hope that over time you will grow in confidence to speak up and be heard. Sometimes the quietest
students have the most interesting and important things to say.
On-line quizzes are based on class work and on homework questions taken from the Bound Readings and
the Study Guide. See the last page of the syllabus for further instructions.
Midterm tests highlight the material covered in class and the Bound Readings. Unless otherwise
informed, you will NOT be tested on material covered in the textbook for which we did not spend class
time or homework time on. If I refer to a graph or discussion in the textbook this should alert you to its
importance (and its potential to appear on a test or quiz). To maintain fair and effective tests, graded
materials should not find their way into “scoop” files (which give some students undue advantage).
Therefore, all quizzes, tests, and exams remain the sole property of the economics department. Students
may review their previous tests during normal office hours.
Missed assignments: Quizzes and tests are due at the stated times unless you have a valid university
excuse (death in immediate family, illness requiring you to seek a doctor's care, etc). Unless circumstances
clearly preclude it, advance notice of a university excuse is required. In the case of a missed test, a
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make-up will be given as soon as possible. There are no make-ups for quizzes or class participation
activities; students with a valid excuse will have other assignments weighed more heavily. Please consult
the University catalog for the official policy on religious and civil holidays. Please notify your instructor at
the beginning of the semester if there is a conflict.
Essays: A written essay will be part of each midterm test. The essay should be no more than 3 pages in
length (graphs may be put on a separate sheet and not count as part of the 3 page limit.) Please carefully
follow the instructions below for preparing and submitting work.
Preparing and Submitting Written Work:
Format: All written work should be typed and double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font
with one-inch margins on each side. Please put your name and seat number in the top
right hand corner. The pledge is assumed on all submitted work.
Submitting: All work should be submitted in hard copy at the start of the class period due; late
submissions will be accepted with a reduced grade. Do NOT send submissions as an e-mail
attachment unless specifically asked to do so.
Proper Citations: All written work should include academic citations. Good writing entails the
careful disclosure of all sources, including page numbers. Use either Turabian or APA reference
styles, and be consistent. For manuals of style, please consult the following for both print and
electronic sources: http://library.richmond.edu/help/citing/index.htm.
Computer crashes: My sympathies for those who experience computer and printing glitches. However,
no extension of time is granted for such events. While you cannot anticipate these problems, you can
minimize their consequences by making frequent back-ups (using a separate location) and by not waiting
until the last minute to get assignments done. Late assignments will be accepted with reduced grade.
Optional Public Policy Project: This Project allows you to explore an important issue in
microeconomics. It reflects the culmination of your semester’s work in understanding the interplay of
markets and governments that exists in any mixed market economic system. The Project can be done
singly or by two students. More details and suggested topics are in your bound readings. This project
substitutes for your lowest quiz score.
Homework: Homework is the principal means by which you will learn economics. Homeworks are to be
prepared in time for class. Keeping up with assignments is your key to success. However, homework will
not be graded or collected for three reasons: first, because I want this to be an instructional tool (you
shouldn’t be penalized for learning); second, you can get instant feedback by checking the answer key;
and third, you are encouraged to work cooperatively with others. Sometimes your classmates can be your
best teachers!
It is the student’s responsibility to complete the homework (and check it against the answer key) in
time for class. In the “real world” you will shortly join, no one out there will “force” you to accomplish
goals: that quality of initiative lies within yourself. The approach toward homework used in this class
relies upon your developing the same maturity, motivation, and conscientiousness that will reward you all
your life. The pay-off will clearly show up on quizzes and tests. If stuck on something, feel free to call
me. It is possible I can clear up your confusion in a few minutes.
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HONOR CODE:
(1) Homework is not graded, and you are encouraged to work with others on this activity.
(2) All on-line quizzes, tests, papers, and exams are to be done individually with the Honor Code in full
force. No use of “scoop” questions is permitted at any time, so that I can develop clear, fair, and tested
questions. Honor violations will generally result in immediate failure in the course and other sanctions.
STUDY HINTS: There are no surprises about how to excel in economics. Come to class prepared each
day. You should actively practice retrieving stored information and applying it. The more you practice,
the easier it gets. A Study Guide is an excellent learning tool; use it to the fullest. Obviously, you cannot
master everything at once, but it will become quite apparent if you are preparing for class or not. If you are
unavoidably absent, please arrange to get the notes and assignments from a classmate in time for the next
session. It is wise to study in groups; quiz each other to help each other succeed. This is not a hard course;
but I hope it is a demanding course in a positive sense.
