Mark Coulson, Room 144

www.mcoulson@hs.wisd.org
AP MACROECONOMICS

Syllabus:  Spring  2004

This course is an introduction to macroeconomics. This subdivision of economics deals with the economy as a whole: aggregate national income and output, government spending and taxation, money and banking, monetary policy and international trade. Microeconomics focuses on individual economic entities such as consumers and firms and emphasizes the allocation of resources and outputs between individual entities. Macroeconomics deals with the overall level of output, its rate of growth, and the level of prices in general. 

• TEXTBOOK:  The textbook for this course will be Campbell R. McConnell and Stanley L. Brue, Economics: Principles, Problems, and Policies, 15^th edition.  New York : McGraw Hill Book Company, 2002.   This book has long been considered the premier introductory survey text in micro and macro economics.   The publisher’s website for the text is (www.mhhe.com/economics/mcconnell).  Replacement cost: $80.25.  
• The website contains outlines of chapters, answers to key questions, practice quizzes and tests. In addition, reading the business pages of the local newspaper and the Wall Street Journal  is strongly recommended.
• A computer tutorial is available in our library.   Look for the DiscoverEcon Macroeconomic tutorial.  Check with me or Ms. Mills.  This is a great tool.

Course Format:  This is a college level course. The student will be held responsible for completing all reading assignments and homework assignments. A considerable amount of instruction will be in the form of lecture/discussion. Students will also use the computer lab and will work in brainstorming groups. In order to effectively participate, the student must keep up with the reading. The limited amount of time in class means the students must take it upon themselves to complete all homework assignments.

• Keep a folder of your notes and handouts from the class.
• Grading in the course will include two to three test scores each nine weeks, which accounts for 70% of the grade. In addition, there will be regularly scheduled timed writing in class on some part of the material covered during the week which will account for 15% of the grade. The remaining 15% will be made up of daily assignments and quizzes.

• Students that are absent are expected to keep up with the class during their absence. If students are on campus the day of a test or quiz they are expected to take the test or quiz. Tests are made up the next class day a student returns from an absence.  All tests will be made up before or after school or during a student’s off period.  If the student is experiencing difficulty, I will be available for tutoring.