Teacher webpage for Cary Hurt
(256) 428-8000 ex 147
Room BB5
Department
Social Studies
Courses Taught
Economics (12th grade)
World History (9th grade)
Other Duties
SGA Sponsor, Senior Class Sponsor, Key Club faculty Sponsor.
Syllabus
Economics
Teacher:
Statement of Essential Functions
This
course provides one-half of the required Social Studies credit for the twelfth
grade. It is one of the core courses in the four by four curriculum,
and passing Economics is a necessity for graduation. Prerequisites include
Twelfth grade standing and successful completion of previous required Social
Studies classes is considered necessary.
This
course aims to foster an understanding of the basic concepts needed for
appreciation of, and informed participation in, our American economy. In order
to achieve this goal, emphasis is placed upon learning the historical
background and current application of economic concepts, as well as the
methodology and terminology, and upon problem solving as a way of demonstrating
understanding. There are areas requiring both concrete and abstract reasoning
skills, and there is also a need for deductive reasoning. Critical thinking is
emphasized in problem-solving exercises. Students should possess the ability to
understand and manipulate data in varied forms, particularly in charts and
graphs, and should be able to appropriately apply such information in differing
situations. There is a distinct need for both written and oral communication
skills and there will be some call for mathematic calculation and computation
skills. The student should exhibit the maturity and attention span necessary to
deal with abstractions, and with theoretical and hypothetical discussion of
varied topics.
Text: Economics: Principles in Action by
Arthur O'Sullivan and Steven Sheffrin
(Pearson
Prentice Hall,
Supplementary
materials will be provided as needed.
Tests: There will be unit tests,
approximately every second week. The tests will be primarily multiple-choice in
format, with matching and true-false items also. There will be comprehensive
mid-term and final examinations. If time allows, there may be a research
project during the second nine weeks.
Grading:
Percentages will vary depending upon the number of tests and classwork assignments
completed during the nine weeks period. There will be extra credit assignments
each nine weeks.
Course Content:
I:
Basic Macroeconomic Principles-
A. Basic
Economic Systems
B. Factors
of Production
II: Basic Microeconomic
Principles-
A. Demand
B. Supply
C. Price
Determination
D. Costs
and Profits
III:
Business Firm Organization and Market Structure
A.
Proprietorships, Partnerships, and Corporations
B.
Cooperatives and Other Forms
C.
Competition
D. Seller's
Markets- Monopoly, Oligopoly, Monopolistic Competition and Pure Competition.
E. Buyer's
Markets- Monopsony, Oligopsony and Competitive Markets
F.
Government Intervention
IV:
Economic problems
A. Business
Cycles
B.
Unemployment
C.
Inflation
V.
Fiscal Policy
A.
Attributes
B.
Government Spending and Taxation
C.
Historical Application
D. Effect
VI.
Monetary Policy
A. Attributes
B. Intervention in
the banking system
C.
Historical Application
D. Effects
VII:
Money and Banking
A. Money
B.
Development and Functions of the Banking System.
C. The
Federal Reserve System
VIII:
Comparative Economic Systems.
A.
Attributes, Costs and Benefits of Differing Systems
B. Market
Systems
C. Command
Systems
D. Mixed
Economic Systems
E.
Political Manifestations
I have been teaching
at Grissom since the 1985-86 school year. I hold a BA
in Economics, English and International Business from the
Last revised: