ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BENJAMIN E. MAYS HIGH SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT COURSE SYLLABUS
Student’sName_________________________________________________Date Received__________________
Last
First
M.I.
Name of Course:
Teacher:
Course Number:
Class Location:
Telephone:
E-mail:
AP Microeconomics
Dr. Alexis B. Morris
45.0630001
ROOM 1323
404-802-5100
abmorris@atlanta.k12.ga.us
MISSION
The mission of Benjamin E. Mays High School is to provide a secure and nurturing environment
that fosters students’ success, to develop interpersonal skills through real-world experiences, to
promote the exchange of ideas through multiple mediums, and to engage communities near and afar.
VISION
The vision of Benjamin E. Mays High School is to challenge its students to earn a high school
diploma that prepares them for a college or professional career, to become globally competitive,
technologically literate citizens, and to be committed to infinite learning.
Course Description: The purpose of the AP course in microeconomics is to give students a thorough
understanding of the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision makers,
both consumers and producers, within the economic system. It places primary emphasis on the nature
and functions of product markets and includes the study of factor markets and of the role of
government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. The following is a brief
discussion of these topics and some aspects of them that a teacher may choose to explore.
The course is student centered; standards based and include individual/group projects, simulations and
hands-on activities.
Course Outline
Unit I
I. Basic Economic Concepts [SC1]
A. Scarcity: the nature of economic systems
B. Opportunity cost and production possibilities
C. Specialization and comparative advantage
D. The functions of any economic system (what, how, and for whom to produce)
Performance Objectives
You must be able to:
1. Define scarcity, choice, and cost.
2. Define and compute opportunity cost.
3. List and define the axioms of economic reasoning.
4. Distinguish between positive and normative statements.
SC1—The course provides
instruction in basic
economic concepts and
promotes understanding of
economic decision-making
factors, such as marginal
analysis and opportunity
costs.
ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BENJAMIN E. MAYS HIGH SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT COURSE SYLLABUS
5. List and explain the economic questions facing all nations.
6. Construct and interpret production possibilities schedules and graphs.
7. Define how production possibilities schedules and graphs illustrate the issues of scarcity, choice, and
cost.
8. Define and calculate absolute and comparative advantage for production and exchange.
9. Define allocation, efficiency, and equity.
10. Explain ways in which societies determine allocation, efficiency, and equity.
Graphs
You must be able to:
1. Illustrate and label a production possibilities curve.
2. Illustrate the concepts of scarcity, choice, cost, and economic growth.
3. Illustrate the effects of trade on a production possibility graph.
Unit II-A [SC2]
II. The Nature and Functions of Product Markets
A. Supply and Demand
1. Price and quantity determination
2. Basic manipulation of supply and demand, including ceilings and floors
SC2—The course provides
instruction in the nature
and functions of product
markets: Supply and
Demand Model.
Performance Objectives
You must be able to:
1. Define and illustrate supply and demand through schedules and graphs.
2. Distinguish between changes in supply and demand and between changes in quantity demanded and
supplied.
3. Explain the inverse and positive relationships between price and quantity demanded and quantity
supplied.
4. Identify and explain the variables that cause changes in supply and demand.
5. Define and illustrate equilibrium.
6. Define and illustrate surpluses and shortages.
7. Define effects of surpluses and shortages on prices and quantities.
8. Predict the changes in prices and quantities, given changes in demand and/or supply.
9. Interpret and compute equilibrium price and quantity from graphs, mathematical equations, and/or
data.
10. Interpret market conditions given novel data.
11. Define and explain the effects of price ceilings and price supports.
Graphs
You must be able to:
1. Illustrate and correctly label a supply-and-demand graph.
2. Show changes in supply/demand.
3. Show the effects of a price ceiling and price floors.
4. Show a change in demand (supply) versus a change in quantity demanded (quantity supplied).
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ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BENJAMIN E. MAYS HIGH SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT COURSE SYLLABUS
Unit II-B [SC3]
SC3—The course provides
instruction in the nature
B. Models of Consumer Choice
and functions of product
1. Consumer choice behind demand curve
markets: Consumer Choice.
2. Elasticity
• 1990 AP Exam, relationship among elasticity, revenue, and profit
• 1994 AP Exam, what happens to price and tax revenues when an inelastic product becomes more
elastic.
Performance Objectives
You must be able to:
1. Explain the theory of marginal utility and its relationship to demand.
2. Construct and interpret marginal utility schedules and curves.
3. Explain how a rational individual decides what to purchase, given necessary information about utility,
prices, and income.
4. Derive consumer demand schedules and curves, given necessary information about utility, prices, and
income.
5. Define, explain, calculate, and interpret the price elasticity of demand.
6. Identify and interpret the relationship between the price elasticity of demand and the effect of a price
change on total revenue.
