EC 110 Section 001: Prin Of Microeconomics

To learn about the foundations of consumer and producer behavior and to apply economic reasoning to solve problems and aid in making decisions.  Develop critical thinking skills. 

Upon Completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Use supply and demand analysis to understand and predict changes in market prices and outputs.
2. Use cost and revenue information to understand the behavior of firms, including profit maximizing output levels and prices.
3. Understand the tradeoffs between efficiency and equity.

Coverage of some topics may change during the semester.  You will be notified if any changes occur.

LAB

NO LABS

Elasticity

FINAL EXAM:             SECTION 001:            WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14^TH  @ 8:00 am

NO EARLY ADMINISTRATION OF THE FINAL EXAM.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

1. Exams

• THREE EXAMS will be given. All Exams will be given in class on the dates are listed in the Course Calendar.  Exams will be given in Alston 10.

• MAKEUP EXAMS If extenuating circumstances arise and you miss an exam, then you, or someone you designate, must contact me via the email address listed here to provide notification of the reasons for your absence from the exam.  You must do this prior to the exam or no later than the day of the next regular class.  Otherwise, you will automatically receive a ZERO for the exam and will not be permitted to make up this exam.  In the unlikely event that a student misses more than one exam, the value for these missed exams will be based upon the average of the makeup exam and the student’s final exam score.
  • A makeup exam will be given for students who miss any of the regular exams and follow the procedures specified above.  This exam will be taken online via eLearning.  All of the makeup exams will only be available following the administration of the third regular exam. Makeup exams can only be taken during the times when the Testlab is open.  You should check the Testlab schedule so that you will be able to take your exam at a time when the lab is open.  You should also note the rules associated for taking tests in the lab that are in the Testlab document.

• OPTIONAL MAKEUP EXAM.  Any other student can take a comprehensive makeup exam.   The score on this exam will replace the lowest regular exam score, if the score is higher.  The exam will not count if the score is lower than any of the regular exam scores.

Unlike the regular exams, all questions on the makeup exams will be randomly drawn from the textbook publisher’s testbank and, as a result, can include questions on topics that were not discussed in class.  You will need to make sure that you are familiar with all of the topics covered in the relevant chapters for that exam.

• FINAL EXAM.  Check the course calendar for your final exam date and time.  Do not make travel plans without consulting the exam schedule! There is no early administration of the final exam, except as is explained below.  TELL YOUR PARENTS NOT TO BOOK A FLIGHT FOR YOU THAT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO TAKE THE FINAL ON ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED DATE.  A make-up for excused absences for the Final Exam will be administered as prescribed by the University of Alabama Academic Calendar.

Students may be allowed to take exams early if (i) they are participating in university-sponsored activities or (ii) they must be absent as result of government requirements, such as military duty or immigration matters.  It is the student’s responsibility to make these arrangements.  This does not include court appearances.

2. APLIA

• Completion of regular assignments on the Aplia website is a required part of the course.  You will receive a handout providing instructions about how to register for and access this site.  These assignments and this registration will be discussed fully in class.

• Completion of Aplia assignments:

1. At least 14 REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS must be completed, of a total of 19 regular assignments. If this requirement is not met, you will forfeit a full 5% of your course grade.  Regular assignments include (1) the first two assignments (Intro and Math), (2) assignments listed with the chapter number, and (3) the Special Assignments. NO PARTIAL CREDIT IS GIVEN.
2. In addition, there will be 16 bonus assignments during the semester.  Most of these are shown in the Aplia assignments list as a “News Analysis.”  The student’s scores on these assignments will determine the Aplia bonus received, which will be added to the overall average in Aplia.

• WARNING: Aplia assignments represent 10% of your final course grade. Failure to complete the required minimum number of assignments could reduce your course grade by as much as a letter grade.  THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.  Do not fail to complete at least the minimum number of assignments—this is giving away points.

3. In-Class Exercises

• Students will answer questions and work problems using the Clicker.  Students can expect a minimum of one exercise per class and often more.  These problems will not be announced in advance. 
• This is a required part of class and is 5% of your course grade.  Since these are related to in-class discussions, students who are absent from class will not have the opportunity to make these up. 
• If your Clicker is not functioning properly or you forget it you will not receive credit for that day.  It is your responsibility to make sure you have your Clicker and that it is functioning at all times in class.  Do not ask me to give you credit for any day that you cannot answer with your clicker.
• For each day the clicker is used, 10 will be points available. The points you receive will be based upon the number of answers you get correct.  There will be 24 classes when the clicker will be used plus the practice day; everyone gets 10 points on the practice day.  Based upon this, a total of 250 points will be possible.  The grade will be based upon a maximum of 200 points, which will offset any days that you miss or your clicker is not functioning.  The total number of points available will be capped at 200—so you cannot receive extra credit for this.  You can receive bonus points for attendance.
• We will practice the use of the Clicker on August 30 and will begin official use on September 1.

4.LABS

• Labs will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, all at 6:30 PM.  The first lab will be held on August 29-31(the second week of classes). 
• Lab sessions are voluntary.  Regular attendance can be an important part of improving your understanding of the materials that will be covered.  Some exam materials will be very similar to lab assignments.
• Lab attendance can improve your grade in another way:  Students who attend at least 10 lab sessions will have their lowest regular exam score dropped (NOTE:  THE FINAL EXAM CANNOT BE DROPPED).  Attendance records will be kept to determine eligibility for this benefit.
• Signup for lab sections will begin on the first day of class and lab section assignments will be posted on August 29—on the Course Website (http://www.cba.ua.edu/~helder/ec110index.htm).  To find your lab section, go to the Staff page, scroll down and look for your section.  Click on the link and see which lab you are assigned to.  Then return to the Staff page and check to see where this lab is held.