Opportunity costs: There are many non-academic activities each semester: fraternity parties, romantic
interests, travel, sports, and so on. I value those activities that contribute to your personal growth.
However, they do require hard choices about how to spend your time. I invite you to choose to work at
economics consistently and deeply, which will make your experience of this class more fulfilling.
Cramming for tests is a recipe for disaster (trust me). I want you to succeed, and succeed well.
House Rules: In consideration of others, please: 1) arrive on time; 2) remove hats in the classroom; 3) eat
all food and gum only outside the classroom; 4) carrying on conversations with others only during breaks;
and 5) show courtesy and respect when discussing the ideas of others. If something concerns you, let me
know first. Your help and insights can help make this a better course. Finally, remember that learning is a
wonderful privilege. Soak it in as if there were no tomorrow: for in the blink of an eye, your short time
here will be over. Good luck!
Extra Credit: You may take advantage of up to five (5) extra credit opportunities this semester –each
short extra credit paper can add up to 2 pts. on each of your quiz scores. (If you got a 16 on a quiz, a good
extra credit report can add 2 more pts – you end up with 18 on that quiz. Even if you aced and got a 20,
you can still get 2 more points.)
Format: Each extra credit report is a brief (1/2 page to one page typed, double-spaced) analysis that relates
something external to what we’ve been covering in class. Your short report should be an HONEST
assessment of it. Do not write just what you think I want to hear (a waste of both our time). Turn in all
work as hard paper copy—do NOT send e-mail attachments.
Examples of extra credit assignments:
I. Movies – economic concepts (* indicates a “classic” movie)
* Mr. Smith Goes to Washington – Public Choice Theory, government failure, special interests
* Erin Brockovich – negative externalities, monopsony, asymmetric information, Coase theorem
* Wall Street (1987) – insider trading (asymmetric information), role of greed in economy – this view
contrasts with Saving Adam Smith – my book you will read later this semester.
* The Grapes of Wrath (1940) – monopsony, income distribution, economic depression
* None but the Brave (1965)– World War II on a Pacific Island – trade and comparative advantage
* Roger and Me (1989) –General Motors from the inside. Competition, Oligopoly, International trade
* Norma Rae – Inside view of a labor union; monopsony and bi-lateral monopoly
* It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – monopoly, asymmetric information, ethics
John Q – scarcity, opportunity cost, choice in health care
The Rain Maker – health care, opportunity costs, scarcity and choice
The China Syndrome (1979) – like Erin Brockovich but a little sentimental. Nuclear power meltdown.
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You’ve Got Mail – economies of scale, monopolistic competition in retailing, possible oligopoly
Thank You For Smoking – externalities, asymmetric information, government failure, lobbying
An Inconvenient Truth – Al Gore’s movie on global warming – externalities, Coase theorem
The Insider – externalities, asymmetric information
Sicko – Michael Moore’s documentary on HMO’s – inequality, asymmetric information
Or, ask me about other movies you would like to use instead.
II. Events that you experience can be used for this as long as they relate to economics and are not required
for another course. Campus speakers, local museums, and so on, can stimulate your understanding of
economic issues. Relate what your speaker says to what we’ve been learning in our class. Please check
with me first on your speaker or event.
III. Newspaper or other articles that relate to the concepts learned in microeconomics.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Assignments are subject to change depending on class progress. All changes will be announced
at the beginning of class, so please arrive on time and be alert to announcements. Students are responsible
for any announcements that they may miss because of absence or lateness.
NETFILES. Articles and slide shows used in class are stored on the university computer server
called “NETFILES”. To access NETFILES, click on your “Start” button, then hit "Run". In the box that
appears, type "\\NETFILES" (without quotes). It will locate NETFILES for you if you are on a networked
computer. Then click "Users", then “J” then "jwight", then "OUTBOX", then "Econ 101". If you have
trouble accessing the NETFILES, contact the Help Desk at x6400.
BR = bound readings HW = Homework
NOTE: We will cover three learning modules each week. Prepare the first
two modules for the Tuesday class and the third module for Thursday’s class.
