Spring 2014
TR 3:00 – 4:15 pm
Course Objective
This course analyzes the economic-based problem of exhaustion in both renewable and non-renewable resources. Emphasis is given to the optimal use of these resources over time and the effects that various market and non-market factors have on their future availability. The purpose of the course is to develop the ability to apply basic economic principles to understanding resource issues. Resource economics is the study of how society allocates scarce resources such as oil and other energy resources, stocks of fish, forests, fresh water, and other resources. Critical underlying issues include striking a balance between preserving resources or utilizing them as inputs for the market economy, ensuring adequate resource supplies are available for future use, plus linking the ways government can positively and negatively affect resource problems, including the potential and pitfalls of free-market alternatives.
Instructor
Dr. J. T. Kelly
Office: 1011 Benecia Hall Phone: (916) 278-3576
E-mail:
Office Hours: TR 2:15 – 2:45 p.m. and by appointment
Class Sect 01 AIRC 3009
Textbooks
Natural Resource Economics 2e, Barry C. Field, Waveland Press, 2008.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, Michael Pollan, Penguin Press, 2007.
Web-CT material, web-based articles, class handouts.
Course Grade
Pop Quizzes, Homework, In-class exercises 15%total
2 Mid-Term Exams: 20% each
Final Exam: 20% Term Paper: 25%
Written Assignments – No excuses-please don’t ask
Ø A policy paper tying the Omnivore’s Dilemma to a resource economics topic that you have had approved by the start of class on March 13, is due no later than Thursday, April 24. The term paper will include a book report on pertinent sections of the Dilemma.
Ø Occasional in-class and homework exercises, typically graded, will consist of problem-solving questions and essays. You will be required to evaluate, interpret and explain your answers to the problem-solving questions using mathematics, graphs and written arguments. Homework essays will be type-written. Further details will be provided with assignments.
EXTRA CREDIT:
Ø Up to 3 points on final grade for superior class participation.
Testing
Exams – The mid-term and final exams will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer (True/False/Depends and explain your answer) and essays. Typically, about 1/3 of your exam will be will be M/C, 1/3 TFD and 1/3 essay. Because the course is designed according to the different energy sectors, the Midterm and Final Exams will cover different energy topics, which means that the Final Exam is not completely comprehensive.
Pop Quizzes and in-class exercises– Are designed to encourage attendance, help you keep up with reading and lectures and improve your grade. They may or may not be announced prior to their occurrence; only those that show up for class will know for sure. Unannounced calls for weekly journals may also be made. If you miss one, that opportunity is forever gone: there are no “Do Overs.”
Term (Policy) Paper
Your semester policy paper should provide a critical overview of a resource economics topic and should be narrowly focused so that you can cover the topic thoroughly within its prescribed length. You should conduct good www and library searches to locate and read relevant references before choosing and writing your paper. Carefully proofread your paper to make sure that you have eliminated any grammatical or spelling errors. (Most good writers get another set of eyes to read and critically review their draft papers before preparing the final draft.) Below is more information on the policy paper.
Paper Topic
Your paper may be on any resource topic on this syllabus or on any other energy economics subject relevant to modern society so long as it arises from the Dilemma. The book must be tied to the topic, and vice versa. You must get approval before you proceed.
Length and format of the paper
You should be able to present your topic within about 8-10 pages of double-spaced Arial 12-point font text (graphs, tables, etc. do not count), using the Chicago Style Guide (http://library.csus.edu/guides/rogenmoserd/general/style.html), or other standard style, to contain the following sections [of estimated-only length]:
Introduction (1 page, max)
Introduce why the topic is important for energy economics in a modern society and state the objective(s) and methodology of your paper.
Literature Review (1 page, max.)
Set the stage for the importance and pertinence of your paper with a brief historical and/or analytical review of your topic with clear references to your sources, such as the Dilemma.
Discussion and Analysis of Issue(s) (7-10 pages)
Based on your literature review, in the context of the Dilemma as well as current and recent events and issues, analyze and discuss the economics and energy issues relevant to your topic. This must not include lengthy descriptions of the topic (such as what are the various forms of geothermal power) or massive technical specs, but focus on the intent of the paper. And please do not include unfounded speculation or personal opinions, as this is not to be an essay about your feelings.
Conclusions/Recommendations (1 page) Summarize your findings and thoughts. References (1-2 pages)
Cite your references, at least 5 more than the Dilemma and other course materials in this course, depending on the breadth or specificity of your chosen topic. No more than three (3) web sites may count toward the minimum of 5 references – Wikipedia is not a qualified source.
Grading
It is assumed – actually, required – that students have the basic English skills to write college-level documents prior to taking this course. Therefore the energy papers will be evaluated more on higher-level critical thinking skills, analysis, argument, and synthesis and how well they are used to create persuasive and/or descriptive documents on a topic relevant to the student. Your paper also will be evaluated on the relevance, clarity, and integrity of the information; quality of references and information, such as distinguished source data rather than newspaper accounts (unless that is at the heart of your topic); quality, depth and use of analysis rather than conjecture, loose thinking, preconceptions or “everyone knows” shortcuts; clarity of the presentation and use of visual aids; the application of economics; critical thinking; ties to the Dilemma; and the discussion offered. Credit will only be given for papers turned in on time; you are upper division students and are expected to arrange your schedule so that the paper is complete, accurate and on time, taking into account the risks of such happenings as unexpected assignments from other faculty, electricity outages, hungry pets and personal crises. CSUS information on plagiarism may be found at http://library.csus.edu/content2.asp?pageID=316.
