Winter 2017 Monday & Wednesday 10:00 AM 11:49 AM HIL 13 Instructor: Md Jillur Rahim Email: rahimmdjillu@jccmi.edu Class Schedule Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 10:00 11:49 AM Class Class Exam Schedule Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3 Exam 4 February 22 March 20 April 10 May 3 Course & Contact Information Email: rahimmdjillu@jccmi.edu Office Hours: Email me to schedule one. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course covers microeconomics: the market structure of firms operating in competition and monopoly, labor markets and unions, how income is distributed, current economic problems, international economics, and alternative economic systems. Prerequisites: MAT 135 preferred, MAT 131, 133, or 139 accepted; ENG 131 Microeconomics explains how consumers and businesses behave in the economy. Students will explore supply and demand, businesses in competitive and monopolistic markets, and international trade and finance. We will also study environmental economics and income inequality in the US. ECN 232 is equivalent to introductory microeconomics courses at colleges and universities across the US. It transfers to nearly all schools. Most business majors are required to take Microeconomics but many other people take it to get a general understanding of how the economy works. ECN 232 is equivalent to first year economics courses in colleges and universities and transfers as an equivalent course. The course is intended for business or other majors who require economics as part of their program. However, many students take it as an elective so they may become more knowledgeable about the behaviors of consumers and producers and the role of the government in the market. The course benefits: business majors and others who need to understand the global economy working people who want some understanding of economic forces affecting their jobs investors who need to understand the economy and economic data.
TEXTBOOK Microeconomics for Today by Irvin Tucker, 9 th edition, Copyright 2017. ISBN10: 1-337-49251-5 or ISBN13: 978-1-337-49251-5. The book is available at the JC bookstore. It is also available at the textbook website: http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/search/9781133435051 There is some useful free material at the text website http://coursemate.cengage.com/cpreader/view/9781285166063/default.aspx?anon=true GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOME The General Education Outcome for this course is GEO 5 Understanding human behavior and social systems, and the principles which govern them. To achieve this outcome, student will learn to: Recognize factors that determine and govern human behavior. Acknowledge the interaction of personal and social factors. Articulate the methods of analysis and interpretation used by behavioral sciences. Begin to use appropriate terms and concepts. When prompted, engage in discussion of the relevant issues, reflecting knowledge of behavior and systems. Identify the critical assumptions involved in behavioral science research and the limitations of each research method. Identify at least two social systems designed to regulate human behavior and the limitations of each. COURSE WEBSITE Study aids, videos, homework, grades, and other useful materials are found on the course s web site. The Lecture Outlines that will be used in class may be downloaded from the course web site. Many students like to print them for note taking. To access this site, go to the JC home page (www.jccmi.edu) and click on Online Classes or go to http://jetnet.jccmi.edu/. Log in and go to the site for your section of ECN 231. If you have problems getting into the system see the instructor or the JC Solution Center in the library in Atkinson Hall (796 8639). TUTORING & STUDY GROUPS You can reach economics tutors at the Center for Student Success in Walker Hall or by calling 796 8415. Students requiring special assistance (including those affected by the Americans with Disabilities Act) should contact the Center. HOW TO DO WELL IN THE CLASS Economics is a hard subject which means it takes more time to learn it. Previous students who did well in this class reported they spent at least six hours a week outside of class studying economics. Reading the textbook is very important but you should also use the other class resources and textbook web site. There are success tips from previous students on the web site. Tutors and study groups are available and are good sources of help. It s important for students to get as much out of class time as possible. To minimize disruptions please turn off cell phones or set them for silent alert. Please don t text in class and please don t leave the room once the class has begun.
