JAMES MADISON HIGH SCHOOL ADVANCED PLACEMENT (A.P.) ECONOMICS COURSE GUIDELINES SPRING SEMESTER 2018 MR. BROWN (E-mail: abrown1@neisd.net) Course Description: This course provides opportunities for students to study economic principles that affect their lives now and will affect their lives in the future. The content of the course builds an understanding of the essential components and benefits of a free enterprise system. In addition, the course gives students insights into the techniques and tools used by economists in analyzing data, and will give students opportunities to explore the subject of economics in theoretical and practical ways through a variety of means. Moreover, personal finance will be covered so students will be better financial decision-makers during their lives after high school. Macro vs. Micro: The AP program offers two separate examinations in introductory economics: one in macroeconomics and one in microeconomics. Each examination presumes at least one semester of college-level preparation. While there is some natural exposure in each of the courses to concepts in the other, this class will prepare students for the A.P. Macroeconomics exam. A.P. Exam Specifics: The A.P. exam in macroeconomics is two hours long. The exam consists of a 70-minute, 60- question multiple-choice section; and a 60-minute free-response section. The multiple choice section accounts for 2/3 of the exam grade and the free-response section the remaining 1/3. The A.P. Macroeconomics exam will be administered in May. Registration for the exam will be during the early part of the spring semester. All are encouraged to take the A.P. exam in May. Several review sessions will be conducted in the spring before the A.P. exam. Historically, the sessions have been held two days per week before or after school for about six weeks before the exam. BASED ON PAST STUDENT DATA, STUDENTS WHO ROUTINELY ATTENDED THE REVIEW SESSIONS SCORED NOTICEABLY BETTER ON THE A.P. MACROECONOMICS EXAM THAN THOSE STUDENTS WHO DID NOT. Advantages of taking A.P. courses: Participation in the A.P. program gives students several advantages, such as: providing college credit for courses taken in high school; placement in appropriately challenging programs; development of academic skills and expectations needed for success in college courses; placement in a more interesting and challenging curriculum; increasing students' self-confidence, motivation, and academic orientation; and reducing the cost of college. In addition, university admission committees can get a better relative sense of the academic commitment of a student. Obviously, the student who has chosen to take more rigorous academic courses looks much more impressive to college admission committees compared to those who have not taken advantage of A.P. courses. Page 1 of 5
Educational Philosophy and Expectations of Students: Mr. Brown loves to teach and learn and expects students to strive to share in that love of learning. This effort will make the class a more fun and rewarding experience. Of course, having fun depends on cooperation and respect among all of the participants in the educational process--the students and the teacher. Getting along with others and respecting others are keys to success in school and in life. Mr. Brown will emphasize this in the classroom throughout the semester. A.P. courses are highly structured, demanding college-level courses. As such, to ensure the best odds for success in the course, students must keep up with the work. Especially, students must peruse the college-level text when reading is assigned. One of the primary objectives of this course is to expose students to all areas of information covered on the AP exam. Thus, it is imperative that a high-level academic environment exists and that students are dedicated to learning, motivated, and willing to put forth the time and effort required of a course of this intensity both inside and outside of the classroom. Textbook: Krugman, Paul and Wells, Robin. Krugman s Economics for AP, 3 rd ed. Worth Publishers (2015). Notebooks: In order to adequately prepare for tests, the semester exam, and ultimately the AP exam, students need to save all papers and keep them in a three-ring binder. Mr. Brown guarantees that the papers will help in preparing to take exams. Students will need to have two notebook sections. All sections will contain papers in chronological order and be assembled as follows: (1) Notes and warmups (dated and designated as notes or warm-ups); and (2) All other AP Economics curricular items received and/or assigned. Note: spirals or notebook paper are acceptable for notes and warm-ups Notes: Notes are very, very, very important. Since Mr. Brown is teaching this class much like a college course, students have an essential responsibility for taking good notes. The notes taken in class will be extremely beneficial. Grades: Nine weeks averages will be determined as follows: Multiple Choice Tests (MCTs): 40% Free Response Questions (FRQs): 20% Miscellaneous (homework, class work, quizzes, etc.): 30% Notebook: 10% Bonus Thursday Points: (Thursdays in M216 AT 4:30 students can earn up to 5 bonus points on their averages for each nine weeks 1 point per session attended) Note: The grade percentages above apply to the third nine weeks. During the fourth nine weeks, miscellaneous will become 20% and a personal finance category will be added which will count 10%. Page 2 of 5
