IB Comparative Political and Economic Systems,
2008-2009
Kyle Yamada
E-mail: yamada@4j.lane.edu
Telephone: Churchill – 687-3438, South – 687-3115
Web
page: http://www.4j.lane.edu/~yamada/
Office
hours: CHS – Rm. J12 or IHS office,
SEHS – Rm. 524, 520 or 521
Rationale: Why Economics?
The
study of economics can help us answer all of these questions and many more. In
fact, almost every problem that we face in the world today, from what
toothpaste we buy to the dangers of global warming, has an economic component.
Throughout this year you will learn how to think like an economist and apply
the tools of the trade to problems affecting you and society as a whole.
Major Topics and Subjects
We
will begin the year by establishing basic economic concepts and principles. We
will then determine what these principles can tell us about the prices and
availability of the goods and services that we buy. Once we have an idea of how
economics works on a small scale, we will zoom out and grapple with the
bigger-picture problem of how to divide up a country’s wealth in the most fair
and effective manner. Finally, we will explore the challenges and opportunities
that global trade poses and evaluate solutions for bringing the majority of the
world’s population out of poverty.
This
class is structured around the International Baccalaureate program’s standard
level syllabus in Economics. You will need to take the IB Economics test (as
well as five others) if you plan to pursue an IB diploma. (If you are unsure
about the IB diploma or your college credit needs, sign up for an IB interview
with a Eugene IHS junior teacher.) Whether you decide to take the IB test or
not, this course will appear on your transcript as an IB-level course, so you
will learn the same concepts and meet the same requirements as you would if you
were taking the test.
Academic Policies
Grading Procedures
Your
grade will be based on five major categories with their approximate percentage
weight listed below:
Day-to-day homework and reading quizzes 10%
Current events commentaries (2 per semester) 50%
Other large assignments 20%
Tests and quizzes 20%
Holistic judgment – this includes participation,
citizenship, character, and overall involvement in the course. If this area is
strong it may improve a borderline grade. In rare cases of poor citizenship or
character it may reduce a borderline grade.
I will give final grades at the end of each semester
according to the following grade scale:
A = 93-100%, A- = 89.5-92.99%, B+ = 87-89.49%, B =
83-86.99%, B- = 79.5-82.99%, C+ = 77-79.49%, C = 73-76.99%, C- = 69.5-72.99%, D
= 59.5-69.49%, NP = 0 – 59.49%
I may make mistakes on occasion, so keep graded assignments for your records.
They are your proof that you have completed the work. Besides, these materials
will help you study for the IB and in-class tests.
Online Grades
You can check your grade online using my web site.
Go to http://4j.lane.edu/~yamada/ and click on “check your
grade” on the left hand side near the bottom. Follow the instructions on the
target page to view grades. Your login is your student number. Your either
received a password at registration or will receive one in class.
Class Work and
Homework Assignments
I will supply specific requirements for certain assignments.
However, some general requirements will apply to all assignments unless
otherwise specified.
Bob Roberts
Churchill, Per. 2
Grandparents Day Assignment
Academic Integrity
Naturally,
I expect you to turn in your own work, as opposed to work copied from friends,
the Internet, or other sources. If I find that you have cheated or plagiarized
on any part of an assignment or test, you will receive zero credit for the work.
There may also be other consequences depending on the seriousness of the
violation. This policy applies equally to those who help someone
cheat/plagiarize. The objective is not to punish, but to ensure that the vast
majority of students who do exercise integrity are not put at an unfair
disadvantage.
Of
course, there are exceptions for group projects and assignments on which I explicitly
ask you to work together. I also encourage you to work together on day-to-day
homework, but if you do, make sure to
put all answers in your own words – otherwise, it’s
plagiarism.
Participation
and Citizenship
Spirited discussions of controversial issues are a
vital part of learning in our class. To do well in the holistic judgment category
of your grade, you will need to jump into the arena and get your ideas out
there on a regular basis in a way that is respectful to others in the class.