GRADING POLICY Exams (400): There will be four exams, each worth 100 points. Any student who misses an exam for an excused absence have to arrange a makeup with test center or Academic Service office within seven days of the original test date. Class Participation & Homework (100): This class requires your active participation in the class. The instructor will assign online homework relating to materials covered in the class. HOMEWORK will not be accepted after the deadline. Quiz (100): There will be frequent quizzes which may be short essays, drawing graphs, solving problems, or multiple choice questions. NO MAKEUPS for quizzes. Missing a class does not excuse you from the preparations, assignments, or quizzes of the following class. You are responsible to know them and come to class being fully prepared. Cell Phones may not be used in any exam or quiz as calculator. EXTRA CREDIT PRESENTATION - Economics in Action (30): Each student has to prepare a presentation on any article or news story related to microeconomics. This project will be graded as follows: Why you chose the topic? (5) How does your topic is related to microeconomics? What s your concern or finding (20) Quality of presentation & overall impression (5) Some resources for finding an article or story: 1. http://www.economist.com/ sections/economics 2. http://www.economist.com/ sections/business-finance 3. NYTimes Business 4. http://www.wsj.com/news/ economy 5. http://www.nytimes.com/pages/business/economy/index.html?src=busfn 6. http://money.cnn.com/ GRADING: The grading policy section describes various grading elements with a total possible of 600 points. This total will be divided by 6 to determine your FINAL grade. GRADING SCALE: 90-100 4.0 85-89 3.5 80-84 3.0 75-79 2.5 70-74 2.0 65-69 1.5 60-64 1.0 50-59 0.5 The JetNet system shows your points when you open the Grades page. Contact the instructor any time you have questions about your grade.
Tentative Course Outline Week of Tuesday Thursday February 6 Economic Way of Thinking (Ch 1) PPF, Opportunity Cost & Economic Growth (Ch 2) February 13 PPF, Opportunity Cost & Economic Growth (Ch 2) Demand & Supply (Ch 3) February 20 Demand & Supply (Ch 3) Exam 1 February 27 Mid-Semester Break Mid-Semester Break March 6 Markets in Action (Ch 4) Price Elasticity of Demand (Ch 5) March 13 Consumer Choice Theory (Ch 6) Production Costs (Ch 7) March 20 Exam 2 Perfect Competition (Ch 8) March 27 Monopoly (Ch 9) Monopolistic Competition & Oligopoly (Ch 10) April 3 Chapter 11 (Labor Markets) Antitrust & Regulation (Ch 13) April 10 Exam 3 Income Distribution, Poverty & Discrimination (Ch 12) April 17 Environmental Economics (Ch 14) International Trade & Finance (Ch 15) April 24 Growth & the Less-Developed Countries (Ch 17) Presentation (Economics in Action) May 1 Economies in Transition (Ch 16) Exam 4 The instructor reserves the right to change the content of the syllabus, if necessary.
Please note the following very important rules: CLASS ETIQUETTE Cell phones, laptops or any other electronic device must be turned off during class. Leaving class early is not allowed, barring emergencies. Talking during class is not allowed, except for questions relating to class material. If you have any questions or want to make a comment, raise your hand. JCC ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY Academic honesty is expected of all students. It is the ethical behavior that includes producing their own work and not representing others work as their own, either by plagiarism, by cheating, or by helping others to do so. Plagiarism is the failure to give credit for the use of material from outside sources. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: Using data, quotations, or paraphrases from other sources without adequate documentation Submitting others work as your own Exhibiting others behaviors generally considered unethical Cheating means obtaining answers/material from an outside source without authorization. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: Plagiarizing in all forms Using notes/books without authorization Copying Submitting others work as your own or submitting your work for others Altering graded work Falsifying data Exhibiting other behaviors generally considered unethical Collaboration: While JCC encourages students to collaborate in study groups, work teams, and with lab partners, each student should take responsibility for accurately representing his/her own contribution. Consequences/Procedures: Faculty members who suspect a student of academic dishonesty may penalize the student by taking appropriate action up to and including assigning a failing grade for the paper, project, report, exam, or the course itself. Instructors should document instances of academic dishonesty in writing to the Academic Dean. Student Appeal Process: In the event of a dispute, both students and faculty should follow the Conflict Resolution Policy. The policy is presented in the Student Rights and responsibilities (student handbook) and the Master Agreement. *Refer to Student Complaint Process for Academic Complaint form.