AP MACROECONOMICS
SYLLABUS
Instructor: Brett Burkey
Department: Social Studies
Length of Course: 1 Semester
Goal: Nothing less than a “3” on the A.P. Exam
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
Economics is the science which studies human behavior as a relationship between ends
and scarce means which have alternative uses.
---------Lionel Bobbins
The purpose of a course in AP Macroeconomics is to give students a thorough
understanding of the principles of economics that apply to an economic system as a
whole. Such a course places particular emphasis on the study of national income and
price determination, and also develops students’ familiarity with economic performance
measures, economic growth, and international economics.
The course goals are threefold:
a. to introduce students to the field of macroeconomics
b. to teach basic economic concepts and analytical skills
c. to enable students to score well on the AP Macroeconomics Exam
A course in AP Macroeconomics is challenging and stimulating, and compared to regular
economics course, takes more time and requires more homework. It also gives greater
opportunity for individual progress and accomplishment, and goes into greater depth. The
grade in this course is weighted to reflect the quality of work undertaken.
II. TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS USED
 Textbook: McConnell, Campbell R. and Stanley L. Brue: Macroeconomics:
Principles, Problems, and Policies. 16th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, Inc. 2005
 Walstad, William B. and Robert C. Bingham. Study Guide to Accompany
Macroeconomics. 16th ed. New York, McGraw Hill, Inc. 2005
 Morton, John S. and Rae Jean B. Goodman. Advanced Placement Economics.
Macroeconomics: Student Activities. 3rd edition. National Council on Economic
Education, New York, 2003
 REA Test Preparation Guide for the AP Macroeconomics Exam
III. COURSE OBJECTIVES
After completing AP Macroeconomics course, students should be able to do all of the
following:
1. define and understand the key terms given at the end of each chapter;
2. use the graphical and mathematical tools of macroeconomic theory as demonstrated in
class, in the text, and in homework problems;
3. explain in detail how the basic measures of economic performance are calculated and
the significance of changes in these measures;
4. explain in detail the money creation process and the workings of our financial system;
5. use macroeconomic models presented in class and the text, analyze the various fiscal
and monetary policies to determine their impacts on the measures of economic
performance.
IV. HOMEWORK AND IN-CLASS EXPECTATIONS
In order to prepare adequately for the Advanced Placement Macroeconomics Exam in
May, you must spend considerable time preparing for class. The text must be read and
problems completed in a timely fashion. Assignments must be done and questions
formulated before coming to class. Homework problems are a necessary part of learning
economics. Typically, you should plan to spend at least ONE hour preparing for each
class meeting.
1. Reading Assignments
All students will be expected to keep up with their reading and to demonstrate their
preparedness by active involvement in class activities. To be adequately prepared for
class, you must:
a. read the assigned pages carefully;
b. take notes on the assigned reading;
c. get familiar with all the terms listed at the end of the chapter; and
d. refer to the Summary section of each chapter to pinpoint areas of noncomprehension.
2. Problem-Solving Assignments
Every student must finish all Problem-Solving assignments in a timely fashion with
quality. Problem-Solving assignments include:
1. Key Questions and Graphs in each chapter learned
2. Worksheets selected from the Morton's book
Problem-Solving assignments will be collected on the due date and will be 20% off on
each school day’s delay (Weekends will not be counted; however, every school day will
be counted even if you don’t have class on that day). I will not accept any late work after
I have returned that assignment to the class. Failure to turn in a major assignment can
seriously affect your grade. All honest attempts will be rewarded. Always try.
3. Modeling, Graphing, and Analysis of Tabular Data
In any economics course, modeling, graphing, manipulation and analysis of tabular
data, linkages or cause and effect relationships, and some formula substitution play a
key role. The major units—Aggregate Supply and Aggregate Demand, Money and
Banking, and Monetary and Fiscal Policies –require extensive use of these tools. If
you want to understand the material really well; you must spend time with these
demonstrations.
