Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
Email Address: School: brettweiss@u-46.org
Home Email Address: brettteach@gmail.com
School Phone–630-372-4700 ext. 4737; Cell Phone: 630-248-5405
Class Overview: At the end of this class it is expected that
students will have a good understanding of both the
principles and theories of Economics as well as their role
and responsibilities as a consumer in our mixed market
economy. Students will learn through a combination of
traditional textbook concepts and the day to day realities of
the world. As your teacher I expect this class and your
education to be very important to you and for you to give
100% effort each and every day. If you have any problems
or questions on this, please talk to me immediately.
Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
Excellence: It is expected that each of you
will strive for excellence each and every day
in this class. Success will come from hard
work and pushing yourself harder than you
thought you could.
Honesty: It is expected that at all times in this
class you will be a person of honesty and
integrity. Nothing less than 100% honesty
and integrity will be tolerated.
Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
Your final grade will come from the following:
1.Weekly Article Work. (Worth 25 Pts/Week – partial
credit if late!!)
2.Board Work (5 pts/Day) – partial credit if late
3. You will have a test on Units 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.
Categories will be
4. Homework Assignments weighted and passed out
on a separate sheet.
5. Pop Quizzes
Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
6. Weekly Participation Points: You will get 25 points
each week for doing what you are supposed to do: Be
on time; Listen; Do your work; etc. etc. If you do not
do the things you are supposed to be doing each week,
then you will get something less than 25 points per
week.
7. Commodities Project: You will get a chance to earn
Extra Credit on your prediction and will write a very
small paper.
Categories will be weighted and passed out on a separate
sheet.
Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
8. Consumer Budget Project – You will learn about the
day to day realities of being a consumer
9. “Giving Back” Project – When you become successful
economic citizens it will be expected that you give back
to people in the world who are not as fortunate as you.
Do not hesitate to contact me either in person, via text,
phone or email, if you need help on anything. I want
every person in this class to be very successful so you
will learn a lot about Economics and go out and be a
great Economic Citizen and make the world a better
place.
Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
One of the main lessons I have learned from working
in schools in Kenya and Rwanda is how committed
each of the students in these countries are to their
education. None of them would ever consider being
late for a class; missing a class; talking while
someone else is talking; being disrespectful in any
way. It has made me realize that I should expect
nothing less from my students here at Bartlett High
School. Maybe they are just more lucky than you
that they live in absolute poverty!!
Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
Our capitalistic society, or mixed economy, is one
where its success, or lack of success, is very much
determined by the intelligence and knowledge of its
people/consumers. A key part of that knowledge, is
how well one understands our economic system and
how it works. The more people understand about our
economy works, the better our economy will be. Also,
for you as an individual, the better you understand
how our economy works, the more success you will
have throughout your life on economic and business
issues.
Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
Each of you will soon be entering a world that is far
different than the world your parents or grandparents
entered. It is a world of “globalization” where your
neighbors, friends, enemies and competitors are not
just the people in your community, but they are in
every country of the world. You are entering a world
of worldwide instant communications whether that
be through email, blogs, chat rooms, cell phones,
etc. You are not just competing with seniors
throughout the United States, but with every young
person your age in the entire world..
Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
This class will help you to get a much better
understanding of that world you are about to
enter and how to be successful in it. In your
lifetime the United States will lose first place as
the dominant economic power in the world.
Exactly how this effects you and the rest of the
people in the United States will be determined by
how ready you are to successfully compete in
this world of globalization.
Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
A major goal of this class will be to turn you into
adults who will be “Economic Upstanders” and
not “Economic Bystanders”. I want you to be
people who will stand up for your rights, and the
rights of others as an Economic Citizen and as a
consumer. Stand up for yourself; Make sure
your voice is heard!; Don’t let anyone take
advantage of you!
Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
Topics to be covered:
Unit 1: An Introduction to Economics
Chapter 1 – What Is Economics?
Chapter 2 – Economic Systems & the American
Economy
Unit 2 – Practical Economics: How Theory Works for
You
Chapter 3 – Your Role as a consumer
Chapter 4 – Going Into Debt
Chapter 5 – Buying the Necessities
Chapter 6 – Saving and Investing
Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
Unit 3 – Microeconomics: Markets, Prices and
Business Competition
Chapter 7 – Demand and Supply
Chapter 8 – Business Organizations
Chapter 9 – Competition and Monopolies
Unit 4 – Microeconomics: American Business in
Action
Chapter 10 – Financing and Producing Goods
Chapter 11 – Marketing and Distribution
Chapter 12 – The American Labor Force
Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
Unit 5 – Macroeconomics – The Nation’s Economy
Chapter 13 – Measuring the Economy’s
Performance
Chapter 14 – Money and Banking
Chapter 15 – The Federal Reserve System and
Monetary Policy
Chapter 16 – Government Spends, Collects
and Owes
Chapter 17 – Stabilizing the National Economy
Mr.
Weiss
Regular Economics Syllabus – 2013-2014 – Mr. Weiss
Unit 6 – The International Scene
Chapter 18 – Trading With Other Nations
Chapter 19 – Economic Growth in Developing
Nations
Chapter 20 – The Global Economy
You will see the movies, “Erin Brockovich”, “Norma Rae” and
“The Pursuit of Happyness” to help you learn the skills and
gain the courage to be an “Economic Upstander”!
There will be a Final Exam at the end of the
Semester