Course Requirements and Grade Determination

GRADES

• DISTRIBUTION There is no set distribution of grades for this course.  My goal is for you to receive the highest grade that you can earn.  This should also be your goal.  The table above details a guaranteed range, but actual grade ranges are usually flexible downward, which may vary by letter grade.  No set scale is followed.  It should be noted that the lower bound on D (or D-) grades fall is 50% and above.  The +/- grade policy will be used in assigning final course grades. Course grades will be based upon your total points for the semester.  Your grade will be determined by your performance on exams, on Aplia assignments, four written assignments, in-class exercises, plus any bonus points you receive.

• DETERMINANTS Grades are determined by 3 components:

1. Performance on Exams. There will be 3 regular exams and a final exam.  Each regular exam is weighted at 21% and the final is 22% of your course grade.
2. Performance on Aplia. Aplia is 10% of your course grade.  5% is assigned based upon the completion of at least 14 assignments and 5% based upon your average on the highest 14 assignments you complete.
3. Participation in In-Class Exercises will be worth 5%.

• GRADE IMPROVEMENT You can also improve your course grade through:

4. Lab Attendance.  Attend 10 lab sessions and you can drop your lowest regular test grade (remaining exam grades will be weighted at the total of 60%).
5. Bonus Points (up to a maximum of 4% of your course grade) may be obtained by:

• Taking Practice tests on the eLearning website.  Points are based upon your average score on the 3 practice exams.  This is worth up to a 2% bonus.
• Attendance as recorded by the Clicker. This is worth up to a 2% bonus.

NO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXTRA CREDIT WILL BE AVAILABLE.  PLEASE DO NOT ASK.

• Attendance is not required, but it will be checked each day with the Clicker; bonus points are awarded for regular attendance.  August 30 will be a practice date; the first official day is September 1.  These points are discussed above. Invariably, students who fail to come to class will perform worse than those who attend regularly. Research shows that attendance is the single most important factor in determining your grade.

• A seating chart will be made and it will be used in conjunction with your University of Alabama student ID in order to verify your attendance at exams. 

• You do not have to inform me about an absence unless it coincides with an exam.  Students do need to make arrangements to take an exam early if the absence is due to an official university-sponsored activity or the result of government requirements, such as military duty, jury duty or immigration matters.  You must do this in advance. It is the student’s responsibility to make these arrangements. This does not include being absent due to some violation of the law.

Required Materials

1. Textbook:  Principles of Microeconomics (6^th edn.) N. Gregory Mankiw.  The online version is bundled with Aplia access (see next item).  A traditional textbook may be purchased (at a substantial discount) through Aplia.
    
2. APLIA.  This is an online site that provides online homework assignments plus access to an electronic version of the textbook.  Registration and use of APLIA is REQUIRED.  You do not have to buy a hardcopy of the book.  To register, go to CengageBrain.com.  Instructions for registration will be provided in class.
    
3. Turning Technologies RF Response Pad—aka The Clicker. Purchase a Clicker at the Supe Store.  These are available for approximately $52 (and can be sold back at the end of the semester).  REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS:  Log on to the eLearning site for this course and find the Icon on the Course Content page labeled “Clicker Registration for Turning Tech.”  Click this icon.  It will open up a registration page.  Complete the information requested on the page—you will need the Response Device ID from your clicker, which is found on the back of the device.  You may wish to read this document: www.cba.ua.edu/~helder/Clicker studentguide.pdf

BONUS POINTS CAN BE EARNED IN TWO WAYS:

1. Taking the practice exams found on the eLearning website.  These tests will be available for a few days prior to each of the exams you will take during the semester. These practice tests should be valuable study aids.  Taking these tests can also allow you to receive bonus points worth up to 2% of your grade. Your average on these sample exams determines the bonus awarded. There will be no practice exam for the final.

2. Attending class and participating through the use of the CLICKER. These bonus points can potentially provide a bonus of up to 2% of your final grade.

• ALL STUDENTS BEGIN THE SEMESTER WITH THESE BONUS POINTS.  These points will be added at the end of the semester to the total points you have received from the required elements of the course (i.e. exams, Aplia, and in-class participation). 
• Attendance will be checked each day (starting September 1^st) using the Clicker.  Clicker attendance will be recorded for at least 24 classes during the semester.  Students who are absent from more than 4 classes will have the bonus points they receive reduced based upon the total number of classes missed. 
• These are bonus points, so do not ask for credit if your Clicker is not functioning properly.  It is your responsibility to make sure you have your Clicker and that it is functioning at all times in class.
• To receive credit for attendance on any day, you must have points for each time that the Clicker was used to record your participation for that day.

All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.

The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.

In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar, sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.

UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.

When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take. The Office of Public Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:

• Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
• Weather advisory sent out through Connect-ED--faculty, staff and students (sign up at myBama)
• Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
• Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
• Weather advisories are broadcast via WUOA/WVUA-TV, which can be viewed across Central Alabama. Also, visit wvuatv.com for up-to-the-minute weather information. A mobile Web site is also available for your convenience.