EL SEGUNDO UNIFIED
EL SEGUNDO HIGH SCHOOL
COURSE OF STUDY
Course Title: Advanced Placement Economics
Department: Social Studies
Grade Level 11-12
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The AP Microeconomic course is college level work and requires a major commitment of time and intellectual energy on the part of the student. Students must receive a letter grade of “B” in order to advance to the next semester. The study of Microeconomics is to give students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decisions maker, both consumers and producers, within the larger economic system. It places primary emphasis on the nature and functions of product markets, and includes the study of factor markets and the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. Students prepare for the College Board Advanced Placement Exam.
Length: One Year
Prerequisite for Enrollment: PSAT/SAT Math Score: 550 or better. Concurrent enrollment in or successful completion of Pre-Calculus. Students enrolled in AP Economics must take the A.P. exam (the cost of this exam is approximately $80.00)
Recommendation for Enrollment: Strong recommendation by a math teacher.
Type of Course: College Level
COURSE OUTLINE AND STANDARDS
Based on the College Board Advanced Placement
Standards
1.0 Basic Economic concepts
1.1 The student understands that the study of microeconomics examines the existence of limited resources along with unlimited wants results in the need to make choices. ( Meaningful Integration of Core Knowledge)
1.2 Exploring the need to make choices, the students will illustrate the production possibilities curve and other analytical economic models. (Effective Communication, Personal and Social Development)
2.0 The nature and functions of Product Markets
2.1 Students develop and explain how product markets fall into four broad areas: supply and demand models, consumer choice, production and costs, and market structures. (Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving; Meaningful Integration of Core Knowledge; Effective communication)
3.0 Factor markets
3.1 Students apply the concepts of supply and demand to markets for factors such as labor, capital, and land as well as to product markets. (Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving; Meaningful Integration of Core Knowledge; Effective communication)
3.2 Students analyze the concept of derived demand, and understand how a factor’s marginal product and the marginal revenue affect the demand for the factor. (Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving; Meaningful Integration of Core Knowledge; Effective communication)
3.3 Students examine the labor market, particularly labor supply and wage employment determination. (Personal/Social Development, Critical Thinking/ Problem Solve, Meaningful Integration of Core Knowledge; Effective communication)
4.0 Efficiency, equity, and the role of government
4.1 Students present arguments for and against government intervention in an otherwise competitive market. (Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving; Meaningful Integration of Core Knowledge; Effective communication)
4.2 Students examine the conditions for economic efficiency and the ways in which public goods and externalities generate market failures. (Personal/Social Development, Critical Thinking/ Problem Solve, Meaningful Integration of Core Knowledge; Effective communication)
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS
A. Lecture and guided practice
B. Investigations (Persona and social developments)
C. Computer generated assist instruction/testing
D. Classwork and Homework
E. Individual work
F. Group Work
G. Projects
EVALUATION/GRADING OF STUDENT WORK
A. Quizzes and Chapter Work
B. Semester exam
C. Comprehensive final exam
D. Homework and classroom participation
E. Projects
F. Development and presentation of models
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
A. Text: Economics Today, eighth edition by Harper Collins
B. Workbook for Economics Today, eighth edition by Harper Collins