ECON-2301 Principles of Macroeconomics
Nicholas Jenkins
Credit Spring 2024
Section(s)
ECON-2301-054 (74827)
LEC TuTh 1:30pm - 2:50pm EGN EGN1 1235
ECON-2301-055 (74828)
LEC TuTh 9:05am - 10:30am MCN MN1 A202
Course Subjects
This course is meant to give students insight into the dynamics of our national economy. The knowledge gained in the course will make students better informed citizens and allow them to follow the debates over national economic policy reported in the news media. This course is also a foundation course that will prepare students to be successful in upper division finance, marketing, business administration, economics, government, and social work courses.
Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives
Course Objectives:
- Develop a wider understanding of the economic world in which we live, the forces operating on it, how they fit together, and how changes affect the economic environment in which you make decisions.
- Develop graphical skills in presenting information graphically and utilizing graphs in analytical thinking.
- Develop analytical and reasoning skills, including the ability to make missing connections, and come up with logical conclusions.
Course Outcomes:
- Critically evaluate GDP, unemployment, and inflation data.
- Explain the business cycle and its phases.
- Describe how a fractional reserve banking system works.
- Manipulate the basic Aggregate Supply, Aggregate Demand model of the macro economy.
- Explain fiscal policy tools and defend and criticize the usage of fiscal policy.
- Explain monetary policy tools and defend and criticize the usage of monetary policy.
Discipline Program Student Learning Outcomes:
- Model and explain under what circumstances markets are capable of creating socially optimal and socially suboptimal outcomes.
- Defend and criticize the role of economic policy in a mixed market economy.
- Critically evaluate economic data.
Readings
Textbook: Foundations of Macroeconomics 9e Bade/Parkin and MyLabEcon
Previous Editions: In order to complete the assigned work, you must use the e-textbook and MyLabEcon reources. There are assigned readings from this textbook (and the textbook can also serve as a reinforcement for content introduced in lecture). The assignments are done throug the Pearson website in MyLabEcon.
Supplementary Readings: Will be assigned on Blackboard.
Course Schedule
| Week | Date | Mode | Module | Topic | Class Activity | Assignment | Due |
| 1 | 1/16 (T) | F2F | Syllabus | ||||
| ONL | Orientation Quiz (Blackboard) | 1/18 (Th) | |||||
| ONL | Getting Started (MyLabEcon) | 1/18 (Th) | |||||
| ONL | Module 1 Reading (Blackboard/Pearson) | 1/18 (Th) | |||||
| ONL | Module 1 Videos (Blackboard) | 1/18 (Th) | |||||
| 1/18 (Th) | F2F | 1 | The Economic Way of Thinking | Pre-Lecture Quiz M1 (Blackboard) | |||
| 2 | 1/23 (T) | F2F | 1 | The Economic Problem | ClassExercise.M1.1 (Blackboard) | ||
| 1/25 (Th) | F2F | 1 | The Economic Problem | ClassExercise.M1.2 (Blackboard) | |||
| ONL | Homework 1 (MyLabEcon) | 1/28 (Su) | |||||
| ONL | Module 2 Reading (Blackboard/Pearson) | 1/28 (Su) | |||||
| ONL | Module 2 Videos (Blackboard) | 1/28 (Su) | |||||
| 3 | 1/30 (T) | F2F | 2 | Demand | Pre-Lecture Quiz M2 (Blackboard) | ||
| 2/1 (Th) | F2F | 2 | Supply | ClassExercise.M2.1 (Blackboard) | |||
| ONL | |||||||
| 4 | 2/6 (T) | F2F | 2 | Equilibrium | ClassExercise.M2.2 (Blackboard) | ||
| ONL | Module 3 Reading (Blackboard/Pearson) | 2/7 (W) | |||||
| ONL | Module 3 Videos (Blackboard) | 2/7 (W) | |||||
