Materials for this course are available as an Inclusive Access Package.

This is one item that you pay for when you pay your tuition and fees.

You do not have to buy anything at the SUU Bookstore.

This package includes:

• Access to the class site at McGraw-Hill Connect (which includes an eText).
• Access to a separate service called MobLab.

Graded homework assignments will be drawn from Connect, while graded in-class activities will be drawn from MobLab. Tests will be based on lectures and the eText.

If you are using Connect or MobLab for another class, you can and should use the same username and password, but you must buy access for each course separately.

You do not need to have a physical book for the class. But, if you want one, we will be using Macroeconomics (soft cover, cheaper, for this class only) by David C. Colander, 12th edition. I don’t object if you buy it new, buy it used, share it, rent it, borrow it, or do without. Do note that a physical book can also be ordered for a discounted price through the Inclusive Access package. Update the edition

How Micro and Macro “Splits” Work:

There are texts for Principles of Economics that include both microeconomics and macroeconomics, and are usually used for two semester sequences. These are usually hardcover. The macroeconomics portion of these books is towards the back and fairly obvious.

But, most students in this class will use a “split”: all the chapters for that subject, plus a few chapters that are shared between the splits. These are paperback or loose-leaf, and they are cheaper.

Within Connect you will also find an eBook. This is identical to the one-semester split version.

Your split text is divided into Part I and Part II. Part I is the 5 chapters shared by the macro and micro splits, while Part II is all the macro chapters.

Please note that if you buy a cheap text on the internet, these are often being sold cheaply because of mistakes in printing the chapter or page numbers. It is your responsibility to sort this out.

Web Chapters:

The text includes 1 web chapter. I do not cover these.

Appendices:

These are required (but are not tested as heavily).

Supplementary Materials and Readings:

Current events coverage is part of this class. Information on this will be posted to a blog that is linked within Canvas.

I usually post these to the class folder on Google Drive.

The School of Business has an arrangement for students to get access to articles from The Wall Street Journal. We will be using this a lot (directions coming later).

1. Demonstrate strong critical thinking skills.
2. Understand microeconomic principles at an intermediate level and be able to apply them to the analysis of individual, firm, and market behavior.
3. Understand macroeconomic principles at an intermediate level and be able to apply standard models to contemporary policy questions and problems.
4. Understand basic probability and statistical inference and be able to apply these concepts in data analysis and decision making.
5. Be able to conduct basic econometric analysis; appreciate the major issues involved in estimating, using, interpreting, and evaluating econometric models.

Grades:

Your grade is the percentage of points you earn out of 400 points: 120 from chapter quizzes, 40 from comprehensive quizzes, 120 from (online) homeworks, and 100 from Moblab simulations.

You’ll notice that doesn’t add up to 400 yet. Where do the extra points come from? First, your raw score on the comprehensive quizzes may be elevated (diligent students can get up to 20 more points this way). Second, there are short-answer extra credit questions on each test (these are based on current events covered in class). Expect about 25 points to be available that way. Third, you can earn extra credit on some simulations. Lastly, there are five chapters I won’t cover but which you can do on your own for extra credit. The bottom line is that I’m making more than 400 points available to you.

I do give pluses and minuses, but only to the top and bottom 20% of the grade ranges. Note that when I post letter grade forecasts during the semester, I do not forecast the pluses and minuses.

The grade ranges are:

• 240 You will get no worse than a D-
• 248 You will get no worse than a D
• 272 You will get no worse than a D+
• 280 You will get no worse than a C-
• 288 You will get no worse than a C
• 312 You will get no worse than a C+
• 320 You will get no worse than a B-
• 328 You will get no worse than a B
• 352 You will get no worse than a B+
• 360 You will get no worse than a A-
• 368 You will get no worse than a A

Tests:

There will be 5 in-class tests plus a final test (in this classroom, at the time scheduled by SUU).

The 5 test correspond to the 5 sections of the text we’ll cover.

Each of those 5 tests will cover 2-3 chapters. Each chapter has a quiz. I staple those together and call it an test.

Chapter Quizzes:

Each chapter has a quiz that is 10 questions long, and each correct answer counts for one point.

