EC120 - Introduction to Microeconomics - Tammy Schirle
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Fall 2021 EC120 – Introduction to Microeconomics Course Outline
EC120 – Introduction to Microeconomics
Course Description
This course introduces students to the analysis of a market economy, with a focus on the
strengths and weaknesses of the price system, and the role for government intervention in the
economy. Students will be introduced to economic analysis relevant to the analysis of a wide
variety of questions in business strategy and public policy conducted at the international,
national or sub-national level. Specific examples addressed during the term will include
competition policy, environmental policy, tax policy, and international trade.
To learn effectively, students must work with the content continuously over the term. For each
lecture, there will be required content to complete before the lecture, during class, and in the
period following the class. Students are expected to remain engaged with the course material
throughout the term.
Course and Instructor Information
Instructor: Dr. Tammy Schirle
E-mail: tschirle@wlu.ca
There are three synchronous sections of EC120 this Fall (A, B and C), and an asynchronous
section (D). Students may attend any of the synchronous lecture sessions and will have access
to a recording of each session. Students enrolled in all sections will be assessed identically, with
common quizzes, midterm exam, and final exam. The specific content and examples in
synchronous sessions, and the lecture quiz questions will vary across sections. Students
registered in any section may participate in any element of the course – students may shift
their approach to the course as necessary. There is no need to tell me this, or to change your
registration status.
Course Website
• Announcements, lecture slides, and grading will all be posted to MyLearningSpace,
http://mylearningspace.wlu.ca.
• You are expected to log-in to MyLearningSpace regularly to access course material,
complete quizzes, and check for announcements.
• If you need assistance with MyLearningSpace, please send an e-mail to myls@wlu.ca.
1Fall 2021 EC120 – Introduction to Microeconomics Course Outline
• As noted below, a number of required items of assessment are offered through the
textbook publisher’s system (Pearson MyLab and Mastering). Students must register for
the Pearson system through the widget in MyLearningSpace.
Support Structures
As we will discuss this term, specialization according to comparative advantage can significantly
increase efficiency. With that in mind, there are a wide range of resources to assist you with
specific issues throughout the term.
Instructor – Dr. Tammy Schirle – E-mail: tschirle@wlu.ca
• All course meetings with your instructor will be held on Zoom, and scheduled on the
Zoom Meetings page on MyLearningSpace.
• Lectures: At the scheduled class-times, covering the scheduled content. Each lecture
session will have an associated Lecture Quiz grade. All lectures will be recorded.
• Office Hours: Individual or very small group meetings via Zoom. Students will join
through Zoom and be admitted individually through the Waiting Room.
Lazaridis School Undergraduate Programs Office
• Please contact an academic advisor (econadvising@wlu.ca) with questions regarding the
economics program, including progression and transfer requirements in Economics.
• Please contact the Petitions Coordinator (lazardispetitions@wlu.ca) if you have
questions about a petition, most often regarding a deferral request for the final exam.
Instructional Assistants:
• Instructional assistants are students that have been hired to support the course, by
moderating the chat during lectures, moderating the discussion board, and moderating
IA Tutorial Sessions focused on the course work.
• Several in-person and remote tutorial sessions have been scheduled and will be led by
Instructional assistants. In these sessions you may ask questions about the course
material and get help with homework. More details will be posted on MyLearningSpace.
Accessible Learning
• Students with disabilities or other special needs are advised to contact Laurier's
Accessible Learning Centre for information regarding its services and resources.
Students are encouraged to review the Calendar for information regarding all services
available on campus.
2Fall 2021 EC120 – Introduction to Microeconomics Course Outline
Course Textbook and Assessment
Required Textbook
The required textbook for the course is Microeconomics with MyLab, 16th Canadian Edition
(2016), by Christopher Ragan. The textbook may be purchased through the Laurier bookstore.
