Instructor: Professor Regina C. Cassady E-Mail: rcassady@valenciacollege.edu Office Phone: 407-299-5000, X2272 Department Phone: 407-582-2443 Office Hours: Building 7-156, MW 3:30p.m. -6:15p.m., TR 12:30-1:30p.m., F 12:00-2:30p.m. (online) Course URL: http://learn.valenciacollege.edu/ Course Times: CRN 31353 Online
Course Description: General survey of basic economic concepts and institutions to prepare student for intelligent citizenship. Emphasis on principles of production, determination of prices, distribution of income and economic problems of everyday life. Not intended for majors in economics or certain business curricula requiring 6 semester credits in ECO 2013 and ECO 2023. No credit granted for ECO 1000 if ECO 2013 And/or ECO 2023 have been satisfactorily completed.
Course Objectives: Valencia Community College Student Competencies - Valencia faculty have defined four interrelated competencies (Value, Think, Communicate, and Act) that prepare students to succeed in the world community. These competencies are outlined in the College Catalog. In this course, through classroom lecture and discussion, group work, and other learning abilities, you will further develop your mastery of these core competencies.
1. VALUE - make reasoned judgments and responsible commitments by: a. recognizing values as expressed in attitudes, choices, and commitments b. distinguishing among personal, ethical, aesthetic, cultural, and scientific values c. employing values and standards of judgment from different disciplines d. evaluating your own and others' values from individual, cultural, and global perspectives e. articulating a considered and self-determined set of values
2. THINK - think clearly, critically, and creatively. Analyze, synthesize, integrate and evaluate in many domains of human inquiry by: a. analyzing data, ideas, patterns, principles, perspectives b. employing facts, formulas, procedures of the discipline c. integrating ideas and values from different disciplines d. drawing well-supported conclusions e. revising conclusions consistent with new observations, interpretations, or reason
3. COMMUNICATE - communicate with different audiences using varied means by: a. identifying your own strengths and need for improvement as communicator b. employing methods of communication appropriate to your audience and purpose c. evaluating the effectiveness of your own and others' communication
4. ACT - act purposefully, reflectively, and responsibly by: a. applying disciplinary knowledge, skills, and values to educational and career goals b. implementing effective problem-solving, decision-making, and goal-setting strategies c. acting effectively and appropriately in various personal and professional settings d. assessing the effectiveness of personal behavior and choices e. responding appropriately to changing circumstances
Valencias General Education Student Learning Outcomes Cultural and Historical Understanding: Demonstrate understanding of the diverse traditions of the world, and the individual's place in it. Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning: Use processes, procedures, data, or evidence to solve problems and make effective decisions. Communication Skills: Engage in effective interpersonal, oral and written communication. Ethical Responsibility: Demonstrate awareness of personal responsibility in one's civic, social, and academic life. Information Literacy: Locate, evaluate, and effectively use information from diverse sources. Critical Thinking: Effectively analyze, evaluate, synthesize and apply information and ideas from diverse sources and disciplines
Course Prerequisites: None; however it is recommended that students are comfortable with grade school level thirteen math.
Course Texts or Ancillary Materials: Mandel, Michael., Economics: The Basics with Connect, 2 nd Edition, McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2009. Book Website http://highered.mcgraw- hill.com/sites/0073523186/information_center_view0/
Course Resources: Instructional Media Center, Building 4 Internet Access, Research Facilities, Tutoring Center, Building 4 - Free tutoring Testing Center, Building 4-120 Social Sciences Division Website http://valenciacollege.edu/east/socialsciences/ Webpage - learn.valenciacollege.edu (Includes: Chapter Outlines, Lecture Notes, Syllabus, Homework Assignments, Hot Links, Sample Exams, Review Sheets, Extra Credit Opportunities)
Course Evaluation Criteria: Exams: Students will be required to take 3 exams (generally covering 3-4 chapters) as specified in the Weekly Itinerary. There are specific deadlines for each exam! The exams will be valued at 20% each. Exams will be composed of multiple choice questions, short definitions, true/false questions, essay questions, and problems. Homework: A total of approximately twenty homework assignments and quizzes will constitute 20% of the final grade. Homework assignments will be posted on the website to reinforce assigned material. Homework is due at the end of the corresponding exam deadline. For example, all homework for Exam #1 will be due before the deadline of Exam #1. Late assignments will not be accepted. Written Assignments: A written assignment will be posted for every exam. Students are required to respond with one to two pages by the deadline as noted on the Weekly Itinerary. A rubric will be attached to each Written Assignment specifying grading criteria. Written assignments will account for 20% of the final grade. Late assignments will not be accepted. Students may use the following options to deliver their work. 1. US Postal Service: Professor Regina Cassady, Valencia Community College, MC 3- 29, P.O. Box 3028, Orlando, FL 32802-3028
