Mrs. Laura Prout

(This page includes staff biography, schedule and syllabus for the classes that they are presently teaching.)

Attended Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee where she received a B.A. Degree in History Education.

Enjoys Theater, Dance and Exercise.  Works with the Senior play as a choreographer.

Teaching Economics and A.P. Economics.

Schedule 2007-2008

First Term:

First Block- A.P. Economics

Second Block-  Economics

Third Block- Economics

Fourth Block- Plan

Second Term

First Block- Economics

Second Block- Economics

Third Block- Economics

Fourth Block- Plan

Syllabus- Economics

Economics                                                                  Teacher:  Mrs. Prout

Course Syllabus                                                         Office:  201A

                                                                                    Email:  laura.prout@cowetaschools.org

Economics is the study of the nation’s economic system with comparison to other economic systems.  Emphasis will be placed on scarcity, supply and demand, market structures, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and monetary policy.  Economics will be taught to seniors for a full term and will allow for instruction in the concepts of both microeconomics and macroeconomics as well as some instruction in personal finance.  This course is required for graduation.

Course Outline:

-    What is Economics?

–        Economic Systems

–        Demand/Supply/Price Determination

–        Market Structures, Competition, and the Role of Government

–         Business Organizations/Labor

–        Money and Banking/ Financial Markets

–        Gross Domestic Product/Population, Economic Growth, and Business Cycles

–        Unemployment, Inflation and Poverty

–        Sources of Government Revenue/Government Spending

–        Fiscal Policy/ The Federal Reserve System and Monetary Policy

–        International Trade

–        Developing Countries and Transition

Methods:

-     Research Projects

–        Daily Assignments

–        Lecture

–        Cooperative Learning

–        Personal Finance

–        Workbook (each chapter due on test day)

Evaluation:

–        Chapter Tests

–        Classwork/Homework

–        9 Weeks Comprehensive Exam

-    Projects

Textbook: O’ Sullivan, Arthur and Steven M. Sheffrin.  Economics: Principles in Action.  Needham, Massachusetts: Pearson- Prentice Hall, 2005. 

Syllabus- AP Economics

AP Microeconomics                                                   Teacher: Prout          

Course Syllabus                                                         Office:  201A

                                                                                    Email:  laura.prout@cowetaschools.org

The AP Microeconomics class is a one-semester college level study of how households, businesses, and government make economic decisions. The primary purpose for this course is to prepare students to take an AP Exam administered by the College Board in May and pass the EOCT in November or April. The study of economics can be fascinating, fun, confusing, and frustrating all at the same time!  Participation, study, and guided review will prepare the students for the challenging exam. It must be understood at the outset that this AP course is more challenging and time-consuming than a regular high school course.  You are using a college text for college level material, and will take college level exams. In addition, this course meets the high school graduation requirement.

Course Outline:

The major units of study are:

Ø      I.   Basic Economic Concepts

Ø      II.  The Nature and Functions of Markets

Ø      III. Theory of the Business Firm

Ø      IV. Factor Market

Ø      V.  The Government and the Economy

Course Goals:

1. Create an understanding of the economic approach to decision making

2. Introduce the tools and methods economists use for problem solving

3. Develop a basic understanding of markets and market failures

Methods:

–        Research Projects

–        Textbook readings

–        Daily Assignments

–        Lecture

–        Cooperative Learning

Evaluation:

–        Quizzes

–        Unit Tests

–        Classwork/Homework

–        9 Weeks Comprehensive Exams

-    Projects

Textbook: Mankiw, P. Principles of Econmics 3^rd Ed. Harvard University: Thomson- South Western, 2004.

Course Planner

Below is the course content for AP Microeconomics as well as the reading from the textbook required the content.  Assignments for the content will also be used daily.