Assessment Schedule (tentative) Grading
Pre-Lecture Part A – Best 9/15+ – 4%
Before Class on MyLab
Dynamic Study Modules
Part B – Best 9/12+ – 4%
Completed through
Lecture Questions
Learning Catalytics Part C – Best 9/12+ – 4%
Post-Lecture Part D – Best 9/12+ – 4%
After Class on MyLab
Homework Assignments Part E – Best 9/12+ – 4%
Quiz 1 Friday, Oct. 1st , 7am-7pm 4%
Quiz 2 Friday, Oct. 22nd, 7am-7pm 4%
Quiz 3 Friday, Nov. 5th, 7am-7pm 4%
Quiz 4 Friday, Nov. 19th , 7am-7pm 4%
Quiz 5 Friday, Dec. 3rd, 7am-7pm 4%
Midterm Exam October 29th, 5:30 pm 25%
Final Exam December 11th to 22nd 35%
Pedagogical Approach
In my experience, students learn economics based on what they do, not what I tell them. For
each lecture, there is a pre-lecture module, class exercises (lecture questions), and post-lecture
homework. Each of these elements is graded, and student grades on these from each part of
the course form a Minor Assessment Grade.
Each part of the course ends with a quiz. These quizzes give students an opportunity to assess
their understanding of course material. Each quiz will be cumulative, with a focus on the most
recent content, but also reviewing previous content in the course.
3Fall 2021 EC120 – Introduction to Microeconomics Course Outline
The midterm exam will be a cumulative assessment, drawing approximately evenly on all
material covered up to the date of the midterm.
The final exam will be a cumulative assessment, drawing approximately evenly on all material in
the course.
Details for each element of the course are provided below.
MyLab Registration
To complete the Dynamic Study Modules, the Lecture Questions, and the Homework
Assignments, you will need to be registered for Pearson MyLab. To register for MyLab, you
must follow the Pearson MyLab and Mastering link that is on the EC120 MyLearningSpace page.
You can register for a free two-week trial, but after that you will need an access code that you
can purchase with your textbook or that you can purchase directly within the MyLab system.
With registration through MyLearningSpace, there is no “course code”. If you require a course
code, you have not followed the correct process.
You will need to register for MyLab using a browser that will allow pop-up windows, and
Pearson recommends the use of Chrome. More details will be posted on MyLS.
Pre-Lecture Dynamic Study Modules – MyLab
For most lectures during the term, there are one or two “Dynamic Study Modules” to help
students prepare for class. These modules are graded based on completion. These are due by
8am on Tuesday and Thursday mornings before the related class session – specific dates and
times are listed on the MyLab site.
Lecture Questions – Learning Catalytics through MyLab
The synchronous class sessions will be focused on problem solving. I will often provide
questions for you to answer through the Learning Catalytics system, and then I will go through
different approaches to answer the more difficult questions. Your answers on Learning
Catalytics are graded as the Lecture Questions.
Students unable to participate in the synchronous lecture may complete the asynchronous
Learning Catalytics Lecture Questions on MyLab. These Lecture Questions are intended to
ensure that you are working with the lecture content and should be completed in conjunction
with the lecture videos, the course notes and/or the textbook. Due dates will be listed on
MyLab.
Students who choose to complete multiple Lecture Questions for a single lecture
(synchronously or asynchronously) will have their best attempt count.
4Fall 2021 EC120 – Introduction to Microeconomics Course Outline
MyLab – Homework
Learning economics requires practice. For most lectures, there is a homework assignment
assigned through MyLab. Due dates are noted on the MyLab site. The homework assignments
are intended to ensure that you have mastered the course material. Each assigned question
may be repeated as often as you like, until the due date, with your best grade counting in the
minor assessment grades in the course.
Quizzes – MyLearningSpace
For each part of the course, there is a quiz, posted to MyLearningSpace. Specific dates and
times are on MyLearningSpace. Quizzes follow the same basic format as the exams in the
course, but students do not need to use the Respondus Lockdown Browser or the Respondus
Monitor. The quizzes are not proctored, and students have the option of working with other
students in the course.
