Where Champions are Made Economics
Economics Instructor Mr. Eduardo Venegas Phone (619) 656-2400 Room 402 E-mail Eduardo.Venegas@sweetwaterschools.org Course Rationale: The California State University and University of California systems A -G admissions requirements state that two years of Social Science are required. The Sweetwater Union High School District requires one semester of Economics as part of the four years of Social Science requirement for graduation. Economics is a standards-based course that fulfills both of these requirements. Course Description: Students in this Economics course study to deepen their understanding of the economic problems and institutions of the nation and world in which they live. They should learn to make reasoned decisions on economic issues as citizens, workers, consumers, business owners and managers, and members of civic groups. In this capstone course students should add to the economic understandings they acquired in previous grades and apply tools (such as graphs, statistics, and equations) learned in other subject fields to their understanding of our economic system. This course is primarily a course enriching students understanding of the operations and institutions of economic systems, rather that a course in household or business management or budgeting. Throughout this course, measurement concepts and methods will be introduced; for example, tables, charts, graphs, ratios, percentages, and index numbers. Behind every graph is an equation or set of equations that specifies a relationship among economic variables. Thus, to master the economic method, students must use graphs and understand, at the appropriate level, the mathematical equations they represent. Texts and Materials: Hall, Prentice; Economics: Principles in Action College Preparation ~ Habits of Mind and College Readiness Skills The Economics curriculum provides an opportunity for students to be exposed to the critical thinking, reading and writing skills that are essential for success in college. Students will build intellectual perseverance through daily activities that challenge each student to develop a strong work ethic. Students will also be purposely introduced a variety of learning strategies that build on the student s metacognitive abilities. These strategies will encourage students to reflect on their own and other students thinking. The Economics curriculum will provide a rich content that promotes intellectual curiosity and the desire to know more about a subject. In preparing students for success in both their high school career as well as their college experience it is essential that students develop academic literacy skills that prepare students for college. Page 2
Student Expectations (Participation): Olympian High School The assignments and activities in Economics will require that students be active participants. Student learning will be based on a collaborative model where students work in pairs, triads, and large groups to make meaning of the academic content and skills taught in class. Homework Policy: Homework is an essential part of the learning process. It allows students an opportunity to apply new concepts and ideas to the social, economic, cultural, and environmental issue studied in the discipline of Economics. Homework will be assigned on regular basis and will always be an extension to what is learned in class. The work students do at home will be assessed and commented on in a way that will help students succeed on formative and summative assessments. Homework assignments will make up 10% of the students grade. NO LATEWORK WILL BE ACCEPTED Assessments: The following is a list of assessments that students will be expected to master at a minimum of 70 percentile: Daily formative quizzes, learning reflection logs, essential questions, formal writing assignments, summative exams, authentic assessments such as dialogue folders, brochures, projects and other types of authentic assessments. The Mastery Model requires that if students achieve less than 70% on any summative assignment, they will be expected to attend tutoring and/or make-up sessions to improve their performance to the level of college readiness. Students will have one opportunity to retake the exam, within 2 weeks from the date in which the exam was given, ONCE in a semester. The retake grade will replace the previous grade on the summative assessment. Students wishing to retake the exam will only be eligible after the following criteria are met: informing parents of their present score and presenting signed notification to the teacher attending tutoring completing a review study guide This will insure that students are adequately prepared to improve their grade on a retake. In addition, students will also take mandated state and district tests. The tests and abbreviations are as follows: End-of-Course exams (EOC), Grading Policy: Assignment Category % of Grade Examples of Assignments Assessments 70 Summative Exams, Formal Writing Assignments Class Work / Homework 20 Cornell Notes, Vocabulary, Summaries, Quick-writes, Reading Activities, Skillbuilders, Projects, and Presentations, Essential Questions, KWL, Dialogue Folders, Timelines, Quizzes, etc. Final 10 Final Exam (End of Course Exam) Page 3
Course Outline: Semester 1 Unit 1 Students understand common economic terms and concepts and economic reasoning. (i.e.; scarcity, opportunity cost, free enterprise, socialistic system, circular flow, incentives, specialization, and international trade) Unit2 Analyze the elements of America s market economy in a global setting, the concept and effects of supply and demand in a market economy and how price is established including the concepts of surplus and shortage. Unit 3 Understand types of businesses market structures, financial markets, and the role of government in maintaining competition, providing public goods, and regulating business to protect the environment and society. Unit 4 Analyze the elements of the U.S. labor marketing a global setting. (i.e.; labor unions, wage differences, jobs and professions) Unit 5 Analyze the influence of the federal government in promoting economic stability, the various roles of the Federal Reserve System in the banking system, the tools of monetary and fiscal policy on economic activity. Unit # Standard Topic Time Frame Formal Writing Topic Approx. Test Dates 1 Foundation Concepts & Terms 3 Weeks Opportunity Cost End of Unit 2 Market Economy 4 weeks Supply and Demand End of Unit 3 Business Market Structures 4 Weeks Role of Government and the Environment End of Unit 4 U.S. Labor Markets 3 weeks Minimum Wage End of Unit 5 The Role of the Federal Government 3 weeks Monetary Policy End of Unit Final Exam (EOCE)12/18 12/20 Page 4
Parent Acknowledgement Good communication between teachers, students and parents is essential to maximize the success of students in high school. With this in mind, please take a moment to complete this syllabus acknowledgement and parent contact form and return it to me via your student. It will be counted as your student s first homework assignment. Please provide as much of the requested information as you can. Student s Name: Mother s Name: E-mail: Father s Name: E-mail: Period: Home Phone: Work Phone: Home Phone: Work Phone: I will attempt to communicate with you about your student s progress in this class on a regular basis via Progress Reports and as needed. I hope you will feel free to contact me by phone or email at any time to discuss your student s progress. We are striving to have all students college-ready by the time they graduate from Olympian High. This can only happen if everyone works together toward this end. Please sign and date the section below to indicate that you have reviewed the course syllabus and agree to assist with the communication necessary to reach our goals. Thank you, Eduardo Venegas Student: Mother: Father: Page 5