Principles of Microeconomics

Hybrid*

*A hybrid course blends in-class teaching and online learning. It is delivered through a combination of face-to-face in-class meetings and online sessions. This class will meet only once a week , and the remaining class time and homework activities take place online. Therefore, you will have a chance to work with the teacher and interact with students in the class every week, but you also have more flexibility and freedom to work on class assignments at home. NVCC - Alexandria Campus - ECO 20204A -- Fall 2005 3 credits Instructor Meeting times Where to find me Office hours Contact information My website My email Kaya Ford Thursdays; 11 am 12:15 pm; Room 439 Room 252; H & SS Division Mon+Wed: 10 10:30; Tue+Thu: 9 9:30 and 12:15 12:30. Phone: 703-845-6288; Fax: 703-8456186 http://www.nvcc.edu/home/nvfordc kford@nvcc.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Introduces the basic concepts of microeconomics. Explores the free market concepts with coverage of economic models and graphs, scarcity and choices, supply and demand, elasticity's, marginal benefits and costs, profits, and production and distribution. A formal description can be found at http://www.nvcc.edu/ces/ECO202.htm PREREQUISITES: Students enrolling in this course are expected to have college level reading and writing ability (ESL Level V or equivalent is desirable) as well as familiarity with computer spell-checking. The expected mathematical knowledge is basic math. WHAT DO I NEED? You will need access to a computer with an Internet connection and an Internet browser, preferably MS Explorer, to participate in the online learning activities. You should also feel comfortable using the Internet and email. BLACKBOARD: In this course, we will make extensive use of Blackboard, so please read the instructions contained on http://tac.nvcc.edu/blackboard/bb6student/. WRITING ASSISTANCE CENTER: Free writing help is available at the Writing Assistance Center. Writing Consultants there will help you improve your writing. Go to Bisdorf 340 or call 703-845-6577 for more information. If you do not have time to go in person, submit your paper for online assistance by visiting www.nvcc.edu/Alexandria/LRC/writing.htm. TEXT: The textbook for the course is The Economy Today, by Bradley R. Schiller, 9th ed. It

is to be used as a resource in this course. The text url is http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0072471123/information_center_view0/ GRADES: The course schedule provides a general plan for the course. Deviations may be necessary as the semester progresses. It is the students responsibility to be on top of changes in assignments, due dates, material to be covered, etc. Your course grade is based on three mid term exams, a non-comprehensive final examination, practice or classroom quizzes at the beginning of most chapters as well as class attendance and participation, and also assignments completed at home for each chapter covered. Credit for the course will be based on the following: attendance and class participation problem sets and electronic practice quizzes written assignments 2 mid-term exams Non-comprehensive final 10% 10% 10% 20% each 30%$

Electronic practice tests should be taken prior to us covering each chapter in class. Written assignments will include research, discussion, or numerical problems and they are due promptly when the class begins. Please deposit your work neatly done on my desk as you arrive. Study groups are helpful for homework, but each person must write up his/her own answers. Grades are based on a 90, 80, 70, 60, 50 standard distribution (90% or above is an A, 80 - 89% is a B, etc.). Exams are to be taken in the classroom, the testing center or at home. You will need SCANTRON answer sheets for exams taken in the classroom, as well as #2 pencils. Online practice quizzes may be repeated as many times as you like. The testing center page is http://www.nvcc.edu/resources/testing/testcenters.htm. MAKE-UP POLICY: Failure to take a test will result in full loss of points unless Professor Ford has agreed to a make-up examination (provided that you contact me 24 hours in advance.) Written documentation acceptable to the teacher will be required for a make-up examination to be granted, and make-ups are usually more difficult than regularly scheduled tests. IMPORTANT: The last day to make adjustments with tuition refund is September 4, and to withdraw without grade penalty, or change to audit is October 27. If you need to withdraw after this date, you must get my signature; otherwise your grade will automatically be an F. No Ws will be granted after the final exam is taken. HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: Labor Day: September 5; Non-instructional days: October 10-11; Thanksgiving break: November 23-25. ATTENDANCE POLICY: It is the responsibility of each student to attend classes and submit assignments on time. Students who miss class are responsible for material covered. As a general rule, if you have more than 6 absences or tardiness, or 3 consecutive and unexplained absences during the semester, you may be withdrawn administratively, or fail the course, depending on individual circumstances. This is not an open classroom. Arriving late and leaving early are disruptive to your fellow students. I will typically call the roll within the first 5 minutes, and an absence will be marked if you arrive after that.

