AP Microeconomics Syllabus

Mr. Patrick Keaveney

pkeaveney@wssd.org

CourseDescription/Overview

Advanced Placement Economics seeks to provide students with a clear understanding of fundamental economic concepts as they relate to the political and social fabric of the United States and the emerging global community.  The different economic structures will be examined.  Principles of supply and demand, business organization, labor forces, government policy, and fiscal policy will be topics of discussion, text readings, and supplemental activities and readings.  Students will be required to produce, analyze, and evaluate economic graphs, charts, and data at an advanced level in this course.

Textbook

McConnell, Campbell R.,Staley L. Brue and Sean M. Flynn Economics: Principles, Problems, and Policies(Eighteenth Edition).  McGraw Hill. Boston, Massachusetts: 2009

MICROECONOMICS COURSE CONTENT: The primary objective of the course is the study of the behavior of individual components of the economy (such as firms, households, or consumers) and the economic relationship among them.  For example, a typical problem in the microeconomics course would be to determine the optimal price a company should charge for a new product.  In determining the solution to this problem, it would be necessary to consider such microeconomic data as the company’s own production costs, the degree to which the price changes affect the quantity demanded of the new product, and the prices which competing firms charge for similar products.

Class Policies:

Grading

Tests:  There will be four or five written tests over the semester.  The material for these tests will be drawn from class discussions, notes, and assigned readings.  Make-up tests will be given for absences from class only.  There will be a comprehensive final exam.

Projects: There will be several papers/projects for this course.  The number of projects for the course is left to my discretion.  The major project for this course will be the creation of product oriented company.  Students will create a company and a product to market.  Each company will present a supply and demand study with accompanying graphic and an analysis of the elasticity of demand.  Also a cost analysis will be completed.  Each company will price their product based on the research they have completed and provide a profit projection for their product. Finally a marketing campaign for each product will be presented.

Late papers/projects will be penalized as follows: 1/2 grade reduction for each day up to five school days after the due date.  No papers will be accepted after one school week after the due date, resulting in a failing grade.  The assignment will be graded for content, spelling, grammar, and neatness.  Extensions will be given only in extreme circumstances and must be discussed with me before the due date.    

Quizzes: Quizzes (announced or unannounced) will occur on a regular basis (so do your reading or review what we did in class every night!).

Participation: It is expected that every student will come prepared to participate in class each day.          

Required Materials: Every day the student should bring:

§  Their Textbook

§  A notebook

§  A writing instrument both pencil and blue or black pen

§  A folder or binder for handouts

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered at Strath Haven High School and they follow the prescribed AP curriculum set by the College Entrance Examination Board. Such courses are approved by the College Entrance Examination Board as equivalent to college level instruction and are offered in most curricular areas. Strath Haven High School administers College Board AP examinations that allow students to earn college credit for the courses.

In 2010 the Board of School Directors mandated that Strath Haven High School begin to require students who enroll in Advanced Placement courses to take the Advanced Placement exam administered by the College Board in May.

Students are expected to pay for the exam but may request assistance with the fees through the Office of the Principal, provided the request is made in advance of the start of the course. The phase in of this mandate will be as follows:

2011-2012: United States History

2012-2013: All remaining AP courses, with the exception of English Literature 12

2013-2014: English Literature 12

Course credit will be issued in these courses only upon completion of the teacher and board established course requirements. Failing to receive credit in certain AP courses, just as in any course, could affect a student’s meeting graduation requirements for total credits or credit distribution.

Statement on Respect

All members of the school community are expected to be respectful of each other. Negative comments about anyone's race, nationality, religion, physical appearance or ability, intellectual ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, work ethic, or character are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Students are encouraged to discuss any concerns with an adult in the building.