Unit 1 – SeminarUnit 1 – Seminar

Introduction to the CourseIntroduction to the Course

&&

First PrinciplesFirst Principles

AB224Microeconomics

About me, your instructorAbout me, your instructor

My name is Caroline Gagnon (please call me Caroline! ). I hold a Masters in Economics from the University of Montreal (Quebec, Canada) since 2000.

I have been teaching Economics for Kaplan for almost 6 years (already!)

I live near Montreal (Canada) with my American husband (from Chicago) and our 4

children (Abigail 9, Isaak 6, Mackenzie Eve almost

3, and Riley Katherine 2 months)

How to contact meHow to contact me

Kaplan e-mail : CGagnon@Kaplan.edu

AIM : CGagnonEcon

Office Hours : Wednesdays 10pmET Sundays 8pmET

Or ANY time you see me logged in!!

Right-click on the toolbar (bottom of your screen, next to the start button), then click on ‘Tile Windows Vertically’ (or ‘Show Windows Side-by-Side’).

WHAT happens??

A little trick … A little trick …

Right-Click on Task Bar …

Your windows should occupy equal parts of the screen. Did it work??

Minimize the ones you don’t need and tile again.

This will be very useful if you want to have the textbook opened during our discussions (or notes, or other sites!)

Did it work??Did it work??

The Syllabus was sent to you by e-mail and can be found in the Doc Sharing.

All the information in the Syllabus can also be found under Course Home in the course.

SyllabusSyllabus

With Extenuating Circumstances:

Please try to contact me BEFORE an assignment is due to discuss alternatives.

Without Extenuating Circumstances:

- Up to one week late = 20% deduction

- After one week = 30% deduction - No work will be accepted more than two weeks

after the due date.

SyllabusSyllabus - - Late PolicyLate Policy

Syllabus Syllabus – Your Textbook– Your Textbook

Your textbook for this course is a digital version of a print book called an eBook.

To read it, make sure to have the latest version (7.0) of Adobe Reader. 

Download it from the Doc Sharing.

Syllabus Syllabus – Your Textbook– Your Textbook

SyllabusSyllabus - Gradebook - Gradebook

GRADING CRITERIA/COURSE EVALUATION TOP

Assessment Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9 Unit 10

Discussion 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts 25 pts

Assignments 30 pts 30 pts 30 pts 30 pts 30 pts 30 pts 30 pts 30 pts

Research Project

10 pts Topic

50 pts Outline

50 pts First Draft

200 pts Final Draft

Final Exam 180 pts

Writing Assignment

45 pts

Course Total = 1000 points

Atomic Learning …Atomic Learning …

Virtual OfficeVirtual Office

An idea … Post your AIM name in the Virtual Office if you would like to find teammates!!

All questions about course material, Homework, Project, etc. belong in the Virtual Office, let’s keep e-mails for private matters

In every unit … Discussion Forum

In Units 1 (topic), 4 (outline), 6 (draft) and 8 (paper) you have to work

on your RESEARCH PAPER

In Units 2-9 … Homework Assignment

In Unit 10 … Writing Assignment & Final

Exam

The different kinds of assignments The different kinds of assignments

* Link to the Presentations, NOT

the Chapters!

• To be successful on your Threaded Discussion Questions:

– Responses are on topic, original, and contribute to the quality of the discussion.

– Responses make frequent, informed references to unit material, such as key terms or theories.

– Responses are clearly written using proper grammar and spelling.

– Substantial (at least 100 words) original answer to the question that furthers the work of the class.

– Two or more thoughtful responses to classmates that advance the discussion.

– Initial posting is required by Saturday night of the Unit week.

– Students are to enter the discussion board on three separate days during the Unit week.

AssignmentsAssignments – Discussion – Discussion ForumForum

Grading of Threaded Discussion: 25 pts

– Initial Post: 10 pts

• Well-written, logical, organized, application of terms studied in course: 10 pts

– Responses to Classmates: 10 pts

• Contribution to discussion – adding something new or analytical:

5 pts each response

– Participation Guidelines: 5 pts

• Initial Post by Saturday: 2 pts each• Posting on Three Separate Days of Unit Week: 1 pt each day

Problems selected from the section “Problems” at the end of each chapters.

** see TEMPLATES on next slide …

AssignmentsAssignments – Homework – Homework

Will be sent by e-mail each week, and can also be found in the Doc Sharing.

Saves you time typing the questions, AND avoids confusion as to what questions to answer!!

Shows how long your answers should be (approx.) and how much each is worth (number of points in red).

*** HAVE TO BE USED, Thank you!! ***

TemplatesTemplates

Grading of Homework Assignments: 25 pts

– Points for:

• Well-written, logical, organized, application of terms studied in course.

• Use of supporting details and calculations to fully justify your answer.

• Accuracy of answer and proper application of economic concepts.

Tabs Tabs (top of the course page)(top of the course page)

Email: Write me directly from outlook to CGagnon@Kaplan.edu (otherwise e- mails might end up in junk

mail).

Chat: Feel free to use the chat room to meet in small groups – for team work for instance.

DocSharing: Each Tuesday night I will post the ‘Template’ for the following unit’s Homework and a ‘Preview of the week’ document.

Dropbox: That’s where you submit your Homework. Also look for

them graded.

Webliography: Links to graphers and to sites with

additional explanations on the course’s concepts are posted there.

** Feel free to share any useful site you might come across!! **

Seminar - Seminar - Ground RulesGround Rules

Some slides will be used, but mostly I will want to hear from you!!

Every week we’ll look at the homework, which will be the basis of my lectures

and You will have plenty of time to ask

questions!

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Question?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions? Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?

Questions?Questions?Quest