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Courses taught at Valencia Community College
ECO 2013 - Principles of Macroeconomics
ECO 2023 - Principles of Microeconomics
The syllabus for my 'live' classes can be obtained by emailing me at jchambless@valenciacc.edu For my online classes, the syllabus is on this page. The recommended textbooks will be the same as I use in the online classes.
.
ONLINE MACROECONOMICS SYLLABUS - Full term and Flex Start
Spring 2010
ECO 2013
Note: Orientation (for full-term and flex-start) will be Monday, January 11th at 6PM on the West Campus. It will be in building 11-202.
Welcome to Economics online! Since 1999 Valencia has offered the opportunity to learn about this exciting social science from the comfort of your own home! Here are a few things you need to know to be successful this semester.
IMPORTANT FACTS CONCERNING ONLINE ECONOMICS: Many students take economics online because they have busy work or family schedules that preclude them from taking this course in the traditional setting. Students like this who have a strong work ethic, a desire to read every word of material provided, a willingness to push through a great deal of material without falling behind and the ability to follow instructions and meet tight deadlines tend to be very successful. Since online students have to rely on a book, article packet and some video assistance - but no lectures by the professor in the classroom - it is critical that students be able to "self-teach" much of the material.
Some students who take this class are under the hugely mistaken impression that it will be easier than the traditional class, since many online classes have that well-deserved reputation. In this case, you are taking a class that is just as difficult as the traditional class and perhaps much more difficult because you do not have the aid of personal instruction.
Therefore, I urge you to think very, very carefully about whether this class is a good online fit for you. If you know that you do not read a lot, or if you tend to put things off or not work very hard in your classes, this class will be a complete disaster for you.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS: In order to successfully maneuver through this course, the following items must be readily available to you.
1. Computer with a modem. We recommend at least a 28.8 modem. Students should not depend on Valencia Community College to provide computers for these classes.
2. Internet access.
3. Web browser with graphics capability (at least Netscape 3.0 or Internet Explorer 3.0)
4. Word processing software (MS Word or Word Perfect preferred).
5. e-mail address.
6. General familiarity with computers and the Internet.HOW TO GET STARTED: Go to Valencia's home page and log into your Atlas account. From there you should be able to find WebCt where all of the discussions will be held.
PROFESSOR: Jack A. Chambless
OFFICE: Building 11, Room 200-C
OFFICE HOURS: To be announced. To make an appointment please email me with the desired date and time and I will do my best to comply with this request.
PHONES: Office: 407-582-1453
Social Sciences Dept.: 407 -582-1203
Fax: 407-582-1675
E-mail: jchambless@valenciacc.edu I will not be using the Atlas email account. This is the only email address where I will receive mail.HOW TO GET NEEDED MATERIALS: To get a copy of a sample midterm and the packet of readings you can either come by my office or email me with a request to have it mailed to your physical address. NOTE: WHEN YOU EMAIL YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE MAKE SURE IT IS SUBMITTED IN A WAY THAT I CAN JUST CUT IT OUT AND TAPE IT TO THE ENVELOPE. Do not put your address on the same line as your name.
Example: JOE BROWN
P.O. BOX 0000
ORLANDO, FL 32811
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Economics is known by many as the "dismal science". Most people believe this social science is referred to in such a manner because this subject can be very abstract, difficult and even boring to the average student. I will change this perception this semester with cooperation and hard work from you to assist me. In this course you will learn how to THINK, ACT, VALUE and COMMUNICATE by applying the real world of economics to issues and events that impact your lives every day. Your objectives should be to fulfill this requirement with the grade that best reflects your ability and more importantly to be open-minded enough to discover why this class is one of the most important class you will ever take in college.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is the macroeconomics portion of the two-part Principles of Economics sequence. The course covers certain introductory economic principles, the role of government, national income and accounting, unemployment, inflation, the aggregate demand/supply model, the Keynesian Model, monetarism, fiscal policy, monetary policy, economic growth and the international economy.