7. List and explain the determinants of price elasticity of demand.
8. Define, calculate, and interpret cross elasticities and income elasticities of demand.
9. Define and differentiate between normal and inferior goods.
10. Calculate and explain the price elasticity of supply.
11. Explain the burden of taxation given elasticity information.
Graphs
You must be able to:
1. Draw and illustrate anelastic and an inelastic demand curve.
2. Draw and illustrate consumer/producer tax burden given an elastic and inelastic demand curve.
3. Given a change in supply, compare and contrast the effects of price and quantity changes with elastic
and inelastic demand curves.
SC4—The course provides
instruction in the nature
Unit II-C [SC4]
and functions of product
C. Firm Production, Costs, Revenues
markets: Production and
1. Marginal product and diminishing returns
Costs.
2. Average and marginal cost and revenues
3. Long-run costs and economies of scale
• No specific question from 1989 to 1995 AP Exams, but concepts are critical to answering questions
about competitive and monopolistic firms
• 1996 AP Exam, knowledge of cost concepts and graph of individual firm are necessary to answer the
question
• 1997 AP Exam, calculation of MP and use of marginal analysis to derive supply curve in a competitive
firm.
Performance Objectives
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ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BENJAMIN E. MAYS HIGH SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT COURSE SYLLABUS
You must be able to:
1. Define and differentiate among different businesses.
2. Define the concepts of firm and industry.
3. Define, explain, and calculate total product, marginal product, and average product, and describe the
relationship among these concepts.
4. Define and interpret production functions.
5. Define and differentiate between short run and long run and between fixed and variable inputs.
6. Define the law of diminishing returns and explain how it is depicted by the total product and marginal
product curves.
7. Explain the relationship between production and cost.
8. Define and differentiate between explicit and implicit costs.
9. Define and calculate cost graphs.
10. Calculate and define fixed, variable, average, marginal, and total costs, and explain how they vary
with the level of output in the short run and long run.
11. Define and explain economies and diseconomies of scale and constant returns to scale.
12. Define and calculate the least-cost combination of inputs to employ for an existing firm.
Graphs
You must be able to:
1. Draw and interpret a production function graph.
2. Draw and interpret a total-cost graph and average-cost graphs.
3. Identify average-fixed, average-variable, and average-cost curves and marginal cost.
Unit II-D & E [SC5]
D. Product Pricing and Outputs both in the Individual Firm and in the Market
1. Perfect competition
2. Imperfect competition
a. monopoly
b. oligopoly and monopolistic competition
e. efficiency and Government Policy Toward Imperfect Competition
SC5—The course provides
instruction in the nature
and functions of product
markets: Market Structures.
Performance Objectives
You must be able to:
1. Define maximization of profits.
2. Apply the concepts of marginal cost and marginal revenue to determine maximization of profits.
3. Understand and apply the rule MR = MC.
4. Understand the concept of minimization of losses.
5. Define the shutdown criterion.
6. For each market structure:
a. Define and explain the conditions under which it functions.
b. Construct marginal revenue/cost analyses to determine price and output.
c. Determine the short-run and long-run equilibrium.
d. Identify the short-run market supply curve.
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ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BENJAMIN E. MAYS HIGH SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT COURSE SYLLABUS
e. Compare and contrast pricing and output between and among the firms.
f. Compare and contrast the demand curve and marginal revenue curve.
g. Compare and contrast allocative and technical (productive) efficiency among the firms.
h. Compare and contrast product differentiation among the firms.
i. Compare and contrast the degree of price discrimination among the firms.
j. Compare and contrast the effects of government regulation to make it more efficient.
Graphs
You must be able to:
1. Draw graphs and differentiate between a competitive firm and a competitive industry.
2. Draw graphs and correctly label a competitive firm that makes excessive profits, earns zero profits,
and minimizes losses.
3. Draw a sequence of graphs that shows a competitive firm making excessive profits (or minimizing its
losses) with a return to long-run equilibrium.
4. Draw and label a monopoly firm that makes excessive profits (and minimization of losses).
5. Draw a graph to illustrate the effects in output, price, and profits if the demand increases (or
decreases) in a monopolistic firm.
6. Illustrate graphically the problems of monopoly inefficiency (allocative and technical).
7. Draw and label a monopolistic competitive firm and illustrate long-run equilibrium.
Unit III [SC6]
SC6—The course provides
III. Factor Markets
instruction in factor
A. Derived factor demand
markets.