UNIT I- Basic Economic Concepts (2 Weeks)

 I. The Economic Way of Thinking (P. 3-5 and P. 24-29)

II. Scarcity, Opportunity Cost and Production Possibilities (P. 268-270, and 9-11)

III. Circular Flow and the Economic Systems (P. 23-24)

IV. Absolute and Comparative Advantage (P. 8-9 and Chapter 3)

V. Marginal Analysis

UNIT II- The Nature and Function of the Product Market (3 1/2 Weeks)

I. Law of Demand, Factors of Demand, and the Income and Substitution Effects (P. 64-71 and P. 464-466)

II. Consumer Surplus (P. 138-142)

III. Diminishing Marginal Utility (P. 462)

IV. Law of Supply and Factors of Supply (P. 71-75)

V. Producer Surplus (P. 138-142)

VI. Equilibrium and Shifting of the Supply and Demand curves (P. 75-84)

VII. Surplus/Shortages and Price Ceilings/Price Floors (P. 114-123)

VIII. Elasticity of Demand (P. 89-100)

IX. Elasticity of Supply (P.100-103)

X. Economic Graphing Analysis

UNIT III- The Theory of the Firm (6 1/2 Weeks)

I. Overview of the Market Structures (P. 64-65)

II. Production Function and curves- TP, AP, MP (P. 267-274)

III. Types of Costs- TC, TFC, TVC, ATC, AFC, AVC, MC (P. 275-277)

IV. Cost Curve Graphs- Long Run/Short Run and Economic/Normal Profit (P. 278-293)

V. Perfect Competition- Revenue Curves; Profit, Loss, Breakeven, and Shutdown; Long Run vs. Short Run; Firm vs. Market (P. 294- 307)

VI. Monopoly- Sloping demand curve, consumer and producer surplus, and price discrimination (P. 313-340)

VII. Monopolistic Competition (P. 373-386)

VIII. Oligopoly- Game Theory (P. 345-368)

UNIT IV- Factor Market (3 Weeks)

                I. Factor Market Overview (P.391-392)

II. Derived Demand, Marginal Revenue Product, Marginal Physical Product, and Marginal Revenue Cost (P.392-397)

III. Firm v. Market in the Factor Market (P. 397-398)

IV. Perfect Competition v. Monopsony (P. 404)

V. Economic Rent

UNIT V- The Role of Government (3 Weeks)

                I. Public v. Private Goods (Chapter 11)

            II. Market Failures and Externalities (Chapter 10)

            III. Taxes (Chapter 12)

            IV. Income Inequality and Distribution of Income (Chapter 20)

Student Expectations

1. You are here to learn.  Everything else that we do is secondary to that goal.  Behavior that distracts from achieving that goal will not be tolerated.
2. You are expected to be in class on time
3. You should participate in class discussions and contribute to the class goal of learning economics.  You should be willing to spend extra time necessary to meet AP course requirements.
4. You should not create negative externalities (i.e. engage in behavior that negatively affects other people, including the instructor).
5. You will treat others in the class with respect
6. You are intelligent student- do not use cursing or profanity
7. You will keep track of your own assignments/grades.  The instructor is not a human calculator or gradebook.  Grades will be updated as often as possible.
8. You are expected to work with others, but complete your own work.

Consequences

·        First time: Warning

·        Second time: Mild disciplinary action (Parents called or child sent out of classroom)

·        Third time: Referral

Students are also to respect and follow all rules applying to Newnan High school and Coweta County schools.  Appropriate consequences will be given when rules are broken (see student handbook).

Grading

Grading is based on a points system.  Points can very from assignment to assignment, but roughly this is what you will see:

      Quizzes                                          75 points

      Reading Quizzes                             50 points

      Unit Tests                                       100 points

      Assignments                                   30-50 points

      Projects                                          100 points

      Midterm/ Final                                300 points     

(This is an EOCT class- Therefore all my grades are 85% and the EOCT is 15%)          

Procedures

Start of the Period

When you enter the classroom find your seat and prepare materials for today’s class.  If there is an assignment to begin, please do so immediately.  If a student is not in class by the last bell, they will be considered tardy.

Dismissal at the End of the Period

Remain in your seat until the teacher dismisses class.  Failure to follow this will result in the class remaining seated until everyone is settled.  Do not pack your things until directed by the teacher.

Make-up and Late Work

This is your responsibility.  Ask to see a fellow student’s assignment book and write down the assignments for the days you missed.  Pick up any make up work from the appropriate file.  When make up work is completed, please return work to the file.  Remember, absent work is late if it is turned in five days after you return to school.  If there are any special circumstances or you need more instruction on a missed assignment, please confer with the teacher.  Discuss with the teacher the retaking of tests or quizzes.  The teacher cannot always remind you!  This is your responsibility!