RECOMMENDED TEXTS: Chambless, Jack A. An Applied Approach to Macroeconomics, 2nd edition Bent Tree Press. See the section entitled MY BOOKS on the website to get a look at what you will b3e purchasing. The other required reading is The Law by Frederic Bastiat. This book must be read within the first few weeks of class. Each book can be found on the West and Osceola campuses. You may be able to find used copies online.
RECOMMENDED VIEWING: There are other audio and video speeches or interviews that will help you prepare for discussions and exams. All of them can be found on the SPEECHES link of the course website. The speeches with an * next to them are the most important ones for exam purposes.
OPTIONAL READING: The Wall Street Journal. Many of the class discussions and some of the exam questions will be derived from this source. To subscribe to the WSJ and get the student rate, call 1-800-JOURNAL.
GRADING: Your grade will be derived from two examinations, a term paper and participation in forum discussions. Each exam and the paper will account for 33.33% of your final grade. The term paper is due on April 9 , 2010. Late papers will not be accepted under any circumstances. For the flex-start class the due date is also April 9th.Due to a large number of problems with emailed papers I no longer accept any emailed paper.
You can mail the paper to my physical address (see the home page for that) or slide it under my office door if I am not in.
The paper should be entitled, What Frederic Bastiat would think about President Obama's economic ideology. Your paper must adhere to the following guidelines: If your paper does not comply with the guidelines that follow you will receive a zero.
1. It must be 7-8 pages in length; typed, double-spaced with a size 11-12 font.
2. It must have at least 15 different sources that can be easily verified.
3. It must have footnotes indicating sources at the bottom of each page. Do not site your sources in parentheses and attach a bibliography. See the format of your textbook for what I want in your paper. You can find many good sources from the Wall Street Journal and some of the websites on my site like The Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation and more. Do not use Wikipedia.4. Make sure you STAPLE the sheets together. Do not use paper clips, folders or binders of any kind.
5. It should examine, in detail, the policy proposals of Barack Obama as they apply to government spending, regulation and tax policy. The title of the paper will help you figure out the rest...
6. An extensive use of The Law is critical. It would also help to illustrate some understanding of the Founding Fathers view of government spending and taxes.7. You can drop your paper off at my office (sliding it under the door is fine) or mail it to me if you are out of the Orlando area. It must be postmarked on April 9th or earlier. I am not responsible for papers lost in the mail.
THE MIDTERM EXAM - The midterm will be on March 4, 2010. For the flex start class the midterm will be on March 18, 2010 . It will cover chapters 1-8 of the text; The Law and the packet of readings on The Economics of Liberty. The assigned and recommended videos/speeches are also fair game. It will be seven essay questions, five of which you must answer. Make sure you follow instructions on the exam or you will lose 5 points.
LOCATION OF EXAMS: I will put a copy of your exam in every testing center that Valencia has. You must come to the testing center of your choosing to take the exam. No online exams will be given. If you are taking this class outside of the Central Florida area I can also arrange to have the midterm and final exam sent to a local library or college testing center for you. Even if you are out of the country, arrangements can be made for the tests to be taken.
THE FINAL EXAM - Chapters 10-13. It will be the same format as the midterm and will be on April 26, 2010. The videos on the SPEECHES link will be particularly important for this exam. Make sure you watch all of them that pertain to these chapters.
COURSE DISCUSSIONS: In the case of 'close calls' - grades that fall within 3 percentage points of the next highest letter grade, the posted course discussions will be used to evaluate whether you will be moved up to the next highest grade. For example, if you have an average of 87 after the midterm, final and term paper and posted a response to every discussion that illustrates a sound effort to apply sthe books, readings and videos to the discussion questions you would receive a grade of 90 and an 'A' in the course. If you do not, your grade would remain an 87 and you would get a 'B'.
Please bear in mind that I rarely respond to your postings, but do read them.. When I did in the past students quickly learned to wait for my comments and then free ride on what I posted in order to increase their chances of a good grade.
I will post questions that you can answer after reading the material, watching the videos online and by thinking about what others have posted. This part of the course is very much like an independent study course where I will read your work from a distance and offer minimal, if any commentary.