Chapter quizzes are offered only on test days: in this class an test is a collection of chapter quizzes.

If we do not finish a required chapter before the end of the semester, you still have to take the quiz, but 5 points will be added to the number you got correct on its quiz, up to a maximum score of 15 out of 10 points.

Default Quiz Scores:

The default score for each chapter quiz is 3 out of 10.

Why would I give you “free” points? Well, I’m really not. The tests are multiple choice, so if you don’t study, and just show up and guess, you can probably get 3 correct, right? So why bother? It’s stressful for you and, and it wastes my time.

Changing Your Quiz Scores:

If you take a chapter quiz, you get that new score, whether or not it’s better or worse.

You can take a chapter quiz as many times as there are test days. Each time you take it, you keep the new score.

So, take a chapter quiz the first time because you’re pretty sure you can do better than 3 out of 10. But, only retake a quiz if you’re pretty sure you can beat your last score.

Required Chapter Quizzes:

I will cover 12 chapters in class.

Each will have its own chapter quiz, as part of the tests.

Extra Credit Chapter Quizzes:

I do not cover Chapters 1 through 5 in this class. No quizzes are available for those, and you may not do them for extra credit.

I do not cover Chapters 15-16, or 20-22 either. But you may do these on your own. If you do, I will let you take quizzes on them, following the same rules that we used of the required chapters.

Do the math: because of the default score, you’re already getting 15 points of extra credit from these chapters.

Comprehensive Quizzes:

Quizzes that cover material covered throughout the semester will be offered 7 times. Each quiz is 10 multiple-choice questions, 2 from the chapters covered on each of the 5 tests.

The raw scores from these quizzes will be elevated (not curved). The elevation is an addition to the number you got right, so it is conceivable to get extra credit from these quizzes. The amount will be:

• 8 points on the 1st quiz (so 8 to 18 is the possible score)
• 6 points on the 2nd quiz (so 6 to 16 is the possible score)
• 4 points on the 3rd quiz (so 4 to 14 is the possible score)
• 2 points on the 4th quiz (so 2 to 12 is the possible score)
• 0 points on the 5th quiz (so 0 to 10 is the possible score)
• 0 points on the 6th quiz (so 0 to 10 is the possible score)
• 0 points on the 7th quiz (so 0 to 10 is the possible score)

I will count your 4 highest elevated scores on these comprehensive quizzes. Your best strategy is to take these comprehensive quizzes as early in the semester as you can.

Scantrons:

I use the long, half-sheet, 100 question kind. I will provide these.

Tests:

N.B. The University calls mid-term and final exams “exams” rather than “tests”. I use the word “test” for everything, because mine cover a lot less than half the semester.

Your test consists of the set of zero or more quizzes that you choose to take on a scheduled test day.

You may take a quiz on a chapter once on each test day.

You may take or skip any chapters you like on any test day.

There will be a different set of 10 questions on each chapter quiz on each test day.

Generally speaking, I will only bring chapter quizzes that I expect to be used to each test (see the next section). If you want me to bring something that is not listed, including extra credit chapter quizzes, you must notify me by email by noon the day before the test.

Homeworks:

Homeworks in this class are done online through Connect. Connect is required for this class: you are not excused from doing homeworks because you have not paid for Connect.

Connect offers two types of assignments: SmartBook and Pre-Built Assignments. In each section, SmartBook Assignments are due earlier, and Pre-Built Assignments are due later.

Each test will mark the end of a section of the class. In each section, either 2 or 3 chapters will be covered. There will be a SmartBook and a Pre-Built Assignment for each are chapter on the test that follows. Within each section I will count your highest homework score for each chapter, as many as there are chapters in that section.

The homeworks have different numbers of questions. Your raw score will be scaled to give you a score out of 10 points.

SmartBook Assignments:

SmartBook is designed to be something that you do around the start of a chapter but before you finish it. SmartBook assignments are interactive: Connect will feed you more questions if you’re doing poorly, and fewer as you do better.

SmartBook assignments are due earlier in the section, staggered by chapter. Typically, these are due about the day I start lecturing on a new chapter, or a little after I start.