2. E-Mail: rcassady@valenciacollege.edu (attach as a WordPerfect or MS-Word document) OR within Blackboard email. 3. Personal Delivery - Social Science Departmental Office - East Campus - Building 8- 105 GRADES: Determined on the following scale: A 90-100% B 80-89% C 70-79% D 60-69% F 59-below FINAL GRADES: Final grades will be calculated as follows: 3 Exams X 20% each 60 points Homeworks X 6.67% each unit 20 points 3 WA X 6.67% each 20 points Total 100 points
Course Procedures: A Weekly Itinerary is posted on the web. Students are responsible for all reading material and assignments displayed in a weekly format. 1. Read assigned text chapters. Reading the textbook is essential to your comprehension of the course concepts. Read material as assigned. 2. Complete Homework. Completing homework is necessary for comprehension and application of economic concepts. 3. Written Assignments. Written Assignments are mandatory and must be completed as assigned. These assignments require students to apply critical thinking skills to assess and analyze, using economic criteria, and current economic issues. 4. Post-Tests: Are provided to test your comprehension of the material in that particular folder. These are optional, and do not count as part of your course grade. 5. Exams: Exams are a required component of the course. Exam times are posted on the Weekly Itinerary. 6. Extra Credit: Online quizzes that are complementary to the assigned reading material are available for extra credit towards the exams. Each quiz (one allowed per chapter) is worth one point extra credit towards the corresponding exam grade. You must score at least 70% or better to earn extra credit. Send the quizzes to rcassady@valenciacollege.edu.
Course Policies: Student Commitment: You should budget adequate time each week for reading the textbook and completing all assignments. You will be responsible for keeping up to date with all lessons and assignments. Expected Student Conduct: Valencia is dedicated not only to the advancement of knowledge and learning, but is concerned with the development of responsible personal and social conduct. By enrolling at Valencia, a student assumes the responsibility for becoming familiar with and abiding by the general rules of conduct. The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the professor. Students who engage in any prohibited or unlawful acts that result in disruption of a class may be directed by the professor to leave the class. Violation of any Valencia policies/procedures or classroom rules may lead to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the College. Disciplinary action could include being withdrawn from the class, disciplinary warning, probation, suspension, expulsion, or other appropriate and authorized actions. Valencias Student Code of Classroom Conduct (Policy 10-18) can be found in the current Student handbook, or online at http://valenciacollege.edu/generalcounsel/policydetail.cfm?RecordlD=180. Academic Honesty: All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited at Valencia. Academic dishonesty included, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery, alteration or misuse of documents, misconduct during a testing situation, and misuse of identification with intent to defraud or deceive. Sanctions available to the professor should a violation occur are described in the Valencia Student Handbook or online at http://valenciacollege.edu/generalcounsel/policydetail.cfm?RecordlD=193. Technology Policy: I expect that you have the basic internet skills if you are in this course. If you need to review any of the basics, please go to the Microsoft site and brush up. A special note about computers: Even though computers and word-processing software are marvelous time and energy-saving devices, they can and do cause problems with the production of your documents. Please be aware that a broken or ill-functioning computer, or the inability to retrieve, produce or submit your assignments from a computer will not be accepted as a valid excuse for a document that is submitted late. I advise you to save all your documents to a portable disk instead of your hard drive. If your computer malfunctions, you will have the option of taking the disk to a Valencia computer lab to retrieve and print your documents. Students may also access technical assistance to resolve problems as follows: (1) Help Desk Ext. 5555 (2) Valencia's website offers an on-line tutorial. Internet Research Statement: Because of the variety of sources, ease of publication, lack of central control and proliferation of commercial information on the free Internet, it is often hard to tell if the information is reliable. Many sites contain research and information of high quality. However, unlike traditional print publications or library- based electronic resources, there is usually no process of peer review, nor is there an editor verifying the accuracy of information presented on the Internet. There are an increasing number of sites containing information that may be incomplete, anonymously written, out-of-date, biased, fraudulent, or whose content may not be factual. Students should, therefore, use caution in use of the free Internet for their research needs. For academic topics that are addressed in scholarly literature, use of electronic databases or visiting the library may better meet your needs. However, each professor makes the final determination of what is or is not accepted as a valid source so review the syllabus for specific guidelines from your professor. See the following tutorial for more information: http://faculty.valencia.college.fl.us/infolit/evaluation/default.htm Make-up Exams: All exams must be taken on or before dates assigned. No make-up exams are available without the explicit consent of the instructor, and must be scheduled with the professor PRIOR to the regular exam time. No exceptions