Course Outline

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Course Description
Course Objectives
Textbook
Course Outline 
Computer Access
Materials Required
Grading
 Makeup Work
Extra Credit
Attendance 
Classroom Rules

 

Course Description -

 Economics is a one semester course promoting within students a deeper understanding of the economic problems and institutions of the nation and the world in which they live and enabling them to make reasoned decisions on economic issues.  The course is primarily a social studies course, giving an understanding of the operations and institutions of economic systems, rather than in household or business management. As such, it is divided into two main sections: microeconomics, the study of individual industries in the economy; macroeconomics, the study of aggregate economic behavior of the economy as a whole.

Critical thinking, oral and written communication and cooperative learning behaviors are all emphasized. 

The course follows the California Social Studies Framework, meets the state requirement for high school graduation and the University of California entrance requirements. Five credits are awarded fro the one semester course.

The course is a study of the role that economics plays in our lives as individuals and as a nation. Its purpose is to understand and improve the quality of the choice-making process. Active , student-centered learning, with the teacher facilitating the process and assessing student progress will be emphasized.  Students will participate in research, simulations, artistic projects, debates and group/individual presentations . The development of skills in study, note taking, research , oral and written communication, critical thinking and self-assessment will be promoted.

Course Objectives –

  1. Students will learn the basic economic concepts of scarcity,  opportunity costs, factors of production and productivity.
  2. Students will compare and contrast the basic types of economic systems.
  3. Students will learn microeconomic fundamentals of resource allocation in a market economy
  4. Students will analyze the operation of supply and demand in resource markets.
  5. Students will explain the basic functions of government and fiscal policy.
  6. Students will explain monetary policy and the Federal Reserve System.
  7. Students will examine the measurements of national income.
  8. Students will analyze the macroeconomic problems of unemployment and inflation.
  9. Students will master graphs, charts, curves and tables.
  10. Students will analyze economists and their varying macroeconomic theories.
  11. Students will differentiate between Less Developed and Developed nations.
  12. Students will describe how the economic issues of the past influenced the economy and society of the United States and the World today.
  13. Students will apply current economic issues to the knowledge learned from the classroom instruction, readings and individualized research. 
  14. Note taking skills will be promoted and study skills developed.
  15. Students will demonstrate oral language and listening skills through presentations.
  16. Students will be able to distinguish fact from opinion.

Community Participation –

Each student will be required to complete 6 hours of approved community participation within the semester in order to receive a passing grade in the Economics course. Each student must visit a school board meeting, a city council meeting, and complete an elective two hours of community participation during the semester.  This is an absolute requirement to pass the class and to graduate from high school.  There are no waivers or exceptions. If the entire six hours are not completed prior to the 12-week progress report,  a grade of “F” will be assigned for that grading period despite whatever grade may have been earned on the balance of the semesters work. If the community  participation work is not completed by the semester’s end, a  grade of “Incomplete” will be assigned.

Textbook – 

Economics in Our Times, 2nd Edition  
by Roger A. Arnold. 

Textbooks should be checked out from the library prior to the first day of class. A current RBV Student ID card is required to check out books. Books may be checked out prior to school, during Nutrition, during Lunch or after school. Students will not be permitted to leave the class to check out textbooks. Books will be used in class daily. Failure to have textbook in class will negatively impact grade.  

 

Computer Access -

We will be using the computer often and to some degree the Internet in the class. Each student we be required to obtain proper authorization to use the computer system at RBVHS. It is anticipated that all returning students have previously obtained such authorization. Each new student to RBVHS and his parent will fill out and sign the AUP (Authorized Use Permit) required by the school to allow the student to participate on the school computers.  New students should have received the forms for computer access during orientation and registration.  Students returning to Rancho Buena Vista who had computer authorization from last year will not be required to get new authorization.  Without computer authorization, the student will be unable to complete his or her work in class and grades will suffer accordingly.

Materials Required - 

Additional items required for the class are:  A 3-Ring, notebook paper, sufficient pens and pencils, a hand-held calculator.  The textbook must be brought to class every day. It is a vital tool used in the course. Failure to have needed materials including the textbook as needed in the class may result in loss of grade or credit for the course.

Grading – 

Grades will be posted at 6 weeks, 12 weeks and semester. The 6- and 12-week grades are progress reports and do not become a permanent part of the student's record.  The semester grade is part of the permanent record.  The grades for this class will be based upon the following:

Homework and class work

Amount and quality of work produced

Results of written quizzes and tests

Special Projects

Community participation

Classroom participation

Attendance

Citizenship including adherence to classroom rules

Grades will be calculated as follows:

  

97-100%

A+ 

94-96%

A

90-93%

A-

87-89%

B+

84-86%

B

80-83%

B-

74-76%

C

70-73%

C-

67-69%

D+

64-66%

D

60-63%

D-

0-59%

F

77-79%

C+


Make-Up Work –

When a student is absent,  it is his/her responsibility to make up the assignments that were missed.  If the assignment was due on the date the student was absent,  the student should bring the completed assignment to class upon his/her return.  If the assignment was given out on the date the student was absent,  the student will have an equal number of days to complete the assignment, time permitting.  Late work will only be given full credit if the lateness was due to an excused absence. Otherwise late work may be turned in up to one week late for reduced credit.

Make-up tests will only be given during lunch on the Wednesday following the absence in Room 351. Unless special alternate arrangements acceptable to the instructor are made prior to the Wednesday following the absence, a grade of zero will be given on the test with no chance of make-up. Make-up exams are never given during class time. 

Extra Credit – 

From time to time during the semester,  opportunities for extra credit will be offered.  These extra credit assignments will be posted in the classroom and on the website.  Extra credit will also be offered to any students actively participating in and or competing in the DECA organization. 

Attendance – 

The school's tardy policy will be strictly enforced. Each semester, tardy count will start over. If the student has three unexcused tardies, he or she will receive a notice of the third tardy and will be required to sign an agreement to keep parents informed of his or her tardy status. The fourth and fifth unexcused tardy will resort in a referral to an assistant principal. The sixth will require a meeting with parents and assistant principal. The seventh unexcused tardy with result in the student being dropped from the class with an F. Unexcused absences will be treated the same as a tardy in regards to rule of seven tardies. 

It is vital that the student be in class in order to understand the material being taught. Excessive absences, even when excused, are very disruptive to the learning process. Students who are absent excessively will have their grade in the class lowered. Students who are absent more than eighteen days per semester (whether excused or not) will be dropped from the class with an F.

Classroom Rules –

No food or drink in class.  Any food or drink must be consumed outside of the classroom before or after class starts.  Students who are late to class due to trying to eat or drink prior to coming to class will be subject to a tardy, (See attendance policy above).

The "no food or drink" rule above applies to gum and candy as well.  

Dress standards - The school's policy toward dress standards will be strictly enforced in the class.

Academic policy -  The school’s policy regarding honesty will be strictly enforced.  Students are responsible to complete their own work.  Students who cheat or plagiarize are subject to discipline and lowering of grade or loss of credit for the course.