SAIGONTECH
Course Syllabus
ECON 2302 - Principles of Microeconomics
1. Class
: ECON2
Semester : Summer 2013
CRN
:
2. Instructors
Instructor:
Office:
Tel:
Mobile:
Email:
Trần Nam Giang
Room 604 – SaigonTech Tower
(84-8) 3715 5033 (ext. 1632)
0942 93 91 92
giangtn@saigontech.edu.vn
Assistant Instructor:
Office:
Mobile:
Email:
Đỗ Hoàng Lan
Room 604 – SaigonTech Tower
0919 10 18 81
landh@saigontech.edu.vn
3. Campus and Room Location with Days and Times
Venue: Room 304 – SaigonTech Tower
Time : Lecture : Tuesday 9:45am – 11:45am
Tutorial: Thursday 9:45am – 11:45am
4. Course Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 3
5. Total Course Contact Hours: 48
6. Type of Instruction: Lectures & Tutorials
7. Course Description
ECON 2302 is an introductory course in microeconomics, which examines the fundamental
theories of the consumer, the firm, and markets. It is a required course for any student
wishing to take major or minor in business or economics, and it is recommended for any
student who would like to understand the American and world economy as it relates to
business and individual welfare. This course also meets the social science requirements of the
core curriculum, since you will be exposed to major questions concerning human and
institutional behavior, and you will be encouraged to develop your skills in critical analysis,
mathematics, and/or writing clarity
8. Course Prerequisite(s):
ESL level 4
No previous economic study is required
1
9. Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students’
learning
Outcomes
Learning
Objectives
1. Understand the basic economic terms
2. Can define the different economic concepts
3. Provide in-depth, typical examples to each of the concepts and models
4. Be able to interpret clearly most of the economic problems
5. Can clarify principles and concepts by applicable evidences in real life
I. Be able to understand the basic economic principles and concepts:
1. Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost
2. PPF, comparative advantage, specialization, and trade
3. Economic systems
4. Property rights and the role of incentives
5. Marginal analysis
II. Recognize the nature and functions of product markets:
1. Supply and demand. Market equilibrium
2. Determinant of supply and demand. Price and quantity controls
3. Elasticity, price, income, and cross price elasticity of demand
4. Price elasticity of supply. Consumer surplus, producer surplus and
market efficiency
5. Tax incidence and deadweight loss
III. Theory of consumer choice:
1. Total utility and marginal utility
2. Utility maximization: equalizing marginal utility per dollar
3. Individual and market demand curves
4. Income and substitution effects
IV. Production and costs
1. Production functions: short and long run
2. Marginal product and diminishing returns
3. Short run costs
4. Long run costs and economies of scale
5. Cost minimizing input combination
V. Firm behavior and market structure
1. Profit Accounting versus Economic profit. Normal profit
2. Profit maximization : MR=MC rule
3. Perfect competition. Monopoly. Oligopoly. Monopolistic competition
4. Short run and long run equilibrium
10. Textbook
Economics, 1st edition, P. Krugman and R. Wells (2006). Worth Publishers.
For the best use of the textbook, take some time to read Tools for Learning, pp.xi-xii
Go to URL: http://www.worthpublishers.com/krugmanwells for student resources
11. Course Requirements
Make-up policy
Make-up test is not allowed. If any class session is canceled, the instructor will discuss with
the students to arrange a make-up class
Attendance and Withdrawal Policies
Please read information about attendance and withdrawal policies on SaigonTech website:
http://www.saigontech.edu.vn/saigontech/english/general_academic.jsp?subid=37#6
2
12. Instructor’s Requirements (such as tardiness policy, plagiarism policy …)
Classroom policy
 Please be seated before lecture begins, and don't leave early without prior permission
since it is very distracting to me and your classmates. Arriving late or leaving early
without a valid excuse will count as half of an absence
 Because it is distracting to other students and to me, you should keep mobile phones
off/silent, and not carry on private conversations. Making a habit of this will reduce your
