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Econ 2020 (Macro Economics)
Syllabus and Grading Policy
Dr. Steve McQueen Ph. D. M.B.A.
smcqueen35@msn.com
smcqueen@dixie.com
Text, Author, Publisher:
Text: Macroeconomics McConnell and Brue 17th Edition. Authors: Campbell R. McConnell, Stanley L. Bruce. There is an optional study guide if you would like.
Office Hours:
My on-line office hours will be announced in the Instructor Area of the Discussion Group. Students are also encouraged to e-mail the instructor for an on-line chat time if specific problems of concerns arise. Problems coming up or desire to chat please email me on WebCT and we can work it through over WebCT mail. Thanks
E-Mail:
Identification: Students are requested to properly identify all e-mail to the instructor.
Addresses: Please note identifying information within your E-mail. I have several students a semester and teach more than one course. Don’t assume I will know who you are by the E-mail tag. hotstuff123 may not be enough to let me know who you are to assign an assignment grade!
Assignments: Identify all assignments by the number of the assignment. For example "Assignment #1". As I receive several E-mails during a
course this will allow me to identify and properly respond to your e-mails in a timely fashion. If E-Mail is not properly identified there are no guarantees that it will be answered in a timely fashion.
Response Time: I will respond to all student E-mails within 24 hours unless it is over the weekend or a family emergency comes up. I had a time when one of my children was in the hospital for several days and I was there most of the time to console them. However, even if an emergency does present itself, I will still get back to you in a timely fashion. This does not mean that I will have all your questions answered or that I will bail you out of a problem if you have procrastinated. Nevertheless, I generally have a quick response most of the time.
Specific Concerns:
If a problem arises please add "Urgent" to the subject line so that I can sort through assignments, examination, student correspondence, etc. in a timely fashion and go to your mail immediately. I will respond to these types of concerns as quickly as possible. Please be respectful of my time and do not unnecessarily mark "Urgent" on assignments or other correspondence that is not urgent. I even have had a student or two in the past who several times a term made URGENT demands, email me ASAP etc. You don’t have to do that unless there is a dire emergency. I promise under most circumstances I will get back within 24 hour period so there is no need unless there is a dire emergency. Repeat offenders who continually demand Urgent ASAP attention could experience a grade reduction.
Course Description:
Economics deals with a smorgasbord of timely issues. For example we will examine the following: Consumer demand or how consumers operate in the market place and later the supply or methods firms employ towards efficient resource allocation. Afterwards, we will examine the Market structure of US capitalism, which include demand, supply curves and elasticity of both. Then, we will review a new concept called the production function or how goods are produced by the firm plus the production costs to produce goods and services. Next we will review the four firm types which are pure competition, pure monopoly, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, and monopoly. We will examine how firms operate within one of these four criteria and it efficiency in the market place and we will discuss the role of the US Justice Department and their concerns over firms and
Regular Effective Contact:
Because this is an on-line course there are no class meetings. In order to monitor progress in this course it is absolutely necessary that students participate in all assignments and discussions. Please remember, that 45% of your grade will be decided by your weekly assignment and discussion participation efforts. WARNING I have found over the years since I have been teaching this class that those students who complete all of their assignments and discussions pass. While those students who fail to submit their discussions and assignments have a greater risk of failure.
Make-Up Policy/Exam:
There are two examinations for this course. Students may make-up a maximum of one (1) exam during the semester. MAKE-UPS WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOTIFIED THE INSTRUCTOR IN ADVANCE. However I would sooner have you mail me a 20 point BONUS PAPER for students who don’t do as well on the mid term. It is easier for you and it is easier for me that you mail it to me before the end of the term.
BONUS PAPER:
Here is how this Bonus Paper works: You must turn in a term paper before the end of the term. It consists of 7 single spaced pages and has 4 references of your choice. You may write on an economist i.e. Adam Smith or an economic subject, i.e. Monopolies. This paper is out of 20 points which could bring up your grade 6%. You do the math 20/350 = 6%. If you have 84% it could bring your grade up to 90% or by completing the paper potentially your grade could move from a B to an A or a C to a B. I believe you will learn far more by mailing me a paper rather than redoing an exam. So instead of choosing to rewrite and prepare for a make up examination instead mail me at the end of the term your 7 page paper of the economic topic or economist of your choice. Please mail me your topic and when I should expect your paper to arrive.
