Course Outline This is a semester long introductory course to economics. The primary goals of the course are to help students become responsible citizens and effective decisions makers. Students will develop an understanding of basic microeconomic principles including: the law of supply and demand, scarcity, the role of the market place, competition, and choice. In their study of macroeconomics students will discuss inflation, unemployment, measures of national wealth, the economic role of government, and international trade and finance. We will examine current economic issues with a focus on the American economy.
Units Unit 1: Economic Fundamentals Unit 4: Macroeconomics Unit 2: Micro Economics Unit 5: The Global Economy Unit 3: Institutions and Issues
Course Enduring Understandings Throughout the course of the semester students will be working to master “enduring understandings”. In each unit, students will be working to answer “essential questions” that will better help us understand key economic concepts and issues a bit better, as well as help us gain deeper insight and knowledge of the enduring understandings.
Scarcity of the factors of production drives people, businesses and governments to make economic decisions regarding what, how, and for whom to produce.
Price and output adjustments within a given economy are influenced by the Law of Supply and Demand.
A variety of market structures and business organizations exist within a market economy that can encourage or restrict competition.
Through the powers of taxation, spending and providing services the American government influences consumers as well as the economy.
The United States government uses fiscal policy and monetary policy to influence the economy and established the Federal Reserve System to help achieve economic stability.
International trade policies and agreements are increasingly influenced by emerging nations and changing markets in an evolving global economy.
CLASS EXPECTATIONS: 1. Our classroom is an environment in which all members are equal and deserve to be treated with respect and consideration. The classroom is a safe, positive and respectful environment in which each member of the community can expect to be treated fairly and respectfully. No member of the class will be permitted to treat his/her peers with disrespect. 2. Respecting one’s classmates is required, and disrespectful actions or comments directed towards others will not be accepted. Any habitual or gross acts of disrespect will result in disciplinary action. 3. Respecting property in the classroom is also required. Ask before using another’s property. Writing on or otherwise vandalizing school or other’s property will result in disciplinary action. Cell phones are not accepted in class unless authorized by the instructor and will be confiscated if student chooses to use cell phone in class time without permission, in alignment with IHS policies. Students will, however, need to hand over their cell phone in order to use the hall pass. Students must adhere to the hall pass system. If a student abuses hall pass privileges, the student may lose those privileges. 4. Excepting in cases of specific medical conditions, no food or drinks other than water will be allowed in class. Provided they ask and it isn’t disruptive, students may, at times, listen to music during work time or silent reading, but not during quizzes, tests, or presentations. 5 Attendance will be taken each class period. Students who arrive to class after the bell rings will be marked late/tardy. Students who arrive to class less than 10 minutes late will be marked late. Student who are more than 10 minutes late will be marked tardy. Students are expected to remain in class for the entirety of the period. If a student leaves class, without a pass, and is gone for more than 10 minutes they will be marked tardy. Students who are repeatedly late or tardy will be assigned the consequences and interventions outlined in the student handbook. Late/Missing Work Policy: Assignments must be turned in the day they are due to receive full credit. If an assignment is turned in late, it will be accepted for up to 75% credit until the end of the unit. After that, assignments will be accepted for up to 50% credit until 5 class days before the end of the quarter. No late work will be accepted after the end of the quarter has passed. Assignments turned in late due to an excused absence will be accepted for full credit the number of days students were absent before credit is docked. At the end of the semester, late work will not be accepted during the days of the final exams. All work must be turned in before the finals begin. Any assignment without a clear name will be filed as no-name and be considered late work.
Materials Binder with an Econmomics section, paper and writing utensil (Bring them every day.)
PARTICIPATION: Class participation is a critical component of your education. Having your materials and work ready, paying attention and collaborating with your peers is necessary for success in Pop Culture. Come to class prepared to succeed and contribute. We want to hear your voice.
EXTRA HELP: Help is always available and I will always be happy to answer any questions or clarify any confusion you might have. The best way to contact me is through email: [email protected] Students who wish to improve grades on unit final assessments will be afforded ONE WEEK to complete a supplementary assessment to raise their grade ONE full letter grade.
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM: I follow Issaquah High School’s rules and code of conduct regarding cheating and plagiarism. It is the student’s responsibility to understand this code and adhere to it. It is the student’s responsibility and my expectation that each student does his/her own work. Each assignment will be clearly defined as either individual or group, so there should be no misunderstandings of the work expected. When in doubt, or when not directly stated, all work is considered individual work. It is expected that students turning in work are presenting work done on their own, of their own thinking. It is expected that students are not using online sites to supply answers, nor other people to supply answers for their work. Regarding essays, students are to write their own papers and not copy, buy, or otherwise use essays from the internet or other sources. Any plagiarized or copied type of student work will result in a zero for the assignment, which cannot be made up in any other manner, and will also result in an academic integrity violation referral. o Work together to learn, but do and take credit for your own work. Please refer to Student Conduct Expectations in the Student Handbook for further information regarding consequences/violations for 1st and 2nd offenses. Students will receive a Failing grade or possibly a 0 on the assignment/test/project and parent will be notified. CONTACT The easiest way to reach me is by email: [email protected]. If you would like to call, please make sure it is before or after school and not during the school day. My website is located on IHS’ teacher’s website page, the link is: WEBSITE: http://reichlinsclass.weebly.com/
I am looking forward to working with you this year.