Semester averages will be determined as follows: 1st Nine Weeks Average: 43% 2nd Nine Weeks Average: 43% Semester Exam: 14% Classroom Rules and Consequences: 1. Please be on time to class, be courteous, and be respectful to everyone. For behavioral issues the teacher may give a warning, contact a parent (will result in a citizenship mark of N ), and write an office referral (will result in a citizenship mark of U plus loss of exemption). In addition, in accordance with campus and district policies, an N or U may be given for excessive tardies and for academic dishonesty. 2. Please keep electronic devices off and out of sight unless told otherwise. 3. Please do not bring any food or drink into the classroom other than water. 4. Please do not leave the classroom without signing out and taking the pass. Class Expectations: 1. Please be prepared. Bring materials for class (paper, pen/pencil, etc.). 2. Please turn in all assignments on time (further details follow). 3. Please be responsible for obtaining the makeup work from the teacher when you are absent and turn it in on time (further details follow). 4. Please attend class. The grade received on work missed/delayed due to unexcused absences is subject to a 20% deduction per district policy. 5. Please turn in all work in blue ink, black ink, or pencil (whichever is appropriate). 6. Please be excited about learning. Make-up Procedure: Students will be responsible for checking a designated area for any material missed due to absences. In this area, an "Agenda Folder" will contain a copy of the agenda for each class day as well as copies of handouts (if any, with student names) that were handed out during the missed class. Note, if the agenda indicates that handouts were passed out and students cannot find the handouts in the folder, it is the responsibility of students to ask and get the missing handouts directly from the teacher. Also, graded papers will be located in this area for students who did not receive them due to missing class. Absent students should access Mr. Brown s assignment page at his teacher web site. Agendas for each class will be posted at the end of each class day. Makeups for missed tests, quizzes, etc. will be conducted during posted tutoring times. The earliest tutoring time after the missed date will be the makeup time. Students have the responsibility to know the makeup times and to show up at one of the designated times. Students will have one class day for each class missed after returning to turn in missed assignments, make up tests, etc. or the assignment will be considered late (see late work procedure below). Mr. Brown reserves the right to grant additional time to turn in assignments for highly justifiable reasons. Page 3 of 5
Reteach-Retest Policy The district reteach/retest policy requiring an optional retest in some circumstances and a mandatory retest opportunity in other circumstances will be enforced. If a student qualifies for an optional retest then the student must notify Mr. Brown of the intent and then come to one of the tutoring times for retesting. Retests must be completed by the end of a 9 weeks grading period. For details on the district grading policy please see the Secondary Grading and Reporting Regulations at the NEISD web site. Late Work Procedure: Please turn in all assignments on time. The district late work policy authorizes a 20% deduction for work not turned in when due. Tests must be made up before the end of a 3 week grading period. Other items not turned in when due may only be accepted before the end of a 3 week grading period or day before a summative assessment whichever comes first. Assignments may receive no credit if turned in after the aforementioned late work window. Tutoring Times (subject to change): Tuesdays: 4:15-5:00P.M. Fridays: 8:00-8:40 A.M. Other times by appointment Page 4 of 5
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (A.P.) ECONOMICS SPRING SEMESTER 2018 MR. BROWN TURN IN THIS PAGE SIGNED BY A PARENT AND YOU BY FRIDAY, JANUARY 12 TH AND RECEIVE ONE BONUS POINT ON YOUR NINE WEEKS AVERAGE! AGREEMENT: TEACHER: I agree to abide by the policies outlined in the preceding text. I understand that these are guidelines and will be followed as closely as possible. Teacher signature STUDENT: I have read the policies outlined in this text. I understand these guidelines are to help me feel comfortable and be successful in my class. I agree to follow these policies. Printed name of student Student signature Period PARENT: I have read and discussed the policies outlined in this text with my student. I understand these guidelines are designed to aid the success of my student. I agree to help my student be as successful as possible. Parent/guardian signature Page 5 of 5