ECO 120 Spring

Survey of Economics

 15-Module Calendar

Six Initial Steps for Success

15 Module Calendar

Each Module is one calendar week of instructional activity.

Each Module has an assigned chapter title in your text to read and an assigned chapter in your study guide to complete.

Each Module has study dates, two lesson plans which include self-directed homework, and a Chapter Checklist of measurable learning goals called "Checkpoints."

April 24 and 26, 2007

Entire Course
(in a single table)

First Block of Study 

Tools for Understanding Global Trade Issues

Second Block of Study   

Tools for Understanding Macroeconomics Issues                                                                                                

Third Block of Study     

Tools for Understanding Microeconomics Issues                                                                                                       

 2.  Table of Links to 15 Modules of Instruction

 3.  PHCC Links                                            

 4.  Information for Spring Semester Students                                                                        

 5.   How  Survey of Economics is Graded                                                                                       

 6.   Link to Exams #1, #2, and #3 and to Projects #1, #2, #3, and #4                                   

 7.   How to Request a Proctor                   

 8.   How to Send Me Your Request for Financial Aid Verification      

 9.   Table Explaining How to Use the 4 Columns of Information in the 15-Module Calendar                                

 10.  First Block of Study   (in Spring Survey of Economics)                      

 11.   Second Block of Study  (in Spring Survey of Economics)                      

  Spring Semester consists of 15 academic weeks (and a 16th Exam Week).

  In Survey of Economics we study a different module of instruction during each academic week.

  (Expect a Thanksgiving Holiday.)

  In-class Students:
  Take your exam in the classroom.

  Distant Learning Students: 
Exams may be taken at the Learning Resource Center (LRC) where they are on file under your name after course registration ceases.  In the 15-Module Calendar below exams are called to  your attention by this symbol:

How to Request a Proctor:
To take your exams someplace else, you must complete a proctor request form for the LRC staff.  Contact Carol Ford, cford@ph.vccs.edu, (276) 656-0227 for instructions on how to request a proctor.

How Survey of Economics is Graded

How many points are in this course.
 

How letter grades are determined:
 

Penalty for late work:

You don't need to wait to begin the projects.

Date sent: _______________

Dear Professor Meyer and Dear Staff at the Financial Aid Office,

 1. In  Survey of Economics , I have done the assigned reading in the 15-Module Calendar for each assigned chapter up to and including
Chapter # __________________ called " ____________________________________________."

 2. Regarding my homework, I have completed my Study Guide for this chapter and preceding chapters, beginning with page"________" and ending with page "________"
on this date: "____________________." 

 3. I have taken the pre- and post-study bonus quizzes through Moudle # ___________________, and the results have been posted to BlackBoard.  (See note.)

(Or specify what ever you have done to deserve your financial aid.) ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Please process my request for financial aid.  Thanks very much!

Sincerely,

Name: ________________________________

Assignment

Module 1

Read and study:

Getting Started
and
Appendix:
Making and Using Graphs

Course Objectives

Objectives

Getting Started - 2004 Slides

Alternate Slides -
The Challenge of Economics

"Part 1 & Part 2"
Daily Class Outlines

Part 1

Getting Started
and
Appendix:
Making and Using Graphs

Part 2

Chapter Overview

Economics is concerned with choices made under conditions of limited resources and unlimited wants.

Relationships between variables can be graphed.  Rates of change between the variables (slopes) help economists make predictions.

Module 2

Read and study:

The U.S. and Global Economies

Course Objectives

Objectives

The U.S. and Global Economies  - 2004 Slides

Alternate Slides - The U.S. Economy

Part 1

The U.S. and Global Economies

Part 2

Chapter Overview

Module 3

Read and study:

The Economic Problem

Course Objectives

Objectives

The Economic Problem - 2004 Slides

Alternate Slides - Supply and Demand

Part 1

The Economic Problem

Part 2

Chapter Overview

This chapter: 
(1) describes  limited resources; and
(2) provides a production possibilities diagram to visualize the consequences of: (a) scarcity; 
(b) making choices; and 
(c) measuring opportunity costs.

Module 4

Read and study:

International Trade

Course Objectives

Objectives

International Trade - 2004 Slides

Alternate Slides - International Trade

Part 1

International Trade

Part 2

Chapter Overview

Module 5

Review your text and study guide; then take Exam #1

Course Objectives

Objectives

Part 1

Review Session followed by Exam #1

Part 2

Measure your progress.

Exam #1 has 33 true/false, multiple choice, problems, and short answer questions like those used in class, in your study guide, and in your text.

Module 6

Read and study:

Demand and Supply

Course Objectives

Objectives

Demand and Supply - 2004 Slides

Alternate Slides - Consumer Demand

Part 1

Demand and Supply

Part 2

Chapter Overview

This chapter provides practice  graphing (and understanding) the laws of supply and demand.

