Eco 102-070
Macroeconomics on the Internet

  • Instructor:  Tom Porebski
  • Office:  S-105, in the Science Building
  • Phone:  708-456-0300, Extension 3509
  • Home Phone:  708-579-4607
  • E-mail:  tporebsk@triton.edu or tporebski@aol.com
  • Office Hours:  9-12 on T, H or by appointment

Text:

PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS, 4th edition by Gottheil


The study guide for this text is recommended but not required.

Course Description:

The course is an introductory course in the principles of macroeconomics, which deals with the aggregate or overall economy.  Topics covered include the nature of economics, supply and demand, aggregate demand and supply, the business cycle, unemployment and inflation, fiscal policy, money, banking, and monetary policy, as well as the government budget and taxes.  In the beginning we cover a general introduction to economics as well as supply and demand before moving to the major portions of macroeconomics.  Of major concern in macroeconomics are the questions of unemployment and inflation and how fiscal and monetary policy can be used to combat them.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites for taking this course.  However, if you have already taken Eco 103, microeconomics, then you will find that the material on the first exam was probably covered in that course also.  However everything after the first test is likely to be new material to you.

Instructions for taking this class online

  • First, you are responsible for carefully reading all the information in this syllabus before proceeding with the course.  If you have any questions, please contact me immediately at the phone numbers or emails given.
  • Should I be taking this class?  If you are not familiar with the use of computers and the internet, or do not have access to a computer that is connected to the internet, then I would not recommend that you take this class.
  • It is important to note that THIS CLASS IS NOT SELF-PACED INSTRUCTION.  THE EXAMS AND OTHER MATERIALS WILL HAVE DEADLINES THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO KEEP.
  • The course uses the WebCT program online.  You can access the Webct log-in screen off the Triton homepage.  Go to www.triton.edu and click courses and registration, and you will see a link to WebCt on the menu at the left.  Or you can access the log in screen by going to the following address:
  • You should get a page on which you click "my WebCT".  This will open a box that will ask for your username and password.  Your username is your full name, first and last, as you are registered here at Triton College.  All the letters should be typed in lower case, with no spaces.  Your password is the first letter of your first name, the first 3 letters of your last name, and the last 4 digits of your social security number, again in lower case with no spaces.
  • Once you are in WebCT, you will see various icons representing different elements that instructors can use in WebCT.  The icons that we will be using are as follows:
    • Syllabus:  This of course contains this syllabus for the course that you are reading now!
    • Course Contents:  Here you will find overviews for each section of the course, as well as the powerpoint notes for each chapter.  If you click on the chapter notes, you will be able to view the powerpoint slides, however I do not believe that you can print them out from WebCT.  If you wish to have a printed copy of the powerpoint notes, check out my web page, mentioned below.  The powerpoint notes are ones that I have used in class, but I am in the process of revising them to go with the newer edition of the book.  You might find the authors powerpoint notes, mentioned below in the section on the Gottheil website, to be more useful.  They follow the book quite closely and use many of the same graphs from the book.  You will also find a review sheet for each exam.
    • Bulletin Board:  In the bulletin board, I will be posting the discussion questions that are used as extra credit.  See the explanation on grading later in this syllabus.  You can respond to these and also use this area to discuss with other people.  This is a public area, meaning everyone in the course can read anything you put here so do not put private messages in this area.
    • Private Mail:  Just like it sounds, a message posted in private mail will go to the addressee only.  You can click compose to write your mail, and click browse to see a list of people in the course and the instructor (me!).  You can send mail to one or more people at the same time.  YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR MAIL ALMOST EVERY DAY!!!
    • Online Quizzes:  All exams, multiple choice and short answer quizzes, as well as the practice questions, are in this area.  As noted earlier, DO NOT BEGIN ANY QUIZ UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO TAKE IT FOR A GRADE.  The practice questions are just that:  practice, they do not count for points but should be helpful in preparing for the quizzes and tests.  The practice questions can be taken over and over.  The multiple choice quizzes can each be taken 2 times and the highest score will be used for your grade:  however the quiz will NOT contain exactly the same questions each time.  The short answer quizzes can be taken only once.  You will receive your score immediately after taking the quiz for the multiple choice quizzes, but the short answer quizzes have to be graded by me first before you get your score.
    • Course Calendar: Obviously, this is a calendar!!  I will use this to post deadlines, etc.  Learn to navigate in the calendar if I do use it.  You can look at the course schedule month by month or you can use the compile feature to see all the important dates for the course in a list.
    • Gottheil Website:  This takes you to the author’s website.  You can download the powerpoint notes that go with the book here, and also take more practice quizzes and check out other materials.
    • Tom Porebski’s Home Page:  Obviously this is my home page!  You will find a link on that page for my powerpoint notes and it will be easier to print them from here rather than inside webct.
    • After reading this syllabus, click the various other icons to familiarize yourself with the WebCt program!!

