Principles of Macroeconomics

Instructor: Office Hours:

Mohamed Soliman by appointment
Office number: email:
GR 2.822 solimanm@utdallas.edu

Course code: Days Time

ECO 2301 MWF 9:00-9:50am

Course Description:
This course studies the problems of the economy from a macroeconomic perspective. Topics of
macroeconomic analysis include aggregate employment, income, fiscal and monetary policy,
growth and business cycles. There are four main reasons to study the principles of economics: to
learn an economic way of thinking, to better understand society, to understand global affairs, and
to be an informed voter. This class is designed to expand your understanding of economics. The
objective is that you acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge of the macro economy. When
you finish this course, you should have a clear understanding of the macro economy and how it
relates to your daily life and the world around you.

THIS SYLLABUS IS TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE

CLASS REQUIREMENTS
• Students are expected to be diligent in the pursuit of their studies and regular in their
attendance. Class attendance is not required; however, failure to attend is done at your
own risk. You are responsible for any announcements made during class. No excuses will
be accepted.

• The exams will be based on lecture material and required readings. Some of the lecture
material will not be in the readings (the instructor will not provide copies of class notes).

• Required readings will be approximately 1 to 2 chapters per week. The students should
have carefully read the material at least once before class.

• Classroom conduct: I expect students to be attentive during class and to actively

participate in group activities. You are expected to listen respectfully to the instructor and
the other students when speaking. Racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, ageism and
other forms of bigotry are inappropriate to express in this class. We may discuss issues
that require sensitivity and maturity. Disruptive students will be asked to leave the class
and could be subject to disciplinary proceedings. According to the University’s A to Z
guide: The University recognizes that students have the rights and privileges of freedom of
 speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of dissent. However, conduct that significantly
interferes with the University’s responsibilities, endangers the health or safety of members
of the University or of visitors on the campus, or damages, defaces, or destroys University
property is prohibited and the student is subject to disciplinary action.

• Grading will be based on: (see class schedule for due dates)
1st Exam: 20%
2nd Exam: 20%
3rd Exam: 20%
4th Exam: 20%
Quizzes: 20%
Final Exam: Optional (replaces the lowest of the 4 exam grades)
Extra credit: 5%
Bring picture identification and a scantron to each exam. Scantron type to be announced in
class.

OTHER POLICIES
• Exam Schedule Problems: NO MAKE UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN. Instead, with advance
notice, students may take a comprehensive final exam to replace one exam grade. If you
miss more than one exam, you will receive a zero for the additional missed exam. There
are no exceptions. THE OPTIONAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAM CANNOT BE MADE UP IF
MISSED. Plan on taking the comprehensive exam at your own risk.
• Incompletes: Incompletes are assigned at the discretion of the instructor according to the
policy as stated in the catalog. To be considered for an incomplete, you must petition with
the appropriate form. Please note that the University requires that you have completed at
least 70% of the course material to be eligible for an incomplete.
• Scholastic Dishonesty: Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on
assignments or examinations, plagiarizing (misrepresenting as your own work any part of
work done by another), submitting the same assignment, or substantially similar
assignments, to meet the requirements of more than one course without the prior approval
of all instructors, depriving another student of necessary course materials, or interfering
with another student’s work. If in doubt about the ethics of your actions, consult the
Catalog to see the University’s policy. Violations of this policy will be punished severely
and according to the fullest extent of the policy.
• Cell phones and Pagers: Due to receiving numerous complaints from students, this policy
is necessary. If you allow your cell phone or beeper to audibly ring or beep in class, you
will be penalized. The first time is a warning. After that, you lose points. The penalty starts
at two points and will double every time thereafter. If you answer the phone in class, no
warning will be granted and you will be immediately assessed the penalty.

ACCESSIBILITY
If you have a condition that requires accommodation in this course, please speak with me after
class or in office hours during the first week of class. I will be happy to make appropriate
accommodations provided timely notice is received and the arrangement is consistent with any
recommendations from Disability Services when applicable. Disability Services can be reached at
972-883-2098. The syllabus and other course materials can be made available in alternative
formats.

QUIZZES
You must take quizzes online through WebCT. The quizzes are “open book.” You may refer to the
book and lecture materials while taking the quizzes. There is a time window during which you will
be able to take each chapter quiz. It is your responsibility to take the quizzes before the due date,
which is the morning of the last scheduled regular exam (Exam 4). The quizzes are essential to
your level of success in the class. Missed quizzes cannot be made up or reviewed for the exam.
There will be no review for the exams. Instead, 80% of the exam material will come from the
quizzes. The rest of the material will come from readings and the lectures.

WebCT
WebCT is used in this class for quizzes, review and to check your progress in the class. If you do
not have a computer at home or prefer to work on campus, you may do this at the library or in the
many computer labs on campus.

If you are unfamiliar with WebCT, go to the following URL for directions:
http://www.utdallas.edu/distancelearning/students/webct_login.htm

If you need help with a netID or UNIX password, go to this URL:

http://www.utdallas.edu/distancelearning/students/netid.htm

WebCT is an internet based learning aid. Because of this, occasional, brief outages are possible.
If, for whatever reason, you lose your connection during a quiz, do not panic. When you are able to
log on again, continue with the quiz even if WebCT states that the time limit is exceeded. In these
cases, the quiz will still be graded. In general, it is strongly recommended that you do not wait until
the last minute to take your quizzes. According to Murphy’s law, problems occur when it would be
least convenient. Procrastinate at your own risk.

EXTRA CREDIT
You may do up to 5 extra credit assignments for a total of 5% of your grade. Each assignment you
turn in can count for a maximum of 1% of your grade. You can turn in no more than 5 assignments.
We will only grade the first 5 assignments you turn in.
Extra credit options:
1. Web exercises—each chapter counts as one assignment.
2. In-class assignments.

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU SUCCEED.

The university offers assistance to students in many areas. Please do not feel stigmatized by
using these resources. Good students become better students by using them.

Learning Resource Center offers a variety of programs to help you, ranging from individual tutoring
to review classes for the GRE, GMAT, etc. They are located in MC2.402 and can be reached at
883-6707.

Please feel free to contact me about any concerns you have about the course.
 REQUIRED TEXT
The Macro Economy Today by Bradley Schiller, 10 th edition (available at the Campus and Off-
Campus Bookstores).

CLASS SCHEDULE (tentative)

Week 1 (week of Monday Jan. 9)……………….... Introduction, Ch. 1

Week 2 (week of Monday, Jan. 16)………………. Ch. 1,2
Week 3 (week of Monday, Jan. 23)………………. Ch. 3,4
Week 4 (week of Monday, Jan. 30)………………. Ch. 4, Test 1 (Feb. 3)
Week 5 (week of Monday, Feb. 6)………………...Ch. 5
Week 6 (week of Monday, Feb. 13)……………….Ch. 6
Week 7 (week of Monday, Feb. 20)……………….Ch. 7
Week 8 (week of Monday, Feb. 27)……………….Test 2 (Feb 27), Ch. 8
Week 9 (week of Monday, March 6)……………… Spring Break
Week 10 (week of Monday, March 13)…………... Ch. 8,9
Week 11 (week of Monday, March 20)…………... Ch. 9,10
Week 12 (week of Monday, March 27)…………... Ch. 11,12, Test 3 (March 30)
Week 13 (week of Monday, April 3)……………….Ch. 13,14
Week 14 (week of Monday, April 10)…………….. Ch. 14,15
Week 15 (week of Monday, April 17)…………….. Ch. 15, Test 4 (April 21)
Monday, April 24…………………………………... Optional Final Exam