Course Outline
ECON 102 –Section A1 Introduction to MacroeconomicsSchedule: MWF (14:00-14:50), Location: ED N2 115 Fall 2018
Instructor: Mesbah Sharaf Office: 9-11 Tory
E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 780-492-1331
Office hours:
Thursday 11:00 - 12:00 Friday 15:00 - 16:00
Also by appointment through email.
Course Objectives: This course provides an understanding of the basic principles of macroeconomics. In this course, we will study economic topics that you often hear about in the media such as inflation, unemployment, interest rates, national income, exchange rates, the balance of payment, the financial markets, business cycles, and so forth. We will also study how monetary and fiscal policies are used to stabilize economic activity.
Required Textbook: Exploring Macroeconomics 4th Canadian Edition by Sexton / Fortura /Kovacs
The textbook is found in the bookstore packaged with REQUIRED APLIA access, the e-learning system. Stand alone APLIA access, which includes an Etext can be purchased at the bookstore.
All students must register in APLIA. See more about payment and purchase options below.
Note:
• In addition to the textbook, students are urged to read the posted lecture notes on the course website (eclass) which will complement the textbook.
• Sample questions and practice past exams will be made available on Aplia and eclass.
Course Outline
Topic Chapter
1. Introduction to the Macroeconomy 5
2. Measuring Economic Performance 6
3. Economic Growth in the Global Economy 7
4. Aggregate Demand 8
5. Aggregate Supply and Macroeconomic Equilibrium 9
6. Fiscal Policy 10
7. Money and the Banking System 11
8. The Bank of Canada 12
9. Monetary Policy 13
10. International Finance 15
Evaluation
The evaluation in this course will be based on the following table:
Weight
Aplia Assignments 18 %
Midterm 1 20 %
Midterm 2 20%
Final exam 42 %
Covered chapters Date
Midterm 1 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 Wednesday, October 17 during class time Midterm 2 10, 11, 12, and 13 Wednesday, November 28 during class time Final exam 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15 Please check Bear Tracks
Aplia Assignments:
Every week an Aplia assignment will be opened once we cover its materials in class. An Aplia assignment will remain open for a week from its starting date and will be closed at 12:00 midnight on the last day of the week. You have three attempts to answer an assignment, and the system will record the average of the three attempts. The instructions for signing on to Aplia are found below on this outline. There is a total of 10 weekly assignments. At the end of the term, the lowest assignment will be dropped, and your best 9 weekly assignments will be used to calculate your term mark out of 18. Your “free” assignment is meant for emergencies, illnesses, etc. Don’t waste it.
Though class attendance is not mandatory, students are highly encouraged not to miss lectures, as this is essential for effective learning. Students are required to visit the course website (eclass) on a regular basis to check any announcements or posted materials such as lecture notes, practice questions, and exams.
Midterm test
There will be Two midterm tests. Each midterm test will be worth 20% of the final grade. There is no replacement for a missed midterm test. If you missed a midterm test, its weight would be automatically transferred to the final exam, and you will get an Excused Absence (EA) for that midterm test. A student who misses the final exam because of illness or any other compelling reason (including religious conviction) may apply for a deferred final exam. Students seeking a deferred exam need to apply to their Faculty. The instructor does not have the authority to approve such applications.
Midterm tests are Not cumulative. Midterm tests are multiple choice tests, about 50 minutes in length. Answers to the midterm tests as well as the grades will be posted on the course website (eclass). Please note that midterm test marks take approximately one week to process.
The final exam is cumulative covering all the materials and will also be multiple choice questions.
NOTE: For midterm tests, as well as the final exam, computer-scored answer sheets (scantrons) are used. It is essential that these scantrons be filled out correctly.
Final Grade
You could access your final grade on Bear Tracks.
University Grading System
“Grades reflect judgments of student achievement made by instructors. These judgments are based on a combination of absolute achievement and relative performance in class.” 23.4(4) University of Alberta 2014-15 Calendar.
The following table will be used to translate the numerical grade to a letter grade.