| 2/8 (Th) | F2F | 3 | Gross Domestic Prduct | Pre-Lecture Quiz M3 (Blackboard) | |||
| ONL | Homework 2 (MyLabEcon) | 2/11 (Su) | |||||
| 5 | 2/13 (T) | F2F | 3 | Gross Domestic Prduct | ClassExercise.M3.1 (Blackboard) | ||
| ONL | Module 4 Reading (Blackboard/Pearson) | 2/14 (W) | |||||
| ONL | Module 4 Videos (Blackboard) | 2/14 (W) | |||||
| 2/15 (Th) | F2F | 4 | Jobs and Unemployment | Pre-Lecture Quiz M4 (Blackboard) | |||
| ONL | Homework 3 (MyLabEcon) | 2/18 ( Su) | |||||
| 6 | 2/20 (T) | F2F | 4 | Jobs and Unemployment | ClassExercise.M4.1 (Blackboard) | ||
| ONL | Module 5 Reading (Blackboard/Pearson) | 2/21 (W) | |||||
| ONL | Module 5 Videos (Blackboard) | 2/21 (W) | |||||
| 2/22 (Th) | F2F | 5 | CPI and Inflation | Pre-Lecture Quiz M5 (Blackboard) | |||
| ONL | Homework 4 (MyLabEcon) | 2/25 (Su) | |||||
| 7 | 2/27 (T) | F2F | 5 | CPI and Inflation | ClassExercise.M5.1 (Blackboard) | ||
| 2/29 (Th) | F2F | 5 | CPI and Inflation | ClassExercise.M5.2 (Blackboard) | |||
| ONL | Homework 5 (MyLabEcon) | 3/2 (Su) | |||||
| 8 | 3/5 (T) | F2F | 1 - 5 | Review | |||
| 3/7 (Th) | F2F | 1 - 5 | EXAM #1 | ||||
| ONL | Module 6 Reading (Blackboard/Pearson) | 3/17 (Su) | |||||
| ONL | Module 6 Videos (Blackboard) | 3/17 (Su) | |||||
| 9 | 3/19 (T) | F2F | 6 | Ecnomic Growth | Pre-Lecture Quiz M6 (Blackboard) | ||
| 3/21 (Th) | F2F | 6 | Ecnomic Growth | ClassExercise.M6.1 (Blackboard) | |||
| ONL | Homework 6 (MyLabEcon) | 3/24 (Su) | |||||
| ONL | Module 7 Reading (Blackboard/Pearson) | 3/24 (Su) | |||||
| ONL | Module 7 Videos (Blackboard) | 3/24 (Su) | |||||
| 10 | 3/26 (T) | F2F | 7 | Finance, Savings and Investment | Pre-Lecture Quiz M7 (Blackboard) | ||
| 3/28 (Th) | F2F | 7 | Finance, Savings and Investment | ClassExercise.M7.1 (Blackboard) | |||
| ONL | Homework 7 (MyLabEcon) | 3/31 (Su) | |||||
| ONL | Module 8 Reading (Blackboard/Pearson) | 3/31 (Su) | |||||
| ONL | Module 8 Videos (Blackboard) | 3/31 (Su) | |||||
| 11 | 4/2 (T) | F2F | 8 | The Money Economy | Pre-Lecture Quiz M8 (Blackboard) | ||
| 4/4 (Th) | F2F | 8 | The Money Economy | ClassExercise.M8.1 (Blackboard) | |||
| 12 | 4/9 (T) | F2F | 8 | The Money Economy | ClassExercise.M8.2 (Blackboard) | ||
| ONL | Module 9 Reading (Blackboard/Pearson) | 4/10 (W) | |||||
| ONL | Module 9 Videos (Blackboard) | 4/10 (W) | |||||
| 4/11 (Th) | F2F | 9 | Macroeconomic Fluctuations | Pre-Lecture Quiz M9 (Blackboard) | |||
| ONL | Homework 8 (MyLabEcon) | 4/14 (Su) | |||||
| 13 | 4/16 (T) | F2F | 9 | Macroeconomic Fluctuations | ClassExercise.M9.1 (Blackboard) | ||
| 4/18 (Th) | F2F | 9 | Macroeconomic Fluctuations | ClassExercise.M9.2 (Blackboard) | |||
| ONL | Homework 9 (MyLabEcon) | 4/21 (Su) | |||||
| ONL | Module 10 Reading (Blackboard/Pearson) | 4/21 (Su) | |||||
| ONL | Module 10 Videos (Blackboard) | 4/21 (Su) | |||||
| 14 | 4/23 (T) | F2F | 10 | Fiscal Policy | Pre-Lecture Quiz M10 (Blackboard) | ||
| 4/25 (Th) | F2F | 10 | Fiscal Policy | ClassExercise.M10.1 (Blackboard) | |||
| ONL | Homework 10 (MyLabEcon) | 4/28 (Su) | |||||
| ONL | Module 11 Reading (Blackboard/Pearson) | 4/28 (Su) | |||||
| ONL | Module 11 Videos (Blackboard) | 4/28 (Su) | |||||
| 15 | 4/30 (T) | F2F | 11 | Monetary Policy | Pre-Lecture Quiz M11 (Blackboard) | ||
| 5/2 (Th) | F2F | 11 | Monetary Policy | ClassExercise.M11.1 (Blackboard) | |||
| ONL | Homework 11 (MyLabEcon) | 5/5 (Su) | |||||
| 16 | 5/7 (T) | F2F | 6 - 11 | REVIEW | |||
| 5/9 (Th) | F2F | 6 - 11 | EXAM #2 |
Copyright Notice: Materials used in connection with the course may be subject to copyright protection.