SmartBook grading is based on the proportion of the assignment that you finish. This means that you can score well on this just by being diligent.

Pre-Built Assignments:

Pre-Built Assignments are similar to multiple choice quizzes, with a bit of online interactivity.

Pre-Built Assignments are designed to be done after you’ve finished a chapter. All the Pre-Built Assignments are due at 11 pm, two days before the test.

Pre-Built Assignments can be done twice, with new questions the second time. If you take it once or twice, it will be your average score that counts.

How Students Tend to Feel About Connect Assignments:

Most students find the SmartBook Assignments to be too easy, and the Pre-Built Assignments to be too hard. SmartBook Assignments are definitely scored more easily. So try to do all the SmartBook Assignments, but don’t forget to do the Pre-Built Assignments even if you know their low scores will be dropped.

Make-Ups:

There are no make-up homeworks of either sort.

Do note that Connect will let you do the SmartBook through both my assignment list, and through the menu within Connect. A grade is only recorded if you click through the one on my list of assignments. However, you can do the SmartBook for no credit, as many times as you like if you go through the menu.

Moblab And Other Simulations:

Simulations are done in class. These are role playing, and they are competitive. Everyone will get the same points for attendance. Some roles are better than others. You earn more points than other students not by getting a better role, but by playing the role you have better than it is designed to be played.

Some accommodation (like writing an essay) may be made if you do not have the appropriate technology with you on the day of a simulation.

Some simulations may be made up outside of class. No guarantees.

Sometimes I also do simulations without MobLab, using pencil and paper. They will count towards your grade the same way.

MobLab is a great tool, but its usefulness is not evenly distributed throughout the semester. For some material, we will be doing the simulations a few weeks before or after it’s covered in class.

Scoring For Simulations:

In each section of the class, I will count 2 simulations, at 10 points each.

Within each section we will do 3 or more simulations.

This is key. If we do more then 3 simulations in a section, the scores from the extra ones will “waterfall” and be counted in the next section.

In each section, I will drop your low score.

Flexibility Freedom, and Special Considerations:

My class is very flexible, and it gives you a lot of options for earning points in a way that works best for you.

My class also gives you a lot of freedom to manage your workload. Please note that while there may be ways to procrastinate in my class, there are few ways to get out of ultimately doing the work.

Because I give you freedom and flexibility, I am far less inclined to make an exception for you in a special case. By all means, feel free to ask — perhaps you do deserve an exception. But please keep in mind that I am inclined to refuse such requests: the whole point of giving you flexibility and freedom is so that you’ll address your own problems in the best way you can manage.

How to Earn a Grade You Find Satisfying In This Class:

There are two sorts of students taking this class: those who need this course as part of their foundation core to achieve advanced standing for a business major (including economics), and those who are taking it for general education credit.

I recognize that different students will have a different target grade in mind for this class: I don’t judge you if you only want to pass.

Doing the homeworks diligently is the way to put up enough points to pass the class. Doing SmartBook Assignments is an easier way to get those points than doing Pre-Built Assignments. If you miss a SmartBook Assignment, definitely do the Pre-Built Assignment for that chapter to pick up some points.

Doing better on the chapter quizzes offered on test days is what differentiates the A’s from the B’s from the C’s, D’s and F’s. Retake chapter quizzes on later test days to improve your scores.

The comprehensive quizzes are a tool I use to assess the progress of the class. You get to keep all the points you earn, and I give you enough extra credit on these to make it worth your while. Your best strategy is to take these earlier rather than later in the semester.

Short answer questions are offered for extra credit during each test. It doesn’t hurt to try and answer them.

Lastly, avoid the optional chapter quizzes. If you’ve been struggling, it will show up in lower scores for the required chapter quizzes. But those are the chapters on which I’ve lectured, and you’ve done homework: it’s unlikely that you’re going to do better on an optional chapter that doesn’t have that level of support. But that’s weird, isn’t it? Why would I allow you to take optional chapter quizzes at all? The answer is that this opportunity is mostly for good students who’ve screwed up: they’ve done well on a bunch of chapter quizzes (so they know they can do the work), but they’ve skipped some homeworks and gotten some zeroes earlier in the semester. If you’ve done all the work, and your grade is still low, you’re welcome to try these optional chapter quizzes, but you may not find it worthwhile.