MISSED EXAMS: You can take a make-up test if and only if you provide documented evidence as to where you were on the day of the test. This means illness that requires medical attention, unavoidable work requirements, and so forth. If I accept your documentation you will be allowed to take a make-up test during the week of final exams. That test will be five essay questions, all of which you must answer.GRADING SCALE:
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 67-79 (Note: You must earn at least a 'C' to avoid re-taking this class)
D: 60-66
F: Below 60
ATTENDANCE: Attendance in this class will be monitored by examining assigned postings. It is very important for you to examine Valencia's attendance policy. It will be strictly enforced in this class.
ONLINE ETIQUETTE: When you are communicating with me or other students or responding to postings made by fellow students please keep in mind a few simple common sense rules concerning online etiquette:
1. Do not correct one another's grammar or spelling.
2. Do not use profanity or refer to a posting as stupid or idiotic, etc.
3. Be polite and respectful of the opinions of others.
4. If someone's writing is unclear, politely ask for clarification.
While these rules are important we must remember that in order to grow intellectually, we must be prepared to challenge one another's ideas. Try to respond to challenges from a sane and dispassionate point of view rather than by emotion. Defend your views with facts and data, not conjecture.
WITHDRAWAL DATE: March 26, 2010
NOTICE: This syllabus is subject to change without prior notification by the professor.EXTRA CREDIT: You can watch one of the movies listed under the MISC section of the website and type a 1,500 word essay explains everywhere economics appears in that movie. Due April 16 , 2010. Please drop your essay off at my office (under the door is fine) or mail it to me if you are out of town at the time.
_______________
ONLINE MICROECONOMICS SYLLABUS - Full-term & Flex-start
Spring 2010
ECO 2023Note: Orientation (for full-term and flex-start) will be Monday, January 11th at 6PM on the West Campus. It will be in building 11-202.
Welcome to Economics online! Since 1999 Valencia has offered the opportunity to learn about this exciting social science from the comfort of your own home! Here are a few things you need to know to be successful this semester.
IMPORTANT FACTS CONCERNING ONLINE ECONOMICS: Many students take economics online because they have busy work or family schedules that preclude them from taking this course in the traditional setting. Students like this who have a strong work ethic, a desire to read every word of material provided, a willingness to push through a great deal of material without falling behind and the ability to follow instructions and meet tight deadlines tend to be very successful. Since online students have to rely on a book, article packet and some video assistance - but no lectures by the professor in the classroom - it is critical that students be able to "self-teach" much of the material.
Some students who take this class are under the hugely mistaken impression that it will be easier than the traditional class, since many online classes have that well-deserved reputation. In this case, you are taking a class that is just as difficult as the traditional class and perhaps much more difficult because you do not have the aid of personal instruction.
Therefore, I urge you to think very, very carefully about whether this class is a good online fit for you. If you know that you do not read a lot, or if you tend to put things off or not work very hard in your classes, this class will be a complete disaster for you.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS: In order to successfully maneuver through this course, the following items must be readily available to you.
1. Computer with a modem. We recommend at least a 28.8 modem. Students should not depend on Valencia Community College to provide computers for these classes.
2. Internet access.
3. Web browser with graphics capability (at least Netscape 3.0 or Internet Explorer 3.0)
4. Word processing software (MS Word or Word Perfect preferred).
5. e-mail address.
6. General familiarity with computers and the Internet.HOW TO GET STARTED: Go to Valencia's home page and log into your Atlas account. From there you should be able to find WebCt where all of the discussions will be held.
PROFESSOR: Jack A. Chambless
OFFICE: Building 11, Room 200-C
OFFICE HOURS: To be announced. To make an appointment please email me with the desired date and time and I will do my best to comply with this request.
PHONES: Office: 407-582-1453
Social Sciences Dept.: 407 -582-1203
Fax: 407-582-1675
E-mail: jchambless@valenciacc.edu I will not be using the Atlas email account. This is the only email address where I will receive mail.HOW TO GET NEEDED MATERIALS: To get a copy of a sample midterm and the packet of readings you can either come by my office or email me with a request to have it mailed to your physical address. NOTE: WHEN YOU EMAIL YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE MAKE SURE IT IS SUBMITTED IN A WAY THAT I CAN JUST CUT IT OUT AND TAPE IT TO THE ENVELOPE. Do not put your address on the same line as your name.
