AP Economics
2004 - 2005

About this Class
It is likely that you enter this course with little formal knowledge about the field of economics. This course in macroeconomics will provide an introduction to principles of economic analysis, economic institutions and issues of public policy both domestic and international. Emphasis will be placed on the following: basic economic concepts, measurement of economic performance, national income analysis including Classical, Keynesian and Monetarist views of the economy, fiscal and monetary policy. International economics, trade issues along with money and banking will be discussed.   Certain subjects e.g., balancing the federal budget, trade issues and the stock market will be explored in depth and will comprise the projects that will be assigned this semester.

METHODOLOGY
Economics by McConnell and Brue will be the main text .In addition, a software tutorial is available to check out from the textbook room. An outline of the topic under study will be written on the white board. It will remain until test day. Question(s) of the day will be presented at the beginning of each class. The question will pertain to the material being taught that day. At the end of class, I will randomly select a student to answer the question. If it is answered fully to my satisfaction I will add 5% to your next exam score. Group related learning will form a significant part of the learning process. Toward this end, you will be placed into groups of three and the tasks assigned you will be varied but in the main will include issues of public policy.
The McConnell website, http://www.mhhe.com/economics/mcconnell has been very helpful and is worth a look.

BEHAVIOR
Tardies: on the third tardy and on each tardy thereafter, you will be assigned a lunch detention on the last school day of the week.

Polite and courteous behavior is expected at all times.  Accordingly you are expected to:

Be mindful of the feelings of others.
Refrain from eating or drinking in the classroom.
Keep the classroom clean.

Class work:

1. Incomplete work will receive a "D".

2. A missed exam due to an excused absence will be made up the next Wednesday morning session in the test center.  If you have a time conflict (zero per class...) we can arrange a different time.

3. Quizzes: Unless otherwise noted, an outline of the chapter on which the quiz was based may be substituted for a quiz missed due to an excused absence or to improve a quiz score.

4. Unless prior approval is given, missed exams must be made up on the following make up day. If not the score becomes zero.

5. Homework is due the day of the original exam.

The A.P. Exam
The advanced placement exam will be given in May . Your decision on whether to take the exam could be guided by the following:

1. A passing score of 3 corresponds to a "B" in a college level course. If your course grade is below a "B" you may want to take that into consideration.

2. If you have a "C" average on the exam portion of this course that would indicate a probable "2" on the A.P. exam.

3. If you take the course in the fall semester you will have in excess of three months to wait before you sit for the exam.  Knowing the material at the end of January does not mean that you will know it in May.  This will require that you put in some serious review time if you expect to do well. If you are unwilling to do this you should not sign up for the exam.  Past experience strongly suggests that those who do not seriously review the material will fail.  Parents, please take special note of this advice when your son/daughter is signing up for AP exams.

4. Experience also tells me that if you have an "A" or "B" average on tests, feel confident about the material and put in the necessary review time you will do very well on the exam.  Please feel free to confer with me if you are unsure.
   
   GRADING
   Your course grade is based upon the following: