Microeconomics: An Introduction to Economic Efficiency SUMMER 2017 ECO 211-W01, ECO 211-W02, and ECO 211-W03 Home ~/~ Schedule ~/~ Lessons ~/~ Video Lecture Notes~/~ Mic Web App ~/~ Practice Exercises ~/~ Textbook Website ~/~ Blackboard |
BASIC INFORMATION |
These web pages will be used by three different class sections:
COURSE DESCRIPTIONThis course will cover the area of economics commonly defined as microeconomics which is concerned with the individual parts of the economy such as individual businesses or industries, individual consumers, and individual products. Our goal is to study whether the economy uses our limited resources to obtain the maximum satisfaction possible for society. We will concentrate on three issues or goals: ALLOCATIVE EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY, and EQUITY. |
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This course requires students to have basic skills in mathematics, including the use of graphs. If your math skills are weak you should consider building them before taking this course. There is a Math Quiz on our Blackboard website in the FOR PRACTICE section. Please take it as soon as possible and if you score poorly, 15 or less correct out of 20, then you should consider withdrawing from ECO 211 and take it later. If you are required to take MTH 060, or MTH 082 and have not yet done so, do not take this economics course.
BLACKBOARD, WEBSITES, E-MAIL |
Students in sections -W01, -W02, and -W03 will use the same Blackboard site: "ECO211-W01 W02, W03- MICROECONOMICS (Summer 2017)".Blackboard Instructions:
All students must log-in to our Blackboard website, study the syllabus, and take the required 5-point, online, "Orientation Quiz" . The orientation quiz may be taken as many times as necessary and only the highest score will be counted.
Always use the the Firefox browser when using Blackboard (download for free at: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/)
- Go to http://harper.blackboard.com
- Follow the instructions to "log-in". (If you need help see the Student Service Desk link below the Login button.).
- You should see your course Blackboard site in the "My Courses" box. If you do not please e-mail the instructor: mhealy@harpercollege.edu
The "CHAPTERS - BEGIN HERE" link on our Blackboard site will give you access to EVERYTHING that you should be doing for this class. For each chapter you will find:
- REQUIRED: Reading and Video Assignments [LESSONS]
- REQUIRED: Video Lecture Notes [VIDEO NOTES]
- KEY TERM Flashcards
- REQUIRED: Yellow Pages
- PRACTICE EXERCISES
- POINTS: Required Activities
- POINTS: Quiz (for certain chapters only)
- Extra Practice
I will be sending you emails several times throughout the semester. You must check your Harper G-Mail account periodically. Most students have their Harper e-mail automatically forwarded to their regular e-mail account (see below) so they only have one account to check. Whatever you do, CHECK YOUR HARPER EMAIL!Some of the emails that I will send can also be found on our Blackboard class site. See the FOR STUDYING section on the menu bar and click on UNIT EMAILS.
Option to Forward Mail from your Harper E-mail Account
You should always use your Harper email account when e-mailing your instructor. All e-mails from harper will be sent to your Harper e-mail account. If you do not check your Harper e-mail account often, you can find instructions on how to forward e-mail from that account to one you check frequently by logging in to the Harper Student Portal and clicking on the "My Harper E-Mail" tab. All correspondence in this class will be sent to your Harper e-mail account.When e-mailing your instructor always put "ECO 211", your section number, and a message in the subject line. Please use proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Click on TEXTBOOK WEBSITE then select a chapter from the "Choose One" drop-down menu.
There is an ONLINE ORIENTATION for this course. There is an extensive course syllabus and an orientation quiz which must be competed on Blackboard during the first week of the semester. The orientation quiz is worth 5 points and you can take it as many times as is necessary. Only the highest score will be included in the gradebook. The orientation quiz will cover information found in this course syllabus and the course Blackboard site.If you have any questions please post them on the Blackboard Discussion Board so that all students can read the question and reply, or email me.
For your online orientation: read this syllabus, review the course Blackboard site, and take the ORIENTATION QUIZ on Blackboard. note the orientation quiz can be taken as many times as you wish and only the highest score will count.
COURSE STRUCTURE |
The entire course is divided into 26 lessons. Some chapters are divided into a few lessons (like chapter 3: lessons 3a, 3b, 3c) and other chapters have only one lesson (like chapter 8: lesson 8a).
On the Blackboard LESSONS link, or on the MICWEBAPP, you will find the following for each chapter. This is where you must begin your studying and review what you have studied.
More information on the "Assignments: Readings" and the "Assignments: Video Lectures" found on the Blackboard LESSONS link, or on the MICWEBAPP:
To do well you need to practice doing problems. Many are available to you but where should you begin?
I recommend that you begin with:
Then, do other exercises that can be found on Blackboard in the FOR PRACTICE section:
COURSE MATERIALS |
REQUIRED ($):
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TEXTBOOK: Microeconomics, by McConnell,
Brue, and Flynn, 19th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2011
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REQUIRED ($):
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VIDEO LECTURES: Tomlinson Videos on ThinkWell BUYING the Tomlinson Videos on ThinkWell
USING the Tomlinson Videos on Thinkwell:
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REQUIRED (Free):
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The Yellow Pages are packets of worksheets. They are called "Yellow Pages" because in my face-to-face classes they are printed on yellow paper. You will not get points for doing them, but you will find them very useful while you prepare for the quizzes and exams. The Yellow Pages available on our Blackboard site. The ANSWERS to all Yellow Pages can also be found on our Blackboard site. |
USEFUL (Free):
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MIC WEB APP: The MicWebApp has all of the information found on our LESSONS page. How to put an icon to the app on the homescreen of your mobile device:
The app is not designed to replace your textbook, computer, or paper and pencil. To learn the class material you will have to read the textbook, watch the Tomlinson video lectures, and DO PROBLEMS. When doing problems you will need to use pencil and paper. The app is designed to allow you to to do a quick review after you have studied the material. The app is organized according our twenty-five lessons. For each lesson you will usually find a quick introduction, an interesting topic, the reading and video assignments, key term flashcards, a quick review quiz, key graphs, and YouTube review videos. Be sure to put an icon to the app on your mobile devices !!! |
RECOMMENDED ($):Online or Paperback:
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STUDY GUIDE: Study Guide For Microeconomics, McConnell/Brue/Walstad, 19th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2012
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GRADING AND EXAMS |
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ACTIVITY |
INFORMATION |
POINTS |
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1 orientation quiz |
5 points, must be taken online at: http://harper.blackboard.com/ |
5 points |
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16 Required Activities |
2 points each. The Required Activities are online (Blackboard) chapter review quizzes of about 20 questions - usually multiple choice. They can be retaken as many times as you wish and only the highest score will be included in the final grade. |
32 points |
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5 online quizzes |
10 multiple choice questions, 1/2 point each each |
25 points |
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Comprehensive Unit Exams |
Unit 1: 40 points |
135 points |
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Comprehensive Final Exam |
80 multiple choice questions, COMPREHENSIVE |
80 points |
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TOTAL: 277 POINTS |
LETTER GRADES will be awarded as follows: 90%=A, 80%=B, 70%=C, 60%=D, below 60%=F
There is an ONLINE ORIENTATION for this course. There is an extensive course syllabus and an orientation quiz which must be competed on Blackboard during the first week of the semester. The orientation quiz is worth 5 points and you can take it as many times as is necessary. Only the highest score will be included in the gradebook. The orientation quiz will cover information found in the course syllabus and on the course Blackboard site.If you have any questions please post them on the Blackboard Discussion Board so that all students can read the question and reply, or email me.
For your online orientation: read this syllabus, review the course Blackboard site, and take the ORIENTATION QUIZ on Blackboard.
For each chapter you will need to complete the online "Required Activity" (Note: there are two each for chapters 1 and 11). These can be found on Blackboard under the "REQUIRED ACTIVITIES" link. The required activities are worth two points each. You can do them as many times as you wish and only the highest score will be recorded. Most Required Activities are twenty multiple choice questions. Every time you open a Required Activity, even if you do not answer a single question, you must click on the SUBMIT button before you close the page.Click on "SAVE and SUBMIT" EVERY TIME, even if you haven't finished all of the questions.
The five quizzes are online at our Blackboard site and they will be taken at home via the internet. They consist of 10 multiple choice questions each and will be worth 5 points per quiz. They can be attempted ONLY ONCE (i.e. you must finish the 10 questions the first time you access them), but there is no time limit.
- Quiz 1 - The 5 Es (http://www.harpercollege.edu/mhealy/eco211f/5es/5e.htm)
- Quiz 2 - Supply and Demand (chapter 3)
- Quiz 3 - Elasticity (chapter 4)
- Quiz 4 - Costs of Production (chapter 7)
- Quiz 5 - Monopoly (chapter 10 and 18)
STUDY: Before you take a quiz: (1) read the chapter reading assignments and take notes, (2) watch the VIDEO LECTURES and study theVIDEO NOTES, (3) do the YELLOW PAGES, and check your ANSWERS, (4) check the chapter "Outcomes - What you should learn" on our LESSONS page or MICWEBAPP, (5) do the Required Activities, (6) see the REVIEW QUIZZES link on Blackboard, and (7) do as many of the PRACTICE EXERCISES as needed to learn the material.
There will be three unit exams and one final exam. All exams are comprehensive.
- The unit 1 exam will consist of 40 multiple choice questions and a three point extra credit essay question.
- The exam for unit 2 will have 45 questions (40 from unit 2 and 5 from unit 1) and a three point extra credit question.
- The exam for unit 3 will have 50 questions (40 from unit 3 and 5 each from units 1 and 2) and a three point extra credit essay question.
- The comprehensive final exam is 80 multiple choice questions with NO extra credit. It will cover all units, 1 through 4.
The exams are NOT open book, NOT open notes, and you can NOT bring in a sheet of notes or formulas. You can use only a basic, simple calculator.
The three unit exams and the final exam will be taken on the Harper campus in the Assessment Center, Student and Administration Center, room A-148, phone 847-925-6541 [see: Assessment Center hours]. To take the exams you simply go to the testing center with a picture ID and ask for the appropriate exam for ECO 211.
The exams will be taken online, at the Testing Center, through our Blackboard site. Read that again. The exams are taken on-campus at the Testing Center. You will need to log in to our Blackboard site to take the exams on-campus.
Exams should be taken on, or before, the day listed on the "SCHEDULE" link on Blackboard, but they may be taken later without penalty. Try to stay on schedule, or better yet, get ahead.
Exams 1, 2, and 3 consist of multiple choice questions (each worth one point) and an extra credit essay (worth three points). After you SUBMIT your answers to the multiple choice questions the extra credit essay link will appear under the Blackboard "EXAMS" link. The Blackboard link "EXTRA CREDIT" will give you more information on the extra credit questions.
STUDY: Before you take an exam:
- read the chapter reading assignments on our LESSONS page or MICWEBAPP and take notes,
- watch the VIDEO LECTURES and study the VIDEO NOTES,
- do the YELLOW PAGES and check your answers,
- check the lesson "Outcomes - What you should learn", "Key Terms Flashcards", and other information on our LESSONS page or MICWEBAPP,
- do the Required Activities,
- do as many problems as needed to learn the material. For problems see the following on Blackboard
- REQUIRED ACTIVITIES
- YELLOW PAGES
- PRE-QUIZZES (Pre-Quizzes are used in my on-campus classes. I offer them to my online students for PRACTICE ONLY -- NO POINTS.)
- CLICKER QUIZZES (Clicker Quizzes are used in my on-campus classes. I offer them to my online students for PRACTICE ONLY -- NO POINTS.)
- PRACTICE EXERCISES
- REVIEW QUIZZES
WHAT YOU NEED: When going to the Testing Center be prepared to give the staff the following information:
- Picture ID
- Course number: ECO 211
- Instructor name: Mark Healy
- Test number
- Whether the test is the first attempt or a retake
- Be prepared to log on to our Blackboard site
- A basic, simple calculator (or borrow one from the testing center staff)
GRAPH SHEET: When you take an exam at the Testing Center the staff will help you log into the exam and they will give you a "graph sheet" that contains all of the graphs, tables, and figures that are found on the online exam. You should use the graph sheet like scratch paper. Write on the graphs and the tables and do your calculations on the sheets. When you are finished with the exam you will give your graph sheet back to the Testing Center staff.
Exam Extra Credit Questions
After each of the three unit exams (including the retake exams) will be a three point extra credit short answer question. For descriptions of these three questions see the EXTRA CREDIT link on Blackboard in the FOR POINTS section of the menu.To access the extra credit short answer question:
- Finish the forty multiple choice questions and click on the SUBMIT button,
- Then click on the "EXAMS" link on the Blackboard menu and there will be a link for "Exam Extra Credit".
- Click on that link, type your answer in the space provided, and click SUBMIT.
- After the extra credit is graded you can see your answer and the correct answer by clicking on your SCORE in the Blackboard gradebook: MY GRADES. Be sure to check the correct answer before taking an exam retake. Note: the retake exams (see below) will have a similar, but different, question.
Comprehensive Retake Exams
One optional "retake" exam (same chapters, different questions) is available for each of the three unit exams. There is no retake exam for the final. If you take a retake, only the higher score will be included in your total score. Be sure to tell the Testing Center personnel that you wish to do a RETAKE. Retake exams also have an extra credit essay question.Please do not take the retake on the same day that you took the exam. If you need to retake an exam then you need to study more first. Retake exams can be taken at any time during the semester, but please try to have them done before final exams week. Also, check your extra credit answer (see above) before taking the retake.