Range letter grade
Range letter grade
0 - 50 F 71.01-76 B-
50.01-57 D 76.01-80 B
57.01-60 D+ 80.01-83 B+
60.01-64 C- 83.01-87 A-
64.01-68 C 87.01-91 A
68.1-71 C+ 91.01-100 A+
Tutor Center (Tory 8-28)
The Tutor Centre provides free of charge assistance to students who have any questions about the course materials. The tutoring center will tentatively begin operation the third week of classes and will close the last day of classes. Hours of operation, once set, will be posted on eclass. The tutors are third and fourth-year honors economics students. You are encouraged to visit the tutor center with content questions. The tutors will help you with questions about class/text/assignment material. They will do their best to assist you in your learning; go prepared. Take your work with you so that the tutor can see what you have been doing and help you to identify problem areas.
You must be able to demonstrate that you have been working on the problem for the tutor to help you. The tutors are not meant to be instructors. They will help you with something that you have difficulty understanding. Tutors will NOT provide answers to assignments before they are due.
Access to individual assignments is not available in the tutor center. The tutors will help you to understand the concept, so you can do your assignment later. You are also encouraged to visit the tutor center if you would simply like to talk with an economics student about the department and its course and program offerings. Tutors will be happy to provide you with some personal insight.
Program and course information, as well as a schedule of the economics undergraduate advisors, can be picked up in the tutor center. (This information is also posted in Aplia.). If you have any questions or encounter any problems with the tutor center, please let me know immediately. The Economics Department is committed to a tutor center that offers the assistance that students need.
We need your help to ensure that this happens. You are invited to please fill out an evaluation form when you visit the tutor center. Tell us what you liked; tell us what we can do better.
Code of Student Behaviour, Plagiarism, and Cheating
• “The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.governance.ualberta.ca) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offense.
Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.”http://www.ualberta.ca/current-students/academic-resources/academic-integrity
• “Policy about course outlines can be found in the Evaluation Procedures and Grading System section of the University Calendar.”
Note:
• “Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).”
• The use of unauthorized materials, dictionaries, programmable (graphing) calculators, and/or electronic communication devices is not permitted during tests or exams. Please be courteous by turning off your cell phone, blackberry, etc. at the door! It is required that you have your student ID with you for term tests and finals.
• The date of the Fall Term reading week is November 12-16
• “The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages, and cultures of the First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.”
• The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not tolerate behaviour that undermines that environment.
APLIA
Aplia: including an etext, assignments and access to all the online course materials.
Registration Instructions
Aplia is part of NelsonBrain.com, which allows you to sign into a single site to access your Nelson materials and courses. Pleaseuse this registration if you have an APLIA code. Payment options are below.
Full course “you have to pay”
Econ 102-A1 Fall 2018
Student Registration URL: Will be posted later on eclass
Course Key: Will be posted later on eclass Restricted Course “free”
To comply with Student Union’s new no-cost option request: There is a very basic Aplia where assignments only, can be completed. This is available through the Cameron Library, but I think you could also access it at home. This limited access option will have only homework questions and no eTextbook.
You could access the no cost option through the following link: Will be posted later on eclass
If you already have an account, sign in. If you don’t have an account, start with New User.
Payment options:
Option A:
Purchase APLIA at the Bookstore with a hard copy of your textbook.
Option B:
Purchase APLIA standalone (including the digital textbook) from the Campus eBookstore.
Option C:
Purchase APLIA standalone online (including the digital textbook).
Nelson Brain has other purchasing options as well.
There is a grace period for three weeks that allows you to pay later, and still use Aplia without paying (21 days after course starts). Free Trial: After the free trial ends you will be required to pay for access.
Aplia Support:
Website: www.nelson.com/support Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-268-2222 or 416-752-9448 Monday-Friday, 8:00am-6:00pm EST
Aplia Support:
From the Aplia site, click the ‘support’ link in the upper right corner. Click on the contact support square on the lower right side of the menu. At the top of the support request page, students should see a link that says
“Canadian Aplia users: Please visit the Nelson Support Site for assistance.”
Useful resource for students available at: http://www.ualberta.ca/current-students
• Student Accessibility Services: If you have a condition that may require some classroom or exam modifications, please contact SAS (www.ssds.ualberta.ca) to obtain a determination as to what accommodations should be made.
• Student Success Centre: The Student Success Centre (www.studentsuccess.ualberta.ca) offers a variety of learning resources, including a variety of workshops in learning effective study and exam strategies. Sessions are available in person and online, for a modest fee.
• Centre for Writers: The Centre for Writers (www.c4w.ualberta.ca) offers free one-on-one writing coaching to all students. Students can request a consultation for a writing project at any stage of development, including completed and graded work