Grading System

Grades will be assigned in the following manner:

Assignments (7):     Drop the lowest one                                                     8% ·6 = 48%
Pre-lecture Quizzes (7):   Drop the lowest one                                             1% ·6 = 6%
Class Activities (7):       Drop the lowest one                                              1.5% ·6 = 9%
Midterm Exam:      Unit 1 – Unit 4                                                                            10%

Final Exam:             Comprehensive                                                                          27%

                                                                                                                                     100%

Extra Credit Opportunity: 1 point * 8 = 8 points added to the Final Exam

• There is an extra credit opportunity for each unit, with up to 1 point per unit added to the final exam and up to 8 points during the whole semester.
• In order to get the credits, you need to attend the in-person lectures and watch all required videos during the online study time, take careful notes in detail, preferably with different colors of pens and mark down your own questions/explanations/highlights if there is any.
• Your notes should not be shorter than the lecture notes posted on Blackboard, and should cover ALL concepts listed on the chapter Outline, in order to get the full credits.
• You shouldn’t take this as an additional workload, because you should take notes anyway. I do not round up grades at the end of the semester, so please take the advantage of extra credits as much as possible.

Orientation Quiz (Required):

• In order to continue this course, you must earn at least 80% on the orientation quiz in Blackboard.
• The orientation quiz covers the content in this syllabus, so make sure you have familiarized yourself with this syllabus before attempting the quiz.
• The quiz must be completed with a score of at least 80% by midnight on Tue, 8/27, in order to continue in the course. Otherwise, you will be marked as “absent” and will be withdrawn from the course.
• Your score on the quiz does not count towards your semester grade.

Assignments (7):       

• You will have 7 assignments; each assignment includes 25 -- 50 multiple choice questions.
• The highest 6 assignments each makes up to 8% of your semester grade. The lowest assignment score will be dropped.
• You will work on these assignments through Blackboard.
• The homework assignments allow 3 attempts and unlimited time. Only the best attempt grade will be included in your semester score. After each attempt, you are able to see all questions, your answers including the wrong answers.
• All correct answers will be posted after the deadline, so that you can study to prepare for the exams.
• No late assignment is accepted.
• Failure to complete 2 or more assignments may result in either being dropped from the course (before the drop deadline) or a failing grade of F for the semester.

Pre-lecture Quizzes and Class Activities

• Pre-lecture quizzes will be assigned on a weekly basis, during the online study days. The quizzes are open-book, open-notes, and you may discuss with your peers and me.  
• Be sure to submit your work by the deadlines. No late submission accepted.
• The quiz answers will be reviewed and discussed during our weekly class activities. Each of you should anticipate being invited to discuss your answers during our face-to-face meetings.

   Exams (1 midterm and 1 final):

• Both exams are compulsory, and the Final exam covers all course material.
• There will be no extensions for submission deadlines.
• The midterm includes 50 multiple-choice questions, each question 2 points, with a time limit of 100 minutes. It is Closed-books and Closed-notes and only 1 attempt. 
• For the final exam, you have the option to choose between 50 multiple-choice questions (closed-book and closed-notes) or essay questions (open-book and open-notes).
• Unless you choose the essay questions (open-book and open-notes) in the final exam, both exams will be taken online, and proctored by Respondus LockDown Browser with Respondus Monitor. The software is free for students. It works with Windows and Mac PCs and laptops, and iPad. You need to have a camera for the proctored exams. More detail can be found after “course policies”.

GroupMe Discussions (Ungraded)

• A GroupMe page will be created and announced on the first day of class.
• It will be used for discussions among peers and with me.

 Grading Scale

Letter Grade                               Percentile

      A                                            [90%, 100%]

      B                                             [80%, 90%)

      C                                             [70%, 80%)

      D                                             [60%, 70%)

      F                                              Below 60%

Regarding fairness, there will be no individual opportunities for extra credit, and I do not round up grades.

Required texts/materials

N. Gregory Mankiw, Principles of Microeconomics, 10th edition, Cengage, 2023

ISBN 13: 978-0357722862
 

First Day Access (FDA): First Day / Inclusive Access is an e-book program that Barnes & Noble has created to assist students in an easy way to access textbooks and other course materials. Those materials are available to students on the first day of classes. The cost of materials are part of their ACC tuition for the course and are paid when the tuition for the course is paid. The following video will explain how to access your First Day course materials through Blackboard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbblnCvGvVA

Previous Editions: As content revisions between editions are minor, for readings you can likely get by with a previous edition. This course is not centered around the textbook, though there will be some assigned readings from this textbook and the textbook can also serve as a reinforcement for content introduced in lecture. You will NOT need a MindTap access code. If you want to OPT OUT of FDA, please watch the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbblnCvGvVA

Supplementary Readings: will be assigned on blackboard

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this course will be able to:

1. apply the basic concepts of scarcity and opportunity cost;
2. manipulate the basic demand and supply model to determine an equilibrium price and quantity, changes to equilibrium price and quantity, and their impact on resource allocation;
3. critically evaluate the usage of policy in microeconomic markets;
4. explain the theory of consumer behavior;
5. explain the theory of the firm;
6. model and explain the theoretical market structures of perfect competition and imperfect competition.

Discipline Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this course will be able to:

1. model and explain under what circumstances markets are capable of creating socially optimal and socially suboptimal outcomes (PSLO 1: Socially Optimal and Suboptimal Outcomes);
2. defend and criticize the role of economic policy in a mixed market economy (PSLO 2: Economic Policy);
3. critically evaluate economic data (PSLO 3: Economic Data).

General Education Competencies in this course

1. Social Responsibility (Civic and Cultural Awareness) - Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.
2. Critical Thinking Skills - Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.
3. Empirical and Quantitative Skills - Apply mathematical, logical and scientific principles and methods through the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions.
4. Communication Skills - Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.