Before you take a retake exam: (1) read the chapter reading assignments and take notes, (2) watch the VIDEOS and study the VIDEO NOTES, (3) do the YELLOW PAGES, (4) check the chapter "Outcomes/Must Know" on our LESSONS page, or MICWEBAPP (5) do the Required Activities, (6) see the REVIEW QUIZZES link on Blackboard, and (7) do as many of the PRACTICE EXERCISES as needed to learn the material.
Exam Make-Up Policy / Exam Schedule
Students should take the exams according to the class "SCHEDULE", but they can be taken early or late (without penalty). NOTE: Students who get behind often do poorly. Try to stay on schedule, or better yet, get ahead. No exam, quiz, or any other assignment can be taken after the final exam date.
SCHEDULE |
ECO 211-W01 and -W02
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ECO 211-W03
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IMPORTANT: For exact reading assignments see the LESSONS page or the MICWEBAPP . We may not read the whole chapter or a "chapter" may include pages from other chapters, so always check the "LESSONS" page or "MICWEBAPP" before reading.NOTE: This outline may be changed! Any changes will be announced via our Blackboard site..
Unit 1: Markets are Efficient, Except . . . Intro to Microeconomics
1a - The Class and the Math
1b - The 5Es of Economics
1c - Making Choices: Scarcity and Budget Lines
1d - Making Choices: Production Possibilities and Benefit-Cost Analysis
2a - Market Economies and Trade
3a - Demand
3b - Supply
3c - Market Equilibrium and Efficiency
5a - Gov't Interference in Markets and Market Failure (Negative Externalities)
5b - Market Failure Con't: Positive Externalities and Public Goods
4a - Price Elasticity of Demand and Tax Incidence
UNIT 2: Elasticity, Consumer Choice, and Costs
4b - Other Types of Elasticity
6a - Consumer Decisions: Utility Maximization
7a - Econ. Profit and the Production Function
7b - Production Costs in the Short Run
7c - Production Costs in the Long RunUnit 3: Are Businesses Efficient? Product Markets and Efficiency
8/9a - Pure Competition: Characteristics and Short Run Equilibrium
8/9b - Pure Competition: Long Run Equilibrium and Efficiency
10a - Monopoly: Characteristics and Short Run Equilibrium
10b - Monopoly: Long run Equilibrium, Price Discrimination, and Regulation
11a - Monopolistic Competition: Are Businesses Efficient?
11b - Oligopoly: Are Businesses Efficient?
12a - Demand For Resources
Unit 4: Labor and Efficiency: Resource Markets, Inequality, and Immigration
13a - Wage Determination: Labor Markets
20a - Income Inequality and Discrimination
22a - Immigration
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION |
A few textbooks and study guides have been placed on reserve in the library in case you leave yours at Grandma's house. Some can be checked out from the circulation desk for two days at a time and one is for in-library use only.
This is a difficult course! There is an old rule of thumb concerning studying for college courses: on average during a regular 16 week semester, students should attend class 3 hours a week and they should study outside of class TWO hours for every ONE hour of class. Therefore for a regular semester 16-week three-credit-hour online class this means that you should plan for NINE hours a week (three hours of "class" PLUS 2 x 3 hours of studying). This is an average, which means some courses require more study time and some less. You may find that economics requires MORE.For class sections of fewer than 16 weeks you will need to also study more hours each week. The 12-week sections should study about 14 hours per week. The 8-week sections should study about 18 hours per week.
The following suggestions should help you learn economics:
- READ THE BOOK! Read the assigned reading in the textbook and online. Passive reading of the textbook is not very helpful. Take notes. Read with a pen in your hand and a notebook on which to list, repeat, copy, calculate, etc. ALSO, pay close attention to the TABLES and GRAPHS. THEY ARE IMPORTANT. NOTE: we may not read all pages of a chapter or a "Chapter" may incluyde pages from other places in the textbook. Always see the LESSONS link or MICWEBAPP before reading.
- WATCH THE VIDEO LECTURES! Watch the assigned online videos. This is like attending class for a face-to-face course. "VIDEO NOTES" from your instructor are available on our Blackboard site. Students have said that they are helpful. Also, do the review quizzes (THINKWELL EXERCISES) that are available for most of the Tomlinson Videos on Thinkwell. Once you log in to the Thinkwell class site click on the "Chapter Checklist" link for a list of the videos by their number. You will find the numbers of the assigned videos on our LESSONS link or MICWEBAPP.
- STUDY - This is a difficult course! There is an old rule of thumb concerning studying for college courses: for 16 week semesters, on average students should study TWO hours for every ONE credit-hour of class. For online classes you need to add the three hours of class lecture time as well. So, for a typical 16 week, 3 credit-hour class, you should study 6 +3 = 9 hours per week. For 12-week and 8-week classes you need to study more. This is an average, which means some courses require more study time and some less. You may find that economics requires even more than this.