B. Determination of wages and other factor prices
• 1991 AP Exam, minimum wage impact on competitive industry
• 1994 AP Exam, entry of new workers into labor market and derived demand; a reduction in demand
for product; use of minimum wage; and how minimum wage affects a typical firm
• 1991 and 1994 AP Exams, explain relationship between MRC and MRP
• 1995 AP Exam, how a price change in product affects MRP, wage rates, and quantity of workers
• 1997 AP Exam, calculation of MRP; draw supply and demand curve for labor for a firm; determine
number of workers to be hired, effects of a change in the price of the commodity on the number of
people hired; understand MRC
Performance Objectives
You must be able to:
1. Explain the concept of derived demand.
2. Calculate and explain the quantity of labor or a resource to be hired/bought by a firm.
3. Construct a short-run demand schedule for a resource.
4. Calculate and explain the relative amounts or proportions a producer should acquire of two or more
resources.
5. Explain the relationship between MP and the demand for an input.
6. Explain and apply the concept of least-cost combination of inputs to novel data.
7. Explain and apply the rule for finding least-cost combination.
8. Explain how the marginal productivity theory of resource demand applies to wage rate determination.
9. Explain how the wage rate is determined.
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ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BENJAMIN E. MAYS HIGH SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT COURSE SYLLABUS
10. Calculate and determine wage rates in a competitive labor market and in a monopolistic labor
market.
11. Explain the concept of bilateral monopoly.
12. Explain the purpose of labor unions and their organization.
13. Explain the effects of unions and specific union tactics on wages and employment in both
competitive and monopolistic markets.
14. Evaluate the efficiency of specific legislation aimed at increasing wage rates and employment.
15. Distinguish between pure economic rent and quasi rent.
16. Distinguish between nominal and real interest rate.
Graphs
You must be able to:
1. Draw and illustrate a demand curve for labor.
2. Draw and illustrate a supply curve for labor in a single competitive firm and a competitive market.
3. Draw and illustrate an effective minimum wage.
4. Draw and illustrate the supply-and-demand curve for labor in a monopolistic market.
5. Draw and illustrate the various effects of labor union negotiations on wages
and employment in a monopolistic industry.
Unit IV [SC7]
IV. Efficiency, Equity, and Role of Government
A. Market failures
1. Externalities
2. Public goods
SC7—The course provides
instruction in market failure
and the role of government
in correcting market failure.
B. Distribution of income
• 1995 AP Exam, identification of an externality problem and how a sales tax on a good affects prices,
quantity, after-tax revenues, and efficiency
• 1997 AP Exam, use marginal analysis to regulate an industry that generates negative externalities
Performance Objectives
You must be able to:
1. Define and explain the effects of price ceilings and price supports.
2. Identify potential areas of market failures (externalities and spillovers).
3. Define and explain public goods.
4. Identify economic functions of government in a market economy.
Graphs
You must be able to:
1. Illustrate the effects of externalities and spillovers on a supply/demand graph.
2. Illustrate the effects of a government regulation on producers and/or consumers.
3. Illustrate price ceilings and floors.
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ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BENJAMIN E. MAYS HIGH SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT COURSE SYLLABUS
Required Materials: Students are required to bring their assigned textbook, notebook, homework, and a
pen/pencil to class every day. Students will need a 2-3 inch, three- ring binder with a minimum of five
sections. One section will correspond to each domain of study covered in the course. (Fundamentals of
Economics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Finance and Personal Finance, AP Tips.)
NO LOCKER PASSES WILL BE GIVEN TO RETRIEVE TEXTBOOKS, NOTEBOOKS, HOMEWORK OR THE LIKE.
GEORGIA PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Please refer to the following website for Economics standards tested on the EOCT.
https://www.georgiastandards.org/standards/Georgia%20Performance%20Standards/Economics.pdf
WRITING
Written expression is involved in the entire school curriculum including this class. There will be
lots of writing in this course. All written assignments must be typed and double-spaced. Always use 12point Times New Roman Font and white lineless paper 8 ½ x 11. The teacher may require additional
writing assignments. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited. Failure to comply will result in the issuance of zero
credit for the assignment.
CLASSROOM MATERIALS
Each student must bring to class on a daily basis:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Several No. 2 pencils
Several black and blue pens
College rule paper (8 ½ x 11)
One 1” binder with the following tabbed sections: Fundamentals of Economics,
Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Economics and Personal Finance, AP Exam Tips
TEXTBOOK
nd
Krugman, Paul and Wells, Robin, Economics, 2 ed. NY: Worth Publishers, 2009.
Rutzel, Liz, Princeton Review: Cracking the AP Economics Macro and Micro Exams, 2011 ed.
