Course Outline
ECON 102 –Section A1 Introduction to MacroeconomicsSchedule: MWF (14:00-14:50), Location: ED N2 115 Fall 2019
Instructor: Mesbah Sharaf Office: 9-11 Tory
E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 780-492-1331
Office hours:
Monday 15:15 - 16:15 Friday 15:15 - 16:15
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 Macroeconomics5th Canadian Edition by Sexton / Fortura /Kovacs
The textbook is found in the bookstore packaged with REQUIRED MindTap access, the e-learning system. Stand alone MindTap access, which includes an Etext can be purchased at the bookstore or online. All students must register in MindTap. 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 MindTap 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 MindTap Assignments 15 %
Midterm 1 20 %
Midterm 2 20%
Final exam 45 %
Covered chapters Date Location
Midterm 1 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 October 17-19 LAC (3-106 Ed. North)
Midterm 2 10, 11, 12, and 13 November 27-28 LAC (3-106 Ed. North)
Final exam 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15 December 11-12 LAC (3-106 Ed. North)
MindTap Assignments:
Every week a MindTap assignment will be opened once we cover its materials in class. An assignment will remain open for a week from its starting date and will be closed at 11:59 PM 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 MindTap are found below on this outline. There is a total of 10 weekly assignments. At the end of the term, I will drop the lowest 2 assignments, and your best 8 assignments will be used to calculate your term mark out of 15. Your “free” assignments is meant for emergencies, illnesses, etc. Don’t waste them.
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, 60 minutes in length.
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 and will be 120 minutes in length.
Deferred Final Examination: For information on how to apply for a deferred exam see “I Missed my Final Exam, Now What?”
Warning: “Transferring the weight of missed midterm exams to the Final exam could result in the student not being approved for a deferred final examination as they may not have completed the required 50% of term work.”
Exams’ location:
The two midterm exams and the final exam will be written at the Learning Assessment Centre (LAC) which is located at 3-106 Education North (Tel: 780-492-3725). It is the student’s responsibility to book their exam time using the LAC website. If you fail to book an exam time and there is no space in the LAC then you will receive zero marks on that exam.
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 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 68.01-73 B-
50.01-55 D 73.01-78 B
55.01-58 D+ 78.01-83 B+
58.01-61 C- 83.01-88 A-
61.01-64 C 88.01-92 A
64.01-68 C+ 92.01-100 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
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. 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.
MindTap
Registration Instructions
Mind Tap is the e-learning tool in this class. In order to use MindTap, you must register using the following instructions:
1. Connect to https://login.nelsonbrain.com/course/MTPPB53N85RS
2. If you already have an account, sign in. If you don’t have an account, start with New User.
3. Complete the Configuration Test. You must have JavaScript and Flash 6 or later to use the site.
If you don’t, the configuration test will tell you and instructions will follow.
4. You will be prompted to enter your University of Alberta eMail address and password. Please note that you must use your University of Alberta eMail address; no hotmail or anything else is acceptable. You will also be prompted to enter your University of Alberta seven-digit student ID number.
You will then be asked to enter your course key: MTPPB53N85RS
5. You will have received a MindTap Payment Code for this course. It came packaged with your textbook. You must use this code when you are prompted for payment. Please remember that once opened, payment codes are not refundable.
6. You only need to register once. After the registration process is complete, you will not need to enter the course key or the payment code again. You will just log in with your University of Alberta eMail address and password.
Full course “you have to pay”
Econ 102 - Intro to Macroeconomics Fall 2019 Sec. A1
Course Link URL: https://login.nelsonbrain.com/course/MTPPB53N85RS Course Key: MTPP-B53N-85RS
Restricted Course “free”
To comply with Student Union’s new no-cost option request: There is a very basic MindTap where assignments only, can be completed. This limited access option will have only homework questions and no eTextbook.
You could access the no cost option through the following link: To be announced and posted on eclass
Payment options:
Option A:
Purchase MindTap at the Bookstore with a hard copy of your textbook.
Option B:
Purchase MindTap standalone (including the digital textbook) from the Campus eBookstore.
Option C:
Purchase MindTap standalone online (including the digital textbook) from the NelsonBrain website.
Nelson Brain has other purchasing options as well.
Note
There is a grace period that allows you to pay later, and still use MindTap without paying until 11:59 PM on September 21, 2019. Once the grace period is over you will be blocked from your account until you have paid.
Technical Support:
If you have questions about registering or using the MindTap website, please contact Nelson Canada,
Email: [email protected] Phone Support: 1-800-268-2222
Monday through Friday 8:00am to 6:00pm (EST) Online: 24/7 live chat! www.cengage.com/support
• Sign in using your NelsonBrain credentials and create a case.
• Once your case is submitted, you’ll receive access to 24/7 live chat! Or you can speak with an agent by calling the phone number provided upon your case submission.
Note:
• 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.
• That the Department of Economics General Office hours are 8-4 PM, CLOSED from 12-1 PM.
• The date of the Fall Term reading week is November 12-16
• Fall 2019 Withdrawal Deadline (for regular 13-week classes) November 29, 2019
Student Responsibilities:
Academic Integrity: 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 offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
All students should consult the Academic Integrity website. If you have any questions, ask your instructor.
An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she could not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of fairness to other students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. See the Academic Discipline Process.
Recording of Lectures: 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 a 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).
Disclaimer: Any typographical errors in this syllabus are subject to change and will be announced in class and posted on eClass. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over the final examination date reported in this syllabus.
Student Resources:
The best all-purpose website for student services is: https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students.
Policy about course outlines can be found in the Evaluation Procedures and Grading System section of the University Calendar.
Accessibility Resources: (1 – 80 SUB)
The University of Alberta is committed to creating work and learning communities that inspire and enable all people to reach their full potential. Accessibility Resources promotes an accessible, inclusive, and universally designed environment. For general information to register for services visit the Accessibility Resources webpage.
The Academic Success Centre: (1-80 SUB)
The Academic Success Centre offers a variety of workshops on effective study and exam strategies.
There are in-person and online sessions available for a modest fee.
The Centre for Writers: (1-42 Assiniboia Hall)
The Centre for Writers offers free one-on-one writing support to students, faculty, and staff. Students can request consultation for a writing project at any stage of development. Instructors can request class visits and presentations.
Health and Wellness Support: There are many health and community services available to current students. For more information visit the Health and Wellness Support webpage.
Office of the Student Ombuds:
The Office of the Student Ombuds offers confidential interviews, advice and support to students facing academic, discipline, interpersonal and financial difficulties.
Learning and working environment:
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.
Territorial Statement:
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.
Sexual Violence Policy:
It is the policy of the University of Alberta that sexual violence committed by any member of the University community is prohibited and constitutes misconduct. Resources and more information can be found at https://www.ualberta.ca/campus-life/sexual-violence