Assignment, Discussion and Exam Help Policy:
For assignment discussion and exam purposes, students will be responsible for any/all material in the course text, lecture notes and/or discussion chats. Please note that material in the lecture may be different than that in
the text. If you are unable to log into any discussion, assignment or exam etc. please phone Tech Support using 652-7500 and talk to tech support to walk you through this online process. I find that if you have any login problems attend to them right away and clear them up ASAP so you don’t get behind. I find one problem that students have when they first begin any online class is their websites anti-pop-up software. PS Try to disable any anti pop-up software your Internet provider like AOL or Earthlink etc. may have before phoning up Tech Support to make sure that isn’t your problem.
Class Grading Policy
1) Assignments:
There are fifteen weekly assignments worth five (5) points each. Each question must be fully explained using information from class lecture, the text and the discussion (if applicable). Partial answers will receive partial credit only.
Assignments are due on the Monday after they are given. In other words you have one week and a few hours to turn in each assignment.
Make-up provisions:
Assignments are due the Monday after they are assigned. Therefore the assignments for Week 1 must be e-mailed to me on or before the due date on the front page of the course by midnight in order to receive credit for them, and so forth for the rest of the semester. Make-up provisions for assignments are to be arranged in advance. If you fail to meet the deadline for an assignment and have not made arrangements with me PRIOR to the deadline, you will receive a score of 0. Week 9 works a little differently. All assignments and discussions will be due by the last day of the semester.
2) Discussions:
Discussion groups are vital to on-line courses. There are fifteen weekly discussion questions for this course which you are to post up Wednesday evening. Students are encouraged to follow instructions and thoroughly post information and answer the questions listed. Discussion session responses will be graded. A point value of five (5) is assigned to all discussions. Points for the discussions will be noted on the graded
3) Worksheets or Practicum
You will have 15 weeks worksheet assignments or Practicum. Your “Worksheet” Practicum assignment offers you a chance to review the new theories you learn in each chapter in a new light and from a real world perspective. This is what administration asked me to add to your curriculum. These worksheet or practicum assignments will be done weekly. I was instructed by administration to add these special assignments because we don’t meet in a regular classroom setting so we needed to add one other element of practical experience other than our “Last Word” discussions to meet accreditation needs in an online environment.
Because it may take some time to contemplate the Worksheet or Practicum Assignments they are due on the same Monday as your regular Assignments. In other words you have more time to think about each worksheet or practicum assignment which is to be submitted the same day as your regular assignment which will be every Monday. You will post up your answers similar to the discussion page rather than mailing them to me.
A point value of five (5) is assigned to all worksheet assignments. Points for the will be noted on the graded a day or two after Monday each week. Example, Worksheet # 1's point value will be listed on the graded version of Assignment #1.
Examinations:
4) There are five (5) scheduled tests True or False in this course. You can
answer them on WebCT and will not have to go to the testing center to take these tests. For more detail please see the course schedule.
Each test is theoretically worth one hundred (25) points. However, the actual number of points possible on each test may vary slightly. It is estimated that there will be a total of one hundred and twenty five (125) points possible on examinations.
5) There will be one comprehensive final at the end of the term.
Therefore, the final will be a 50 question comprehensive True or False format which is 2 points each for a total of 100 points. It should take you
between 1 to 1.5 hours to complete it. The questions will be in a True or False like the other 5 test questions. I have found these tests help you better remember what you learned so that is why I apply this exam format.
Grade Computation:
There are four hundred-fifty (450) points possible for this course.
Wednesday Discussions 15x5 = 75
Monday Assignments: 15x5 = 75
Monday Worksheets: 15x5 = 75
5 Tests 25X5 + 125 (See Calendar for Dates)
Final 100 (See Examination Week)
Total Points 450
Grades will be computed by taking the number of points that have been earned and dividing them by the number of points possible during the quarter.
A 400 & above
B 360 – 400
C 315 – 360
D 270 – 315
F 269 & below
Assignment Grade Format
A ~ Assignments or Discussions are thoughtful and show applications of course concepts by offering a variety of references of course concepts using references, outside sources and examples including personal experiences. Your answers demonstrate strong thinking skills and grammar skills.
eligible, the Disability Resource Center will further evaluate the effectiveness of your accommodation requests and will authorize reasonable accommodations that are appropriate for your disability."
Syllabus Disclaimer:
A syllabus is not a contract between instructor and student but rather a guide to course procedures on attendance, requirements, grading and objectives. The instructor reserves the right to amend the syllabus when conflicts, emergencies or situations arise that necessitate a change. Students will be notified of any changes.
