HYBRID
SYLLABUS: INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
|
Course |
Survey of Economics (ECO 100)
- Hybrid |
|
Quarter |
Winter 2012 |
|
Instructor |
J. Hubert |
|
Office |
301 Fine Arts Building (SE
Corner Pine and Harvard) |
|
Phone |
934 2037
(office) |
|
Email |
|
|
Hubert’s Homepage |
|
|
Economics Homepage |
|
|
Office Hours |
·
Office: 10:00 – 10:40 MTTHF ·
Wednesday - Online ·
and by appointment |
|
Textbooks |
·
The Economics of Public Issues;
Miller, Benjamin, & North, 16th Edition |
|
Readings |
·
Web Sited Supplemental Readings ·
The Wall Street Journal (Subscription Available) |
ECONOMICS
·
Economics
is the study of how to best allocate scarce resources among competing uses: guns
or butter types of questions.
Typical textbook definition
·
The
theory of Economics does not furnish a body of settled conclusions immediately
applicable to policy. It is method rather than a doctrine, an apparatus of the mind,
a technique of thinking which helps its possessor to draw correct
conclusions.
John Maynard
Keynes
·
Economics
as an "engine
for the discovery of concrete truth."
Alfred Marshall, "The Present Position of Economics"
(1885)
·
Ethics
deals with morality and I would contend that capitalism is an amoral economic
model. *
Business Administration Program Review 2002
Comment from committee regarding the
philosophy that capitalism is as ethical as any other system…
(Note:
We will spend some time addressing this notion.)
·
"The essential characteristic of
socialism is the denial of individual property rights..."
Ayn Rand
INSTRUCTORS COMMENT
It is important to note that, as a social science, Economics is concerned with people…it is a behavioral
science! In Economics we attempt to explain and predict behavior.
SURVEY OF ECONOMICS, ECO 100
Economics 100 is a survey course in economic theory designed for
the first or second year college student. The course will cover traditional
economic topics including: money and banking, unemployment, inflation,
capitalism (and other economic systems), interest rates, supply and demand, the
market mechanism, prices, factors of production, and the theory of the
firm. Additionally, the course will
address a host of social issues, such as: the health care crisis (?),
pollution, airline deregulation, the banking crisis, drugs, minimum wage laws,
and poverty.
In this course we will attempt to relate economic theory to the
real world - the world of individuals, households, and businesses making
decisions. Students will have the opportunity to suggest topics or issues for
class discussion. In this process, we will question conventional wisdom!
COURSE GOALS:
1. To achieve a basic understanding of economic terms, concepts, and
theories.
2. To be able to interpret and analyze basic economic data.
3. To develop an ability to apply economic tools in critical thinking
about a variety of issues and problems.
4. To develop an understanding of social interactions, implications
and responsibility.
5. To develop a fundamental understanding of ethical issues and their
applications to economic issues.
6. To prepare for more advanced economics courses.
COURSE
PREREQUISITES:
There are no formal prerequisites
for Survey of Economics. The following informal prerequisites are presented for
your consideration. If you feel that you are deficient in any of the following
areas, please see the instructor.
It will be assumed that
students in this course have the following skills:
1. General education background of a high school graduate or above.
2. The ability to read English at a 12th grade level and comprehend
material read.
3. The ability to read and construct simple graphs.
4. The ability to learn and use the correct spelling of economics
vocabulary.
5. The ability and desire to study outside of class.
6. The ability to "handle" college level course work.
7. The maturity to attend class and complete assignments in a timely
manner.
COURSE
PHILOSOPHY:
The general philosophy of
the course will be "learning through cooperation rather than
competition." Students will learn together through group work as well as
individual study. Study groups may be organized to address and analyze a
variety of economic issues. Active classroom participation is required. NOTE:
This is a college level course -spelling counts!
Consider the following
disclaimer:
"At the same time, recalling my insignificance, I affirm
nothing, but submit all these opinions to the authority of the Catholic Church,
and to the judgment of the more sage; and I wish no one to believe anything I
have written, unless he is personally persuaded
by the evidence of reason."
Rene Descartes, circa
1625
I share Descartes concern regarding
persuasion and evidence - data. I wish no one to believe anything presented in
this class unless he or she is “personally persuaded by
the evidence of reason.”
The emphasis in my classes
is on analysis. This approach tends to challenge my students. To quote R.
