Week of September 24

Chapter 1, Undressing Economics due next Monday
15 Facts with page numbers
3 Q+A
Reaction to content and authors style is due next Monday.

2(1), 2(2), 2(3)  assigned last week

2(4) ________________________ due Wednesday

be ready for a quiz on Chapter 2 on Friday

Week of September 17, 2012

 Happy Constitution Day.  September 17, 1787 the US Constitution was ratified.

Quiz Tuesday on Chapter 1.   All vocabulary and questions are due.

Due Wednesday
Read: Undressing the Dismal Science, Charles Wheelan,
 Introduction
5 facts with page number.
Reaction to the reading

Due Wednesday:            
2(1)  Answering  the 3 economic questions. (23-27)                   Group:___________

                                               
2(2)  The Free Market (28-32)                                                     Group:___________

Due Thursday:               
   2(3) Centrally Planned Economy (34-38)                                  Group: ___________

Due Friday

Profile: Adam Smith (p.33)  Answer questions 1+2

Real Life Case Study: Russia in Crisis (p. 39)  Answer questions 1+2.


Business Interview project due date October 9, 2012  (the day after Columbus Day) 

Week of September 10, 2012

Homework due this week.

Tuesday:  1(1) and 1(2) class presentations.  Questions to be answered in class.

Wednesday:  WSJ due for all students.  5 stories outlined, NOT including stories on page 4+5
1(3)  class presentations.

Thursday:  Read Economic Profile of Gary Becker on page 7.  Answer questions #1-3.
Read real life cas study page 19.  Answer questions #1+2.

Quiz Friday on Chapter 1.
All chapter vocabulary and questions completed in class are due before the quiz.

Interview project due date October 9, 2012  (the day after Columbus Day)

Class Rules

Mr. Stanton’s Class Rules for 2012-2013

1. Come to class and participate in your learning.

Pay attention. Ask questions if you are confused. Make eye contact with the speaker.  

2. Be respectful to your peers, the school, and me.

Come to class on time and put electronic devices away.  Don’t write on school property.  Be nice to your peers (follow the Golden Rule.)

3. No whining, excuses or complaining

If you have a problem, address it with me.  Let me know beforehand if you think the homework is excessive or an assignment is unfair.  I will give you enough time to complete your assignments.  Do not wait until the last moment to complete long term assignments.

 

Grading

1.      Tests/Quizzes/Projects         60%

2.      Homework                           15%

3.      Class work /Presentations  25%

Watch http://video.pbs.org/video/2232037826" target="_blank">Civilization (Part 1) on PBS. See more from http://www.pbs.org/" target="_blank">Civilization: The West and the Rest with Niall Ferguson.

Cognitive Dissonance

http://www.npr.org/v2/?i=152287372&m=152319297&t=audio" height="386" wmode="opaque" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" base="http://www.npr.org" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"&gt

Final paper

http://budgethero.publicradio.org/widget/widget.php?refid=MKP#   

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/

http://www.nathannewman.org/nbs/

Use the links to the US debt clock, the St.Louis Fred, the national budget simulation, and  the budget hero to identify problems and possible solutions to the fiscal problems of the US.  Make sure to include current numbers from the Fed when you identify the national goals.

Part I
What is the current state of the US economy?  Identify the four US national goals and what the US budget should be to maintain these goals.
Why does the US have a debt of over $15 trillion?
What was the US debt in 2000, 2004, 2008? What was the GDP during those years?  What percent was the debt to the GDP in those years?   Identify the trend.
Can the current annual deficits be continued indefinately into the future? How long can this trend continue according to the budget hero?
Identify three ways to balance the budget?  How much revenue was lost with the Bush tax cuts. Should those tax cuts be allowed to lapse this summer?  Why or why not? 

Part II
Complete the budget hero, print out your budget.
Explain if you took a liberal, conservative or independent perspective in trying to balance the budget.
Explain what your goals are and how you met or did not meet them in the simulation.
Was your simulation politically feasible in today's climate?  Could you be elected? Explain

Part III
Explain how you were or were not able balance the budget.
What if anything will you have to do to make your solution politically feasible?
If the US is to get the future budget under control, how will we do it?  

Part IV
Opinion:  are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future of dealing with the deficit and the US national goals?  Explain your answer.



Paper length: 3-5 pages, excluding budget hero. 
Due date: on or before May 21, 2012.