AP MACROECONOMICS: Mr. Muhleman (Mr.
M)
AP Macroeconomics is a two semester
course designed to prepare ALL students to take both the AP
Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics tests. The course expectation
is that ALL students will take at a minimum the AP Macroeconomics
Test, with the majority taking both the AP Macroeconomics and AP
Microeconomics exams.
THE GOOD
This course is designed to allow
students who are focused in class to pass both exams without doing
homework assignments (with the exception of studying for tests) or
using a textbook. Last year we achieved a 60% pass rate with this
approach; Our goal this year is 70%. Students also are not required
to take lecture notes; these are passed out and highlighted in
class.
The course is graded on a curve as
follows
A top 10% of the class
A- next 10% of the class
B+ next 10% of the class
B next 10%
B- next 10%
C+ next 10%
C, the remainder of the class assuming
all exams have been taken and the student has a completed notebook.
Students with a grade of B can raise
their grade to an A- with a score of 4 or higher on the final exam
with instructor concurrence.
CLASS NORMS
The design of this class is driven by
the workload many students have in their other AP classes. We are
attempting to be very efficient in class, achieve our objectives, and
not have homework outside of studying for tests so that
students have time for their other classes. Therefore, IT IS
IMPERATIVE that students are focused in class. There is absolutely
NO TALKING during class lectures when students need to be listening
and highlighting their notes. There will be more than enough time to
chat during the problem solving and free response portions of the
class.
The second part of the class norms
includes the student requirement to maintain a completed notebook.
This will be dealt with in depth in the following sections.
THE BAD
Students must adhere to class norms or
they will not be allowed to enroll in the second semester of the
class, or will be removed from the class during the first semester if
needed.
This class has a lot of exams. It is
the best way to prepare for the AP Tests.
THE NOTEBOOK
Every student must have a three ring
loose leaf binder for this class only by Monday September 10th.
The purpose of the notebook is to enter all the problem solving done
in class to include graphing, free response question practice, and
simple mathematical equations relating to economics. Students must
complete each daily entry in the notebook. If a student is absent,
they must borrow another students' book and copy the graphs,
formulas, and short answer responses from the day they missed. These
entries should be in chronological order. Therefore, if a student is
absent, upon their return they should leave blank the number of pages
relating to the day they missed and copy the missing work into this
space.
Students failing to maintain an
organized, completed notebook may be transferred to College Prep
Economics.
LECTURE NOTES
Lecture notes are posted online at
montevistamacroeconomics.blogspot.com and montevistamicroeconomics.blogspot.com. In addition, there
are practice test questions and a copy of the syllabus on both sites.
TAKING THE AP TESTS
It is assumed that students will take,
at a minimum, the AP Macroeconomics Exam. Failure to take this exam
will result in students being required to complete an eight page hand
written economics final dealing with the economic history of the
United States in addition to their government final exam at the end
of semester 2. Students who take both AP Macro and AP Micro will get
a very easy take home final 2nd semester.
CONTACT INFO
You may contact me at
mmuhleman@guhsd.net or call
the school at 619.660.3000.