Jackson Wilson, Professor of History at Smith College:
"Students come to us having sat around for twelve years
expressing attitudes toward things rather than analyzing. They are always ready
to tell you how they feel about an issue, but they have never learned how to
construct a rational argument to defend their opinions."
Foundations of Economic Analysis textbook:
"What good does it do a black youth to know
that an employer must pay him $2.00 an hour if the fact that he must be paid
that amount is what keeps him from getting a job?"
Nobel Laureate Paul Samuelson
Finally:
"There is a moral obligation to reach one’s own conclusions”
Nobel Laureate James M. Buchanan.
I feel that my college
transfer courses must be taught at the same level of rigor and content as
comparable courses at four-year institutions - to do less penalizes our
transfer students.
METHODS OF
INSTRUCTION:
The hybrid nature of this class
will include both classroom and web-based settings. (The hybrid structure is a
work-in-process, which will be modified with student feedback over the
quarter.)
CLASSROOM SETTING:
Lecture and collaborative
techniques: I combine traditional lectures with a host of other approaches
including small group work, short individual and group presentations, and
current events from the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and other
publications.
Lectures will incorporate
PowerPoint technology. Selected PowerPoint presentations will be accessible at:
ECON% 202 PowerPoint Presentation
HYRED COMPONENT
WEB-BASED SETTING:
Wednesdays
will be allocated to Internet web-based activities. A hybrid reading will be
assigned and posted online every Wednesday.
Student study groups will be organized during the second week of the
quarter. Groups discuss readings and
prepare consensus responses. Consensus responses may be presented in the
classroom setting.
An economic
reading example:
http://seattlecentral.edu/faculty/jhubert/commonsense.html
EXAMS AND
QUIZZES:
There will be 7 or 8 short
quizzes (Fridays) during the course of the quarter, beginning on January 6th. NOTE: The quiz will be scheduled for the first one or
two minutes of the class. Since we all tend to have "off" days or
miss class, only the highest 5 quizzes will be included in the grading
algorithm.
NOTE: No makeup
quizzes will be offered.
A 50-minute midterm exam
is scheduled for Friday, February 10th and a 50-minute final exam on Friday, March
16th. NOTE:
A post-final exam review and discussion session is scheduled for Tuesday, March 20th at 8:00
am.
NOTE: Test times and dates are inviolate, that is,
alternative test dates or times will not be scheduled.
Scantron forms may be
required for quizzes and will be required for the two exams.
GRADING:
|
Quizzes (5) |
100 Points |
|
Mid-Term (1) |
100 Points |
|
Final Exam
(1) |
100 Points |
|
Participation
* |
50 Points |
|
Homework * |
As assigned |
* Approximation only
Important NOTE: Successful completion of all homework assignments is a necessary,
but not sufficient condition, to receive a passing grade in the course.
GRADING MATRIX *
|
Grade |
Minimum % of Total Points |
|
3.5 |
91% |
|
2.7 |
77% |
|
1.5 |
66% |
|
0.7 |
51% |
|
0.0 |
Less than 51% |
* Approximation only
HOMEWORK:
Written homework will be
assigned throughout the course. Note: All homework must be completed and submitted
in a satisfactory manner in order to PASS the
course.
READINGS:
Additional readings will
be assigned on an ad hoc basis. Reading assignments (textbooks and
supplemental) represent your main learning tools. Please do your reading when
it is assigned. Lectures will cover important and/or difficult topics and will
assume that you have done the reading assignment.
Ultimately, you will be
responsible for the topics assigned, whether discussed in lecture or not. Note:
New material may be introduced in lectures. You will be held accountable for
both readings and lectures.
EXAMINATIONS:
Exam One: 9:00
a.m., Friday, February 10th
Final Exam: 9:00
a.m., Friday, March 16th
Post-Exam Review and Discussion: 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 20th
NOTES:
a. If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a
disability; if you have emergency medical information to share with me; or you
need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated; please make
an appointment with me as soon as possible. Students with special needs are
invited to confer with the appropriate SCCC counselor to address such needs.
b. District regulations prohibit children in the classroom.
c. College regulations prohibit food or beverages in the classroom.
This is an unpopular restriction that will be enforced.
d. Academic dishonesty will not be condoned in my classes. Note:
Cheating may be punishable by expulsion from the college.
e. Cell phones and beepers are to be turned-off prior to
entering the classroom.
Students with documented disabilities who
need course accommodations, have emergency medical information, or require
special arrangements for building evacuation should contact the instructor
within the first two weeks of class.