The five quizzes will have 30 questions each, including multiple choice questions and questions
requiring a numeric answer. For each quiz, questions will be randomly drawn for each student
from a question pool, so there will be variation in quiz questions across students. Quizzes are
time-limited. Students will have 45 minutes to complete the quiz, but they may begin the quiz
any time between 7 am and 7pm on the quiz date. Students must answer each question
before moving to the next question and will not be able to return to previously answered
questions.
Midterm and Final Exam
There is one scheduled midterm exam and a final exam in EC120. The exams are to be
completed by the student on their own. As per University policy, students will be given the
following options for writing the exams:
Option 1 (Recommended by instructor, online): The exams will be completed on
MyLearningSpace. Students will be required to use the Respondus Lockdown Browser
and the Respondus Monitor and are expected to use a private space to complete their
exam.
Option 2 (Alternative assessment, in-person): The exams will be completed in person
on campus, as public health and safety protocols permit.
For both options: The format of the test and questions drawn will be nearly identical for both
options. Students are permitted to have a calculator, blank paper to work on, and a single
5Fall 2021 EC120 – Introduction to Microeconomics Course Outline
standard 8.5” x 11” sheet of paper (both sides can be used) with study notes, equations,
diagrams or other information.
For those choosing option 1, this study sheet must be shown to the camera as part of the
environmental scan at the start of the exam. For those choosing option 2, a proctor may review
the study sheet.
Students will have a limited period of time from mid-to-late September to fill in a form through
MyLS to indicate they wish to take option 2 (in-person exams), after which students will not
allowed to choose option 2.
Midterm and Final Exam format and schedule
Test questions will be multiple choice questions.
Option 1 (online): For each exam, questions will be randomly drawn for each student from a
question pool, so there will be variation in test questions across students. Students must
answer each question before moving to the next question and will not be able to return to
previously answered questions. For the midterm exam, there will 50 questions to be completed
in 75 minutes during the scheduled time. For the final exam, the exam is scheduled by the
registrar during the final exam period. The final exam will consist of two segments of one hour
each with a short break in the middle. Each segment will include 40 questions. In both exams,
students must answer each question before moving to the next question and will not be able to
return to previously answered questions. Students should expect their grades to be released
shortly after completion of the exam.
Option 2 (in-person): The exam is paper-based, whereby questions will be randomly drawn
from the same question pool as in Option 1, with some variation across students. Students will
enter their answers on a scantron card. For the midterm exam, there will 50 questions to be
completed in 75 minutes during the scheduled time. For the final exam, the exam is scheduled
by the registrar during the final exam period. For the final exam, there will be 80 questions to
be completed in 2 hours during the scheduled time. Students should expect their grades to be
released at least one week following the exam.
Students are reminded that they are expected to be available throughout the exam period and
should not make travel plans during this time
6Fall 2021 EC120 – Introduction to Microeconomics Course Outline
Course Policies and Procedures
Exam Procedures
For the midterm and final exam, students choosing option 1 are required to use the Respondus
Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor. All students should complete the Lockdown
Browser practice quiz before deciding which option to choose. In addition, practice exams using
both the Lockdown Browser and Monitor will be available so that students have more
experience with the system.
The LockDown Browser and Monitor are used with the intent of promoting academic integrity.
Students are expected to complete the tests on their own, based on what they have learned in
the course, and only using the approved aids (non-graphing calculator and one page of study
notes). Students that do not do this, for example by contacting others during the exam (in
person or electronically), or by using unapproved aids, will be subject to consequences through
the Academic Integrity process.
Students that do not follow the required test procedures, by (for example) not properly
completing the pre-test environmental scan, but where there is no direct evidence of academic
misconduct, may have their test excluded. An excluded test is treated as if the student simply
missed the test. In these cases, the student may need to complete a deferred test.
For students choosing option 2, students must be prepared to comply with any public health
protocols and restrictions, and related university policies. Exam procedures may need to be
adjusted during the term to comply with public health restrictions.
Detailed guidelines about exam procedures will be posted on MyLearningSpace prior to the
exams.
