EL SEGUNDO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

EL SEGUNDO HIGH SCHOOL

 

COURSE OF STUDY

 

Course Title:     Basic Economics

Department:      Social Science

Grade Level:     12

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

BASIC ECONOMICS

 

According to the California State Standards for Economics, the primary goals of the study of basic economics are to help students become responsible citizens and effective decision makers. Students will develop an understanding of basic economic principles, including the law of supply and demand, scarcity, the role of the market place, competition and choice. In their study of economics, topics covered are inflation and unemployment, students’ role in the marketplace, and budgeting.  To meet the workability objectives, personal economic decision-making is integrated throughout the course in such areas as job choice, consumer information, and investments.

 

 

Length: One Semester

Prerequisite for Enrollment: Individual Education Plan (IEP)

Recommendation for Enrollment:  Participant in the workability program

Type of Course: Required for high school graduation

 

COURSE OUTLINE AND STANDARDS

Based on the California Content Standards(numerical)  and the Workability Objectives (Course Description)

 

1.0: Students understand common economic terms and concepts and economic reasoning,

in terms of:

1.1: The causal relationship between scarcity and the need for choices

1.2: Opportunity cost and marginal benefit and marginal cost

1.3: The difference between monetary and non-monetary incentives and how changes

 in incentives cause changes in behavior

      (Integration of Core Knowledge,

       Critical Thinking/Problem Solving, Personal/Social Development)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.1: Students analyze the elements of the United States market economy in a global

      setting, in terms of:

      2.1: The relationship of the concept of incentives to the law of supply and the

             relationship of the concept of incentives and substitutes to the law of demand

      2.2: The effect of changes in supply and/or demand on the relative scarcity, price and

             quantity of particular products

      2.3: The role of property rights, competition, and profit in a market economy

      2.5: The process by which competition among buyers and sellers determines a market

             clearing price

      2.6: The effect of price controls on buyers and sellers          (Integration of Core Knowledge, Critical Thinking/Problem Solving, Effective, Personal/Social  Development)

 

3.0: Students analyze the influence of the U.S. government on the American economy, in

 terms of:

3.1: How the role of government in a market economy often includes providing for

       national defense, addressing environmental concerns, defining and enforcing

       property rights, attempting to make markets more competitive, and protecting

       consumer rights

 (Critical Thinking/Problem Solving, Personal/Social

       Development)

 

4.0: Students analyze the elements of the United States labor market in a global setting,

      in terms of:

      4.1: The operations of the labor market, including the circumstances surrounding the

             establishment of principal American labor unions, procedures used to gain

             benefits for its members, the effect of unionization, the minimum wage, and

             unemployment insurance

      4.2: The current economy and labor market including the types of goods and services

             produced, types of skills necessary, the effect of rapid technological change, and

             the impact of international competition

      4.3: Wage differences among jobs and professions using the laws of demand and

             supply and the concept of productivity

                        (Integration of Core Knowledge)

 

5.0: Students analyze the aggregate economic behavior of the United States economy by:

      5.2: Defining, calculating and explaining the significance of an unemployment rate,

             the number of new jobs created monthly, and inflation or deflations rage, and a

             rate of economic growth

      5.3: Distinguishing between short-term and long-term interest rates and explaining

             their relative significance. (Integration of Core Knowledge, Critical Thinking/Problem

             Solving)

 

 

 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

 

A.                    Lecture and Guided Practice

B.                    Classwork and Homework

C.                    Individual Work

D.                    Group Work

E.                     Projects

F.                     Videos

 

EVALUATION/GRADING OF STUDENT WORK

A.                    Quizzes and Unit tests

B.                    Comprehensive final exam

C.                    Homework and classroom participation

D.                    Projects

E.                     Notebooks

F.                     Current Events

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

A.     Text: Economics, 2000 by South-Western

B.     Handouts

C.     Videos

D.     Newspapers

E.      Internet