Economics 305:
Intermediate Microeconomics

[ Basic Information | Objectives | Online Course Resources |
| A. Course Requirements | B. Grading Policy | C. Attendance Policy |
| D. Cheating and Plagiarism Policy | E. Snow Policy | F. Disability Policy | G. Course Outline ]


 

A.

Course Requirements

  1. Periodic exercises. Exercises are due at the beginning of class on assigned dates. You must attend class on the due date to receive credit for an exercise unless prior arrangements have been made. You may work in teams on your exercises (each team member must turn in his or her own copy) and you may seek help from me.
  2. Two mid-terms and a cumulative final. We will have a mid-term once a month (exact dates announced one week in advance). As an experiment (which can be revoked should problems arise), you have the option of taking each mid-term during normal school hours almost anytime within 24 hours following the regularly scheduled time. Though you should be able to finish each mid-term in 50 minutes, the time limit will be 120 minutes. You are not allowed to take a mid-term at a time that interferes with any of your other classes. The final will be given in our classroom on Tuesday, May 14. Graduating seniors must submit all course materials and complete their final exam by 5pm, Thursday May 9.  It will begin at our normal meeting time and last 2 and ˝ hours. All examinations are to be taken when scheduled except in the case of verifiable emergencies or if prior arrangements have been made. Contact me in advance or as soon as possible after an unexpected emergency for permission to reschedule an exam.
  3. One fundamental analysis.  A fundamental analyst compares the current price of a company’s stock to the present value of the cash flow ownership of a share of that stock is expected to confer on its owner.  If the stock is a bargain, the analyst recommends its purchase; if it is over-priced, the analyst recommends its sale. You will conduct a fundamental analysis of a stock selected by the class. Your analysis is due at the beginning of class on a day in late April (tentatively April 25;  the exact date will be announced at least two weeks in advance).  It will be 8-12 typewritten pages long. You may work in teams on this project (each team member must write his or her own analysis) and you may seek help from me.  You must attend class on the due date to receive credit for your analysis except in the case of verifiable emergencies or if prior arrangements have been made.  Contact me in advance or as soon as possible after an unexpected emergency for permission to miss class and/or submit an analysis late without penalty.  I will accept analyses up to one class meeting late without prior permission (as long as you are in your seat at the beginning of class on the due date or have an approved reason for having missed class), but I will deduct one grade from your score. All fundamental analyses must conform to the class policy on cheating and plagiarism (see section C below).
  4. Two brief reports.  One book report / assessment and one stock tracking assignment.  Due dates flexible (the book report can be submitted anytime up to the last day of class;  the first part of the stock tracking assignment is due Thursday, January 24;  the second part is due anytime the last month of the course).
 
[ UNCA | Department of Economics | Back to Top ]

 

B.

Grading Policy

  1. The importance of each course requirement in determining your grade is as follows:
Mid-terms 100 points each
Final 100 points total
Fundamental analysis 100 points total
Brief reports 25 points each
  2. All course requirements receive numerical scores.  At the end of the semester I add your scores. You can earn a maximum of 450 points. To receive an "A" requires 90% of these points (405), a "B" 80% (360), a "C" 70% (315) and a "D" 60% (270).
 
[ UNCA | Department of Economics | Back to Top ]

 

C.

Attendance Policy

  Attend all regularly scheduled classes.  I take attendance and consider it when deciding whether or not to give a student close to a cut-off the benefit of the doubt when assigning course grades.  Regular class attendance and good note taking skills strongly influence learning and performance in my courses.  Don't skip class!
 
[ UNCA | Department of Economics | Back to Top ]

 

D.

Cheating and Plagiarism Policy

  As stated in the UNCA Student Handbook, I have the authority to give you a failing grade in this course as punishment for any act of cheating or plagiarism (including knowingly assisting another in cheating).  At the minimum, I will:
  1. Give you a grade of 0 on the assignment in which cheating or plagiarism occurred.
  2. Report the incident to the Economics Department Chair.
  3. Report the incident to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs who will determine whether the gravity of the offense warrants additional punishment.  Options open to the Vice Chancellor include cancellation of scholarships, suspension and expulsion.
   
  Take the time now to read the description of plagiarism and how to avoid it.  Re-read it before writing your fundamental analysis and each of your brief reports.  If you have any questions, see me.  You have no reason to fear penalization for plagiarism if you follow the simple rule, "when in doubt, footnote."
 
[ UNCA | Department of Economics | Back to Top ]

 

E.

Snow Policy

  Classes always meet unless officially canceled by the University; on "Late Start" days class meets from 9:40-10:40 am (link to late start schedule).  The University snow telephone number is 259-3050. Information on school closings is provided by radio stations WWNC, WCQS and WNCW. If an assignment is due or a test scheduled on a day when the roads are too hazardous for you to come to school even though classes have not been cancelled, call me to arrange an alternate due or test date.
 
[ UNCA | Department of Economics | Back to Top ]

 

F.

Disability Policy

  I am eager to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. Examples include (but are not limited to) wearing an FM transmitter and writing out all assignments for students who are hard of hearing and allowing students with identified cases of ADD/ADHD to take their tests by themselves. Students seeking accommodations must identify themselves and discuss the possibilities with me before the end of drop/add (or as soon as possible after a disability is identified mid-semester). They must also notify UNCA’s Director of Disability Services, Dr. Heidi Kelley (251-6980; hkelley@unca.edu; 219 Zageir Hall).
 
[ UNCA | Department of Economics | Back to Top | Next Section of Syllabus ]

Copyright © 2001 [Chris Bell, Department of Economics, UNC Asheville].
All rights reserved.  Revised: September 08, 2003 .