Your standard of living depends on your ability to produce goods and services!
If you’re good at something, never do it for free!
Every choice involves a cost and a benefit, act only when benefit exceeds cost!
Email Mr. Swanson: chris.swanson@cowetaschools.org
Links
Economic Report of the President
Syllabus- AP Microeconomics
INSTRUCTOR: Mr. Swanson
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. But don’t panic, quality of work counts more than quantity. I am here to teach you so you learn not work you so you die. More will be expected of you than students in regular classes, but none of it is work for work’s sake.
Course Outline:
The class covers all topics required by the state of Georgia but explores in depth the following economic subtopics:
Fundamental Concepts
The Nature and Functions of Markets
Theory of the Business Firm
Factor Markets
The Government and the Economy
Study of those topics will proceed in the following order.
UNIT I- Fundamental Economic Concepts
UNIT II- The Nature and Function of the Product Market (3 1/2 Weeks)
UNIT III- Market structures—costs and competitive environments firms face
UNIT IV- Factor Markets-labor and capital
UNIT V- The Role of Government
Materials
Information gathering/utilizing
Notebooks—A 3-ring binder divided into 6 labeled sections, corresponding to the 5 topics of the class plus a section devoted to EOCT practice.
Testing
Grading System
40% = Daily grades-homework, class work, quizzes, notebook checks
45% = Major grades-tests and response papers
15% = Final Exam (EOCT for 2nd nine weeks)
NOTE ON EOCT: By nature this class has two competing goals. They are (1) give the student college level depth into one branch of economics in order for the student to pass the AP exam, and (2) give the student a broad overview of all economic fields in order for them to pass the EOCT. Because of goal #1, goal #2 is difficult. Two topics covered on the EOCT that are not part of the AP microeconomics curriculum are personal finance and macroeconomics. Time is built into the semester for us to cover these topics prior to the EOCT.
Syllabus- Economics
COURSE: Economics
INSTRUCTOR: Mr. Swanson
Course content
The state of Georgia has determined that in order to pass economics, a student must demonstrate mastery of certain concepts or standards. The breakdown of the standards into units will proceed in the following order.
Economic Fundamentals
Unit 1
scarcity, resources and allocation—the economic problem
consumers, firms, the circular flow—economic decision makers
money and markets—economic exchange
Investment and consumption—economic growth
Microeconomics
Unit 2
supply & demand
elasticity
price controls and interaction of markets
Unit 3
market structures
Unit 4
optimal markets and market failures
taxation, regulation, government spending and borrowing
Macroeconomics
Unit 5
measuring economic health: unemployment, inflation, & production
the monetary system
Unit 6
economic stabilization: the business cycle, aggregate supply & demand
economic stabilization: the US Federal Reserve and monetary policy,
economic stabilization: fiscal policy
International economics
Unit 7
absolute and comparative advantage
protectionism & free trade
international money flow and exchange rates
balance of trade
Personal Finance
Unit 8
personal budgeting and wealth creation
insurance
credit/debt
Materials
Information gathering/utilizing
Textbook
Internet resources—WSJ.com, etc. Students will not be required to access the Internet at home, such work will be done primarily in class and made into hard copies for home use.
Calculators—every student must have at least a 4 function calculator, one that can perform exponents is preferred
Notebooks—A 3-ring binder divided into 6 labeled sections, corresponding to the 5 topics of the class plus a section devoted to EOCT practice.
Economic fundamentals- all notes, activities, assignments, and tests from unit 1
Microeconomics- all notes, activities, assignments, and tests from units 2-4
Macroeconomics- all notes, activities, assignments, and tests from units 5 & 6
International economics- all notes, activities, assignments, and tests from unit 7
Personal economics- all notes, activities, assignments, and tests from unit 8
EOCT- this section will hold all EOCT notes and practice tests we take.
Testing
Tests are a blend of multiple choice, graph interpretation, short answer/essay
All tests after the first one will have a CUMULATIVE SECTION, meaning material from prior units will be tested again on subsequent unit tests. Students must study all material prior to a given exam and not just material from that unit. They will be given specific notice beforehand regarding what cumulative material will be tested again.
Grading System
40% = Daily grades-homework, class work, quizzes, notebook checks
45% = Major grades-tests and response papers
15% = Final Exam (EOCT for 2nd nine weeks)
No one leaves class for any reason other than the bathroom/water fountain. No one leaves even for those reasons during the first or last 15 minutes of class.
Food & drinks are allowed but you must clean up your trash—the day I get ants is the day this privilege is revoked.