NOTE:  Get used to signing into the program often to look for new assignments, or mail, etc!!!

GRADING PROCEDURE :  NOTE, THERE HAVE BEEN SIZEABLE CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURE OF THIS CLASS IN THE PAST YEAR SO READ CAREFULLY.

Basically the course will be divided into 4 parts:  each part will have a Multiple Choice quiz (can be taken 2 times), a Short Answer Quiz (can be taken only once), and an Exam.   And as stated earlier, there are practice questions for each section of the course, which do not count in your grade.  Thus there will be 4 exams, 4 multiple choice quizzes, and 4 short answer quizzes that make up your grade, as well as an extra credit option.

·        Exams:  There will be 4 exams, including 3 regular tests and a comprehensive final exam.  The lowest of the first 3 tests is dropped.  The exams are usually multiple choice exams, but can possibly include short answer questions or problems.  I will let you know in private mail the exact form of the exam.  You will have at least a 24 hour period of time in which to take the exams.   Sometimes exams might be on weekends, so check the calendar carefully.   THERE ARE NO MAKE UP TESTS!!!!  In addition to the calendar, the exam dates appear later in this syllabus and are often announced through private mail in webct.   NOTE THAT THE FINAL EXAM IS COMPREHENSIVE, HOWEVER AT LEAST HALF OF THE MATERIAL WILL COME FROM THE CHAPTERS COVERED AFTER EXAM 3.

  • Multiple choice quizzes:  There will be 4 multiple choice quizzes, with the material corresponding to the 4 exams discussed above.  Basically these quizzes are like pre-tests that should help you see the kinds of concepts you need to know for each exam.  Each quiz is worth 30 points.  As noted earlier, the multiple choice quizzes can each be taken 2 times and the highest score will be used as your grade:  however the quiz will NOT contain exactly the same questions each time.  Once again, THERE ARE NO MAKE UP QUIZZES.
  • Short Answer Quizzes:  There will be 4 short answer quizzes, each worth  20 points.  The lowest of the 4 will be dropped.  THE SHORT ANSWER QUIZZES CAN ONLY BE TAKEN ONE TIME.  The titles of the quizzes will give you an idea of the topic covered on each quiz.  There will be one short answer quiz prior to each of the 4 exams.
  • Bulletin Board Extra Credit:  There will also be a maximum of 20 points of extra credit that students can earn by responding to questions that I put online in the bulletin board in Web Ct.   Each question is worth a maximum of 5 extra credit points, and there will be 4 such questions posted during the course of the semester.  Give a thorough answer to the short answer questions.  In order to received the maximum of 5 points for each question, you must do the following:
    1. Thoroughly answer all parts of the question. 
    2. Read other students responses and find at least one student you agree with, and one student you disagree with, and explain why you agree or disagree.

Your extra credit score on each of the bulletin boards will depend heavily on how well you answer the question and your comments on other people’s answers. 

 

 

Point Distribution:

Top 2 exams (100 pts each)

200 pts

Final exam 

150 pts

Top 3 Multiple choice quizzes (30pts each)

Top 3 short answer quizzes (20 points each)

  90 pts

 

  60 pts

 

 

Total pts

 500 pts


 

Grading Scale

450- 500 pts

=  A

400- 449 pts

=  B

350- 399 pts

=  C

300- 349 pts

=  D

Below 300

 =  F

 

For each exam, students should of course read and study the assigned chapters in the text.  You also have to take the assigned quizzes for the corresponding chapters.  Do not begin a quiz unless you are prepared for the material and can finish it.  You will also find that the powerpoint lecture notes that I use in my regular classroom classes are available to you online in WebCt.  I recommend that you study these notes as well as the material in the text.   Check the bulletin board for the extra credit and check private mail often for messages I may send you.

