Course Rationale:
Economics is a one semester course promoting within students a deeper
understanding of the economic problems and institutions of the nation and
the world in which they live, and enabling them to make reasoned decisions
on economic issues. The course is primarily a Social Science course, giving
an understanding of the operations and institutions of the United States’
market economy. As such, it is divided in two main sections:
microeconomics, the study of individuals and individual industries in the
economy; and macroeconomics, the study of aggregate economic behavior of the
economy of the nation and world. The course follows the California Social
Science Standards and is a California requirement for high school graduation
and a University of California entrance requirement.
Course Description:
The course is a study of the role that economics plays in our lives as
individuals and as a nation. Its purpose is to understand and improve the
quality of the choice-making process. Active, student-centered learning,
with the teacher facilitating the process and assessing student progress
will be emphasized. Students will further develop their skills in studying,
note taking, researching, oral/written communication and critical thinking.
Journal: Students will be responsible for purchasing and maintaining a
journal that will be used for notes, review and preview questions, and other
entries designed to highlight thematic topics. Journals should be brought
to class each day.
Fast Food Nation Project: Ten percent of the grade will be based on reading
the book, Fast Food Nation, and a culminating mind map project. This book
bridges concepts and the workings of government with economics.
Community Participation: A significant feature of Economics (and American
Government, as well) is the requirement of six hours of community
participation. Different from community service, community participation
deals with being involved in your community by attending city council
meetings, school board meetings, viewing court cases, etc. Failure to meet
the six-hour requirement per semester will result in failing the class.
This is a requirement for each American Government and Economics course at
Rancho Buena Vista High School. Further information can be downloaded from
my web page or the Rancho Buena Vista High School website.
Resource Material: Economics in our Times, 2nd Edition, Roger A. Arnold,
California State University San Marcos
Course Objectives: Economics
Grade Twelve Essential Standards
Vista Unified School District
12.1 Students understand common economic terms and concepts and economic
reasoning.
12.11 Examine the relationship between scarcity and the need for choices.
12.12 Explain opportunity cost, marginal benefit, and marginal cost.
12.13 Identify the differences between monetary and nonmonetary incentives
and how changes in incentive cause changes in behavior.
12.14 Evaluate the role of private property as an incentive in conserving
and improving scarce resources.
12.2 Students analyze the elements of the United States’ market economy
in a global setting.
12.21 Understand the relationship of the concept of incentives to the laws
of supply and demand and the role of substitutes to the law of
demand.
12.22 Discuss the effect of scarcity, price, and quantity on supply and
demand.
12.23 Explain the roles of property rights, competition and profit.
12.24 Explain how prices reflect scarcity and perform an allocative
function.
12.25 Understand the role of competition in determining the market price.
12.27 Analyze how domestic and international competition affects goods and
services produced (quality, quantity and price).
12.28 Describe the functions of the financial markets including the role
of banks, the stock market and other financial institutions.
12.3 Students analyze the influence of the federal government on the U.S.
economy.
12.31 Understand how our government provides for national defense,
protects the environment, defines/ enforces property rights,
encourages competition and protects the consumers.
12.33 Describe the fiscal policies of our federal government (taxation,
borrowing, and spending) and their influence on our economy.
12.34 Understand the monetary policy of our Federal Reserve System and its
influence on our economy.
12.4 Students analyze the elements of the U.S. labor market in a global
setting.
12.42 Describe the current labor market, the types of skills and education
workers need, the impact of technology and international competition.
12.5 Students analyze the aggregate economic behavior of the U.S. economy.
12.52 Define, calculate and explain the unemployment rate, inflation or
deflation rate, and economic growth (GDP) of the economy.
12.53 Explain the impact of interest rates on the economy.
Grading Scale:
A - 90-100%
B - 80-89%
C - 70-79%
D - 60-69%
Percentage Breakdown:
Attendance 10%
Participation 10%
Journal 10%
Fast Food Nation Project 10%
Classwork / Homework / Projects / Tests / Final Exam 50%
Community Participation 10%
Attendance and participation are important features of your grade. Because
class begins on time, it is important not to be tardy. Excessive tardies
and absences (more than 7) will affect your grade. Homework is due on the
due date at the beginning of the period. 10% will be deducted for each day
the homework is late, and will not be accepted after the 4th school day it
was due.