GRADING PROCEDURE
Your grade for the course will be awarded based on the scale below. Students will be required
to take the fall administration of the Economics EOCT and the spring administration of the AP
Microeconomics Exam. ALL STUDENTS WILL TAKE THE AP EXAM
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ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BENJAMIN E. MAYS HIGH SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT COURSE SYLLABUS
END OF COURSE CLASSES
1. Class Work
20%
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
15%
15%
15%
15% -- End of the first Semester
15% -- End of second Semester
20%
Homework
Notebook, Quizzes and Tests
Special Projects
Exam (EOCT)
AP Exam
Tests
ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFICIAL GRADING SCALE
The Atlanta Public School System grading scale is outlined below.
90 – 100
80 - 89
70 - 79
0 - 69
S
U
A
B
C
F
EXCELLENT
ABOVE AVERAGE
AVERAGE
FAILURE
SATISFACTORY
UNSATISFACTORY
CREDIT RECOVERY WORK
It is the student’s responsibility to request academic make-up work within two (2) school days
after an excused absence. All assignments must be picked up before or after school. The student is
responsible for requesting and completing make-up work within the timeframe set by the teacher.
Failure to do so will result in “0” for academic work missed. ALL WORK MUST BE TURNED IN ON TIME
UNLESS EXCUSE IS PROVIDED. If no excuse is provided a 25 point deduction will be taken off for the
FIRST day late, 50 points will be taken off for the SECOND day late and NO LATE work will be accepted
on the THIRD day late. Late work must be turned in on the NEXT BUSINESS DAY!
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
The purpose of parent-teacher conferences are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
To give parents and teachers a better understanding of the child’s academic and social
performances.
To promote close cooperation between the home and school in fostering the growth of the
whole child,
To give a more accurate picture of the child’s school growth as shown by achievement, and
To promote a better understanding of the objectives of the school.
Parent-Teacher conferences are held every Wednesday in the Cafeteria beginning at 3:30 P.M. and
ending at 4:30 P.M. Teachers who are not in the Cafeteria are in their assigned classrooms.
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ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BENJAMIN E. MAYS HIGH SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT COURSE SYLLABUS
MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS/PROJECTS TIMELINE (TENTATIVE)
STANDARDS BASED RESEARCH PROJECT
STUDENTS WILL CHOOSE A STANDARD OF THEIR CHOICE TO CONDUCT A RESEARCH PROJECT ON.
STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO CHOOSE STUDENTS WILL CREATE A MULTIMEDIA PROJECT ON THE
INFORMATION COLLECTED. A RUBRIC WILL BE GIVEN.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty. Plagiarism occurs
when a student uses or purchases ghost-written papers or products. It also occurs when a student
utilizes ideas or information obtained from another person without giving credit to that person. If
plagiarism or another act of academic dishonesty occurs, it will be dealt with in accordance with the
academic misconduct policy as stated in the Atlanta Public Schools Handbook and the Benjamin E.
Mays High School Handbook.
TUTORIAL SCHEDULE
I WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR TUTORIAL AFTER SCHOOL Monday 3:45-4:45
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
The Principal is the designated leader of the school and, with the staff, is responsible for its
orderly operation. In case of discipline violations, or illegal activities not covered by prescribed
dispositions in the Atlanta Public Schools Student Discipline Handbook and the Benjamin E. Mays High
School Students and Parents Handbook (issued to every student at the beginning of the school year or
upon enrollment), the Principal may enact corrective measures that he or she feels are in the best
interest of the school and student(s) involved. The teacher is responsible for the orderly operation of
the classroom. With that said, the following rules are highlighted.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Always Ask Questions
No Electronic or Cellular Devices
Be Prompt and On Time to Class
No Foul Language of Any Sort
Respect Self and Each Other
All Work Must Be Turned In On Time (25 points off First Day, 50 points off Second and not
accepted Third Day).
The teacher will take the following corrective action if a student decides not to follow the above rules.
1. Teacher Warning
2. Teacher Contacts Parent
3. Monday Detention the following week
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ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BENJAMIN E. MAYS HIGH SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT COURSE SYLLABUS
PLEASE KEEP THIS SYLLABUS IN YOUR NOTEBOOK AT ALL TIMES.
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ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BENJAMIN E. MAYS HIGH SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT COURSE SYLLABUS
STUDENT AND PARENT
COURSE SYLLABUS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM
Name of Course:
Teacher:
Course Number:
Number of Carnegie Units:
Class Location:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Economics
Dr. Alexis B. Morris
45.06100
1
1323
404-802-5100
_______________________
Your signature is required below to acknowledge receipt of a course syllabus for ECONOMICS. Please
return this page to your teacher after you and a parent or legal guardian has signed below.
Student’s Name________________________________________Class Period_____________
Teacher_______________________________________________Room Number___________
Student’s Signature______________________________________Date___________________
Parent/Guardian Signature_________________________________Date_________________
Teacher’s Signature___________________________________Date Returned_____________
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