Note: Check the Day-by-Day Syllabus for specific due dates for your class.
How This Class Work
Thre is a good deal of work that needs to be outside of the class room on-line through Blackboard and Pearson MyLabEcon.
In-person activities include:
- Explaining and practicing difficult concepts
- Expanding on the textbook to include newer and more advanced information
- Getting an overview of major concepts, minor points, and how they fit together
- Group discussions
- Asking and answering questions
- Pre-lecture quizzes and Class Exercises.
- Exams
Online coursework includes:
- Reading assignments in Blackboard and Pearson e-textbook
- Assignments in Blackboard and MyLabEcon
Class Time Requirements:
| Activity | Time Commitment |
|---|---|
| Class F2F meetings per week | 2 |
| Classroom time per week | 160 minutes |
|
Recommended time spent outside class This is in addition to the class meetings and required online activities and may include reading text and articles and preparing and completing assignments and exams. |
4-6 hours per week |
Course Requirements
Must meet ACC proficiency requirements in Reading, Writing and Math (see the course catalog or an advisor).
| Component | Possible Points/Percentage |
|---|---|
| Homework | 20% |
| Class Exercises | 20% |
| Exam #1 | 30% |
| Exam #2 | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
This is how your course grade will be determined:
| Grade | A | B | C | D | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points/Percentage | 90-100% | 89-80% | 79-70% | 69-60% | 59-0% |
Pre-Course Assignments (Total of 2)
There are 2 Pre-Course assignment that are required as part of your Homework grade:
- MyLabEcon Getting Started
- Blackboard Orientation Quiz based on information contained in this syllabus.
You are allowed unlimited attempts to complete these assignments and the highest grade achieved will be recorded. These assignments must be completed with a score of at least 80% by midnight on Thrsday January 18, in order to continue in the course. Otherwise, you will be marked as “absent” and will be withdrawn from the course.
Pre-Lecture Quizzes (Total of 11) *EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY*
At the start of each new module, a quiz will be given based on the readings for that module. Each quiz is approximately 10 questions and timed for 15 minutes. The answers will be reviewed in class, and you should anticipate being invited to discuss your answers.
If you score at least 80% on a Pre-Lecture Quiz, you will be awarded 2 points to be applied to your next test score. For example, there are 5 Pre-Lecture Quizzes leading up to Exam #1. If you get 80% or higher on all 5 quizzes, 10 points would be added to your Exam #1 score.
Class Exercises (Total of 16)
Exercises will be given to help reinforce the concepts learned in the module. You are allowed to use notes, your textbook, and work with others to complete the exercise. Class exercises must be submitted via Blackboard as a single pdf document. You will not receive credit for submitting multiple files and/or other document types – no jpeg, Word or Google Docs files will be accepted.
Generally, exercises will start and be completed during class. Occasionally, exercises will start or be assigned during class, and you will be asked to complete exercise outside of class time.
At the end of the semester, the lowest class exercise grade will be dropped.
Homework Assignments (Total of 11)
Module homework assignments will be made available in MyLabEcon and due on the date published. Each homework consists of multiple-choice questions and problems. You will have an unlimited number of attempts to complete each assignment. A 25% penalty will be assessed if homework is completed after the due date.
At the end of the semester, the lowest homework grade will be dropped.
Exams (Total of 2)
The exams consist of 30 – 50 multiple choice and short answer questions covering the sections published. All exams will be completed in class using Respondus Lockdown Browser. A calculator will be included in the lock browser for any required computations. You will be permitted to bring to the exam one page (both sides) of handwritten or printed notes. These notes must be turned in upon completion of the exam. You must take the exam at the day/time listed in the schedule – there are no make-up exams.
Respondus LockDown Browser
This course requires the use of the LockDown Browser and a webcam for online exams. The webcam can be built into your computer or can be the type that plugs in with a USB cable. Watch this a short video at https://web.respondus.com/lockdownbrowser-student-video/ for a basic understanding of LockDown Browser and the webcam feature. A student a quick start guide can be found at the following website: https://web.respondus.com/he/monitor/resources/. There are also detailed installation instructions in Blackboard.It is recommended students install/test the browser as soon as possible. If there are issues or problems, please contact ACC support and notify me as soon as possible. Unless notified in advance, not having a working Respondus Lockdown Browser will not be an excuse to miss or reschedule an activity or exam.
Office Hours
M T W Th F 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Virtual
NOTE Email is the primary method to contact me to ask a question or arrange for a virtual meeting. I respond to emails within 24 hours, usually quicker on weekdays between 8am and 6pm. As needed, I can arrange for a virtual meeting.Published: 01/10/2024 17:07:52