Subject Code/Name: Introductory Microeconomics
Workload: 2 lectures a week (50 minutes each), one tute every week (50 minutes)
Assessment: Lets start off with my favourite
10% tutorial participation
10% Assignment 1
15% Assignment 2
5% Mid semester online MCQ test
60% End of semester exam
Lectopia Enabled: Yes, with screen capture
Past exams available: Yes ranging beyond the scope of the current style and content of the course, ie, IMO its not worth working past 2007 papers,
Solutions are usually provided for 4 years worth of exams prior to the year the subject is taken. (Some solutions will explain MCQ answers, some wont)
Textbook Recommendation: Gans, King and Mankin 'Principles of Microeconomic' is a must, Microeconomics: case studies and applications by Jeff
Borland is optional IMO, however I would recommend it because solutions for problems therein are provided on the LMS.
Lecturer(s): Mr Gareth James (S2), Prof Jeff
Borland (S1) (Try to get your copy signed to embellish your ebay advertisement)
Year & Semester of completion: Semester 2, 2011
Rating: 4.5/5
Your Mark/Grade: H1
Comments: Firstly, I recall some students having reservations about taking this subject because Jeff Borland (S1) wont be their lecturer, I will try to dispel this mentality.
This is a subject that
everyone can succeed in, ie, obtain a H1,
The resources available to students are almost excessive, via the LMS students have access to: Complete lecture notes posted a week in advance, excerpts from various textbooks pertinent to subject matter, complete solutions to Borlands book, review questions posted every week covering that weeks material with complete solutions, an 'online tutor' which answers any questions about the course and its contents (troubles with questions in exams, lecture notes ect) usually within 24 hours (I strongly advise you make use of this service (the respondent gets paid for his troubles so he welcomes any question, no matter how stupid
)) and finally tutorial notes (unfortunately no solutions provided as these get recycled year to year, however the online tutor will answer you if your question is specific and researched)
Outside the LMS: 'pit-stop' tutorials, a dedicated room is announced via LMS, times are provided and students are able to arrive with their qualms to be discussed with a live tutor, finally the lecturer has consultation times during which you may discuss problems with the course or any other concerns.
What does this mean? THE LECTURER IS SUPERFLUOUS, you could literally stay at home with half of the support system this subject provides and scrape a H1.
Points on assessment: The 10% for tutorial participation can be considered 'in the bag' unless of course you arrive late (or not at all) and sit unresponsive with your back to the class, the tutor doesnt expect nervous excitement and arcane factoids about economics, just pay attention and you'll be fine.
A word about assignments, generally the course material can be considered relatively 'easy' which is why these puppies are marked quite harshly (I got ~50% on one), please due your research and read the question, I cant stress that enough, If you answer the question completely and close to correctly it leaves little room for the tutor (who marks your assignments) to justify marking you down, if you argue with them enough as did I, they will bend. For assignment 2, bear in mind that originality is key, leave the mundane classical textbook examples behind and do some research (this will make sense once you read the abstract)
The 5% MST can also be considered 'in the bag', this is basics,
A word on the exam, the bulk of the exam (75%) is written, as such, please make sure your explanation consider all perspectives of the question, are sharp succinct and to the point, no waffle, be expected tho complete the script book with your panicked hand writing in 90 minutes, finally
USE DIAGRAMS there's nothing like a diagram to illustrate your arguments.
Finally, really, like the tutorials, questions from the exam are recycled, past exams indubitably are the best indicator of future exams, so do as many as you can and understand every single question that is asked, if you don't there's plenty of support networks available to help you understand the error of your ways and lead you back to a righteous path, on that pious note I will end before my hands fall off.