Email Address: School: [email protected] [email protected] Home Email Address: [email protected] [email protected] School Phone–630-372-4700

Email Address: School: Email Address: School: [email protected] Email Address: Home Email Address: [email protected]

School Phone–630-372-4700 ext. 4737; Cell Phone: 630-248-School Phone–630-372-4700 ext. 4737; Cell Phone: 630-248-54055405

Welcome to AP Macroeconomics!! You have chosen a class Welcome to AP Macroeconomics!! You have chosen a class is very challenging, will require a great deal of analysis, along is very challenging, will require a great deal of analysis, along with serious discipline. I ask you to today commit yourself to with serious discipline. I ask you to today commit yourself to this, as success in this program will require it. One of the this, as success in this program will require it. One of the goals of this class is to have each of you take either the AP goals of this class is to have each of you take either the AP Tests and/or the CLEP Tests for the chance of getting extra Tests and/or the CLEP Tests for the chance of getting extra credit. If you have any problems or questions on this, please credit. If you have any problems or questions on this, please talk to me immediately.talk to me immediately.

Mr. Weiss

AP Macroeconomics Syllabus – 2013 - 2014AP Macroeconomics Syllabus – 2013 - 2014

Mr. Weiss


Main Goals of the Class

To turn out students who have a good start in To turn out students who have a good start in understanding of the basics of Economic theory along understanding of the basics of Economic theory along with a basic understanding of the history and day to day with a basic understanding of the history and day to day realities of Economics. To have each student continue, realities of Economics. To have each student continue, for the rest of their lives, their Economics' education for the rest of their lives, their Economics' education whether that is in the classroom and/or through the day whether that is in the classroom and/or through the day to day events in the real world. Upon accomplishing all to day events in the real world. Upon accomplishing all of this, each of you will go out into the world with the of this, each of you will go out into the world with the ability to improve the economy of the world and make ability to improve the economy of the world and make the world a better place for everyone.the world a better place for everyone.

Mr. Weiss


Expectations of Each StudentExpectations of Each Student

Excellence: Excellence: It is expected that each of you will strive It is expected that each of you will strive for excellence each and every day in this class. for excellence each and every day in this class. Success will come from hard work and pushing Success will come from hard work and pushing yourself harder than you thought you could.yourself harder than you thought you could.

Honesty: Honesty: It is expected that at all times in this class It is expected that at all times in this class you will be a person of honesty and integrity. you will be a person of honesty and integrity. Nothing less than 100% honesty and integrity will be Nothing less than 100% honesty and integrity will be tolerated.tolerated.

Mr. Weiss


AP Microeconomics:AP Microeconomics:The purpose of an AP course in microeconomics is to give students a The purpose of an AP course in microeconomics is to give students a thorough understanding of the principals of economics that apply to thorough understanding of the principals of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision makers, both consumers and the functions of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers, within the economic system. It places primary emphasis producers, within the economic system. It places primary emphasis on the nature and functions of product markets, and includes the on the nature and functions of product markets, and includes the study of factor markets and of the role of government in promoting study of factor markets and of the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy.greater efficiency and equity in the economy.

AP Macroeconomics:AP Macroeconomics:The purpose of an AP course in macroeconomics is to give students a The purpose of an AP course in macroeconomics is to give students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to an economic performance measures, the financial sector, stabilization an economic performance measures, the financial sector, stabilization policies, economic growth and international economics. policies, economic growth and international economics.

Economics will teach you to think in a different manner from Economics will teach you to think in a different manner from the way you have thought before. In the beginning it might the way you have thought before. In the beginning it might seem a bit strange, but by the end of the semester, you will seem a bit strange, but by the end of the semester, you will probably enjoy this new way of thinking. probably enjoy this new way of thinking. The amount of projects/papers is limited in this class, due to The amount of projects/papers is limited in this class, due to the great amount of day to day work. The bottom line is that the great amount of day to day work. The bottom line is that we have a tremendous amount of material to cover in a very we have a tremendous amount of material to cover in a very short period of time, and in order to be successful, you will short period of time, and in order to be successful, you will have a great deal of homework most everyday. I want to have a great deal of homework most everyday. I want to make sure you are doing all the homework, so you will have a make sure you are doing all the homework, so you will have a limited amount of projects/papers, which would make the limited amount of projects/papers, which would make the workload unbearable, in my opinion.workload unbearable, in my opinion.

