4000 East 30th Avenue, Eugene, OR. 94705, 541-463-3000

Social Science Department

ECONOMICS USA: PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS
TeleWeb COURSE
Fall 2005
(updated December 6, 2005)

Please, feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. My office hours are listed above. I may be reached by phone, fax or e-mail. If I am out please, leave your name, phone number or e-mail address, any message or question you have, and the time and day that you called. I will return your call.

Since this webpage is the primary means that I will use to manage the course content, please check this website several times each week. Additionally, please contact me if you find any errors or confusing information on this website.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is equivalent to the Econ 200, Principles of Economics: Introduction lecture courses offered ar LCC. The same material will be covered.This is the first of the three economic principles courses offered at LCC and is a pre-requisite for ECON 201 and ECON 202. In this introductory class the student is introduced to the basic tools and concepts used in modern economics. In particular, the course introduces the use of graphs; the importance of scarcity; the measurement of economic activity; the role of prices, supply and demand; the business cycle, unemployment and inflation. The course will also briefly introduce current economic policy issues e.g. pollution, taxation, poverty and inequality, and international trade.
 
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course is designed to prepare students for future economics courses (ECON 201 and ECON 202) as well as to enable students to better understand and evaluate economic policy debates. The objectives of the course are for the student:

        1. to master the basic economic tools, terms and concepts.
        2. to evaluate economic issues and policies utilizing basic economic methods.
        3. to become prepared to take ECON 201 and ECON 202.
        4. to begin to think "economically": There is no such thing as a free lunch!

REQUIREMENTS    
 Students enrolled in the course are required to:

        1. provide the instructor with an active e-mail address;
        2. actively monitor their e-mail, at a minimum twice a week;
        3. access the internet to download course material from my webpage;
        4. view all 10 videotaped lessons;
        5. complete all assigned reading;
        6. utilize all of the available material on the course webpage:   
            http://teach.lanecc.edu/martinezp
        7. complete all exams as scheduled.
 
TEXTS
        1. REQUIRED: THE ECONOMY TODAY, 10TH Edition, Bradley Schiller, McGraw-Hill Irwin, (2003)
        2. REQUIRED: Material on my EconUSA webpage           
            (http://teach.lanecc.edu/martinezp/EconHome.htm)
     
GRADING
Course grades will be based on seven exams taken in sequence throughout the term. 

Each exam maybe taken twice. The highest score will determine your grade for that exam. If you choose to take an exam only once then the score of that exam will determine your grade for that exam.

Letter grades are given on a percentage basis with plus and minus grades within these ranges:

UNGRADED PRACTICE ASSIGNMENTS
Ungraded practice assignments will be available online.  These assignments will not be submitted to the instructor. These assignments will focus on required material provided on the instructor's webpage for this course. The solutions will also be provided on line.               
 
EXAMS
All exams will be given in the Social Science Testing Lab :

        LOCATION: 4th Floor, Center Building, Room 456
        HOURS: Opening on Monday, October 10, the Testing Lab Hours are:
                        Monday through  Thursday  9:00AM to 8:00PM, and
                        Friday 9:00AM to 5:00PM.
                        Saturday 10:30AM to 2:30PM.
                        Sunday  CLOSED.

All exams will also be available at all LCC Community Learning Centers (CLCs) during their normal operating hours.  Exams 1 and 2 will be available starting on Monday, October 3 at all the Community Learning Centers.

When arriving at a Testing location you MUST:

1. Bring your photo identification;
2. Know your Student Identification Number (our L number);
3. Bring a copy of your schedule (to verify enrollment and ensure you are given the correct exam);
4. Know the Course Name and Number.
5. Know which exam you are taking (i.e. exam 3, or exam 4).
6. The Instructor's name (i.e. me: Phil Martinez).

You may take each exam at your convience during the scheduled time. You should always allow at least 1 hour for each exam, so you should never arrive for an exam after after 4PM on Fridays or the day immediately prior to a holiday..

If due to an emergency, you are unable to take an exam when it is scheduled you must contact the instructor to re-schedule. Additionally, the exam MUST BE TAKEN WITHIN A WEEK of the scheduled time to earn full credit.

The score of each exam is immediately available to each student at the end of each exam. Additionally, a spreadsheet summary of all scores will be electronically posted for students to view via a Linked Page on this syllabus. The spreadsheet will protect all student identities and will be available prior to the 8th week of the term.

Due to the lack of contact between the students and instructor Telecourse Exams usually result in lower average scores. Therefore, it is essential that students take all of the exams and maintain contact with the instructor whenever questions arise.
 
Exam 3 weights the Supply and Demand material (Ch. 3) more heavily than the other material. It is essential to understand this material.
 
This is not a self-paced, individualized course: ALL EXAMS MUST BE COMPLETED AS SCHEDULED.

EXAM SCHEDULE

VIEWING THE VIDEO TAPES
Taking a telecourse requires a disciplined and controlled environment. Watching each program will require your undivided attention. It is wise to prepare yourself by doing all the steps indicated in the student telecourse manual.

There will be one 30 minute program telecast on AT&T Broadband Cable 23 each week. (See schedule for exact times). If you have any technical difficulties recieving Cable 23, please call the station at 463-5319.

The videos are also availble for viewing at the following locations, during their normal operating hours:
        * LCC Library, catalogue number: MV# 2045
        * LCC Cottage Grove, 1275 River Road, Cottage Grove, 541-942-4201
        * LCC Florence, 3149 Oak, Florence, 541-997-4820
        * LCC Community Learning Centers:

The video programs may also be viewed for free online at http://www.learner.org/view_programs/view.programs.html In order to view the programs online students must have a broadband connection, Windows Media Player, and have javascript enabled.

ENROLLMENT, WITHDRAWALS, INCOMPLETES, NO CREDIT
Students are academically and financially responsible for maintaining their own registration status in the course.

• Telecourse students must obtain the the telecourse syllabus and complete a blue student information card before the end of the first week of classes.

• If students enroll after the first week of classes they must immediately contact the instructor and the Distance Learning Department to ensure proper enrollment and to obtain the syllabus and complete the student information card.

• Students wishing to withdraw must do so before the Friday of the 8th week of courses. Students must make any changes in their registration status via ExpressLane (see LCC's Schedule Classes for instructions) according to official procedures. Students requiring an Incomplete or No Credit grade must contact the instructor for approval. All registration changes are governed by the policies in the LCC Catalog.

• Any tuition refund is based upon the date of official withdrawal. It is the student's responsibility to officially drop classes. See the current LCC Class Schedule for refund policies.

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES
If you need support or assistance because of a disability, you may be eligible for academic accommodations through Disability Services. For more information, contact Disability Services at (541) 463-5150 (voice), or  463-3079 (TTY), or stop by Building 1, Room 218.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Lane Community College is committed to providing a working and learning environment that is free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.  Lane is committed to equal opportunity in education and employment, affirmative action, diversity, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The college prohibits discrimination in admissions, employment and access to college programs, activities, and services on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, familial relationship, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, disability, religion, expunged juvenile record, or veteran status. This commitment is made by the college in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. For more information contact José Ortal, Director of Affirmative Action/Diversity/ Equal Opportunity, 463-5801.