Expressing your brilliant ideas can be counterproductive if you do it in a way
that makes others afraid to speak up. I will not tolerate put-downs or
harassment of others in the class, and the holistic judgment portion of your
grade will reflect this policy.
Absences, Tardies and Late Work
We
have many challenging problems to tackle this year, so it’s important that we
begin on time without interruptions. Since we will frequently be correcting
homework and taking reading quizzes at the very beginning of class, you will
need to show up on time to get credit for those assessments.
I do not accept late work on
day-to-day homework. Depending on the circumstances, I may accept commentaries or other
large assignments late for a reduced grade, but I reserve the right to not
accept them. Assignments are due at the
beginning of the period on the due date listed.
If
you are unable to turn work in on the due date because of an absence, it is up
to you to get the absence excused or I will consider it late. If you have an
excused absence the assignment will be due on the next day you are in class.
(For example, if you miss class on an alpha day and have an excused absence,
the assignment will be due on the next alpha day.) I will not accept any work
due on a day that you skip.
If
you think you will be unable to turn in an assignment on time, the important
thing is to talk to me before the
due date. The earlier you approach me, the more sympathetic I will be to
your request for an extension. If I grant an extension I will not consider the
work to be late. I may also grant extensions when situations arise that you are
unable to control and/or predict. If I do grant an extension, you may still
receive reduced credit for the assignment depending on how early you contacted
me and the validity of the excuse.
All
work turned in past the original due date must have a completed “due date extension form” attached or
it will be considered late and not receive credit. These slips are available in
the classroom and on the “assignments” page of my web site.
Assignment
Blog
If you are absent you are responsible for checking
the “Assignments” page on my web site. This page may tell you what homework is
due for the next class and may also give a brief description of what we did in
class that day. You will be able to download some handouts in Microsoft Word or
Adobe PDF format, but not all handouts will be available online, so make sure
you have your homework partner pick up copies of any materials you are missing.
You can go straight to the assignment blog by accessing
http://blogs.4j.lane.edu/yamada
Homework Partner
Find
a person you can rely on to be your homework partner. Homework partners are
responsible for providing each other with information about homework and missed
lessons if one them is absent.
Homework
partner: _____________________ Phone
#:_______________ e-mail:_________________
Check the assignments page
and ask your homework partner for any handouts you may have missed while gone
before asking me. I will also make extra copies available in the classroom from time to
time. See me only once you have exhausted these other options. This will save
us valuable time in class.
Day-to-Day
Procedures
Beginning
Class
It’s important to be seated and ready to go when
class starts, since you will frequently be showing me your homework for
completion or taking a short quiz. Right
before class is not a good time to ask me questions, as I will be focusing
on the day’s activities. However, I’m more than happy to talk to your heart’s content if you show up a good 20 minutes early,
visit during office hours, or make an appointment.
Materials
Your textbook is the IB Economics Course Companion. You do not need to bring it to class
each day. I do expect you to bring your own pens, pencils, paper and notebook.
Seating
I
will assign a seating chart at the beginning of the year to help me learn your
names. I find this helps students work with people they wouldn’t usually get a
chance to interact with, and it also allows me to take attendance more quickly.
If the class demonstrates a high level of maturity we will switch to
student-selected seating charts that change once a month.
Food and Drink
You
may bring food and beverages to class, but 4J district policy does not allow
soft drinks. You are responsible for keeping your area clean. If there is
garbage on or under your desk after you leave, it will jeopardize food/drink
privileges for the whole class.
Bathroom
Take
care of business before class. If you need to go during class wait until a group
activity or a transition between activities in order to keep distractions to a
minimum. Let me know you are leaving before you go so I don’t accidentally mark
you absent.
End of Class
At
the end of the period you will be
responsible for copying down any assignments listed on the board and turning in any homework due that day that I didn’t collect at the
beginning of class. I also expect you to help others who use our room by returning
seats/desks to their original positions, putting away any materials that you
use during class and cleaning up any messes you may have made.
I’m
looking forward to a year of growth and development, chock-full of positive
externalities!
Appropriate accommodations
will be made for special needs students.