Example: JOE BROWN
P.O. BOX 0000
ORLANDO, FL 32811
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Economics is known by many as the "dismal science". Most people believe this social science is referred to in such a manner because this subject can be very abstract, difficult and even boring to the average student. I will change this perception this semester with cooperation and hard work from you to assist me. In this course you will learn how to THINK, ACT, VALUE and COMMUNICATE by applying the real world of economics to issues and events that impact your lives every day. Your objectives should be to fulfill this requirement with the grade that best reflects your ability and more importantly to be open-minded enough to discover why this class is one of the most important class you will ever take in college.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is the microeconomics portion of the two-part Principles of Economics sequence. The course covers certain introductory economic principles, the role of government in business and individual decisions, the study of the creation of prices, output, revenue and costs as well as the decision making process of businesses and individuals. An extensive examination of capitalism, socialism and the political economy will also take place.
RECOMMENDED TEXTS: Chambless, Jack A. An Applied Approach to Microeconomics, 2nd edition Bent Tree Press. See the section entitled MY BOOKS on the website to get a look at what you will b3e purchasing. The other required reading is The Law by Frederic Bastiat. This book must be read within the first few weeks of class. Each book can be found on the West and Osceola campuses. You may be able to find used copies online.
RECOMMENDED VIEWING: There are other audio and video speeches or interviews that will help you prepare for discussions and exams. All of them can be found on the SPEECHES link of the course website. The speeches with an * next to them are the most important ones for exam purposes.
OPTIONAL READING: The Wall Street Journal. Many of the class discussions and some of the exam questions will be derived from this source. To subscribe to the WSJ and get the student rate, call 1-800-JOURNAL.
GRADING: Your grade will be derived from two examinations, a term paper and participation in forum discussions. Each exam and the paper will account for 33.33% of your final grade. The term paper is due on April 9, 2010. Late papers will not be accepted under any circumstances. For the flex start class your paper is also due April 9th.Due to a large number of problems with emailed papers I no longer accept any emailed paper.
You can mail the paper to my physical address (see the home page for that) or slide it under my office door if I am not in.
The paper should be entitled, What Frederic Bastiat would think about President Obama's economic ideology. Your paper must adhere to the following guidelines: If your paper does not comply with the guidelines that follow you will receive a zero.
1. It must be 7-8 pages in length; typed, double-spaced with a size 11-12 font.
2. It must have at least 15 different sources that can be easily verified.
3. It must have footnotes indicating sources at the bottom of each page. Do not site your sources in parentheses and attach a bibliography. See the format of your textbook for what I want in your paper. You can find many good sources from the Wall Street Journal and some of the websites on my site like The Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation and more. Do not use Wikipedia.4. Make sure you STAPLE the sheets together. Do not use paper clips, folders or binders of any kind.
5. It should examine, in detail, the policy proposals of Barack Obama as they apply to government spending, regulation and tax policy. The title of the paper will help you figure out the rest...
6. An extensive use of The Law is critical. It would also help to illustrate some understanding of the Founding Fathers view of government spending and taxes.7. You can drop your paper off at my office (sliding it under the door is fine) or mail it to me if you are out of the Orlando area. It must be postmarked on April 9th or earlier. I am not responsible for papers lost in the mail.
THE MIDTERM EXAM - The midterm will be on March 4, 2010. For the flex-start students, your midterm is March 18th. It will cover chapters 1-8 of the text; The Law and the packet of readings on The Economics of Liberty. The assigned and recommended videos/speeches are also fair game. It will be seven essay questions, five of which you must answer. Make sure you follow instructions on the exam or you will lose 5 points.
LOCATION OF EXAMS: I will put a copy of your exam in every testing center that Valencia has. You must come to the testing center of your choosing to take the exam. No online exams will be given. If you are taking this class outside of the Central Florida area I can also arrange to have the midterm and final exam sent to a local library or college testing center for you. Even if you are out of the country, arrangements can be made for the tests to be taken.
