Unit 1 – Seminar Introduction to the Course & First Principles AB224 Microeconomics

About 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   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 me   Kaplan   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 …

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??

  The Syllabus was sent to you by and can be found in the Doc Sharing.   All the information in the Syllabus can also be found under Course Home in the course. Syllabus

  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. Syllabus - Late Policy

Syllabus – 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 – Your Textbook

Syllabus - Gradebook GRADING CRITERIA/COURSE EVALUATION TOP TOP AssessmentUnit 1Unit 2Unit 3Unit 4Unit 5Unit 6Unit 7Unit 8Unit 9Unit 10 Discussion25 pts Assignments30 pts Research Project 10 pts Topic 50 pts Outline 50 pts First Draft 200 pts Final Draft Final Exam180 pts Writing Assignment 45 pts Course Total = 1000 points

Atomic Learning …

Virtual 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 s 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 * 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. Assignments – Discussion Forum

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 … Assignments – Homework

 Will be sent by 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!! *** Templates

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 (top of the course page)   Write me directly from outlook to (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 - Ground 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!

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