Part I – Introduction to Markets
In this section we learn about scarcity and the trade-offs implied by scarcity. Markets are one response to scarcity,
and we examine international trade and demand and supply analysis. We learn how to predict changes in the prices
and outputs in competitive markets. We are mainly interested in ideas (not numbers), but it is important that you
review the basics of algebra and graphing to feel comfortable in this section.
Module
1
Date
Topic
Week of Introduction
Aug 26
2
Models and
opportunity cost
3
Production
possibilities frontier:
scarcity and trade-offs
Readings and assignments due: We will generally cover three
learning “modules” each week. Prepare the first two modules
for Tuesday’s class and the last module for Thursday’s class.
Homework (HW) is to be completed in time for discussion in the
class module shown.
a) Hubbard, Ch 1
b) BR, 1-7
c) BR, 30-32: F. Bastiat, “What is Seen and What is Not…”
d) BR, 33-37
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials to help
you practice this material.
Hubbard, Ch 2 (up to 37)
HW: BR, 38a-43.
5
4
Week of PPF (con’t)
Sept 2
5
International trade
6
International trade
(con’t)
7
Fri.,
Sept 5
Week of Intro to markets and
Sept 9 demand
Hubbard, Ch 1 Appendix (Graphs and Formulas)
Hubbard, Ch 2 (up to p. 44)
BR, 44-47
NETFILES, “M4 – Labor Day” PowerPoint slide show
HW1: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
Hubbard, Ch 2 (44-48)
BR, 48-53
On NETFILES: Play slideshow “International Trade”
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
Roberts, The Choice (up to p. 53)
Hubbard: Ch. 2 (44-46) and Ch. 8 (ignore pp. 255-260).
Roberts, The Choice (p. 54 to end)
Slideshow on NETFILES: “M6: International Trade”
BR, 54-55 and 59-62d
HW: BR 56-58
*Take the Practice Quiz #1 (NOT the real quiz by mistake!)
Real Quiz #1 due by 5 pm (covers Modules 1-6).
* Hubbard, Ch 2 (50-end)
* Hubbard, Ch 3 (up to 70)
* BR 63 (For Quiz 2 learn ALL the characteristics of different
market structures summarized on this page.).
NETFILES: Print slideshow “Demand and supply” (6 slides per
page)
8
Demand (con’t)
Hubbard, Ch 3 (70-75)
BR, 64-66
HW: StudyGuide
9
Intro to supply
Hubbard, Ch 3 (75-79)
BR, 67-68
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
10
Week of Supply and demand
Sept 16 together
11
Supply and demand
(con’t)
Hubbard, Ch 3 (finish)
BR, 69-71
HW: BR, 72-73 and Review StudyGuide and end of chapter
materials
BR, 74-76B
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
*Take the Practice Quiz #2
Part II. Supply and Demand Applications
Let’s apply what we’ve learned to some additional questions. Why did the OPEC cartel
succeed in the short run but not the long run? Why do “boom and bust” cycles occur in
some markets? Does the seller or the buyer pay for a sales tax? To answer these
questions, we will learn about the responsiveness of economic actors to changes in
prices—the field of "elasticity." We then turn our attention to what happens at market
equilibrium and what happens when we are not at equilibrium. This analysis helps us
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understand the consequences of intervening in markets.
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13
Consumer and producer
surpluses: The
Diamond-Water Paradox
Fri. Sept
19
Week of Efficiency and equity
Sept 23
Non-equilibrium prices:
Price ceilings and floors
Hubbard, Ch 4 (up to 107)
BR, 77-81
HW:
* Read and answer all the questions in BR, 79a-81
* Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
Real Quiz #2 due by 5 pm (covers Modules 7-11).
Hubbard, Ch 4 (107 to top p.115) and (122-123, 132-134)
BR, 82-87
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
14
Ticket scalping
Hubbard, Ch 9 (up to 293) and (298-303)
HW: BR, 88-94
15
Elasticity of demand
Hubbard, Ch 6 (up to 182)
HW: StudyGuide
16
Week of
Sept 30 TEST #1 (Tues.)
Covers Modules 1-14
See BR for study tips.
Bring a #2 pencil.
