Required Texts:

1.    Mankiw, Principles of  Microeconomics, 2nd Edition, Harcourt Press

2.    Foshee, Porter, and Riley, TUTORIAL AND GRAPHING SOFTWARE (TAG)
Click here to download the TAGS program (this is ONLY for PC users)

A. This course will be difficult and challenging, but it will help you develop some very useful skills. It will also provide you with knowledge that is both practical and intellectually satisfying.  In addition, it will prepare you for understanding the economic system in which you will be expected to survive and prosper.  The catalog description of this course is found in the University Catalog.  That description is:

Economics 201.  Essentials of Microeconomics.  Value and distribution theory, including the theory of household behavior, the theory of the firm, and the pricing of factors of production.  Emphasis on tools of economic thinking and the historical development of these tools.  Selected operational content also provided.  Lectures and discussions.  Recommended: passage of ELM test. (CAN Econ 4)

B. The objectives of the course are:

•  To convey an understanding of the economic problem faced by all societies in all times;

• To engender a detailed and comprehensive understanding of how market systems function and a general understanding of other theoretical systems (e.g., hierarchy, tradition, command);

• To develop an appreciation and understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of economic methodology as a science;

• To develop an understanding of the economic aspects of problems such as equity, pollution, resource depletion, market power, regulatory requirements, and product pricing; and,

• To enhance the student's ability to utilize, actively and independently, the analytical frameworks of the various economic paradigms in exercising the responsibilities of a literate citizen of this country and the world.

C.  All students are encouraged to read the section titled Academic Information in the  University Catalog, especially the sections titled "Class Attendance," "Academic Honesty," and "Grading System ". The University  Policy on these issues may be viewed at CSUB Policies.  Please make certain that you are familiar with these policies.

D. All exams and quizzes will consist of multiple choice and true false questions with graphs for you to read and interpret.  In addition, each quiz will require you to recreate one or more of the graphs presented in the assigned chapters and readings and to demonstrate your knowledge and ability to manipulate and explain the graph and the underlying economic concepts involved.

E. There will be four QUIZZES given during the quarter. Each QUIZ will consist of fifteen multiple choice or true false questions and one essay/graph interpretation question with two or more parts. BRING A # 2 PENCIL TO CLASS. You will be required to draw and interpret a graphic representation of one or more of the concepts we will be dealing with in class. Only the three highest QUIZ scores will be used to determine your grade. Since only the three highest scores will be used to determine your grade, you need only take three QUIZZES. Should you take less than three, the ones not taken will be added in as a zero. It is to your advantage to take all four of the QUIZZES and then use only the three highest scores.

F. There will be a FINAL EXAM which will consist of fifty multiple choice or true or false questions.  There will be no essay/graph question on the final exam.  It will be cumulative over the entire content of the course.

Norman Cousins wrote just before his death an essay from which I quote "Clear precise writing or speaking requires systematic, sequential thought.  Words have to be crafted, not sprayed.  They need to be fitted together with infinite care."

These assignments are not an exercise in speed writing. If I wanted to set a time limit, I would have you write the assignments in class. The purpose of these assignments  is to give you writing experience. Take your time. Tell me what you want to tell me and tell it to me clearly. Your grade will reflect that.

G. You will be required to turn in the printouts of your computer sessions with the Tutorial and Graphing Software (TAG). Each chapter has several different exercises that you are to complete.  Each Section of each Chapter assigns a grade after you have completed that section of the chapter, The program gives you the opportunity to redo the section if you wish to do so.  You are to turn in TAG grade sheets showing that you have completed all sections of each of the assigned chapters in the text.  In order to count, grade sheet must show a grade of at least 70% correct.  Failure to do this will result in a C- as the highest possible grade you may receive for the course.

H. Each of you will participate in the Stock Market Game. You will form yourselves into three to four person teams to play the game. You may play the game by yourself if you so desire. However, since there is a fee for playing the game, being a member of a team reduces your individual cost. See the section of this study guide titled Stock Market Game Information for details about what is expected from you. I will present more details in class during the first week.