Standard Academic Misconduct Statement
You are reminded that the University will levy sanctions on students who are found to have
committed, or have attempted to commit, acts of academic or research misconduct. You are
expected to know what constitutes an academic offense, to avoid committing such offenses,
and to take responsibility for your academic actions. For information on categories of offenses
and types of penalty, please consult the Student Code of Conduct: Academic Misconduct. If you
need clarification of aspects of University policy on Academic and Research Misconduct, please
consult your instructor.
Missing Minor Assessments
7Fall 2021 EC120 – Introduction to Microeconomics Course Outline
Due to the timely nature of the minor items of assessment, late submissions will not be
accepted for any reason. Each item is available for completion over an extended period, and
your grade is based on your best 9 of at least 12 items in each part of the course. In addition,
you can repeat Homework if you get answers wrong. If you miss assessment due to technology
failure, illness, or any other reason, there are no extensions available. For students that will
miss a significant fraction of the course due to a significant medical or personal issue, contact
me as soon as possible regarding alternatives.
Missed Quiz
Students that miss quizzes 1 or 2 will have the weight of the missed quiz shifted to their
midterm exam. Students that miss quizzes 3, 4 or 5 will have the weight of the missed quiz
shifted to their final exam. You do not need to notify me if a quiz is missed.
Missed Midterm Exam
Students that will miss the Midterm Exam due to religious observance, an academic conflict, a
time-zone conflict, or due to varsity athletics may be eligible to write the Midterm Exam at an
alternate time. To be eligible for this consideration, students must provide this notification as
soon as possible during the term – generally within the first two weeks of the course.
Students that cannot write a scheduled assessment due to a religious observance must inform
me of that within the first two weeks of term, following the process here:
https://students.wlu.ca/academics/calendars-and-policies/petitions-and-
appeals/accommodations-for-religious-observances.html
Students that have a direct academic conflict should contact me directly by e-mail as soon as
possible. Please note that a “direct academic conflict” involves a required element of another
course that must be completed at the same time as the EC120 Midterm Exam. Another test
later the same day, or a take-home test that must be completed over the weekend, or during a
24-hour period, are not considered to be direct academic conflicts.
The Midterm Exam is scheduled based on the Waterloo time zone (EDT or EST). Given the
remote delivery of the course, students may be living in a different time-zone than Waterloo. If
any test is scheduled to start or finish between midnight and 5:30am in your time-zone, please
notify me by e-mail during the first two weeks of the course.
Students that will miss a Midterm Exam due to their participation in varsity athletics should
contact their coach.
8Fall 2021 EC120 – Introduction to Microeconomics Course Outline
Students that miss a Midterm Exam for any other reason (illness, work, technical issues) or
have technical issues during the exam must complete the Missed Exam “quiz” on
MyLearningSpace as soon as possible explaining why they did not complete the exam. For
students that provide a reasonable explanation, the weight from a midterm exam will be
shifted to a deferred midterm exam.
A deferred midterm exam will be scheduled for November. Any student planning to write a
deferred midterm must sign up in advance. Details will be provided in MyLearningSpace.
Deferred Final Examinations
Students who miss the final exam for an acceptable reason may apply to write a deferred exam
(normally in late January). Petitions, accompanied by supporting documentation, should be
submitted via the Lazaridis School Petitions process. Details about this process will be posted
closer to the time of the final exam. Students are strongly urged not to make any commitments
(ie. travel, work, other ) during the examination period. Students are required to be available
for examinations during the examination periods of all terms in which they register.
Privacy
Synchronous (live) class sessions will be delivered in this course through a video conferencing platform
supported by the university (currently Zoom, though MS Teams or the MyLS Virtual Classroom could be
necessary). Steps have been taken to protect the security of the information shared. For more
information about Zoom and Office365 (including Teams), please visit ICT’s Tech Support and Services
page. Class and tutorial sessions will be recorded with the video, audio and transcription made available
to students in the course in MyLearningSpace for the duration of the term. The recordings may capture
your name, image or voice through the video and audio recordings. By attending in these live classes,
you are consenting to the collection of this information for the purposes of administering the class and
associated course work. If you are concerned about the use or collection of your name and other
personal information in the class, please contact the course instructor to identify possible alternatives
To learn more about how your personal information is collected, used and disclosed by the University,
please see Laurier’s Notice of Collection, Use and Disclosure of Personal Information. Policy 9.3:
Classroom Use of Electronic Devices.