Chewing tobacco, gum, are not proper activities for a classroom. Cell phones and beepers must be turned OFF during class. Courteous and respectful behavior is expected. Absolutely no sleeping will be allowed in the classroom. All students are expected to respect and uphold this code. If you feel you cannot abide by these simple rules, this class is not for you. Students with disabilities who require accommodations for access and participation must be registered with the Office of Disability Services. Contact Rebbeca Garcia in the Humanities and Social Sciences office, Room 252, phone number 703-845-6470. For more information go to http://www.nvcc.edu/depts/disability/policy.htm. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LINK.

Course Schedule ECO 202 Fall 2005 Date Topic Readings Week 1: August 22-26 Course Overview, Chapters 1 Thinking Like an Economist Week 2: Aug 29 Sep2 Graphing techniques Appendix Week 3: Sep 6-9 Market Forces --Supply Chapter 3 Sep 5 - holiday and Demand Week 4: Sep 12 - 16 continued continued Week 5: Sep 19 - 23 Elasticities/Utility Chapter 20 Week 6: Sep 26 - 30 Costs of Production Chapter 21 Week 7: Oct 3 - 7 Exam#1 Chapters 1, 3, 20, 21 Week 8: Oct 12 13 Perfect Competition Chapters 22, 23 Oct 10 11 no classes Week 9:Oct 17 - 21 continued Week 10: Oct 24 - 28 Monopoly Chapter 24 Week 11: Oct 31 Nov Oligopoly; Monopolistic Chapters 25, 26 4 Competition Week 12: Nov 7 - 11 (De) Regulation Chapter 27 Week 13: Nov 14 - 18 Exam#2 Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 Week 14: Nov 21-22 Labor Market Chapter 30 Nov 23-25 Thanksgiving holiday Week 15: Nov 28 Dec Labor Union Chapter 31 2 Developing countries material to be (LDCs) provided Week 16: Dec 5 - 9 Environmental Protection Chapter 28 WEEK OF FINAL Final Exam EXAM: Dec 13 - 16 Chapters 28, 30, 31, LDCs

ALEXANDRIA CAMPUS FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE FALL SEMESTER 2005 Exam dates: T 13 Dec through M 19 Dec Regular daytime (before 4:30 PM) class schedule ends M 12 Dec 2005 TIME start at 8 AM end by 10:45 AM start at 11 AM end by 1:45 PM start at 2 PM end by 4:30 PM T 13 Dec W 14 Dec R 15 Dec F 16 Dec S 17 Dec M 19 Dec N 18 Dec all classes exams first weekly given meeting during begins in regularly the hour of scheduled 8 AM class M, W, or F periods all classes first weekly meeting begins in the hour of 1 PM M, W, or F

all classes all classes all classes all classes first weekly first weekly first weekly first weekly meeting meeting meeting meeting begins in begins in begins in begins in the hour of the hour of the hour of the hour of 9:30 AM 10 AM 8 AM 9 AM T or R M, W, or F T or R M, W, or F all classes all classes all classes all classes first weekly first weekly first weekly first weekly meeting meeting meeting meeting begins in begins in begins in begins in the hour of the hour of the hour of the hour of 11 AM 12 noon 12:30PM 11 AM T or R M, W, or F T or R M, W, or F all classes all classes all classes all classes first weekly first weekly first weekly first weekly meeting meeting meeting meeting begins in begins in begins in begins in the hour of the hour of the hour of the hour of 2 PM 2 PM 3 PM 3 PM T or R M, W, or F T or R M, W, or F

All examinations will be held in regularly scheduled classrooms. Any conflicts caused by the examination schedule should be taken to the instructors involved for resolution. All evening and weekend classes will hold examinations during regularly scheduled class periods during this final exam period, 13 Dec through 19 Dec. Grades must be entered on-line by Thursday, 22 Dec 2005