AP® Macroeconomics Syllabus 4 The AP® Macroeconomics course is designed as an initial college-level course in macroeconomics and as a foundation for possible future study in economics or business. The students’ second goal of the course is to prepare for the AP Exam. The examination will take place in May. Passing the exam will result in college credit at almost all colleges and universities. Throughout the course, students will have ample opportunity to improve their writing, speaking, critical thinking, and consensus building skills. Reading Summer reading text: Todd Buchholz, New Ideas from Dead Economists, New York: Plame, 1999. Main text: McConnell, Campbell and Stanley Brue. Economics, 16th ed., McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2005. Unless otherwise indicated, all readings in the assignment sheet will refer to M&B. Homework will be assigned for virtually every day we meet. Assignments include frequent use of charts and graphs. I expect you to have your homework prepared for each lesson. Normally, the homework will be the springboard to the lesson. As such, we will most often begin class meetings with student presentations of the homework assignment. These presentations will be graded, and students will be selected randomly. COURSE PLAN Unit I: Basic Economic Concepts (2 weeks) [CR1] CR1—The course provides instruction in basic economic concepts. A. Scarcity and Opportunity Costs B. Production Possibilities Model C. Comparative Advantage and Trade Lesson 1: Course introduction: discussion of course goals, requirements, and approach via the syllabus. “quiz” (mc) on summer reading. Homework: Read and study p. 2. Consider how you want to approach the study of economics. How will you use the book and its ancil...
