KOFA HIGH SCHOOL 
SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT 

ECONOMICS SYLLABUS 

www.quia.com/pages/kofaeconomics.html 

GOALS 

We have two goals for this course. 

• 
Help students to thoroughly understand and effectively apply fundamental microeconomic 
and macroeconomic principles. 
• 
Help students thoroughly recognize and understand how these principles relate to their 
roles as participating citizens in our domestic and global economies and societies. 
• 
Help students thoroughly recognize and understand how these principles relate to 
themselves personally , professionally , and in their roles as participating citizens in our 
domestic and global economies and societies 
COMPETENCIES 

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to do the following: 

• 
Identify and explain the fundamental laws, principles, models, and concepts found in 
the study of economics 
• 
Identify as well as to compare and contrast the different types of economic systems 
• 
Identify and explain the unique characteristics of the American free market system 
• 
Identify and explain the roles of our key economic institutions and organizations 
• 
Identify and explain the fundamental characteristics and roles of market structures and 
financial instruments 
• 
Identify and explain how economic performance is measured and evaluated 
• 
Identify and explain the types of fiscal management philosophies and policies that can be 
used to manage the economy 
• 
Identify and explain the fundamental characteristics of the major economic challenges such 
as inflation, unemployment, and poverty 
• 
Identify and explain the types of monetary philosophies and policies that can be used to 
manage the economy 

• 
Identify and explain the fundamental philosophies, policies, activities, institutions, and 
measurements relating to global trade and development 
• 
Identify and explain current economic conditions and events 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION 

Classroom instruction : 

• 
Lecture and discussion regarding course material 
• 
Reading assignments related to course material 
• 
Viewing and discussion regarding videos supplementing course material 
• 
Workshop exercises supplementing course material 
• 
Discussion of current economic events related to course material 
Out of classroom instruction : 

Students are strongly recommended to regularly visit our class web site which contains valuable 
information. The URL for the web site is www.quia.com/pages/kofaeconomics.html . 

For student planning purposes , the web site contains a class calendar that shows dates for all 
exams. It also contains great study tools that are designed to help students prepare for chapter 
exams. For example , practice exams in fun game formats ( Economic Jeopardy ) are posted to the 
web site 48 hours prior to chapter exams. 

MEASUREMENT 

Grades for each marking period will be calculated as follows : 

• 
70 % Based on chapter exams 
• 
15 % Based on video exams 
· 15 % Based on team critical thinking exams 
The semester grade will be determined by the YUHSD guidelines. 
SPECIAL RULES WITH REGARDS TO EXAMS 

Please note that all missed chapter and team critical thinking exams must be made up within the six 
week marking period that they are administered in. Failure to make up missed chapter exams will 
result in receiving a grade of “ zero ( 0 ) ” on that exam. 

Video exams that are missed as a result of a student absence will not be made up. Students will be 
“ exempted ” from a grade and not penalized. 


On days of video and “ team critical thinking ” exams, students who are tardy to class without a 
valid excuse, will be penalized 10 points on the exam if they arrive after the video has started or 
the teams have begun work. 

ATTENDANCE ADVISORY !! 

Teacher make-ups are not available for excessive absences. Saturday school is the only alternative. 

CLASS OUTLINE AND SCHEDULE 
INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS 
Week 1 INTRODUCTION & ECONOMICS AS A 
SOCIAL SCIENCE 
Week 2 WHAT IS ECONOMICS ? 
Week 3 & 4 THE ESSENCE OF ECONOMICS & 
DECISION MAKING 
Week 5 ECONOMIC SYSTEMS & THE FREE 
MARKET 
Week 6 AMERICAN CAPITALISM 
MICROECONOMICS 
Week 7 DEMAND 
Week 8 SUPPLY 
Week 9 PRICES 
Week 10 & 11 MARKET STRUCTURES 
Week 12 BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS 
Week 13 LABOR 
Week 14 MONEY & BANKING 
Week 15 FINANCIAL MARKETS 


MACROECONOMICS 
Week 12 ECONOMIC CHALLENGES -POVERTY, 
INFLATION, AND UNEMPLOYMENT 
Week 13 MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE 
BUSINESS CYCLES 
Week 14 TAXES & GOVERNMENT SPENDING 
Week 15 FISCAL POLICY 
Week 16 FEDERAL RESERVE & MONETARY 
POLICY 
Week 17 & 18 GLOBAL TRADE & DEVELOPMENT 
BATTLE FOR THE WORLD ECONOMY