17
Elasticity of demand
(con’t)
Hubbard, Ch 6 (182-191)
BR, 95-96
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
18
Elasticity of supply
Hubbard, Ch 6 (finish)
BR, 97-99
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
19
Week of
Oct 7 Incidence of a Tax
Hubbard, Ch 4 (115-121)
Hubbard, Ch 4 (Appendix – all)
BR, 100-105
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
20
Catch-Up
Catch-Up
21
The Decentralized
Activity of Markets
Review Leonard E. Read, “I, Pencil” on-line at:
http://www.econlib.org/library/Essays/rdPncl1.html
Hubbard, Ch 9 (303-end)
BR, 19-29
HW: Take the PRACTISE Quiz #3.
Quiz #3 due by 5 pm (Covers Modules 15-19)
Public Policy Analysis
Fri. Oct 10
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Part III. Pro's and Con's of a Market System
Now's the time to begin to summarize what is good and what is not so great about the way
markets work. What, if any, is the role of government? We start by looking at the failure
of markets to account for negative externalities in production (such as pollution) and
positive externalities in consumption (such as mass transportation). This issues lead many
to argue for government regulations. What are the costs and benefits of regulation? First,
we must learn how to analyze public policy issues and reach decisions that effect different
values.
Oct 14 Fall Break (Tuesday)
No class.
22
Oct 16 Negative Externalities
Hubbard, Ch 5 (up to 145)
BR, 112-119
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
23
Negative Externalities
(con’t)
Hubbard, Ch 5 (146-152)
BR, 120-125
HW: BR, 126-130
24
25
Week of Positive Externalities
Oct 21
Market Failure: Public
goods and Public Choice
Theory
BR, 120 (review)
Hubbard, Ch 5 (review p. 149 bottom)
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
Hubbard, Ch 5 (152 – end)
BR, 131-145
MOVIE VIEWING: Frank Capra’s classic movie, Mr. Smith
Goes to Washington
26
Asymmetric Information
a) Hubbard, Ch 17
The Doctor Game
b) NETFILES: Powerpoint. Print and study the “Asymmetric
Information” slide show.
c) NETFILES: Webfile. “Joseph Stiglitz --The new gilded age”
27
Tu, Oct 28 Marginal, average, total
28
Th, Oct 30 TEST #2
HW: BR, 146-147
* Review class
* Last date to submit first three extra credit items.
Covers Modules 13-26
See BR for study tips.
Bring a #2 pencil.
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Part IV. Market Structure
We now turn to an analysis of a firm's productivity and costs. Why? Because these factors
underlie the supply curve in a market! If all competitors in a market can buy the inputs to
production at about the same prices, and all competitors use roughly the same technology,
then competitive firms will earn only a "normal" rate of profit in the long run. The
competitive "game" thus becomes to develop new products that earn higher than "normal"
profits in the short run, before others catch-up! Alternately, when a manufacturer has
power over a market, an oligopoly or monopoly may develop. Prices to consumers are
thus higher than costs alone would dictate.
29
Week of Productivity and short
Nov 4 run cost
Hubbard, Ch 10 (up to 342)
BR, 148-154
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
30
Short-run costs (con’t)
Hubbard, Ch 10 (342-346)
BR, 155-156
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
31
32
NOV 6 GUEST SPEAKER
Review of Costs and
Productivity
Week of Long-run costs
Nov 11
LAST DAY TO TURN IN EXTRA CREDITS 1-3
HW: BR, 157-158 (Do part I on COSTS only)
Hubbard, Ch 10 (346-end)
BR, 161-167
NETFILES, “General Motors Plans to Cut 25,000 Jobs”
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
33
Notes on Cost and the
meaning of “profit”
Hubbard, Ch 11 (up to 389)
BR, 168-170
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
34
Profit-maximization
Short (easy) quiz! To prepare, do the reading and HW below
and study the NETFILES Powerpoint called “Short Run Profit
Max”.
Derivation of SR supply
curve
Hubbard, Ch 11 (390-395)
BR, 171-174
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
35
Week of Profit-max (con’t)
Nov 18
Derivation of LR supply
curve
Hubbard, Ch 11 (395-end)
a) BR, 175
b) NETFILES, Print the Powerpoint: “Long run supply”
HW: Review homework part I (BR, pp. 157-158) and then
complete part II on PROFIT.
*Take the Practice Quiz #4
36
Monopolistic
Competition
a) Hubbard, Ch 12 (all)
b) BR, 176-177
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
9
37
Monopoly
Hubbard, Ch 14
BR, 178-187
NETFILES, PowerPoint “Monopoly 1”
38
Friday,
Nov 21
Quiz #4 due by 5 pm (covers Modules 27-35).