Intellectual Property
The educational materials developed for this course, including, but not limited to, lecture notes and
slides, handout materials, examinations and assignments, and any materials posted to
MyLearningSpace, are the intellectual property of the course instructor. These materials have been
developed for student use only and they are not intended for wider dissemination and/or
communication outside of a given course. Posting or providing unauthorized audio, video, or textual
material of lecture content to third-party websites violates an instructor’s intellectual property rights,
and the Canadian Copyright Act. Recording lectures in any way is prohibited in this course unless specific
9Fall 2021 EC120 – Introduction to Microeconomics Course Outline
permission has been granted by the instructor. Failure to follow these instructions may be in
contravention of the university’s Code of Student Conduct and/or Code of Academic Conduct, and will
result in appropriate penalties. Participation in this course constitutes an agreement by all parties to
abide by the relevant University Policies, and to respect the intellectual property of others during and
after their association with Wilfrid Laurier University.
10Fall 2021 EC120 – Introduction to Microeconomics Course Outline
Detailed Course Schedule
EC120 is divided into 5 equal parts. For each part, the minor assessment grade for each section
is worth 4% of your overall grade, and the Quiz is worth 4%.
The content in EC120 is cumulative and the design of the course is intended to help students
develop the knowledge in the early stages of the course that will allow them to be successful in
the later parts of the course. As part of this, each test is cumulative, and while the focus is on
the most recent content, there will be questions from the previous sections of the course.
Part 1 – Tools for Economic Analysis
Lecture Date Topic Textbook
September 9 EC120 Introduction -
September 14 Opportunity Cost Ch. 1, 2
September 16 Economic Models Ch. 1, 2
September 21 Demand and Supply Ch. 3
September 23 Elasticity Ch. 4
September 28 Market Efficiency Ch. 5
September 30 Review
Friday,
Quiz 1 Chapters 1 - 5
October 1
Part 2 – Consumer and Producer Decisions
Lecture Date Topic Textbook
October 5 Consumer Choice Ch. 6
October 7 Indifference Curves Ch. 6 appendix
October 12-15 Reading Week No Classes
October 19 Firms in the Short Run Ch. 7
October 21 Firms in the Long Run Ch. 8
Friday, Review Ch. 1-5
Quiz 2
October 22 Focus Ch 6 - 8
11Fall 2021 EC120 – Introduction to Microeconomics Course Outline
Part 3 – Market Structure
Lecture Date Topic Textbook
October 26 Competitive Markets Ch. 9
October 28 Monopoly Ch. 10
Friday,
Midterm exam Ch. 1-10
October 29
November 2 Monopolistic Competition Ch. 11.1, 11.2
November 4 Oligopoly Ch. 11.3, 11.4
Friday, Review Ch. 1 - 8
Quiz 3
November 5 Focus Ch. 9 - 11
Part 4 – Input Markets and Taxation
Lecture Date Topic Textbook
November 9 Efficiency Ch. 12
November 11 Factor Markets Ch. 13 & 14
November 16 Labour and Capital Markets Ch. 14 & 15
November 18 Taxation Ch. 18
Friday, Review Ch. 1 – 11
Quiz 4
November 19 Focus Ch. 12 - 15, 18
Part 5 – Environment and Trade Policy
Lecture Date Topic Textbook
November 23 Market Failures Ch. 16
November 25 Environmental Protection Ch. 17
November 30 International Trade Ch. 32
December 2 Trade Policy Ch. 33
Friday, Review Ch. 1-15, 18
Quiz 5
December 3 Focus Ch. 16-17, 32-33
Final Exam
Lecture Date Topic Textbook Chapters
December 7 Review
Final Exam Period
Final Exam Chapters 1-18, 32-33
December 11-22
12You can also read
