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Basic Information
Tutors: Devin Bowen (mathematics and modeling) Jonathon Scott (mathematics and modeling) Matt Kasznel (writing)
Duquesne Writing Center (Appointment required. I strongly advise that you take each draft of your semester paper to the writing center before handing it in.)
Reading Material
Required
Microeconomics, Perloff. ISBN: 0-321-27794-5
Wall Street Journal (student edition) (specify 15 weeks to start 8/31/10) To obtain a subscription, go here and click on the link on the right side of the page that says, “Professor/student subscriptions”.
Recommended
The Armchair Economist, ISBN: 0-029-17776-6
Mathematics for Economists, ISBN 0-070-17760-0 Purchase this book and work through the exercises on your own. I make no allowances in this course for weak mathematics skills.
Keys for Writers: A Brief Handbook, ISBN 0-618-19207-7
The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing, ISBN 0-872-20573-8 Purchase these books and work through the exercises on your own. I make no allowances in this course for weak writing skills.
Communicating via Email
In this course, you will regularly communicate with me via email regarding your semester paper. I typically receive between 50 and 100 emails each day. To avoid delays, attach all relevant documents to your email (e.g., maple files, word files). When responding to a question from me, hit REPLY and *do not* delete the sequence of communications that leads up to my question. While you are communicating only with me and can remember the background to our conversation, I am communicating with at least twenty other students and do not remember the background.
Exams and Homework Assignments
Assignment #5: Due ASAP. Sign up for your oral exam. You must sign up for two slots: one in September and one in December. The sign up sheet is on my office door (RH 828).
Assignment #4: Due ASAP. Commit the contents of this document to memory. Toward the end of September and again in December, I will give each of you an oral exam on this document. Grading for each of these exams is binary: You earn 100% if you answer all of my questions correctly, completely, and without hesitation; 0% otherwise.
Assignment #3 Beginning 8/31/10, I expect you to read the Wall Street Journal each day. At a minimum, you should read (1) the front page of section A, (2) the opinion and editorial sections (usually the last three pages of section A), and (3) the front page of Marketplace (usually section B). I expect you to be up to date on these readings at all times as I will ask you pop questions from time to time as part of your participation grade. To obtain a subscription, go here and click on the link on the right side of the page that says, “Professor/student subscriptions”.
Assignment #2: Due ASAP. Do these algebra exercises (answers) and calculus exercises (answers). In order to pass this course, your math skills must be such that you can complete each of these exercises in 10 minutes or less and with no errors. This is an ungraded assignment. Do not hand in your answers. The purpose of these exercises is to give you an idea of what level of mathematical competence I expect of you at the start of the course.
Assignment #1: Due 9/12. Read The Armchair Economist and Topic Suggestions to help you find a topic for your semester paper. The success of your semester paper depends largely on the quality of the topic you select. These readings will give you a lot of ideas for potential topics. Read Conceptualizing and Representing Models. This document contains a list of six attributes your topic must have in order for you to be able to model the topic.
Handouts
Semester Paper Conceptualizing and Representing Models
Interesting Models
Mathematics
On-Line Help
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Intermediate Microeconomics |