participation grade
 Being active in class discussions and asking questions are highly encouraged
 To make use of your scarce time and mine, do NOT study for another exam, or do work
for another class, or play games, or surf Internet. If you are caught red-handed, you will
be dismissed from the class and your attendance for that class will be ABSENT. It also
reduces your participation grade
 Do not close your books or rustle your papers to signal the end of class. Pack up only
when I say I have done
Academic Honesty
Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling
course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by
SaigonTech officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Please visit this site
for more details about Academic Dishonesty Policy:
http://www.saigontech.edu.vn/saigontech/english/student_discipline.jsp?disID=3&subid=42
Other Student Information: Refer to SaigonTech’s website at www. saigontech.edu.vn for
other students rights and responsibilities at the school
13. Grading Policies
An Incomplete may be given only for extenuating circumstances (i.e. family illness, accident,
and an unforeseen event occurring at exam time). The grading policy is summarized below:
Course Grading
1) Quiz & Problem (quantity: 7, mode: individual)
2) Presentation (quantity: 1, mode: group)
3) Mid-term exam
4) Final exam
5) Participation
Total
25%
10%
25%
30%
10%
100%
Grading Scale
A 90 – 100
B 80 – 89
C 70 – 79
0 – 69
F
The passing grade of this course is C
1) Quiz & Problem (individual, closed book, no electronic devices)




Each student must attend the class to take the quizzes. If he/she is absent, there is no
other opportunity to make up. Mark of 0 will be given if not taking the quiz
The quizzes will take place from week 2 until week 11 with duration of 1 hour. They will
be hold during the second half of the tutorial time. There are 7 quizzes in total, but only 5
quizzes that have highest scores are taken to calculate your result
The quiz will be provided in order to test students’ knowledge about the materials
provided in the previous lecture and to help students well-prepared before mid-term and
final examinations
Each quiz includes 10 multiple-choice questions and 1 problem:
3
50%
50%
100%
MCQ
Problem
Total

The results and feedbacks will be received at the next tutorial
2) Presentation (group)
 Each group (max of 4 students) is required to do 1 presentation for the whole semester.
Each presentation will last about 20 minutes (excluding questions and answers)
 The groups have to hand in both hard-copy and soft copy of their power point slides to
the tutor on the presentation day
 Everyone in the group has to present. Those who do not present with the group at the
presentation date will receive only 50% of the mark given to the group
 The presentations will be held in week 4 and week 10 tutorial
 There is no extension approval for group presentation
 The specific questions will be provided to each group one week before the presentation
 The results and feedbacks will be received immediately after the students have finished
presenting
 Below is the list of presentation marking criteria:
Criteria
Speaking speed
Attire
Time management
Power point slides
Pronunciation
Professional Manner
Content
Total
Standards
Not too fast, not too slow
Appropriate
20 minutes for presentation
(excluding questions & answers section)
Good design & layout
Accurate, clear, loud enough
Proper gesture, face expression, eye contact, audience control
Quality of the content presented, quality of the answers
%
5
5
5
5
20
30
30
100
3) Examination Format (individual, no electronic devices)
Exam
Midterm
Type
MCQ
Problems
Open/Close
Closed
Closed
No. of
questions
30
2
Points
30
70
Endterm
MCQ
Closed
30
30
Problems
Closed
2
70
Chapters
Duration
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 &
120 mins
6
8, 9, 10, 14,
15 & 16
120 mins
Reading
time
5 mins
5 mins
4) Participation (individual): Participation mark depends on your diligence and activeness. To
get full mark (10%), you have to attend all 24 class-sessions and be very active in the class
4
14. Course Calendar: Lectures and tutorials will follow the order of the Krugman and Wells
textbook
Week
1
Date
Tue
11/06/13
Thu
13/06/13
2
3
4
5
Tue
18/06/13
Item/Description
- Introduction
