Friday, August 17, 2012

AP Econ Syllabus

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.