Econ 100b: Administrative Information
Prof. Charles I. Jones (with thanks to Prof. Martha Olney)

You are responsible for knowing all of the material below.

Prerequisites:

Economics 1, Economics 2 or PENR 1 (Introduction to Microeconomics and Macroeconomics); and Math 1A or 16A (one semester of college calculus).

Enrolling in the Course

The department relies completely on TeleBears for enrollment purposes. More information is available under enrollment on the department's web page. Be sure you follow these instructions exactly or you may be dropped from the course.

Contacting You

Please be sure your email address is accurately registered with the University's Bear Facts. Prof. Jones and the GSI's will use your Bear Facts email address. Be sure your email address is correct and that your inbox is not full.

Economics Tutoring

As you might know the Student Learning Center has dropped its support for Economics courses this year. However, the Economics Department now provides a new way for economics students to find answers when you need them. The Economics Answer Center provides drop-in and reserved office hours for Econ 1, 100A, and 100B, WITH NO OUT-OF-POCKET COST to you. The EAC also maintains a list of available tutors for hire for all economics courses. More information here.

Special Accommodations

If you require special accommodations for exams and quizzes due to learning or other disability, you must speak with Professor Jones no later than September 8. You will eventually need to obtain the evaluation form from the Disabled Students' Program .

Responsibilities and Requirements

Your responsibilities are to attend and participate in lecture three hours per week; attend and participate in section two hours per week; complete the assigned readings in a timely manner (allowing time to re-read difficult chapters); participate in class and in section; complete all assignments on time; and take two midterms and a final. Your course grade will be based on your performances on a comprehensive final (40%), two in-term exams (20% each), and weekly problem sets (20%). Students taking the course under the P/NP option must earn at least a C- in order to pass the course. (But you can not take this course P/NP if you are fulfilling a requirement for the economics major.)

Regarding the Problem Sets

There will be weekly problem sets during the term, due in section. Each problem set will be worth 10 points and will be graded by your graduate student instructor. Late problem sets will not be accepted. Instead, we will drop your two lowest problem set scores when computing your course grade. Problem sets must be handed directly to your graduate student instructor. Problem sets should not be left in GSI mailboxes. If your problem set disappears from the GSI's box, you will receive a zero (0) on your problem set. You are encouraged to form study groups for the purpose of learning the course material. BUT you cannot use those study groups to submit collective answers to the assigned problems. Doing so constitutes cheating. Copying problem set answers warrants a mark of zero (0) on the problem set. And it harms you in the long run because you will not learn the material.

Regarding the Exams

The midterm exams will be held on Thursday, October 6 and Thursday, November 10 during the lecture period. Each midterm exam will count for 20% of the overall course grade. Each exam will cover the material presented in lectures, section, and the assigned readings through and including the lecture before the exam. Each exam will be a closed book, closed note exam. No calculators, laptops, beepers, phones, or other electronic devices are allowed during exams. Old exams will be posted on the course website. There are no scheduled make-up midterm exams. Students who miss a midterm for any reason must communicate with Professor Jones by e-mail and by phone by 3:00 p.m. on the day of the exam. Except under the most extreme circumstances, if you do not have an excused absence before the exam starts and you do not take the exam, you will receive an "F" on the midterm.

The final examination will be on Tuesday, December 20, 12:30 - 3:30 pm. If you have or anticipate a conflict with the final exam, you should DROP THIS COURSE NOW. Conflicts include nonrefundable tickets, weddings, and other commitments that require that you leave campus before December 20. Military commitments will be accommodated. No exceptions will be allowed. Regardless of your grade going into the final exam, if you do not take the final you will receive an "F" in this course.

Academic Honesty Policy

In fairness to students who put in an honest effort, cheaters will be treated harshly. Any evidence of cheating will result in a score of zero (0) on that assignment or exam. Cheating on the final will result in an F for the course. Incidences of cheating will be reported to Student Judicial Affairs, which may administer additional punishment. Cheating includes but is not limited to bringing notes or written or electronic materials into an exam or quiz, using notes or written or electronic materials during an exam or quiz, copying off another person's exam or quiz, allowing someone to copy off of your exam or quiz, and having someone take an exam or quiz for you. Plagiarism also constitutes cheating. Plagiarism includes appropriation of whole passages with or without credit, appropriation of words and phrases without credit, appropriation of both main and supporting ideas without credit, and paraphrasing without credit. If you don't know when or how to properly cite sources for a paper, check this library document: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Citations.html

Fire Alarm Policy

A truly annoying bad habit is the pulling of fire alarms by ill-prepared and selfish students who foolishly think their entire future rests on the grade on one exam. This is a felony crime, punishable by a fine and time in jail. In addition, anyone caught pulling the alarm will fail the course and is subject to expulsion from the University. If the alarm is pulled during an exam, the class will move outside and finish the exam in the allotted time.