Important Notes:

  • WATCH THE TIME DEADLINES ON ALL QUIZZES, EXAMS, ETC.  IF YOU GO OVER THE ALLOWED TIME, YOUR SCORE WILL NOT COUNT.
  • There is no other extra credit in this class except as outlines above.  Your grade is entirely based on the assignments as described in this syllabus.
  • Dates given for the exams and quizzes must be followed.  There will be no make up exams or quizzes.
  • The final exam is mandatory, regardless of your performance on other assignments in the course.
  • ANY ATTEMPT TO CHEAT, SUCH AS RECEIVING OR GIVING INFORMATION FROM OR TO OTHER STUDENTS IN THE CLASS, WILL RESULT IN A FAILING GRADE IN THE COURSE.   IN ADDITION SUCH STUDENTS MAY BE PERMANENTLY EXPELLED FROM TRITON COLLEGE FOR SUCH ACTIONS.  
  • The dates below for quizzes are subject to change if necessary:  Check the calendar and private mail for any changes in these dates.
  • THE LAST DAY TO DROP A 15 WEEK CLASS THIS SEMESTER IS APRIL 12TH.  STUDENTS CANNOT DROP THE COURSE BEYOND THIS DATE.

WEEK OF:

MATERIAL COVERED

COMMENTS

Jan. 22

 

Chap. 1,2

Begin reading chapters 1 and 2. Make sure you can navigate around in the WebCT program, and look for mail messages!

Jan. 29 

 

Ch. 3

Continue reading and studying chapter 2, begin chapter 3.

Feb. 5

 

Ch. 3

Take the first multiple choice quiz on chapters 1,2,3.  Review answers before taking a second time.

Feb. 12

Review chapters 1,2,3

Take short answer Quiz 1, by Feb. 13.  Take the multiple choice quiz for the second time by Feb. 16. 

Feb. 19

 

Ch. 4,5

Take exam 1, ch. 1,2,3 on Feb. 19th.  Begin reading chapters 4 and 5.

Feb. 26

 

Ch. 5

Continue reading and studying chapters 4,5.

Mar. 5

 

Ch. 6,7

Read and study chapters 6 and 7.  Take second multiple choice quiz on ch. 4,5,6,7.  Review answers before taking a second time.

Mar. 12

 

Review chapters 4,5,6 and 7.

Take short answer quiz 2 by Mar. 11. Take the multiple choice quiz for the second time by Mar. 14.  Take exam 2, ch. 4,5,6,7 on Mar. 16th.   Begin reading and studying chapter 8.

Mar. 19

 

Ch. 8

Spring break, but keep studying!

Mar. 26

 

Ch. 8, 10, 11

Continue chapter 8, begin chapters 10 and 11. Omit chapter 9.

Apr. 2

Ch. 10, 11

Continue studying chapters 10 and 11.  Take the third multiple choice quiz for the first time. Review answers before taking a second time.

Apr. 9

Ch. 11

Take short answer quiz 3 by Apr. 11th.   Take the multiple choice quiz for the second time by Apr. 13th. 

Apr. 16

 

Review ch. 8,10,11:  begin ch. 12 and 13

 Take exam 3 on chapters 8, 10, and 11 on Apr. 16th.   Begin reading chapters 12 and 13.

Apr. 23

 

Ch. 13, 14, 15

Continue studying chapters 12 and 13.  Begin chapters 14 and 15. 

Apr. 30

 

Ch. 14, 15

Study chapters 14, 15.  Take the 4th multiple choice quiz for the first time.  Review results before taking a second time.

May 7, 14

 

Review ch. 12-15

Take 4th short answer quiz by May 8th.  Take the multiple choice quiz for the second time by May 11th.

May 15-18

Final exam on all chapters May 16:  Review all materials

Final exam, on all chapters, with extra emphasis on chapters 12,13,14,15 will be on May 16th.

 

 

NOTE:  IN THE EVENT THAT ANY CHANGES ARE NECESSARY TO THIS SCHEDULE, I WILL INFORM YOU VIA PRIVATE MAIL INSIDE WEBCT.  THUS CHECK YOUR MAIL OFTEN.