THE FINAL EXAM - Chapters 9-13. It will be the same format as the midterm and will be on April 26, 2010. The videos on the SPEECHES link will be particularly important for this exam. Make sure you watch all of them that pertain to these chapters.
COURSE DISCUSSIONS: In the case of 'close calls' - grades that fall within 3 percentage points of the next highest letter grade, the posted course discussions will be used to evaluate whether you will be moved up to the next highest grade. For example, if you have an average of 87 after the midterm, final and term paper and posted a response to every discussion that illustrates a sound effort to apply sthe books, readings and videos to the discussion questions you would receive a grade of 90 and an 'A' in the course. If you do not, your grade would remain an 87 and you would get a 'B'.
Please bear in mind that I rarely respond to your postings, but do read them.. When I did in the past students quickly learned to wait for my comments and then free ride on what I posted in order to increase their chances of a good grade.
I will post questions that you can answer after reading the material, watching the videos online and by thinking about what others have posted. This part of the course is very much like an independent study course where I will read your work from a distance and offer minimal, if any commentary.
MISSED EXAMS: You can take a make-up test if and only if you provide documented evidence as to where you were on the day of the test. This means illness that requires medical attention, unavoidable work requirements, and so forth. If I accept your documentation you will be allowed to take a make-up test during the week of final exams. That test will be five essay questions, all of which you must answer.GRADING SCALE:
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 67-79 (Note: You must earn at least a 'C' to avoid re-taking this class)
D: 60-66
F: Below 60
ATTENDANCE: Attendance in this class will be monitored by examining assigned postings. It is very important for you to examine Valencia's attendance policy. It will be strictly enforced in this class.
ONLINE ETIQUETTE: When you are communicating with me or other students or responding to postings made by fellow students please keep in mind a few simple common sense rules concerning online etiquette:
1. Do not correct one another's grammar or spelling.
2. Do not use profanity or refer to a posting as stupid or idiotic, etc.
3. Be polite and respectful of the opinions of others.
4. If someone's writing is unclear, politely ask for clarification.
While these rules are important we must remember that in order to grow intellectually, we must be prepared to challenge one another's ideas. Try to respond to challenges from a sane and dispassionate point of view rather than by emotion. Defend your views with facts and data, not conjecture.
WITHDRAWAL DATE: March 26, 2010.
NOTICE: This syllabus is subject to change without prior notification by the professor.EXTRA CREDIT: You can watch one of the movies listed under the MISC section of the website and type a 1,500 word essay explains everywhere economics appears in that movie. Due April 16, 2010. Please drop your essay off at my office (under the door is fine) or mail it to me if you are out of town at the time.
____________________
ECO 2930 - Applied Economics*
*Applied Microeconomics is only offered in the spring. It is recommended that you complete ECO 2023 with a grade of 'B' or higher before you enroll in this course. This is a course that began in 1997 and is designed for students who wish to gain an appreciation for what it takes to operate a business in today’s economic environment. In ‘the real world’ our economic system is dynamic and often mirrors activity in an evolving ecosystem. For more see "Evolution, Uncertainty and Economic Theory" by Armen Alchian.
The biological approach to economics is not new, but this is the only course offered in any community college in the United States that teaches economics from the biological perspective. While this course is primarily focused on business issues, it also covers socio-economic issues related to our daily lives. Note: I am not sure at this time when this course will be offered again. It all depends on student interest. Please email me if you would be interested. I have to have at least 24 students to start this class in the spring of 2011 or 2012.
Photo taken at the Jacksonville, Florida Anheuser-Busch brewery. Every spring my ECO 2930 class takes a VIP tour of this facility to learn more about technology, productivity, economies of scale and marketing. For more photos from this tour keep scrolling.
The only use for hops is in the production Fermentation tanks - the plant has four floors of
of beer - proving that God does care these tanks.
about us...
And some people think the pyramids are impressive. This plant can fill 1,200 bottles per minute.