will be made. Make- ups will only be granted in cases of documented emergencies per VCC Policy. If the exam is assigned to the testing center, please arrive at the testing center 2 hours prior to closing time; tests will not be given out after that time. You will need your VID, and all electronics must be turned off. Failure to do so will result in immediate suspension from the testing center. The final exam must be taken on the date published for the final examination, if not; this will result in a grade of 0 for that exam. Change of Name or Address: If you have a change of name and/or address during the semester, please contact the registrars office. This will help us to notify you promptly about changes to the program or the addition of new events. Valencia ID Cards: Valencia ID cards are required for the Library, Testing Center, and IMC usage. No other form of ID at those locations will be accepted. Possession and utilization of a Valencia ID is mandatory to obtain these services. Students with Disabilities: "Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a notification from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the instructor, preferably during the first two weeks of class. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities. The East Campus Office is located in Building 5, Room 216, and (407-582-2229 phone), (407-582-8908 fax)." http://www.valenciacollege.edu/osd
Instructor Commitment: As your instructor, I will follow the course outline as detailed in this syllabus, and should any changes be required I will announce them well in advance to give you time to adjust. You can count on my availability during office hours, and you have the right to expect prompt responses to your questions, comments, and requests. I will grade your work in a timely manner and return it to you with constructive commentary. Email Check Policy: I plan to check my email for this course during my office hours. If you email me after these hours, do not expect a response until the following period. I may respond sooner, but do not expect it. When you send me an email, use Blackboard. Please put the title of this course and the topic you are writing about in the "Subject" line. Keep in mind that occasionally our servers go down. Maintenance is usually scheduled for the weekends. Withdrawal Policy: Students who wish to withdraw from a course are responsible for completing all the requirements that are listed in Valencia's Student Handbook. Failure to complete this task will result in the grade of "F" for the course. The withdrawal policy date for the semester is J uly 18, 2014. If students withdraw before this date, they will receive a "W". http://www.valenciacollege.edu/catalog/09-10/ Withdrawal is up to the student; I will not withdraw students. No Show Status: Class attendance is required beginning with the first class meeting (for the online class this means that you must email me during the first week of classes to indicate your decision to participate in the course). If you do not attend the first class meeting, you may be withdrawn from the class as a no show. If you are withdrawn as a no show, you will be financially responsible for the class and a W will appear on your transcript for the course. Additional Information: Students may find information regarding campus hours for all areas of student services such as the Instructional Resource Center, Bookstore, and Testing Center at the main menu link for Area Support Hours. Valencias General Website http://valenciacollege.edu Valencia Calendars are posted at http://www.valenciacollege.edu/calendar VCC Policies & Procedures are posted at http://www.valenciacollege.edu/generalcounselpolicies.cfm
Disclaimer: Changes in the syllabus, schedule, and/or college policy may be made at anytime during the course per instructor discretion. It is the responsibility of the student to make any adjustments as announced. Basic Economics Online Weekly I tinerary Summer B 2014 Week of Class Reading Assignment Homework Assignment Written Assignment Extra Credit Additional Information June 17, 2014 Chapter One Introduction to Economics Posted in the Graded Activities Folder for Chapter One Written Assignment #1 Due 06/29/2014 Posted in the Graded Activities Folder. * Email professor regarding participation in the course. * Review Syllabus Chapter Two Demand and Supply: The Basics of the Market Economy Posted in the Graded Activities Folder for Chapter Two Posted in the Graded Activities Folder.
June 23, 2014 Chapter Three Market Equilibrium and Shifts Posted in the Graded Activities Folder for Chapter Three Posted in the Graded Activities Folder.
Chapter Four How Businesses Work Posted in the Graded Activities Folder for Chapter Four Posted in the Graded Activities Folder. Exam #1, Chapters 1-4, available from 6/27/- 06/29/2014. June 30, 2014 Chapter Five Competition and Market Power Chapter Six Government and the Economy
Posted in the Graded Activities Folder for Chapters Five and Six Written Assignment #2 Due 07/13/2014 Posted in the Graded Activities Folder.
July 7, 2014 Chapter Seven The First Step into Macroeconomics Chapter Eight Inflation Posted in the Graded Activities Folder for Chapter s Seven and Eight Posted in the Graded Activities Folder. Exam #2, Chapters 5-8 available from 7/11-7/13/2014.
July 14, 2014 Chapter Ten Business Cycles Chapter Eleven Fiscal Policy
Posted in the Graded Activities Folder for Chapters Ten and Eleven Written Assignment #3 Due 07/27/2014 Posted in the Graded Activities Folder.
July 21, 2014 Chapter Twelve Monetary Policy Chapter Thirteen The Financial Markets Posted in the Graded Activities Folder for Chapter s Twelve and Thirteen Posted in the Graded Activities Folder. Exam #3, Chapters 10-13 available 7/25- 7/29/2014. Grades Due 07/31/2014.