microsyllabus

Office Hours: To be announced. I'll supply a schedule shortly after the semester begins.

Course Description: This course is a study of the basic institutions and principles of microeconomics and so it concentrates on the parts of an economic system; the markets, the producers, the consumers and the structures of basic industries along with systems for relative resource use and income determination.

Course Objectives: The objective of this course is to explain and introduce the student to the science of economics, and assist in developing an understanding of MICROECONOMIC terms and concepts relative to the consumer's behavior, theory of the firm, distribution of output and income, and the market structure and pricing. After completing this course, students should acquire the following knowledge:

Text book information:
The following text book is required for ECON-1A
Introduction to Microeconomics 3rd edition, ISBN #1-932856-70-6
Author Edwin G. Dolan, Copyright 2007, Best Value Textbooks, LLC.

Prerequisites: A grade of C or higher in ENGL 280, or English Placement Level 5 or higher. Note that (ECON 1A is not a prerequisite for ECON 1B)

Attendance Policy: Attendance will be taken daily. Due to the technical & cumulative nature of the course, students are encouraged to attend every class. I highly recommend that you attend all of the classes. If it is necessary that you miss a class, and there is an exceptional circumstance, please email me as much ahead of time as possible and I will make sure that you are given an opportunity to make up a quiz or reassign homework (if possible). This will be considered an excused absence.

Important: In the event that a student wishes to discontinue the class entirely, it is the responsibility of the student to drop the class through the registration department at the college. In the event a student does not complete the course and does not remove the course from their academic schedule, a grade of “F” will be issued.

Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism and/or cheating are not acceptable. Any violation is a serious offense and may have consequences ranging from a lowered grade to expulsion from Shasta College. For information, refer to the “Academic Dishonesty” section of the student handbook.

Homework: Homework due dates will be specified when homework is assigned. Other than excused absences, there are no exceptions.

Cell Phone & Pager Use: To prevent interruptions, please turn off cell phones, data assistants, and other communicative devices during class. This is becoming a larger problem as technology improves and as a result we must be more and more respectful of others. Continued problems can result in escalated requests including discontinuance of bringing devices to class.

Laptop Computer Use: Computers in the classroom are to be utilized for coursework and activities related to coursework. Acceptable uses include taking notes, following along with the instructor on PowerPoint, with demonstrations, and other whole class activities, as well as working on assigned in-class activities, projects, and discussions that require laptop use. Do not use computers for entertainment during class meetings. Do not display material on screen which may be distracting or offensive to your neighbor. Please refrain from instant messaging, e-mailing, surfing the Internet, playing games, writing unrelated papers, doing homework, etc. during class time. Instructor reserves rights to ask student to discontinue computer use if it is viewed as a reoccurring distraction.

Assistance: If any student has a condition such as a physical or learning disability which will make it difficult to complete the tasks outlined in this syllabus and will require academic accommodations, please notify the instructor as soon as possible.

Grading Policy: Evaluation Methods: All grading will be in accordance with Shasta College policy. Final grades will be based on a total of scores from the

Three exams = 300 Points (100 pts. Each)
Four quizzes = 200 Points (50 pts. Each)
Homework/Class Participation = 100 Points

Tentative Class Schedule:
Week	Start Date	Read	Other Class Activity/	Quiz/Exam
1	08/18	Ch 1
2	08/25	Ch 2
3	09/01	Ch 3	09/01 – No Class, Labor Day Holiday	Quiz One
4	09/08	Ch 4
5	09/15	Ch 5		Exam One
6	09/22	Ch 6
7	09/29	Ch 7		Quiz Two
8	10/06	Ch 8
9	10/13	Ch 9
10	10/20	Ch 10		Exam Two
11	10/27	Ch 11
12	11/03	Ch13
13	11/10	Ch 14	11/10 – No Class, Veterans Day Holiday	Quiz Three
14	11/17	Ch 15
15	11/24	Ch 16	11/27-28– No Class, Thanksgiving Holiday
16	12/01	Ch 17		Quiz Four
17	12/08	Ch 18
18	12/15	Finals Week - Exam Three

Note that scheduled assignments may be adjusted due to time or workload issues. Students will be notified accordingly.

Exams:
There will be three, equal value exams during the semester. The exams are cumulative meaning all information presented in class up to that time is potentially going to be on the exam. As a result of the cumulative nature of the exams, please be advised that all exams are mandatory and failure to complete all exams will result in an “F” in the course.

Tests will consist of 50 multiple-choice, True/False and three essay questions. Scantron answer sheets and a pencil will be required for all tests. I will not supply or have extras of these items so be sure to bring these items to class on test days! All other material to take the exams will be supplied by the instructor.

Quizzes:
There will be four quizzes in this course. Each quiz will cover four to five chapters. Quizzes will generally consist of short essay questions.

Homework/Class Participation:
Homework and or class projects will be assigned on a per week basis. Expect about 10 take-home exercises or in-class mini group projects resulting in a small presentation of findings and/or summaries to the class. It is recommended that students complete the questions at the end of the chapters in the text, as well as problems in the study guide if purchased, to help prepare for quizzes and exams.

Extra Credit:
There is no extra credit available in Microeconomics (ECON-1A)

This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. Students will be notified through a printed class handout of any changes that may occur.

Academic Honesty: Academic dishonesty is a violation of the student code of conduct and will not be tolerated. Students are expected to fully and faithfully comply with the Shasta College academic honesty policy. Any activity resulting in a violation of the Shasta College plagiarism/academic dishonesty criteria will be grounds for immediate dismissal from the class. Within parameters outlined by Shasta College academic dishonesty policy, the instructor reserves the right to delegate consequences up to and including expulsion from the college. Based on the student expectations outlined above, students have read and understand the Academic Honesty portion of this syllabus and understand the serious, nonnegotiable consequences of engaging in academically dishonest activity.

Students understand that comprehensive information pertaining to Student Code of Conduct can find more information in the Shasta College Catalog – Student Code of Conduct, p. 28 & 29. The catalog can also be found at http://www.shastacollege.edu/ .

These policies relate to the Student Code of Conduct (Board Policy 5410) and the Student Discipline (Board Policy 5420). More comprehensive information can be found online at:

Drop Policy: Students are expected to attend all classes. A student who fails to attend the first class meeting of a course without notifying the instructor may be dropped from the class. In addition, an instructor may drop a student for excessive absences. IT IS ALWAYS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO OFFICIALLY DROP OR WITHDRAW FROM THE CLASS. Students who fail to file the necessary withdrawal forms, even though they stop attending class or fail to pay registration fees, will be assigned a course grade.

Syllabus as a Contract: the syllabus is a contract between the student, the instructor, and Shasta College. If there is a problem, disagreement or some other question about the way a classroom issue or item will be handled, the policies outlined in the syllabus will be the first and possibly final tier of guidance used to make decisions. It is important that everyone understands classroom protocol and rules.

Final Thoughts - I am very happy that you have enrolled in this class. I look forward to working with and getting to know everyone over the next few months. As with all education, much of the learning is dependent on staying current and participating regularly in our class. Please do not hesitate to let me know right away if you have any questions or concerns and I will do everything in my power to clarify or correct.

My job as an instructor is to facilitate student success. Whatever I can do to make our time together beneficial for you is my top priority. I will always welcome your questions, your comments and your input.