• COURSE GUIDE FOR AP MICROECONOMICS 

    MR. POTTORFF, FALL 2010

    1. Classroom Rules:
      • Do not talk while I am talking.
      • Do not talk while your classmates are talking during discussions, activities, etc. (they will often say wiser things than I).
      • Treat all others in the class with respect at all times.
      • Treat all materials in this room, the library, the computer lab, etc, with respect at all times.
      • Always come to class prepared & ready to have fun.  This means that you bring your book, binder, HOMEWORK, writing utensils, etc., EVERY day.  Another daily companion of yours should be an open & inquisitive mind.
      • PARTICIPATE, PARTICIPATE, PARTICIPATE.  You certainly don’t want to hear my ramble on for 45 minutes every day.  This class is for YOU; please make the most of it. I will talk about appropriate participation in its varied forms in class.  I reserve the right to grade on your level of participation at any time, announced or unannounced.
      • Do not cheat, sleep during class, or blame things on someone or something else when it is actually your fault.
      • I STRONGLY encourage you to take the Microeconomics AP exam in May. 
      • Follow all rules not covered here that are in the Columbus East High School student handbook.
      • MR. POTTORFF’S HOMEWORK POLICY:
    1. Course Projects:
      • 10-Week Stock Market Game: Details on this will come later.  What I know at this point is that you and three partners will receive $100,000 of PLAY money to invest, starting in October).  The winning group will be the one with the biggest return.  Your rewards could be quite handsome (you’ll learn that effective incentives are a key to achieving top performance).
      • Out-Of-Class Activities: You are required to complete one activity outside-of-class per nine-week grading period.  See the end of this syllabus for your choices this semester.
    1. Grading Policies:
      • You will be responsible for keeping an up-to-date grade sheet.  Most of you are probably familiar with these already; however, we will go over them at some point to assure that everybody knows what to do.  WHAY ARE THEY SO IMPORTANT?  I will be collecting them every three weeks for a 10-point grade each time. 
      • You also need to purchase-reuse a 2-inch binder & a spiral-bound packet of note cards.  I will discuss the details about these in class, but you will receive points for keeping these up-to-date & organized.
      • I will use the Columbus East Social Studies Department grading scale that can be found at the top of your grade sheet to assign all letter grades.
      • Any absences that are preplanned should be brought to my attention so that I can provide you with makeup work to complete while you are gone.
      • You will be given one day to make up work for any single day unexpected absence.  If you miss multiple days unexpectedly you will be given two-three days to make up your work depending on the given circumstance.
    1. Tests, Quizzes, Etc.:
      • Due to the nature of this course you will have a quiz, test, or similar form of assessment on a nearly weekly basis.  These not only act to measure your retention & application of the material that we have covered, they also familiarize you with the structure & flow of the AP model for economics.  My hope is to prepare you effectively for the May test, not to create unnecessary stress.
      • The AP test for microeconomics is comprised 2/3 of multiple choice questions and 1/3 of free response questions.  Thus, the majority of questions you encounter on tests will be multiple choice in format. 
      • One challenge to keep in mind: this class will be over in December & the test is not until May (it is usually the last of the AP tests that are administered).  Prior to the end of this semester we will have to create a schedule of review sessions (nothing that will be mandatory but something that should be beneficial to all) in April & May.  I will need your input as to how this will work best.
      • THERE WILL BE A FINAL IN THIS CLASS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE CHRISTMAS BREAK!

    COURSE OUTLINE (SYLLABUS) 

    A. Unit I: Basic Economic Principles

    B. Unit II: The Forces that Drive Markets: Supply & Demand

    C. Unit III: Product Markets and the Theory of the Firm – Pure Competition, Pure Monopoly, Oligopoly, and Monopolistic Competition

    D. Unit IV: Factor Markets

    E. Unit V: Market Failures and the Role of Government

     

     

     

     
Last Modified on September 1, 2010