advanced placement MICROECONOMICS MR. CRAWFORD

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

-Students will be graded on the basis of in-class quizzes, multiple choice tests, essay tests, discussion boards, economic simulations, and trimester examinations.

I. BLACKBOARD DISCUSSION BOARD ASSIGNMENTS

As part of the AP Micro class, students will be watching films in class as well as being assigned to review shows on television such as The Apprentice or the NPR Nightly Business Report.   After reading the commentary on the show by the instructor as well as supplemental readings posted online, students will be required to post relevant responses to questions posed on a blackboard discussion board within the established deadline (usually one week).  These discussion boards are designed to provoke educational and informative discussion and debate for quiz points while utilizing the blackboard system.

It is NOT necessary to actually see any film before posting on the discussion board, read the summary and assigned supplemental readings--as well as other students thoughts--in order to post a relevant response.

Each week's posting counts as one half of a quiz grade--a relevant post receives 5 points, no post or an offensive or off-topic posting gets a zero.  There is absolutely no excuse not to post on blackboard by the assigned deadline; these assignments are posted and open for over a week before the deadline closes the board.

II. QUIZZES

Approximately once a week the class will be given a quiz concerning points brought up in lectures, reading assignments, or current events. EVERY video shown will be the subject of a quiz covering the basic themes and topics of the film--particularly those episodes of Economics U$A shown and discussed in class. Quizzes will be anywhere from 6 to 12 possible points and will usually be in multiple choice format. 

There are NO makeup quizzes; a missed quiz is NOT counted for the purposes of the trimester average.

The total quiz average for the trimester will count as ONE test.

III. TESTS

There will be one test per unit as listed in the schedule. These tests will be given approximately every three weeks. Each Unit Test will consist of an essay and a multiple choice section, and will take approximate two class periods to complete. The class will spend a day going over the multiple choice section before taking the essay section the following day.  If you are absent (excused) on a scheduled Unit Test day you will be expected to make up that test BEFORE the next Unit Test is given. If you are unexcused absent, the missed test will count as a zero.

If you feel unprepared for the test for any reason, you may choose not to take the test on the scheduled day.  However, if you choose not to take the test on the scheduled day, you will be responsible for making up the test before the next test is given.  Because it was your choice to delay taking the scheduled test in order to give yourself more time to prepare, the makeup will necessarily be more challenging and cover more material.  It is YOUR choice not to take a test on the scheduled day.

Multiple choice tests will be counted out of 40 possible points; Essay tests will be counted out of 20 possible points.

There will be approximately THREE Unit Tests per Trimester.

IV. ECONOMIC SIMULATIONS

There will be two economic computer simulations and competitions during the first two trimesters. Students will be graded on participation, effort, and success in each of these activities.

The first trimester students will be participating in the National Council for Economic Education’s Model Stock Market Game. Students participating in the SMG will be divided into groups of two, and each team will invest a fictional $100,000 on the NASDAQ, American, and New York Stock Exchanges. These teams will be responsible for researching companies, analyzing market trends, and evaluating and trading securities in order to build a profitable portfolio. Student transactions will be reported to the University of Arizona, where the NCEE will rank their investment acumen--based on profitability, naturally--against other teams in the United States, Florida, and Broward county. Student teams will be required to hand in a detailed portfolio at the end of the simulation.

During the second trimester, students will play the Junior Achievement Management and Economic Simulation Exercise. MESE is a computer exercise which allows student "companies" to compete against each other as they manufacture and market goods in a simulated national economy. Each student company will be "graded" by the computer based on profitability, market share, and efficiency.

Every member of a simulation team MUST be prepared to make and justify decisions for the entire team.

Each simulation will be counted as HALF a test grade out of 20 possible points.

V. FINAL EXAM

Yes. Unless otherwise instructed by the administration or your teacher, there WILL be a final examination in this course.

The final examination will be 60 multiple choice questions taken in 70 minutes and will counted out of 60 possible points.

VI. OPTIONAL POINTS

Optional points may be given for attendance at both Political and Business Forums put on by the Institute for Civic Involvement.  Thoughtful reflections on your part will be handed in to the sponsor at the end of every forum and will then be given to me.  In order to receive any credit for attendance, your form MUST be filled out, handed in, and sent to me.

Forum attendance will receive 1 out of 1 possible points to a maximum total of 10 points.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXTRA CREDIT IN THIS COURSE! 

YOUR FINAL GRADE WILL BE DETERMINED BY A PERCENTAGE: THE POINTS YOU HAVE EARNED DIVIDED BY YOUR TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS.

YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR OWN GRADES.

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