Principles of Macroeconomics
WEEK ONE
1.
The first day of class served as an introduction to the course and to the social science of economics. Course materials included:
Syllabus for Sec04 at 8am and Sec06 at 9:30am
Copies of the same syllabi formatted to the university template are available here and here
Absence Notification Form (requires Fresno State login)
Google Classroom (requires Fresno State login)
Guidelines for policy debate assignment for Sec04 at 8am and Sec06 at 9:30am
Slides, which are always a complement to and never a substitute for attending class
Guided notes, which are always yours to keep and meant to facilitate your note-taking
In-class activity, where you always need to be in class to do in-class activities and you should always turn them in by the end of class
First homework (requires Fresno State login), where homeworks are always due at least 15 minutes before the beginning of the next class after they're assigned
WEEK TWO
2.
On the second day, we continued our introduction to economics and learned our first model: the Production Possibilities Frontier (PPF).
Guided notes and handout on shape of PPF
Second homework with a mix of review and new stuff (Fresno State login required)
3.
On the third day, we discussed economists' favorite model: the supply-and-demand model of the market for a particular good or service.
Guided notes and handout on supply-and-demand model
In-class activity for Sec 04 at 8am and Sec 06 at 9:30am
Third homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK THREE
4.
On the fourth day, we discussed our first key macroeconomic variable: unemployment.
Handout on 100 dogs and 94 bones
Fourth homework (Fresno State login required)
5.
On the fifth day, we discussed our next key macro variable: the price level.
Handout on supply-and-demand model of labor market
Fifth homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK FOUR
6.
On the sixth day, we discussed Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In-class activity is Google Classroom question
Sixth homework (Fresno State login required)
7.
On the seventh day, we discussed money, interest rates, and foreign exchange rates.
In-class activity is a Quizziz
Handout on nominal vs. real interest rates
Seventh homework, which is a practice exam and a self-assessment (Fresno State login required)
WEEK FIVE
8.
On the eighth day, we reviewed for our first exam.
In-class activity is a Kahoot with questions to be posted after class
No homework, except to study for our exam.
9.
On the ninth day, we took our first exam.
No homework, except to read a handout for after the exam
WEEK SIX
10.
On the 10th day, we mastered the art of economic modeling.
Handout and collaborative slides for 8am and 9:30am sections with additional instructions
Optional exam wrapper (Fresno State login required)
Required eighth homework for Sec 04 at 8am and Sec 06 at 9:30am (Fresno State login required), part of which involves picking your policy debate question
11.
On the 11th day, we briefly discussed the history of economic thought, in general, and began to discuss Classical economic thought, in particular.
Ninth homework (Fresno State login required)
<- note to self: revise ninth homework be more like this
WEEK SEVEN
12.
On the 12th day, we wrapped up our discussion of Classical economic thought and started to discuss Keynesian economic thought.
In-class activity is GoFormative for Sec 04 at 8am and Sec 06 at 9:30am
Another in-class activity is a Kahoot!
10th homework for Sec 04 at 8am and Sec 06 at 9:30am (Fresno State login required)
13.
On the 13th day, we discussed the "Keynesian cross" model.
Guide to Keynesian cross model
11th homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK EIGHT
14.
On the 14th day, we continued our discussion the Keynesian cross model, in particular, and the Keynesian perspective, in general.
Handouts
In-class activity is GoFormative for Sec 04 at 8am and Sec 06 at 9:30am
12th homework (Fresno State login required)
15.
On the 15th day, we wrapped up our discussion of Keynesian economics and discussed the Austerian perspective.
In-class activity is GoFormative for Sec 04 at 8am and Sec 06 at 9:30am
Copies of that activity and next one
13th homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK NINE
16.
On the 16th day, we did a mini-review and preview.
Gallup Test of Economic Literacy slides
In-class activity is a Kahoot!
Copy of that activity and the next one
No homework because policy debate paper is due next time
17.