Module 7

Read and study:

Government Influences on Markets

Course Objectives

Objectives

Government Influences on Markets - 2004 Slides

Alternate Slides - Aggregate Supply and Demand

Part 1

Government Influences on Markets

Part 2

Chapter Overview

Module 8

Read and study:

GDP and the Standard of Living

Course Objectives

Objectives

GDP and the Standard of Living - 2004 Slides

Alternate Slides - The Business Cycle

Part 1

GDP and the Standard of Living

Part 2

Chapter Overview

This chapter shows the equivalence of national income with national output.  A rising output (or GDP) per person, the cost of living, and economic fluctuations are methods of comparing the standard of living in this country with the standard of living in other countries.

Module 9

Read and study:

Fiscal and Monetary Policy

Course Objectives

Objectives

Fiscal and Monetary Policy Effects - 2004 Slides

Alternate Slides - Fiscal Policy

Alternate Slides - Money and Banking

Alternate Slides - Money Creation

Part 1

Fiscal and Monetary Policy

Part 2

Chapter Overview

Module 10

Spring Break is
March 12 through March 16, 2007 and no class is scheduled

Review your text and study guide; then take Exam #2

Course Objectives

Objectives

Part 1

Review Session followed by Exam #2

Part 2

Measure your progress.

Exam #2 has 33 true/false, multiple choice, problems, and short answer questions like those used in class, in your study guide, and in your text.

Module 11

Read and study:

Production and Cost

Course Objectives

Objectives

Production and Cost - 2004 Slides

Alternate Slides - Supply Decisions

Part 1

Production and Cost

Part 2

Chapter Overview

This chapter teaches you about a production function, that is, about how businesses supply products at an identifiable quantity that maximize profits.

Continuous Course Improvement Efforts

Module 12

Read and study:

Perfect Competition

Class will not meet  when your instructor attends New Horizons Conference. 

Course Objectives

Objectives

Perfect Competition - 2004 Slides

Alternate Slides - Competition

Part 1

Perfect Competition

Part 2

Chapter Overview

This chapter contains the surprising conclusion that in the long run, economic profits become zero in markets governed by forces of supply and demand, when such markets have certain characteristics:
(1) many buyers and sellers,
(2) homogeneous products,
(3) with freedom for businesses to enter when profits occur, and freedom for businesses to exit when losses occur.

Continuous Course Improvement Efforts

In addition to my Course Critiques attached to Exams #1, #2, and #3, PHCC provides distant learners and selective sections of in-class students with an opportunity to evaluate courses during this time frame. 
(1) Distant learners: Distance learners should watch for the link provided by our webmaster.  He generally publishes it as an announcement. 
(2) In-class students: If I have chosen your section, I will bring the necessary entry code to in-class students.
 
Thanks for your suggestions and comments.  They help me to continually improve Survey of Economics for future students!
 - Tom Meyer

Module 13

Read and study:

Monopoly

Course Objectives

Objectives

Monopoly - 2004 Slides

Alternate Slides - Monopoly

Part 1

Monopoly

Part 2

Chapter Overview

Module 14

Read and study:

Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly

Course Objectives

Objectives

Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly - 2004 Slides

Part 1

Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly

Part 2

Chapter Overview

Module 15

Review your text and study guide; then take Exam #3

Course Objectives

Objectives

Part 1

Review Session followed by Exam #3

Part 2

Exam #3 has 33 true/false, multiple choice, problems, and short answer questions like those used in class, in your study guide, and in your text.

Exam #3 is worth 200 of 1000 possible points.

Your Instructor is Watching
                                                            and Waiting for your Results.

 The Final Exam is a Report on WSJ's
centerfold section known as Marketplace.

Send the instructor an email when you have turned in your report on the "Rotating Column" of the Wall Street Journal known as "Marketplace."   Throughout the weeks of the semester, the left margin column of the section known as Marketplace contained the following:

Turn in summary and impact statements on two articles from each day of the week that had the greatest effect on your livelihood, career, or family.  (Include the date the article was published.)  Follow instruction 1 through 5 below.

1.  Said differently, you should select two articles from Monday's E-World, two articles from Tuesday's Managing your career, two articles from Wednesday's column, two articles on Personal Technology from Thursday's column, and two from Friday's column known as Health Journal. 

2.  On each article, write two paragraphs. 
-  You should write a "summary" of the article in paragraph #1. 
- You should then write a second "impact" paragraph in which you:
(a.) explain your interest in the article and
(b.) provide an explanation of the benefit you derived by reading the article, in relation to your own livelihood, your career, or your family.

3. Word-process your work using Microsoft Word.  See that each of your paragraphs contains at least four, but not more than ten well written sentences.  Your sentences should condense the main points of each article and show what additional impact the information in these articles had on you. 

4.  Send the completed assignment to the instructor as an attachment to email. 

5.  Include a cover sheet with your name, date, Survey of Economics, and the titles of the ten articles and dates the ten articles were published in the Wall Street Journal like the sample below.

Your ten summary paragraphs and ten impact paragraphs will collectively be awarded up to 100 points remaining in the course, and they constitute your final exam in Survey of Economics.

(Cover Sheet)

Your name

Date

Survey of Economics

Course Homepage,

Instructor Homepage