ECON 304 Intermediate Macroeconomics Instructor: Joshua Hess E-mail: josh.h.hess@gmail.com BUT PLEASE USE CANVAS FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION In general, I respond to emails in the afternoon, Monday through Friday Office: Colorado State University; Fort Collins, CO; 80523-1771; Clark B205 Office Hours: Please make an appointment to chat via Canvas Term Start: May 16, 2016 Term End: June 10, 2016 This Course Is Copyrighted Please do not share material from this course in online, print or other media. Course material is the property of the instructor who developed the course. Materials authored by third parties and used in the course are also subject to copyright protections. Posting course materials on external sites (commercial or not) violates both copyright law & the CSU Student Conduct Code. Students, Staff, or Instructors who share course content without the instructor's express permission, including with online sites that post materials to sell to other students, could face disciplinary or legal action. Class Websites Canvas: https://colostate.instructure.com/ o Login using your Colorado State University eid and password o Under Courses List, click 2016SU-ECON-304-801 MyEconLab: http://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com/northamerica/myeconlab/ o Homeworks, quizzes, and tests o Register through Getting Started With MyEconLab Module in Canvas. Click on Pearson MyLab link Prerequisites ECON 204 (Principles of Macroeconomics; and MATH 141 (Calculus in Management Sciences) or MATH 155 (Calculus for Biological Scientists I) or MATH 160 (Calculus for Physical Scientists I) Course Description This course takes the simple models of introductory macroeconomics and adds to them, making them more like the real world. We will use these modified models to explain the determination of aggregate output, prices and growth as well as how fiscal and monetary policy can impact these variables. Many references will be made to the global financial crisis, although these references will primarily come within the context of the other concepts we will learn. Course Objectives: By the end of the course, students should be competent in the following areas: Page 1 of 6
1. The measurement of GDP as expenditure, income and output 2. The measurement and cost of unemployment 3. The measurement and cost of inflation 4. The analysis of the macroeconomy in the short-run through the use of the IS-LM model 5. The analysis of the macroeconomy in the medium-run through the use of the AD-AS model 6. The analysis of the macroeconomy in the long-run through the use of the Solow Growth model and modern endogenous growth models 7. The analysis of open economy macroeconomies and exchange rates determination 8. The effect of monetary and fiscal policy Required Items Macroeconomics, 12th edition; Robert J. Gordon; ISBN-13: 9780132914529 Access to MyEconLab. Register through the Pearson MyLab link on Canvas. Course Structure The content for Econ 304 will be divided up into 14 modules. There will be generally be to 3-4 modules presented each week comprised of readings, videos, learning activities and practice questions, graded discussions, and graded quizzes. Each module will correspond to assignments that will generally be due 2 days later. Since much of the course involves discussion of the material either with me, the instructor, or with other students, we all need to stay at about the same pace. Therefore, I will only release one module at a time. Instructional Methodology You are expected to read the assigned material and participate in class activities. Class will be composed of lecture o includes class notes o slide handouts o instructor notes o audio and video recordings ungraded practice problems o problems in the back of the chapter o homeworks on MyEconLab graded assignments that require o posting answers to discussion questions and (frequently) Peer Reviewing other students posts o a chapter quiz on MyEconLab fall 2014 video archives o videos of lectures available on Echo 360 o videos of drill sessions available on Echo 360 o supplementary videos available on Echo 360 Page 2 of 6
Class content will be accessed online through Canvas and MyEconLab. The student-instructor and student-student interactions will consist of a combination of email, chat, and postings through Canvas and MyEconLab. Grading In general, there are three items that will contribute to the final grade for this course: Quizzes, Discussions, and the Tests. Quizzes Eleven (11) quizzes will be due this semester through MyEconLab. Quizzes will be assigned with each chapter and you will have a few days to complete them. Quizzes are scored out of 10 points. Your lowest quizzes will be dropped from your final grade calculation. Each quiz will include questions which will require you to apply the tools learned in lecture. Go to the web address at the top of the syllabus to register with MyEconLab. Here, you ll be given two options: 1. Register an Activation Code which can be purchased packaged with your textbook 2. Purchase access directly from the website (includes the etext) Discussions Each chapter has a discussion that is designed to increase your understanding of the topic via application to modern issues. You will be asked to read articles, watch videos, or work with data and post your results in the discussion forum on Canvas. As economics is discourse-based, many of these discussions require you to Peer Review other students posts. Your Peer Review should show careful consideration and should never deviate from the utmost level of courtesy. On average, a discussion should take you about an hour. Discussions will be graded on a 0 10 scale where 0 represents Dude, did you even try?, 5 represents Yeah, you did it, but this is a pinnacle of mediocrity, and a 10 is You freaking killed it!. Tests You will have three tests over the course of the semester: Test1 covers the first 4 chapters (CH1- CH4), Test 2 covers the next 4 chapters (CH5-CH8), and Test 3 covers the last 3 chapters (CH9, CH11, CH17). The tests are weighted equally. Each test will contribute 100 points towards your final grade. You cannot use any materials for the tests. You can only use blank scratch paper, a pencil, and a calculator (NO CELL PHONES). An approved proctor must proctor each test. Make-ups No makeup exams or quizzes will be allowed. The only exceptions are in cases of documented medical emergencies or conflicts with University sanctioned activities. Page 3 of 6