4. In Class Activities
There will be some in-class activities associated with the class instructions.
Some of them will be used to reinforce concepts learned in class whereas others will
serve to assess students understanding. Every student is required to either work
independently or work with his/her partner on these assignments. Active
participation and contribution to this kind of work are strongly anticipated.
5. Notes on Class Instructions
Class instructions are crucial to the mastery of this course because they address the
most important and/or most difficult topics. Therefore, taking notes on selected
chapters is required. I personally believe the notes will be extremely beneficial for
your tests and homework. When the tests are given, both textbook contents and notes
will be used.
V. EVALUATION: CHAPTER TESTS, UNIT TESTS, AND MOCK EXAM
1. There will be a scheduled TEST on each chapter learned (50 points each, 25 minutes to
finish. Format: multiple choices, and/or graphing questions); some short units will have
no chapter test; instead a unit test covering all chapters studied will be given. There will
be about 14 tests throughout the course.
2. There will be a scheduled UNIT TEST upon each unit finished (The test on first and
second units will be combined as one unit test. There is a long unit which will have two
unit tests; Every unit test will contain 100 points, 45 minutes to finish). There will be 6
unit tests throughout the course. Each Unit Test will include three types of questions:
a.
b.
c.
30 multiple choice questions
Two short Free-Response Questions
One long Free-Response Question
3. There will be NO FINAL EXAM, unless excessive absences warrant, upon finishing
the new material of this course. Instead a mock AP Macroeconomics Exam will be given
(to be finished within two hours).
4. Unit tests will be administered on a Tuesday or Thursday, while the short format
chapter tests will be given on any day of the week.
The goal of the tests, unit tests, and mock exam is to prepare students for the AP Exam in
May. Objective questions will require application and/or synthesis of material presented.
Free-Response questions will involve clear explanations of policy alternatives in
Macroeconomics terms. The time limits on the tests will be strictly enforced to simulate
the exam.
VI. GRADING STANDARD
For each quarter:
1. Chapter tests
45%
2. Unit Tests
35%
3. Homework
15%
4. Class Participation
5%
----------------------------------------------------------100%
Semester Course Average
First Quarter
50%
Second Quarter
50%
----------------------------------------------------------100%
VII. SEMESTER PLAN
Note 1. The introduction of new material will be finished by the early May. This leaves
sufficient time for in-class review of the material to prepare you for the AP exam on May
17th.
Note 2. Class instruction will be based on topics and major concepts, rather than study of
each chapter in its entirety. In many cases it is not necessary to cover all material in each
chapter of McConnell book due to its in-depth and extensive coverage of topics.
VIII. COURSE OUTLINE
Reading Schedule:
Week Unit/Chapter
Unit 1: Introduction to Economics and the Economy
1 Chapter 1: The Nature and Method of Economics
Chapter 2: the Economizing Problem
2 Chapter 3: Individual Markets: Demand and Supply
Chapter 4: The Market System (minimal coverage)
3 Chapter 5: The US Economy: Private and Public Sectors
Unit 2: Macroeconomic Measurement and Basic Concepts
4 Chapter 7: Measuring Domestic Output
5 Chapter 8: Introduction to Economic Growth and Instability
6 Chapter 9: Basic Relationships between Key Economic Aggregates
Unit 3: Macroeconomic Models and Fiscal Policy
7 Chapter 10: The Aggregate Expenditures Model
8 Chapter 11: Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply
9 Chapter 12: Fiscal Policy
Unit 4: Money, Banking, and Monetary Policy
10 Chapter 13: Money and Banking
Chapter 14: How Banks Create Money (selective coverage)
