Economics 1P

COURSE SYLLABUS

Kennedy High School

ECONOMICS 1P
(5 credits- 1 semester) SGF410
This semester course is an introductory study of both micro and macro-economic principles, with a primarily (though
not exclusively) national focus. The course follows California state standards for Economics, 12.1-12.6.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Term and Year: Spring 2013
Name of Instructor: Michael Fry
Office Number: C-304
Telephone Numbers: 916-475-3694 (Cell / iMessage)
916-252-6242 (SMS / Texting)
E-mail Address: Michael-Fry@scusd.edu
TEXTBOOKS AND/OR REQUIRED READING
OSullivan, Arthur; Sheffrin, Steven M. Economics: Principles in Action, Boston:
Pearson Education, Inc., 2007.
Levitt, Steven, Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores The Hidden Side of Everything , Copyright Steven D.
Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, 2005*
*this text will be checked out to the students in the second week of the semester.
GENERAL COURSE OVERVIEW
The course will develop students personal finance knowledge and skills, as well as provide context for
understanding macroeconomic developments in U.S. fiscal and monetary policy. Most importantly, students will gain
understanding of and appreciation for the central tenet of Economics: that life is a series of choices, and that each
choice individuals and firms make have costs. Students who begin to think in economic terms will enjoy greater
success throughout their life in financial, business, and social spheres.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Students will be required to follow the reading schedule in the course outline at home before we cover
corresponding content in class. Students will not turn in outline notes, but are encouraged to do so to ensure mastery of
the content for the assessments. Assessments will consist primarily of short-essay answers. To minimize the amount of
cheating, each period will receive a different version of the weekly quiz and final exam. Students should refer to the
study guides for each section to prepare for assessments.
Following the JFK Social Science Department Research and Writing expectations, students will research and
write a term-paper no less than 2500 words, following MLA format (more information will be provided along with the
prompt).
Assignments (including warm-ups, in-class assignments, daily homework)
Assessments (including weekly short-answer quizzes)
Projects (including group projects):
Term Paper (including Outline, Rough and Final Drafts)
Final Exam (multiple-choice)
PACE Requirements*
*Non-PACErs will have their grade weighted without this category

Michael-Fry@scusd.edu

20%
20%
20%
25%
5%
10%

https://sites.google.com/site/fryapgov/ (google FryAPGov)

Economics 1P

Points Received = (2 X 100) + (3 X 50) + (5 X 75) = 725

Divided By
Points PossibleCOURSE
= (2 X 200)
+ (3 X 50) + (5 X 100) = 1050 Kennedy High School
SYLLABUS
Equals .690 or 69.0% for the term

Percentage Calculation Method

When grades are calculated using the Percentage Calculation Method, category weights indicate the relative
percentage each category should have on the final calculated grade. This provides the ability to specify the
influence any given category has on the calculated grade despite number of points possible in that category. When
using this method, points received within each category are divided by points possible for the category arriving at a
category percentage. That result is then multiplied by the weight for the category divided by the sum of all category
weights. The resulting percentages are then summed to arrive at the overall percentage for the term.
Example:
Category
Homework
Quizzes
Exams

Weight
2
3
5

Pts
Possible
200
50
100

Pts Received
By Student
100
50
75

Homework = (100 / 200) = .5 X (2 / 10) = .1 or 10%

Plus
Quizzes = (50 / 50) = 1.0 X (3 / 10) = .3 or 30%
Plus
Exams = (75 / 100) = .75 X (5 / 10) = .375 or 37.5%
Equals .775 or 77.5% for the term

Grading Scale
A=90%+
B=80%+
C=70%+

D=60%+
F=59% or below

All make-ups (including quizzes) must be completed within five days of an excused absence. Late assignments will be
accepted at teachers discretion and will be scored at a maximum of 50% of points possible.
https://zangle.scusd.edu/SCUSDProduction/ZangleConnect/Gradebook/ihelpgradeoptions.htm

Page 1 of 1

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Be on time
Be prepared to learn once entering the class.
Treat others with respect at all times
One person will speak at a time.
Believe in your ability to succeed.
All students will abide by the JFK policy of academic integrity. *

*Plagiarism: Any student found willfully plagiarizing will lose all credit for the assignment, and they will not
have the ability to make up those lost points. Plagiarizing twice will result in a failing grade for the semester.
There will be no mercy for you just because you are a senior and might not graduate.

Michael-Fry@scusd.edu

https://sites.google.com/site/fryapgov/ (google FryAPGov)

Economics 1P

COURSE SYLLABUS

Kennedy High School

COURSE EMPHASIS
Content Area
1. Introduction to Economics

% of Course Emphasis
8%

Time Spent on Content

1 week

2. Supply, Demand, Prices, Market Structures

25%

3 weeks

3. Business and Labor

8%

1 week

4. Money, Banking, & Finance

17%

2 weeks

5. Measuring Economic Performance

17%

2weeks

6. Taxes, Fiscal, & Monetary Policy

17%

2 weeks

7. The Global Economy

8%

1 week

TOTAL

~100%

12 weeks*

*the balance of the time this semester will be spent on Term Paper preparation, AP Government Exam Prep, and on
PACE presentations.
UNIT INFORMATION/COURSE OBJECTIVES
Week

Topic

4 Feb

Introduction to
Economics

Reading &
Flashcards*
(OSullivan)
Ch. 1

Activities

o
o
o
o
o
o

Demand

Ch. 4

12 Feb

19 Feb

Operation Protect
& Defend

Michael-Fry@scusd.edu

Supplemental
readings (TBD)