Grading Schedule Quizzes 11 @ 10 pts = 100 pts (lowest dropped) =20.0% Discussions 11 @ 10 pts = 100 pts (lowest dropped) =20.0% Tests 3 @ 100 pts = 100 pts =60.0% Letter Grades Combined, these three items add up to 500 total points available. Letter grades will be determined on a straight scale as follows (pluses and minuses will not be used): A: 450-500 pts B: 400-449 pts C: 350-399 pts D: 300-349 pts F: <299 pts Academic Integrity We take academic integrity seriously. At minimum, academic integrity means that no one will use another s work as their own. The CSU writing center defines plagiarism this way: Plagiarism is the unauthorized or unacknowledged use of another person's academic or scholarly work. Done on purpose, it is cheating. Done accidentally, it is no less serious. Regardless of how it occurs, plagiarism is a theft of intellectual property and a violation of an ironclad rule demanding credit be given where credit is due. Writing Guides: Understanding Plagiarism. http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/researchsources/understandingplagiarism Academic Dishonesty could result in expulsion from the university. Each instance of plagiarism, classroom cheating, and other types of academic dishonesty will be addressed according to the principles published in the CSU General Catalog (http://catalog.colostate.edu/general-catalog/). The instructor reserves the right to assess penalties of zero grades on the assignment/exam or a failing grade in the course as appropriate. Of course, academic integrity means more than just avoiding plagiarism and cheating. It also involves doing your own reading and studying. It includes class attendance, careful consideration of all class materials, and engagement with the class and your fellow students. Academic integrity lies at the core of our common goal: to create an intellectually honest and rigorous community. Each exam and assignment you submit, you will need to write and sign the CSU student honor pledge: "I have not given, received, or used any unauthorized assistance." Proctoring Exams are proctored which will require planning on your part. Proctors are individuals who administer the exam process following the guidelines provided by Colorado State University to ensure academic integrity. Page 4 of 6
Colorado State University Fall 2015 Who can be my proctor? If you are in Fort Collins, you can take your exam: 1 With me at the Department of Economics. There is no cost for using this proctor. This option is only on selected days during the exam period. 2 At the University Testing Center (UTC) on-campus in Fort Collins, CO. There may be a cost for using the UTC. This option is only available M-F during regular business hours. 3 With ProctorU - an online proctoring service that uses a webcam and microphone. To use this service, you must have access to a computer with a webcam and a microphone. There may be a cost for using the basic ProctorU services. 4 And only in select cases, with a person as a proctor (such as military educators, pastors or ministers, certified school teachers, school principals, supervisors or employers). There may be a cost for using these proctors. If you outside Fort Collins, you can take your exam: 1 At an accredited college or university testing center in your town or nearby. There may be a cost for using this testing center. 2 With ProctorU - an online proctoring service that uses a webcam and microphone. To use this service, you must have access to a computer with a webcam and a microphone. There may be a cost for using ProctorU. 3 And only in select cases, with a person as a proctor (such as military educators, pastors or ministers, certified school teachers, school principals, supervisors or employers can be your proctor). There is may be a cost for using these proctors. Please see Canvas for detailed information about proctoring, including the contact information for the UTC, ProctorU, and a nationwide list of accredited college or university testing centers. If you are in a rural area or on a military base, you may need to be approved to use a person as a proctor and information is provided on Canvas for this approval process. Suggested Study Methods Online education requires skills and habits that may be less essential in traditional courses. In order to be successful in your online course you will need: Space Establish a comfortable and well-organized physical workplace. Time management skills Set personal study and "classroom" time, as you would do for a traditional course. Organization skills Print out all class material (modules, PowerPoints, assignments, additional resources, and any work you generate) and keep everything in a single location. Maintain electronic backups of all class materials. Communication skills Demonstrate a willingness to interact with your instructor and classmates through email, phone calls, discussion boards, and active participation in all class activities. Initiative Seek help from your instructor and classmates and ask questions as they arise. Discipline Pace yourself, complete all activities and assignments before the due date; follow through on all class requirements to completion. Page 5 of 6
Colorado State University Fall 2015 The more closely you adhere to the recommendations above the greater your chances of having a successful semester and a rewarding online experience. Miscellaneous Course Withdrawal Policy: Any student who wishes to withdraw from the course must submit a request directly to Division of Continuing Education (OnlinePlus). For complete information, please visit their website at http://www.learn.colostate.edu/help/creditstudents/registration/droppolicy.dot Resources for Disabled Students Students with disabilities may be eligible for accommodations in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is the student s responsibility to disclose any learning disabilities. Please contact the instructor if a special accommodation is required. To request accommodations, students should contact Resources for Disabled Students at (970) 491-6385 or go to http://rds.colostate.edu. Documentation of disability is required and the RDS office will assist in this process. Guide to Canvas http://guides.instructure.com/m/4212 Additional support Services A variety of instructional support services, such as writing center, guidance on personal or educational issues, tutoring questions and library resources are available to the students. For more information about their services, visit their websites linked under additional resources on Canvas. Page 6 of 6