11 Chapter 15: Monetary Policy
Unit 5: Long-Run Perspectives and Macroeconomic Disputes
12 Chapter 16: Extending the Analysis of Aggregate Supply
13 Chapter 17: Economic Growth and the New Economy
14 Chapter 19: Disputes over Macro Theory and Policy
Unit 6: International Trade and Exchange Rates
15 Chapter 37: International Trade Chapter 6: The US in the Global Economy
16 Chapter 38: Exchange Rates and Balance of Payments
17 Review
18 Exam on May 17th.
IX. WORKBOOK ACTIVITIES
Unit
Chapter
Activity
One
1&2
1&10
3
4
3-8
9
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
7
11&12
8
9
16&17
19,22,26
10
21
11
23-25, 27
12
30&31
13
34&35
14
37
15
38-42
16
29, 43-46
17
47
18
44
19
48
6
2, 49&50
37
51
38
52-54
Introduction
The Course in AP Macroeconomics is designed to replicate the introductory
macroeconomics course taught in a university setting. As such, the course requires far
more effort and commitment from you than the typical high school course. The course
goals are threefold:
1. to introduce students to the field of macroeconomics;
2. to teach basic economic concepts and analytical skills; and
3. to enable students to score well on the AP Macroeconomics Exam.
Class Preparation
To be adequately prepared for class, you must:
1. read the assigned pages;
2. take notes on the assigned reading and formulate questions; and
3. complete any assignments carefully
Materials
The following materials are necessary for class every day: Pencil and Eraser, 3-Ring
Binder, Paper
Homework
Homework assignments will vary from basic worksheets to review questions to analytical
diagrams. Late homework may be made up for 50 percent credit, but only until the unit
exam. Work not turned in by the time of the appropriate unit test becomes worthless.
Tests
Tests will combine both objective and essay formats and will always be announced. The
goal of the tests is to prepare you for the AP Exam in May. Objective questions will
require application and/or synthesis of material presented. Essay questions will involve
clear explanations of policy alternatives in macroeconomic terms. Students who miss an
exam with an excused absence may take a make-up exam at a time designated by me.
The make-up exam must be completed within one week of the excused absence. The
quizzes will usually be unannounced and will involve questions that are simpler in
composition and more direct.
Attendance
Attendance in class is critical. Students who miss class often (for any reason) are
jeopardizing their grade in this course. Students who anticipate attendance problems
should transfer to another economics class. If a student is absent for any reason, the
entire responsibility for obtaining and making up missed work is the student’s.
Seeking Assistance
Students can improve their learning considerably by being active in the learning process.
Questions, carefully formulated and articulated, make a world of difference in learning a
subject as complex a macroeconomics. I will be available for tutorial both before and
after school on an appointment basis.
Responsibilities
1. Arrive on-time, ready to work
2. Make an honest effort to comprehend material
3. Complete assignments in a timely fashion
4. Seek extra help when necessary
5. Take notes and participate in class discussion;
6. All students are expected to be in compliance with the Honor Code at all times: “As a
member of the Spanish River High School community, I will uphold the
values of honesty and integrity, and I pledge that I will not lie, cheat, steal, or
plagiarize.”
Communication
You and your parents(s)/guardians are encouraged to contact me at any time if you have
questions or concerns about this class. My e-mail is brett.burkey@palmbeachschools.org
You are an important person and I want you to have a very successful semester. By
working together, I know that your goals and mine can be met.
A.P. MACROECONOMICS HOMEWORK POLICY
THE FOLLOWING POLICY PERTAINS TO ASSIGNMENTS FROM THE
MACROECONOMICS: STUDENT ACTIVITIES 3RD EDITION ONLY:
These assignments will be due on the Friday of the week of study. Follow the Course
Outline and Workbook Activities sheets. The assignments are to be turned in to me in
8320 before homeroom on the Friday. There will be a box conspicuously placed for you
to drop the assignments in. Assignments turned in any time after pre-school Friday will
receive a deduction of 20%. We will use class time on that Friday to go over the
homework and improve your comprehension.
Always do the homework individually and always try. You will be rewarded for your
effort and any mistakes can be corrected during the class time review.