E201-20693-harris - Syllabus PDF

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Introduction to Microeconomics, E201, Section 20693 Spring 2010Contacting the Instructor: Professor Robert B. Harris E-mail: rharris@iupui Office: CA511; Phone: 274-0095 Office Hours: W 1-3pm; Th 6-7pm or by appt.Required Text: Frank and Bernanke, Microeconomics, 4th ed. (print or e-text) Aplia, on ...

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Introduction to Microeconomics, E201, Section 20693 Spring 2010 Contacting the Instructor: Professor Robert B. Harris Office: CA511; Phone: 274-0095

Required Text:

E-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: W 1-3pm; Th 6-7pm or by appt.

Frank and Bernanke, Microeconomics, 4th ed. (print or e-text) Aplia, on line at www.Aplia.com

Follow the online directions to register for Aplia. A subscription costs $35, but they allow a three week grace period before you have to pay, so do not wait to register. Graded assignments begin at the end of Week 1. Note: You may purchase the Frank & Bernanke textbook in either a print or electronic version. The print edition is more expensive, but highly recommended. It is difficult to read an entire textbook on a computer screen, and printing from the e-text is difficult--the text can be printed only 10 pp. at a time. The advantage of the e-text, in addition to price, is that you can access it on line anywhere, without carrying your book with you, but it is an inconvenient replacement for the print edition. Grading: Two online midterm exams @ 20% each (multiple choice) Departmental Common Final Exam (multiple choice) homework (online) Total

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Note: No make-up exams or homework assignments. No late homework assignments will be accepted for any reasons (other than fully documented medical reasons). Be sure to do them in advance of the deadline to avoid losing credit for computer failures, unexpected work or family conflicts, power outages, etc. I will add bonus points at the end of the semester to compensate for one or two missed assignments. Those who work ahead and never miss any assignments will simply receive the points as a bonus. The actual number of bonus points will be announced later (it depends on the total homework points for the semester). This rather hardcore policy is essential, because learning economics is cumulative; if you get behind or miss assignments, it will become impossible to learn the later material.

Tutoring Schedule: The economics department provides a tutor at no charge. (Of course, nothing is truly free, but at the margin, tutoring “free,” because you have already paid for it, in your tuition!) The tutor is Pingping Ren, who will hold tutoring hours in CA509 at the following times: Monday: 10am-4pm Wednesday: 10am-4pm; 6-9pm I encourage you to take advantage of the tutoring program whenever you are unclear on the readings or assignments. Study Tips: 1. Studying economics is a lot like learning a new language. Economics has its own vocabulary with very precise definitions. If you don’ t understand the terminology, the concepts can be difficult to grasp. An additional complication is that much of the terminology is used in everyday language, but often with a somewhat different meaning. Make sure that you understand the terms before you try to comprehend the material. 2. Economics involves a specialized way of thinking that must be learned early in the course in order to understand the material that comes later. Pace yourself so that you don’ t get behind in the introductory classes. Later chapters build upon the earlier material. 3. You can’ t learn economics by osmosis. You may listen to a lecture and feel that everything is clear. However, to understand the material well enough to succeed on the exams, you need to solve problems and answer review questions. Read the text and stay current with the Connect assignments. Not only is the homework graded, but it is also a good way to identify and resolve problems before the exams. 4. Take advantage of the resources that are available to you, starting with your instructor and the Econ Dept. tutor. Don’ t feel constrained by the posted office hours; you can telephone or stop by any time. I’m also almost always available by e-mail ([email protected]). If you use Oncourse messaging to contact me, be sure to click on the link to send the message to my email. I check email constantly, but I am on Oncourse only infrequently! Plagiarism Policy: In a word, don’t. Everyone is responsible for his or her own work. All work, quizzes, homework, and exams, must be original. Presenting someone else’s work without credit will result in a failing grade for the course. That includes (but is not limited to) material downloaded from the internet without giving proper credit. Principles of Undergraduate Learning: This course addresses the core communication and quantitative skills principle, emphasizing performance of quantitative analysis and the use of information resources and technology. It also contributes to the critical thinking principle, especially in developing the ability to synthesize information to arrive at reasoned conclusions, to evaluate the logic, validity, and relevance of data, and to solve challenging problems.

Microeconomics E201 Spring 2010 Schedule of Broadcasts Chapter Assignments, with Midterm and Final Exam Schedule For homework assignments and tests, go to www.Aplia.com Broadcast Time: Monday and Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 pm beginning February 1 in Marion County on ETC2 (Bright House Cable, Channel 98 or Comcast Cablevision Channel 13.) Click on the session to view on the web. Textbook: Frank & Bernanke, Introduction to Microeconomics, 4th ed. Week Lecture Frank & Bernanke Chapter 2/1 ECON E201: Lecture 01, Personal Finance 1 ECON E201: Lecture 02, The Economic Way of Thinking: Tools of the Trade 1 (cont.) 2/8 ECON E201: Lecture 03, The Economic Way of Thinking: Part 2 1 (cont.) ECON E201: Lecture 04, Supply and Demand: The Basics 3 (cont.) 2/15 ECON E201: Lecture 05, Supply and Demand: Part 2 3 (cont.) ECON E201: Lecture 06, Behind the Law of Consumer Choice 5; especially pp. 142-145 2/22 ECON E201: Lecture 07, Extensions of Supply and Demand: Elasticity 4 ECON E201: Lecture 08, The Role of Markets in the US Economy 4 (cont.) 3/1 ECON E201: Lecture 09, The Role of Government in the US Economy 7; 15 (pp. 397-400) ECON E201: Lecture 10, Public Goods; Costs of Production and Profit 15 (pp. 400-408); 6 3/5-3/6 Exam I (online) 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 15 3/8 ECON E201: Lecture 11, Competition 6 (cont.), 8 (pp. 203-208) ECON E201: Lecture 12, Competition, Part 2 6,8 (cont.) 3/15 ECON E201: Lecture 13, Long Run Production Costs 8 (pp. 208-214) ECON E201: Lecture 14, Monopoly 9 (pp. 242-256) 3/22 ECON E201: Lecture 15, Imperfect Competition 9 (pp. 233-242) ECON E201: Lecture 16, Competition Among the Few: Oligopoly 10 3/29 ECON E201: Lecture 17, Income Differences and the Labor Market 13 (pp. 349-361) ECON E201: Lecture 18, Supply of and Demand for Productive Resources 13 (cont.) 4/5 ECON E201: Lecture 19, Rent, Interest and Profit -ECON E201: Lecture 20, Health Care and Aging: Implications for Public Policy 14 (375-382) 4/9 Exam II (online) 6, 8, 9, 10, 13 4/12 ECON E201: Lecture 21, Poverty 13 (pp. 361-370) ECON E201: Lecture 22, Market Failure and Government Regulation 11 4/19 ECON E201: Lecture 23, Economics and the Environment 14 (pp. 382-396) ECON E201: Lecture 24, International Trade 2 4/26 ECON E201: Lecture 25, International Trade, Part 2 2 ECON E201: Lecture 26, Transitional Economy: The Ukrainian Experience -5/8 Departmental Final Exam, 3:30-4:30pm; on campus (Lecture Hall, rm. TBA) ALL...