Mr. Weiss


Mr. Weiss


Our capitalistic society, or mixed economy, is one Our capitalistic society, or mixed economy, is one where its success, or lack of success, is very much where its success, or lack of success, is very much determined by the intelligence and knowledge of its determined by the intelligence and knowledge of its people/consumers. A key part of that knowledge, is people/consumers. A key part of that knowledge, is how well one understands our economic system how well one understands our economic system and how it works. The more people understand and how it works. The more people understand about our economy works, the better our economy about our economy works, the better our economy will be. Also, for you as an individual, the better you will be. Also, for you as an individual, the better you understand how our economy works, the more understand how our economy works, the more success you will have throughout your life on success you will have throughout your life on economic and business issues.economic and business issues.

Mr. Weiss


In this class you will learn a great deal about the principles and theories In this class you will learn a great deal about the principles and theories of Economics, along with the day to day realities of our complex of Economics, along with the day to day realities of our complex economic world. You will learn about the real world of Economics in economic world. You will learn about the real world of Economics in several ways:several ways:

Most days we will start on the internet with the Economic news of the Most days we will start on the internet with the Economic news of the daydayMost days we will take a look at commodities prices and you will do Most days we will take a look at commodities prices and you will do some work with these pricessome work with these pricesMost Fridays you will turn in an article from the news about an Economic Most Fridays you will turn in an article from the news about an Economic event in the world along with a summaryevent in the world along with a summaryWe will have a special project addressing the worldwide financial We will have a special project addressing the worldwide financial collapse of 2008 to help you understand the economic causescollapse of 2008 to help you understand the economic causes

This class will help you to be a better Economic Citizen of the World so This class will help you to be a better Economic Citizen of the World so you can make the world a better place for everyone!you can make the world a better place for everyone!

Each of you will soon be entering a world that is far different than Each of you will soon be entering a world that is far different than the world your parents or grandparents entered. It is a world of the world your parents or grandparents entered. It is a world of “globalization” where your neighbors, friends, enemies and “globalization” where your neighbors, friends, enemies and competitors are not just the people in your community, but they competitors are not just the people in your community, but they are in every country of the world. You are entering a world of are in every country of the world. You are entering a world of worldwide instant communications whether that be through email, worldwide instant communications whether that be through email, blogs, texting, cell phones, etc. You are not just competing with blogs, texting, cell phones, etc. You are not just competing with seniors throughout the United States, but with every young person seniors throughout the United States, but with every young person your age in the entire world.your age in the entire world.This class will help you to get a much better understanding of that This class will help you to get a much better understanding of that world you are about to enter and how to be successful in it. In a world you are about to enter and how to be successful in it. In a few years the United States will lose first place as the largest few years the United States will lose first place as the largest economy in the world. Exactly how this effects you and the rest of economy in the world. Exactly how this effects you and the rest of the people in the United States will be determined by how ready the people in the United States will be determined by how ready you are to successfully compete in this world of globalization.you are to successfully compete in this world of globalization.

Mr. Weiss


Mr. Weiss


One of the main lessons I have learned from One of the main lessons I have learned from working in schools in Kenya and Rwanda is how working in schools in Kenya and Rwanda is how committed each of the students in these countries committed each of the students in these countries are to their education. None of them would ever are to their education. None of them would ever consider being late for a class; missing a class; consider being late for a class; missing a class; talking while someone else is talking; being talking while someone else is talking; being disrespectful in any way. It has made me realize disrespectful in any way. It has made me realize that I should expect nothing less from my students that I should expect nothing less from my students here at Bartlett High School. here at Bartlett High School. Maybe they are just Maybe they are just more lucky than you that they live in absolute more lucky than you that they live in absolute poverty!!poverty!!

Microeconomics:Microeconomics:

Section 9 – “Behind the Demand Curve: Consumer Section 9 – “Behind the Demand Curve: Consumer ChoiceChoice

Section 10 – Behind the Supply Curve: Profit, Section 10 – Behind the Supply Curve: Profit, Production, and CostsProduction, and Costs

Mr. Weiss


Topics To Be CoveredTopics To Be Covered

Sections 1 & 2 – Introduction to Economic Concepts Sections 1 & 2 – Introduction to Economic Concepts – “Basic Economic Concepts” and “Supply and – “Basic Economic Concepts” and “Supply and Demand”Demand”

Mr. Weiss


Microeconomics (Continued)Microeconomics (Continued)

Section 11 – Market Structures: Perfect Competition Section 11 – Market Structures: Perfect Competition and Monopolyand Monopoly

Section 12 – Market Structures: Imperfect Section 12 – Market Structures: Imperfect CompetitionCompetition

Section 13 – Factor MarketsSection 13 – Factor Markets

Section 14 – Market Failure & the Role of Govt.Section 14 – Market Failure & the Role of Govt.