Key Dates
Thursday March 6 – First Mid-term exam
Thursday April 10 – Second Mid-term exam
Thursday May 8 - Term (Policy) paper due
Tuesday May 20 - Final Exam 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Estimated Schedule Spring 2014
Part / Dates / Topics / ChaptersPart 1 / 01/28 thru 3/6 / Natural Resources and the Economy, / 1,2
Supply, Demand, / 3,4
Efficiency, Sustainability, and Markets / 5,6
Part 2 / 3/11 thru 4/10 / Public Policy, Natural Resource Analysis, / 7,8,9
Minerals, and Energy / 10,11
Part 3 / 4/15 thru 5/15 / Forests, Fisheries, / 12,13
Land, Water, the Dilemma / 14,15
Grades
Letter Grade / Percentage / PerformanceA / 93-100% / Excellent Work
A- / 90-92% / Nearly Excellent Work
B+ / 87-89% / Very Good Work
B / 83-86% / Good Work
B- / 80-82% / Mostly Good Work
C+ / 77-79% / Above Average Work
C / 73-76% / Average Work
C- / 70-72% / Mostly Average Work
D+ / 67-69% / Below Average Work
D / 60-66% / Poor Work
F / 0-59% / Failing Work
Course Structure
In the Classroom —
The nature of the course will be face-to-face lecture, augmented with whiteboard explanations and
PowerPoint slides.
Announcements —
Announcements will usually be made during lectures, but sometimes also sent by email or SacCT. Be sure your e-mail address is current with CSUS and your mailbox is not full.
Responsibilities —
I will come to class well prepared; respond to and encourage questions and other appropriate class participation; grade your quizzes, exams and any other assignments fairly and in as timely a fashion as possible; be available during office hours and for scheduled appointments; let you know as soon as any changes are made to the schedule, course or class meetings; and do my best to stimulate your appreciation, interest and enthusiasm for economics. The textbook brings as much humor to the study of economics as is feasible, given course material.
I expect you to read the syllabus thoroughly and understand the ground rules; attend and actively participate in class; complete all the assigned readings in a timely manner; ask questions when you are lost or confused; ask questions even if you fear they might be “dumb” or that you’re the only one who doesn’t get a point (believe me, you are not alone); seriously think about the material and study for and complete all quizzes, midterm and a final examination. I also expect that you will refrain from asking me to make special exceptions just for you concerning requirements laid out in this syllabus.
Caveat Emptor – As you have learned by virtue of having successfully completed economics courses, economics is a discipline that is built up cumulatively, brick by brick, so is not a subject that you should let slide until the last minute, fall behind on readings or fail to ask questions as soon as you realize you don’t understand something. Ask classmates, an economics student assistant or me. Forming study groups is also a good way to learn the material. Even if you are the best student in the group, you will still learn through your efforts to explain the material to others. If at any point during the semester you are having difficulty, PLEASE come see me sooner rather than later. If you do keep up with the material, most of you can do well in the course.
Exams, Assignments and Readings
• Credit for above-average class participation is very difficult to achieve if you are not in class.
• I may or may not take roll each class at or near the beginning of the lecture, so punctuality matters.
• Give yourself ample time to complete assignments. These assignments are challenging and important for your performance in the class. I encourage you to spend time working through them carefully and to seek out help from a classmate, an economics tutor, or me when you encounter problems.
• Please ask me questions if you do not understand a part of the lecture or the readings. And please ask your questions either in class or during office hours. I believe that it is particularly important that you ask your questions during the class so that other students will be able to learn from them, too. You may fear that you are the only one lost and that your questions will betray ignorance, but nothing could be farther from the truth: many, if not most, students will have the same questions but hope that they will figure it out somehow on their own. Also, the moment may pass and you’ll forget the question or the material itself. Thus it is important not to give in to the temptation to hold the question until class is just over, when everyone else and I will be departing for the next class and the next class and professor will be coming in.
• Pop quizzes and in-class exercises will be given approximately 3-4 times per month, usually at the beginning of class. They typically contain one short discussion question concerning either the previous lecture or an assignment made for that day.
• Exams are closed book and given in class. All exams are comprised of written response, true/false and multiple-choice, TFD and essay questions, requiring a large Blue Book, Scantron 882-E form. Please use a pen for the written questions and a No. 2 pencil for the Scantron questions.
• All exam dates are already scheduled and fixed – March 6, April 10 and May 20. As there are no make-up exams, these dates are set in concrete so that you can arrange to be here for them.
• Free peer tutoring in economics for this class is available in the Department of Economics. Tutoring hours typically are posted in the Department office during the first week of classes.
Policies
• As a student in this course (and at this university) you are expected to maintain high degrees of professionalism, commitment to active learning and participation in this class and also integrity in your behavior in and out of the classroom. Academic honesty is expected. Students suspected of cheating will be reported to Judicial Affairs.
• There will be no makeup quizzes or examinations. Exam dates are given in the course outline. This is to avoid any potential conflicts. Attendance is both expected and highly recommended. If you miss a class, be sure to check with your fellow classmates, to see what material you missed; I recommend finding at least one “study buddy” or join a study group to facilitate information flow for exams or in case of an absence. Come to class on time; you will not be given extra time if you are late for a pop quiz or an exam. You are required to register for MEL.
• If you decide to withdraw from this class, make sure you do so with the registrar. If you withdraw without permission, you will be assigned a failing grade. Once a student submits work for a grade, he/she will not assigned a grade of “WU” under any circumstances. Keep mobile devices off during class, including laptops. If you wish to use your laptop during class, please come speak with me. You may not use your phone/MP3 player as a calculator on exams. You may use a calculator without programming capabilities.
• Keep the all your exams and quizzes and problem sets until after receiving your final grade, for future reference.
• I will be available by phone during office hours, so if you have questions and cannot get to my office then, please phone them in. remember, though, I already may have students in the office.