Economics 190 – Principles of Microeconomics
Instructor: Jennifer Rhoads Term: Spring 2007
E-mail: jrhoads@dom.edu Room: TBA
Office: Lewis 203 Time: 3:30 – 4:45 T, R
Mailbox: Labeled Rhoads in Lewis 203
“Economics is a study of mankind
in the ordinary business of life.”
Alfred Marshall in Principles of Economics (19th Century)
Required Text
TEXTBOOK: Mankiw, N. Gregory. Principles
of Microeconomics. 4th
edition.
STUDY GUIDE: Mankiw, N. Gregory. Study
Guide to accompany Principles of
Microeconomics. 4th
edition.
Course Description
In this course we will study microeconomics at the introductory level. We will learn basic economic theory and analyze firm decisions in different market structures.
Expected Learning
Outcomes
By the end of the semester a successful student should:
1. Be able to analyze changes in the goods market through the use of supply and
demand diagrams.
2. Be able to explain the market effects of government price controls such as price
floors and ceilings.
3. Be able to calculate elasticity and the costs of production.
4. Be able to rationalize how consumers make decisions.
5. Understand the effects of externalities on market outcomes.
6. Be able to describe the differences between perfect competition, monopolistic
competition, oligopoly and monopoly and how the market structure impacts
market efficiency.
Instructional
Method
The course will be taught primarily through lecture, however there will be some problem solving work and simulations in class.
Course Outline and
Corresponding
1.
Introduction
(Chapters 1, 2)
2.
Supply
and Demand I: How Markets Work (Chapters 4, 5, 6)
3.
Supply
and Demand II: Markets and Welfare (Chapters 7, 8)
4.
The
Economics of the Public Sector (Chapters 10, 11)
5. Firm Behavior and the Organization of Industry
(Chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
Class Website
The class website will be used to post assignments, grades, and other announcements. Please use the website to stay informed.
To access Blackboard from either on- or off-campus, go to the following web address:
The very first time you login to any blackboard site for any course at Dominican, you will have to create an account. This account will work for all of your classes while you are at Dominican. DO NOT CREATE A DIFFERENT USER NAME AND PASSWORD FOR EACH COURSE!
Instructions for the 1st time you use Blackboard: Click on the Create Account button. Enter your “official” first and last name that you used to register for the course(s) with the Registrar’s office. Be sure to enter the email address for which you have the easiest access. [For commuter students this will be an email address you can check from home.]
After you have created a blackboard account, you will simply click on the Login button next time you want to access course information using Blackboard.
To “enroll” in your blackboard classes:
1) Click on the My Courses/Blackboard Course Catalog tab at the top of the Blackboard screen.
2) Click on Economics under the Course Catalog listing.
3) Click on the name of the economics class for which you need to “enroll” OR search for the course abbreviation/number (such as ECON120) without spaces.
4) Click
on the “enroll” button on the right hand side of the screen.
5) Enter the enrollment access code provided in class, if you have been given one.
6) Click on the Submit button.
Note: If you need to “enroll” in multiple classes you will have to repeat steps 2—6.
If you do not see your course listed, remember to type the course abbreviation/number in the Search box.
After you have enrolled in your course(s), a list of your Blackboard classes should appear under the My Courses heading on the My Institution page and under the Course List section on the My Courses/Blackboard Course Catalog page. Click on the name of the course for which you want to obtain information.
Complete documentation on using Blackboard is available at
the following page: http://domin.dom.edu/documents/blackboardstu.htm
Participation/Attendance
Six times during the semester I will ask you to complete a short written response call “micro minutes.” You will be asked to respond to something discussed in class, solve a problem or explain an economic concept. These will be unannounced and can be given any time during a class period. If you are not present at the time a response is required, you will receive a zero for that response. No make-ups will be given. The average of the five highest of the six micro minutes responses will count as 10% of your course grade. These micro minutes responses will help me to monitor your attendance and understanding of the material, and serve as an ongoing method of communication between us.
Homework
Assignments
I will assign seven homework assignments throughout the semester consisting of problems from the text and/or study guide. These will be announced in class and posted on the Blackboard website. Homework assignments will be collected at the beginning of class on the day that they are due. No late homeworks will be accepted. If you will not be in class, you must either put your assignment in my folder in Lewis 203 before class or have a classmate bring it to class. Please bring an extra copy of your homework to class. We will go through the homework solutions in class the day homework is due and it will be helpful for you to have your answers in front of you. Credit will be awarded for homework assignments showing an honest effort (this is my discretion). Homework problems are 15% of your grade and the grade scale is as follows:
|
Number of Acceptable Homework Assignments |
Cumulative Homework Grade |
|
7 |
100 |
|
6 |
90 |
|
5 |
75 |
|
4 |
60 |
|
3 |
50 |
|
2 |
35 |
|
1 |
15 |
|
0 |
0 |
Examinations
|
Date |
Type |
% Grade |
|
Thursday, Feb. 15 |
Exam I |
25% |
|
Thursday, Mar. 29 |
Exam II |
25% |
|
TBA |
Exam III |
25% |
Exams are closed book and will be a combination of multiple choice and problem solving.
Summary of Course
Grade
|
Micro Minutes Responses |
10% |
|
Homework |
15% |
|
Exam I |
25% |
|
Exam II |
25% |
|
Exam III |
25% |
|
Total |
100% |
Grading Policy
|
A |
90-100 |
|
B |
80-89 |
|
C |
70-79 |
|
D |
60-69 |
|
F |
0-59 |
Make-up Policy
There are no make-up exams given unless there are extenuating circumstances that are documented and discussed before the exam. Work is not a valid excuse. You are responsible for noting the exam dates now and arranging your schedule to be there.
Supplies