Course Intro
Opportunity Cost Lesson
o Video clip: Dont Eat the Marshmallow
(TED.com)
Three Economic Questions Lesson
Ten Economic Principles Activity
Simulation: Circular Flow of Economic Activity
Quiz: Intro to Economics

11 Feb Holiday
Dissect Intro Quiz
Introduce Term Paper & choose prompt
Demand Lesson (in 2 parts)
Introduction to California Government
Term Paper Workshop #1 brainstorming criteria in
topic groups
Quiz: Demand

o
o
o
o
o

18 Feb Holiday
Dissect Demand Quiz
Operation Protect and Defend
Field Trip: Gary Hart Capitol Tour (20 Feb)
Quiz: OPD & CA Govt

o
o
o
o
o
o

https://sites.google.com/site/fryapgov/ (google FryAPGov)

Economics 1P
Supply

COURSE SYLLABUS
Ch. 5

25 Feb

o
o
o
o
o

Prices

Ch. 6

o
o
Ch. 7

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

CAHSEE Modified Schedule

Dissect Price Quiz
Lesson: Competition & Markets
Monocompefectoligopoly comic strip
Term
Freakonomics Ch. 1 Literature Circles
Term Paper Workshop #5 Evaluating Point of View
Quiz: Market Structures

Ch. 8-9

o
o
o
o
o
o

TERM PAPER OUTLINE DUE 18 MAR

Dissect Market Structures Quiz
Unemployment Lesson
Socratic Seminar: Labor
Freakonomics Ch. 2 Literature Circles
Quiz: Business

11 Mar

18 Mar

o
o
o
o
o

Spring Break Holiday

25 Mar
1 Apr

Supply Lesson (2 parts)

28 Feb OPD Guest Speakers
Consumer Advocacy Group Activity
Term Paper Workshop #2 Print templates from
website and bring to class
Quiz: Supply
Term Paper Outline Due Mar 4
Dissect Supply Quiz
Lesson: Combining Supply and Demand
Jeopardy Review Game Ch. 1-6
Term Paper Workshop #3 Research w/ipads (Bring
research packet)
Term Paper Workshop #4 Bring draft of outline
Quiz: Price

4 Mar

Market Structures

Kennedy High School

Measuring
Economic
Performance

Fiscal Policy
8 Apr

Michael-Fry@scusd.edu

Ch. 12-13

Ch. 15

o
o
o

Dissect Quiz: Business

Lesson: GDP & Aggregate S&D
Practice questions:
The Magic of the Multiplier (NCEE)
Project: Economic Health Summit
Freakonomics Ch. 3 Lit Circles
Quiz: MEP

o
o
o
o
o

Dissect MEP Quiz

Lesson: Fiscal Policy
Socratic Seminar: Spending & Saving
Freakonomics Ch. 4 Lit Circle
Quiz: Fiscal Policy

o
o
o

https://sites.google.com/site/fryapgov/ (google FryAPGov)

Economics 1P

COURSE SYLLABUS

Monetary Policy

Ch. 16

o
o
o
o
o

Term Paper Peer Evaluation (Bring Rough Draft)

Dissect Fiscal Policy Quiz
Lesson: Monetary Policy
Freakonomics Ch. 5 Lit Circle
Quiz: Monetary Policy

Money, Banking, &

Finance

Ch. 10-11

AP Govt Review

Barrons AP
U.S.
Government
Study Guide

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

RESEARCH PAPER DUE 22 APR

Dissect Quiz: Monetary Policy
Activity: The anatomy of the 2008 mortgage crisis
Personal Finance Activity
Quiz: Money, Banking, & Finance
Research Paper Outlines returned by Mon, Apr 30th
Concept review
MCQ Practice
FRQ Practice

AP Govt Review

Barrons AP
U.S.
Government
Study Guide
Ch. 17-18

o
o
o

Concept review
MCQ Practice
FRQ Practice

o
o
o

Grammery Bank Socratic Seminar

Developing Nation-state Project
Quiz: Global Economy

o
o
o
o
o

27 May School Holiday

28 May 1st & 4th Per Finals
29 May 2nd & 5th Per Finals
30 May 3rd & 6th Per Finals
31 May Last Day of School for Seniors

15 Apr

22 Apr

29 Apr

6 May
Global Economy
13 May

20 May

Community
Service
Presentations
SENIOR FINALS

28 May

4 June
11
June

Kennedy High School

NO SCHOOL
SENIORS
Commencement

* 3x5 or smaller cardstock

Front

Back

Definition
John Doe

1.1

Ch &
Section

Scarcity

Page 4

Term
Michael-Fry@scusd.edu

Limited quantities of resources to meet

unlimited wants
_________________________________

Because resources are in limited supply, the

question of who gets what is really the core of
the study of Economics

Significance
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Economics 1P

COURSE SYLLABUS

Kennedy High School

Please sign and return the following page of the syllabus to Mr. Fry

Student Information Record

Student Name: ___________________________________________________________________________
Student Email: ___________________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian(s) Names

Phone #

Email

In the space below, please provide any information about your child that might be pertinent to his/her educational
experience this year (i.e., physical or cognitive limitations, exceptional experiences or capabilities).

I have read, understood, and will abide by all of the provisions of the entire ECONOMICS 1P syllabus.
_________________________________________
Student Signature

_________________________________________
Date

_________________________________________
Parent Signature

_________________________________________
Date

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Communication Log (Teacher Use Only)

Date

Person Contacted

Michael-Fry@scusd.edu

Notes

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