Nov 25 Monopoly
Hubbard, Ch 15 (up to 519)
NETFILES: “Krugman on Electric Monopoly”
NETFILES: “Joan Robinson”
NETFILES: “Canadian Drug Prices”
BR, 188-189, “Why are Prescription Drug Prices So Much
Cheaper in Canada?”
NETFILES, PowerPoint “Monopoly 2”
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
Nov 27 -- THANKSGIVING
-- NO CLASS
To Read: Saving Adam Smith: A Tale of Wealth,
Transformation, and Virtue
NETFILES, The PowerPoint “Saving Adam Smith” has
additional insights, particularly regarding Smith’s invisible
hand. This material will be covered on the final exam.
39
Week of Oligopoly
Dec 2
Hubbard, Ch 13 (up to 452)
NETFILES, PowerPoint “Oligopoly” (print)
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
40
Oligopoly (con’t)
* In-class evaluation
41
Course Summary and
Wrap-up
Fri.,
Dec 5
Hubbard, Ch 13 (452-end)
BR, 190-192
HW: Review StudyGuide and end of chapter materials
* Take the Practice Quiz #5
* Optional Public Policy Paper due today.
* Last two extra credit papers due today.
* By last day of class please notify me in writing if you plan to
switch sections for the final exam.
* Real Quiz #5 due by 5 pm (covers Modules 36-40)
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CUMULATIVE FINAL EXAM: [Please bring a #2 pencil.]
Final Exam Date: 12:45 class – TU, Dec 9, 2-5 pm
2:15 class – TU, Dec 16, 9-12 am
The final will be approximately two hours long. One hour will focus on material since the last test. The second
hour will be cumulative material. Questions will not repeat from earlier tests.
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On-Line Quizzes
On-line quizzes provide a “low-cost” way for you to practice economics and to access your
progress. The benefits are that: 1) since no class time is taken up with quiz administration, more
class time is available for student-faculty contact and questions; 2) on-line quizzes provide
instant feedback as to the right answers and the reasons for them; 3) students can select the time
and place to take a quiz when they are fresh, ready, and relaxed; and 4) students have more time
to answer than would be allowed in class.
The costs of on-line quizzes are primarily: 1) the inconvenience of seeing questions on a screen
rather than on paper; and 2) the potential for dishonesty. In this latter regard let me be clear:
fairness in grades is something I value highly. Anyone discovered violating the Honor Code will
receive an automatic failure in this course.
On balance, I believe the benefits of on-line quizzes outweigh the costs. What do you think?
Your insights and comments are most welcome and appreciated.
Policies and Procedures: Please Review Carefully
1. Each quiz contains 20 multiple choice questions. Quiz questions are closely based on what
we’ve reviewed in class or covered in the Bound Readings. Due dates for each quiz are found
in your syllabus. Before taking a quiz, get a pencil, calculator, and a pad of blank paper ready
for your use in working out problems. Make sure to EXIT ALL OTHER COMPUTER
PROGRAMS, especially e-mail and instant messenger programs, which in the past have caused
the Blackboard system to crash.
2. Access the Blackboard Website at: http://courses.richmond.edu. Use your username and
password as assigned for your University e-mail for LOGIN. Once into Blackboard select this
course, and then select Assignments/Quizzes. [If you cannot log on using your old password, go
to: https://wwws.richmond.edu/cgi-bin/wchpass.]
3.. Quizzes are to be taken CLOSED-BOOK with the HONOR SYSTEM in full force. No use of
books, notes, "scoop" from previous semesters, or any other help is permitted. Quizzes are an
assessment tool protected by the Honor System. NO DOWN-LOADING OR PRINTING OF
QUIZZES IS PERMITTED AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON.
4. Be sure to master the Practice Quizzes before tackling the real thing. You may access the
PRACTICE quizzes as many times as you like. You may take the REAL quiz only once.
5. You have 45 minutes to complete each quiz. The CLOCK will remind you when one minute
is left, and that is the ONLY time warning. Be sure to submit answers before 60 seconds have
elapsed! Late submissions receive a reduced score. When you have finished the quiz, submit
your answers and review your score.
6. Finally, EXIT YOUR NETWORK BROWSWER, so no one else can accidentally gain access
to your blackboard account. Let me know if you encounter any difficulties. Good luck!
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