I. Attendance is required and may be taken each day with a sign up sheet. Written work up to two (2) days late will be accepted with a late penalty of ten percent. Written work later than two (2) days will be accepted with a penalty of twenty percent  recorded for that work. There will be NO MAKE UPS for the Quizzes. And there is NO EXTRA CREDIT. You have enough to do. Do what you have been asked to do and turn it in on time. If you want the entire percentage for Class Participation then be in class and participate.

J. Communications skills are critical to your future success. All papers and written materials will be evaluated for both spelling and grammatical errors, as well as content. Any spelling error will result in an immediate ten percent reduction in the grade for the paper, report, or essay. Further, any grammatical error will result in an immediate additional reduction of ten percent in the grade for the paper, report, or essay. Use your dictionary, your thesaurus, your grammar checkers. Have someone proof your written out of class work before you turn it in and re-read your in-class work before handing it in to me. Just so we are clear on what is expected of you, if you turn in one of the required reports a day late with one spelling error and a dangling participle, the highest grade that paper may receive is 70 percent (this means that a C for the paper is the highest possible grade you can  receive) not the 100 percent that other students who proof their work carefully and turn it in on time may receive.

K. Class Participation is important. If you have any questions, please ask them immediately. I will be happy to stop the lecture and deal with the questions. If there is something that you do not understand, please ask me. The chances are that if there is something you don't understand about the lecture, there are other people who don't understand it either, so ask. Let me be the judge of whether I answer it right away or put it off until the end of the period.

L. The Grading System to be used is:
 

M. It is anticipated that the final grades assigned will follow very closely the system shown below:

          A's       90 percent or more
          B's       80-89 percent
          C's       70-79 percent
          D's       60-69 percent
          F's       59 percent or less

WEEK                                                        TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Week One:  The Ten Principles of Economics and Thinking Like an Economist
Read Chapters 1 and 2 in Microeconomics and do all TAG Software exercises for Chapters 1 and 2.

Week Two: Interdependence and the Marketplace
Read Chapters 3 and 4 in Microeconomics and do all TAG Software
exercises for Chapters 3 and 4.

Week Three: Supply, Demand, Elasticity, and Government Intervention
Read Chapters 5 and 6 in Microeconomics; do all TAG Software exercises for Chapters 5 and 6; QUIZ # ONE on Chapters 1 through 6  will be given on ________.

Week Four:  The Consumer and the Market
Read Chapters 7 and 8 in Microeconomics and do all TAG Software exercises for Chapters 7 and 8; turn in  completed TAG grade sheets for chapters 1 through 8 on ________; and,  go over QUIZ.

Week Five:  Trade and Externalities
Read Chapters 9 and 10 in Microeconomics; do all TAG Software exercises for Chapters 9 and 10; and, QUIZ # TWO on Chapters 7 through 10 will be given on ________.

Week Six:  The Economics of the Public Sector
Read Chapters 11 and 12 in Microeconomics; do all TAG Software exercises for Chapters 11 and 12; and, go over QUIZ.

Week Seven:  The Behavior of Firms in the Market
Read Chapters 13 and 14 in Microeconomics; do all TAG Software exercises for Chapters 13 and 14; and,

Week Eight:  Market Power
Read Chapters 15 and 16 in Microeconomics; do all TAG Software exercises for Chapters 15 and 16; turn in completed TAG grade sheets for Chapters 9 through 16 on ________; and QUIZ # THREE on Chapters 11 through 16 will be given on ________.

Week Nine:  Factor Markets
Read Chapters 17 and 18 in Microeconomics; do all TAG Software exercises in Chapters 17 and 18; QUIZ # FOUR on Chapters 17 and 18 will be given on ________; and, go over QUIZ # 3.

Week Ten:  The Distribution of Income and Discrimination
Read Chapters 19 and 20 in Microeconomics; do all TAG Software exercises in 19 and 20; go over QUIZ; Turn in all completed TAG grade sheets for Chapters 17 through 20 on ________.

Week Eleven:  FINAL EXAM - to be given on __________________ at                            .