- DO PROBLEMS. If you don't do the problems you will do poorly on the quizzes and exams. Many are available on our Blackboard site.
- Begin with the REQUIRED ACTIVITIES (since you earn points for doing them) .
- Do the YELLOW PAGES. These are important. They will help you do better on the exams. The answers are available on Blackboard. If you do not understand a problem you can get help on our Discussion Board.
- Then, DO PROBLEMS. For problems see the following on Blackboard:
- PRE-QUIZZES
- CLICKER QUIZZES
- THINKWELL EXERCISES (LOGIN to our thinkwell Video site and click on "Chapter Checklist"
- PRACTICE EXERCISES
- REVIEW QUIZZES
- GET HELP
- Ask questions on the Blackboard Discussion Board
- Call or email the instructor for assistance. This should be done EARLY in the semester.
- email: mhealy@harpercollege.edu
- cell: 815-861-7265
- Free tutoring is available at the Harper College Tutoring Center
- You may also want to make use of SUCCESS SERVICES FOR STUDENTS AT HARPER COLLEGE (see below).
- GET AHEAD - Or at least keep up. It is easy to get behind. To get a good grade you will have to devote a significant amount of out of class time to studying economics. If you get behind there simply will not be enough time. Many students get an "F" grade in online courses because they get behind. Follow the SCHEDULE or GET AHEAD!
- APPLY the concepts learned in class to the "real world" including issues in the news and aspects of your personal life. The "Introduction", "Something Interesting", and Outcomes" sections found on our LESSONS page or MICWEBAPP is a good place to start.
Make the most of your college experience this fall by visiting Success Services for Students. Be aware of your academic needs and work to effectively change behaviors to improve academic success. Schedule an appointment for one of the following free sessions: Study Skills, Test Taking Tips, Time Management, Memory, Motivation, Test Anxiety, Reading Strategies, Math Strategies, Note Taking Skills, Concentration, Study Behavior Inventory, Learning Styles, Test Performance Analysis, Accounting Tips, Economics Tips, Preparing for Finals, and Online Study Tips.Stop by our new location in D-202, call 847.925.6715 or email success@harpercollege.edu to schedule an appointment. See: http://www.harpercollege.edu/academicsupport
Your success in this class is important to me. If you have a disability (learning, physical, psychological or other) and may require some accommodation or modification in procedures, class activity, instruction, requirements, etc. please contact me early in the semester so we can refer you to ADS who will discuss and arrange for reasonable accommodations. The Access and Disability Services department is in the Building I, I-103, 847.925.6266 or TTY (847) 397-7600
William Rainey Harper College provides equal opportunity in education and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability.
All notifications related to student registration or other business activities are sent to students via a G-mail account that is assigned to students upon registration. Students access the G-mail account via an icon in the student portal (where you registered for classes). Please check this e-mail frequently. To forward e-mails from this account to a personal e-mail account please follow the instructions for forwarding Harper e-mail available at http://harper.blackboard.com/
Harper College is strongly committed to the promotion of high ethical standards. Such standards can best be accomplished in an environment where honesty and integrity are practiced. For this reason the College strongly condemns academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism or other improper appropriation of another's work as one's own and falsifying records to advance one's academic standing.
Cheating includes but is not limited to copying answers, stealing and/or disseminating tests or answer keys, using someone else's data in preparation of reports or assignments, and assisting others in such practices.
Plagiarism involves the presentation of another person's words, ideas, or work as one's own. It includes but is not limited to copying any material (written or non-written) without proper acknowledgment of its source, and paraphrasing another's work or ideas without proper acknowledgment.
Falsifying records includes but is not limited to falsifying or improperly altering college records and documents, or knowingly supplying false or misleading information to others (e.g., the College, other educational institutions, or prospective employers).
Any form of academic dishonesty as defined by the faculty member or department is a serious offense requiring disciplinary measures. Discipline for academic dishonesty involving a specific course shall be first determined by the instructor of the course and may include failure of the specific assignment, project or test, or failure of the course. The student may appeal the instructor's decision in accordance with the College's Student Academic Complaint Procedures. In cases of academic dishonesty the faculty assigned grade supersedes a student-initiated withdrawal. In cases where disciplinary measures beyond course failure may be deemed appropriate by the instructor, or dishonesty that is not related to a specific course, the student may be disciplined in accordance with the Student Conduct Policy with the appropriate vice president involved in the decision.
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