- Syllabus Clarification
- How to use the textbook
effectively
- Lecture: Chapter 1 First
Principles
Tutorial: Chapter 1
Pre-class Reading
- Chapter 1 Opening Story,
pp.5-6
- Definition of Key Terms
of Introduction & Chapter 1
(see the list of Key Terms
on pp. 4, 18)
After-Classs Homework
- Check Your Understanding 11 (p.11), 1-2 (p.17)
- Economics in Action (pp.1617)
- Summary, pp.17-18
Lecture: Chapter 2
Economic Models: TradeOffs and Trade
- Chapter 2 Opening Story,
p.20
- Definition of Key Terms
of Chapter 2 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.38)
- Check Your Understanding 21 (p.33), 2-2 (p.37)
- Summary, p.38
Lecture: Chapter 3
Supply and Demand
- Chapter 3 Opening Story,
pp.56-57
- Definition of Key Terms
of Chapter 3 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.79)
- Check Your Understanding 31 (p.63), 3-2 (pp.67-68), 3-3
(p.72), 3-4 (p.77)
- Summary, pp.78-79
- Chapter 4 Opening Story,
pp.83-84
- Economics in action
(p.89)
- Definition of Key Terms
of Chapter 4 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.105)
- Check Your Understanding 41 (p.90), 4-2 (p.94), 4-3 (p.99),
4-4 (p.104)
- Summary, pp.104-105
- Chapter 5 Opening Story,
p.109
- Economics in action
(p.120)
- Definition of Key Terms
of Chapter 5 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.131)
- Check Your Understanding 51 (p.113), 5-2 (pp.120-121), 5-3
(p.123), 5-4 (p.126)
- Summary, pp.130-131
- Chapter 6 Opening Story,
p.135
- Economics in action
(pp.151-152)
- Definition of Key Terms
of Chapter 6 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.157)
- Check Your Understanding 61 (p.142), 6-2 (p.146), 6-3
(p.152), 6-4 (p.156)
- Summary, p.157
Thu
20/06/13
Tutorial: Chapter 2 & 3
- Quiz 1
Tue
25/06/13
Lecture: Chapter 4
The Market Strikes Back
Thu
27/06/13
Tutorial: Chapter 4
- Quiz 2
Tue
02/07/13
Lecture: Chapter 5
Elasticity
Thu
04/07/13
Tutorial:
- Group presentations
Tue
09/07/13
Lecture: Chapter 6
Consumer and Producer
Surplus
5
Thu
11/07/13
6
7
8
9
10
11
Tutorial: Chapter 5 & 6
- Quiz 3
Tue
16/07/13
Revision for Mid–term
examination
Thu
18/07/13
Tue
23/07/13
Mid-term examination
Thu
25/07/13
Tutorial: Chapter 8
- Quiz 4
Tue
30/07/13
Lecture: Chapter 9
Perfect Competition and the
Supply Curve
Thu
01/08/13
Tue
06/08/13
Tutorial: Chapter 9
Thu
08/08/13
Tutorial: Chapter 10
- Quiz 6
Tue
13/08/13
Lecture: Chapter 14
Monopoly
Thu
15/08/13
Tutorial:
- Group presentations
Tue
20/08/13
Lecture: Chapter 15
Oligopoly
Lecture: Chapter 8
Behind the Supply Curve:
Input and Costs
- Chapter 8 Opening Story,
pp.181-182
- For Inquiring Mind
(p.186)
- Definition of Key Terms
of Chapter 8 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.203)
-Check Your Understanding 81 (p.189), 8-2 (p.197), 8-3
(p.202)
-Summary, pp.202-203
- Chapter 9 Opening Story,
p.206
- Economics in action
(p.220)
- Definition of Key Terms
of Chapter 9 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.227)
- Check Your Understanding 91 (p.210), 9-2 (p.220), 9-3
(p.226)
- Summary, p.227
-Chapter 10 Opening
Story, pp.230-231
-Economics in action
(pp.233-234)
-Key Terms of Chapter
10 (see the list of Key
Terms on p.250)
-Check Your Understanding
10-1 (p.234),
10-2 (p.241),
10-3 (p.245),
10-4 (p.249)
-Summary, p.249
- Chapter 14 Opening
Story, p.333
- For Inquiring Mind
(p.345)
- Definition of Key Terms
of Chapter 14 (see the list
of Key Terms on p.359)
-Check Your Understanding
14-1 (p.339),
14-2 (p.347),
14-3 (p.352),
14-4 (p.358)
-Summary, pp.358-359
- Chapter 15 Opening
Story, pp.363-364
- Economics in action
(pp.377-378)
- Definition of Key Terms
of Chapter 15 (see the list
of Key Terms on p.384)
-Check Your Understanding
15-1 (p.366),
15-2 (p.370),
15-3 (p.378),
15-4 (p. 383)
-Summary, p.384
- Quiz 5
Lecture: Chapter 10
The Rational Consumer
6
Lecture: Chapter 16
Monopolistic Competition
and Consumer Choice
12
Thu
22/08/13
Tutorial: Chapters 14,15 &
16
- Quiz 7
Tue
27/08/13
Revision for Final
examination
Thu
29/08/13
Final examination
- Chapter 16 Opening
Story, pp.388-389
- Economics in action
(p.392)
- Definition of Key Terms
of Chapter 16 (see the list
of Key Terms on p.404)
- Check Your Understanding
16-1 (p.393),
16-2 (p.398),
16-3 (p.400),
16-4 (p. 403)
- Summary, p.403
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