Macroeconomics:Macroeconomics:

Section 3 – Measurement of Economic PerformanceSection 3 – Measurement of Economic Performance

Section 4 – National Income and Price PerformanceSection 4 – National Income and Price Performance

Section 5 – Financial SectorSection 5 – Financial Sector

Section 6 – Inflation, Unemployment and Section 6 – Inflation, Unemployment and Stabilization PoliciesStabilization Policies

Mr. Weiss


Mr. Weiss


Macroeconomics (Continued)Macroeconomics (Continued)

Section 7 – Economic Growth and ProductivitySection 7 – Economic Growth and Productivity

Section 8 – The Open Economy: International Trade Section 8 – The Open Economy: International Trade and Financeand Finance

Final ExamFinal Exam

Mr. Weiss


Day to Day Work:Day to Day Work:

We will generally work thru a module or two each day. Your day to day We will generally work thru a module or two each day. Your day to day assignment will be up on the TV Monitor and up on my web site. It is assignment will be up on the TV Monitor and up on my web site. It is expected that before each day you have studied on line the module(s) we expected that before each day you have studied on line the module(s) we are going to cover. To help you understand the material you should also are going to cover. To help you understand the material you should also look at the Flash Cards, the Related Web Links and at the end of each look at the Flash Cards, the Related Web Links and at the end of each Section take and submit the quiz. Quizzes will not be “graded” however I Section take and submit the quiz. Quizzes will not be “graded” however I will be able to see who is doing them and who is not and that will tell me will be able to see who is doing them and who is not and that will tell me a lot.a lot.

In class we will do a variety of things to help you further understand the In class we will do a variety of things to help you further understand the material you have covered. If you have not done your homework it will material you have covered. If you have not done your homework it will make it hard for you to understand what we are doing in class. You will make it hard for you to understand what we are doing in class. You will not understand everything in the homework, but it will give you the not understand everything in the homework, but it will give you the knowledge to help you learn more in our classroomknowledge to help you learn more in our classroom.

How Your Grade Will Be Determined:How Your Grade Will Be Determined:

1.1.My philosophy on grades.My philosophy on grades.2.2.Six Tests (100 points each – Possible Extra Credit) (if absent, Six Tests (100 points each – Possible Extra Credit) (if absent, must take test within two weeks or it will just remain a zero!!!)must take test within two weeks or it will just remain a zero!!!)3.3.Surprise in-class quizzesSurprise in-class quizzes4.4.Friday articles (25 points – partial credit if late)Friday articles (25 points – partial credit if late)5.5.Commodities paper (40 points)Commodities paper (40 points)6.6.Commodities predictions (Extra Credit – 4 – 40 points per Commodities predictions (Extra Credit – 4 – 40 points per student)student)7.7.““Giving Back: Project – 100 points with option of Extra CreditGiving Back: Project – 100 points with option of Extra Credit8.8.““Economics Movie Assignment” (100 points w/options for Economics Movie Assignment” (100 points w/options for Extra Credit)Extra Credit)9.9.Categories will be weighted – see separate sheetCategories will be weighted – see separate sheet..

Mr. Weiss


Mr. Weiss


Please don’t ever hesitate to contact me in Please don’t ever hesitate to contact me in person, via text, cell or email if you need person, via text, cell or email if you need some help. I am more than happy to meet some help. I am more than happy to meet with you one on one or in small groups to with you one on one or in small groups to help you understand. I want each of you to be help you understand. I want each of you to be very successful in this class so you will learn very successful in this class so you will learn a lot about Economics, became great a lot about Economics, became great Economic Citizens and Economic Citizens and go out and make the go out and make the world a better place for everyone!world a better place for everyone!

Documents

Email Address: School: [email protected] [email protected] Home Email Address: [email protected] [email protected] School Phone–630-372-4700