Other Required Activities:

My system for grading this class offers students a lot of flexibility. But flexibility entails some complexity in keeping track of your grades that is beyond the capabilities of Canvas. I will post your grades to Canvas and possibly the class’s folder on Google drive. Your name will not be shown. Instead you will be given a codename whose security is your responsibility. You may opt out of grade posting.

There are no other extracurricular or co-curricular activities required for this course.

Material Sections:

The text is divided into 2 parts and 7 sections (no numbers or letters for those).

Part I is one section. I do not cover this material in class, but it is there if you need to refer to it.

Part II has 6 sections:

• Macroeconomic Basics
• Policy Models
• Finance, Money, and the Economy
• Taxes, Budgets, and Fiscal Policy
• Macroeconomic Problems
• International Macroeconomic Policy Issues

In Part II, we will cover all of the first four sections, and about half of the last one. This is chapters 6-14, and 17-19.

You will have an test after each section.

Course Outline:

After today, holidays, test days, and other excused days, we have about days to cover 12 chapters. Chapter 6 to 9, and 13, are longer, and will take 2-3 days each. All other chapters will take 1-2 days.

This is a class where we often devote significant amounts of time to current events, so this outline is loose.

Test Dates and Material:

Wednesday, September 17th – Chapters 6-7. Update the day

Wednesday, October 8th – Chapters 6-9.

Wednesday, October 29th – Chapters 6-12. Update the dates

Wednesday, November 19th – Chapters 6-14.

Friday, December 5th – Chapters 6-14, and 17-19.

Monday, December 8th (3 pm) – Chapters 6-14, and 17-19.

Update the final test day and time.

Notice all the chapters covered on the last two tests? You may need two scantrons to fit them all.

The final test time is scheduled by the university (they call it an exam). I will not give you any flexibility on that: you are there at that time, or you are skipping it. If you’re ever not sure about these dates, just google them.

Test Attendance:

Your current score for the quizzes on each chapter is three. The only way you can raise those score is by taking quizzes on test days and earning more points.

Because I allow you to retake chapter quizzes, and all quizzes are given at least once in class, the final test will not be offered at any other time under any conditions.

Makeup Tests and Quizzes:

There are no makeups. You may take any chapter quizzes you like on any test day, but only on test days.

Make-Ups:

There are no make-up homeworks of either sort.

Lecture Attendance:

I do not give points for attendance, or take points away for absences.

We will do simulations (mostly with MobLab) in some class periods. These are for-credit and an important part of your grade. Plus, some extra credit will be available to those of you who do better in the simulation.

MobLab simulations are done through a device, and can be done remotely for credit and possible extra credit.

Not all simulations are in MobLab. Some of them are “pencil and paper” and you have to be in class that day to get a chance for credit or extra credit. Most of these will have a follow-up assignment as well. That can be done for credit and possible extra credit by anyone, whether you were in class that day or not.

On many days, I will cover some current events. Supporting documentation for these will be saved to a blog linked within Canvas. On test days I often ask short-answer questions for extra credit based on this material. Access to that blog is blocked during tests: you have to study them beforehand.

Both the simulations and the current events coverage are material that I do as time permits. They are not scheduled in advance.

I am required to file progress reports on some students, and may file one on any student whose performance concerns me. I may note on these that your lack of attendance may be negatively affecting your performance.

If you fail or unofficially withdraw from the class, I am required to note that last date you attended.

Undergraduate business classes have a $5 fee included in your overall bill for the semester payable to SUU. Funds from this fee are why classrooms in our business building have better capabilities!

• Read the text before class. Outline it.
• Look up words you don’t know.
• Do the SmartBook Assignments.
• Attend class and pay attention.
• Ask questions if you need to.
• Take notes, but not so many that you’re just copying instead of understanding.
• Revisit the notes with your text, ideally within 24 hours. Rewrite the notes if they are messy.
• Do the Pre-Built Assignments as you gear up for the test. Use the day before the test to review those.

• Come to office hours.
• Send me an e-mail.
• Go to the tutoring center.