On the 17th day, policy debate papers were due and we discussed the "Aggregate Demand-Aggregate Supply" (AD-AS) model
In-class activity for Sec 04 at 8am and Sec 06 at 9:30am
14th homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK TEN
18.
On the 18th day, we continued to discuss the AD-AS model.
15th homework (Fresno State login required), which is another "practice exam" homework
19.
On the 19th day, we reviewed for our next exam.
Another handout on second exam
No homework, except to study.
WEEK ELEVEN
20.
On the 20th day, we took our second exam.
21.
On the 21st day, we started to discuss monetary policy.
Optional exam wrapper (Fresno State login required)
WEEK TWELVE
22.
On the 22nd day, we continued our discussion of monetary policy.
16th homework (Fresno State login required)
23.
On the 23rd day, we continued our discussion of monetary policy.
In-class activity to report back on Chair the Fed game
Another in-class activity on open-market operations
17th homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK THIRTEEN
24.
On the 24th day, we started to discuss open-economy issues, focusing on FOREX rates.
Handout on supply-and-demand model of FOREX rates
18th homework (Fresno State login required)
Ticket-out-the-door on presentation
25.
On the 25th day, we continued our discussion of international finance.
In-class activity questions and responses through Kahoot!
19th homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK FOURTEEN
26.
On the 26th day, we wrapped up our discussion of international finance.
In-class activity with versions for Sec 04 at 8am and Sec 06 at 9:30am
20th homework (Fresno State login required)
27.
On the 27th day, we started to discuss international trade.
In-class activity is GoFormative for Sec 04 at 8am and Sec 06 at 9:30am
No homework, except to work on policy debate presentation.
WEEK FIFTEEN
28.
On the 28th day, we wrapped up our discussion of international trade.
No homework, except to be ready to give policy debate presentation.
Thanksgiving break
WEEK SIXTEEN
29.
On the 29th day, presentations started.
Multi-day in-class activity for Sec 04 at 8am and Sec06 at 9:30am
21st homework (Fresno State login required)
30,
On the 30th day, we wrapped up the presentations.
22nd homework (Fresno State login required)
WEEK SEVENTEEN
31.
On our last day of scheduled instruction, we reviewed for our final exam.
In-class activity for Sec04 at 8am and Sec06 at 9:30am
Similar activities for Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2017, etc.
FINAL EXAM WEEK
PRESENTATIONS
Sec 04 at 8am
DEBATE #1: Should the US Senate pass a balanced-budget amendment?
DEBATE #6: Should the US Senate pass a three-month extension of emergency unemployment benefits?
DEBATE #5: Should the Bush tax cuts for upper-income Americans be allowed to expire?
DEBATE #2: Should the US House pass the “Jobs for Main Street Act”?
DEBATE #4: Should the US gov’t (form a special commission to) try to reduce its deficit and debt?
DEBATE #7: Should the US House pass the “Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act”?
DEBATE #10: Should the US Congress pass the proposed “Green New Deal”?
DEBATE #9: Should the US Congress pass the immigration bill endorsed by the President?
DEBATE #8: Has China’s trade liberalization gone far enough?
Sec 06 at 9:30am
DEBATE #1: Should the US Senate pass a balanced-budget amendment?
DEBATE #6: Should the US Senate pass a three-month extension of emergency unemployment benefits?
DEBATE #5: Should the Bush tax cuts for upper-income Americans be allowed to expire?
DEBATE #2: Should the US House pass the “Jobs for Main Street Act”?
DEBATE #4: Should the US gov’t (form a special commission to) try to reduce its deficit and debt?
DEBATE #7: Should the US House pass the “Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act”?
DEBATE #10: Should the US Congress pass the proposed “Green New Deal”?
DEBATE #9: Should the US Congress pass the immigration bill endorsed by the President?
DEBATE #3: Should the US Congress create a “Consumer Financial Protection Agency?”