Keeping a Notebook

Every student is required to keep a separate notebook for this class.  Notebooks should be separated into sections including:

·        Notes

·        AP Microeconomic Handouts

·        Personal Finance/Macroeconomic Handouts

·        Project Rubrics

·        Test/ Quizzes

  Syllabus should be displayed at the front of the notebook.

Using the Restroom

Students will take the Prout Potty Pass when leaving for the restroom. Students may only leave once in a period unless for an emergency.  The teacher may deny restroom privileges at any time.  This is a privilege!

Needing Paper or Pencil

Students should first ask another student before requesting paper and pencil from the teacher.  Please remember to bring your book, notebook, pencil, and paper everyday to class!

No gel pens may be used- only blue or black ink!!!

Turning in Papers

Homework is turned in at the beginning of the period when requested by the teacher.  Pass in all work down vertical rows quietly.  Work is late if not turned in when requested by the teacher.  There will be NO waiting by the teacher for students to complete work after requesting work to be turned in.  If the teacher catches someone copying work, both assignments will be given the grade of ZERO.

All work assigned in class is classwork not homework up until the end of the class!!!

Late Work

All homework/classwork assignments must be turned in the day it is due.  NO LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED.  No late papers or projects will be accepted!  Even if you are out the day a paper/project is due, I still need to have it be the end of the school day (3:30pm).  All students participating in group projects must be at school the day the project is turned in.

Projects

Because this is a gifted class, emphasis will be placed on cooperative and project based learning along with traditional learning styles.  Projects include:

-         Stock Market Game Portfolio

-         Meeting of the Minds Project

-         Fatal Equilibrium

-         Book Reading

-         Video Project

-         Midterm Project

-         Entrepreneur Project

Do not be intimidated!  These are meant to be fun ways to grow in your knowledge of Economics.  These are just a sampling of what we could do; projects are subject to change.

Prout Pounds

As we learn more about basic economic concepts students will have a chance to use what they have learned and be rewarded.  There is a monetary system in class called “Prout Pounds”.  These are in 1 pound denominations and will be given out by the discretion of the teacher (class participation, good test score, etc).  Students may earn the following with Prout Pounds:

-         One piece of candy = every 2 Prout Pounds

-         Free homework = 15 Prout Pounds

-         Ten points added to quiz grade = 20 Prout Pounds

-         Drop lowest quiz grade= 25 Prout Pounds

There will be a Prout Pound store at the end of the semester where you will be able to purchase different items with your left over Prout Pounds

Personal Finance/Macroeconomics

To enhance the Microeconomic material studied during the semester, there will be Personal Finance/ Macroeconomic Fridays each week.  These are to help prepare students for the “real world” as well as prepare students for the EOCT at the end of the semester.  Handouts and other activities will be used to confirm student understanding.

Stock Market Game

Students will participate in GCEE’s Stock Market Game ten weeks during the semester.  This will give students the chance to apply what they have learned in class to a real life situation.  Class will be divided into groups of five.  Groups are required to purchase at least three stocks and hold each stock for at least three weeks.  Stocks purchased must cost at least $5 and at least 100 shares must be purchased.  This will be completed online allowing students to monitor stock transactions at home.  Students are asked to complete a Stock Market Game Portfolio individually during the process of the Game.  Do not wait until the last minute to complete the Portfolio.  Regional (i.e. Coweta County) winners are asked to attend an awards luncheon spring semester.  More information on the Game is given out in class.

Outside Readings

Students have one outside reading for each of the nine weeks in the semester.  The first nine weeks all students will read The Fatal Equilibrium by Marshall Jevons and will complete a study guide on the novel.  The second nine weeks students will have a list of approved books to make a selection.  Students will complete a project from the approved list for their book.

Website

The class website is:  http://www.cowetaschools.org/nhs/prout/msprouthome.html.  Students will find information about famous economic majors, economic jobs, and fun reasons to study economics.  There is also information on the midterm project, the final project, the two outside reading assignments, and recommended AP study guides.  Students can also find a copy of this syllabus on the website.

Because of the NEW carpet, no food or soft drinks are allowed in the classroom!

"Bringing our subjects to life..."