Economics , Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, YorkUniversity

Winter 2011 Course Outline
COURSE #:AP/ECON 2500M 3.0
COURSE TITLE:Introductory Statistics for Economists I
IMPORTANT LINKS
2009-2010 Undergraduate Calendar | Important Dates | Enrol Here
York Courses Web Site ( for Course Timetable / Schedule ) | Current Students Web Page

Course Instructor and Teaching Assistants

Professor / Xianghong Li
Office: / VH 1068
Telephone: / (416)736-2100 ext. 77036
Email /
Course web site: /
All course material and announcements will be posted on this site, please check it regularly.
Lecture Hours: / Tuesday & Thursday 4:00 – 5:30 at CLH - F
Office Hours: / Tuesday & Thursday 11:00 – 12:00
Teaching Assistant: / TBA
Email:
Office:
Tel:
Office Hours:

Course Description

Econ 2500 is an introductory also the first course in statistics. This course is intended to achieve statistical literacy. It will introduce the students to the very basic statistical concepts and methods, but most importantly, it will familiarize the students with statistical thinking and reasoning and enable the students to assess quantitative information or research findings critically.

I strongly encourage students to spend time on R, the statistical software package chosen for this course. I think hands-on experience is the key to building statistical sense and skills. I will spend some class time on R, and the practice problems will include some R related questions. R is not required for the exams.

Required Course Textbook

Moore, David S., and George P. McCabe, Introduction to the Practice of Statistics, W.H. Freeman and Company. (On reserve in the Scott Library)

Planned Coverage

Chapter 1: Looking at data – distributions

Chapter 2: Looking at data – relationships (Least squares regression excluded)

Chapter 3: Producing data

Chapter 4: Probability – the study of randomness

Chapter 5: Sampling distributions

Chapter 6: Introduction to inference

Chapter 7: Inference for distributions (part of the chapter)

Weighting of Course

Grading Scheme

Midterm Exam / 35%
Final Exam / 65%

Alternative Grading Scheme

Final Exam / 100%

The final grades will be set based on the maximum of the scores from the above two weighting schemes. Final course grades may be adjusted to conform to Program or Faculty grades distribution profiles.

The grading scheme for the course conforms to the 9-point grading system used in undergraduate programs at York (e.g., A+ = 9, A = 8, B+ = 7, C+ = 5, etc.).

(For a full description of York grading system see the York University Undergraduate Calendar -

Additional Information

Practice Problems

Practice problems by chapter will be posted on the course website. Students should work on them to keep up with the course. These problem sets are intended for students’ learning and are not to be submitted. Solutions will be provided. It is very important for students to solve those problems before check the solutions.

Midterms and Final

The midterm will cover the first half of the course material. The final exam will cover the entire course with more emphasis on the second half of the course.

A request for remarking the midterm to the TA shall be made within two weeks after the marked midterms are distributed in class. If you cannot meet the TA during the office hours, please write down your detailed request and submit it to the economics departmentfront desk.

Midterm: February 16 (Thursday) in class

Final: TBA

Withdrawal Deadline: March 9, 2012

Email Policy

Only administrative questions will be answered by email. For statistical questions, please come to the office hours.

Make up policy

No make up exam will be provided for the midterm. If a student misses the final exam, please follow the Department of Economics’ Guidelines for Deferred Standing.

The request for deferred standing will not be approved if a student was also absent from the midterm.

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IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION
The Senate Committee on Curriculum & Academic Standards (CCAS) provides a Student Information Sheet that includes:
  • York's Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures / Academic Integrity Web site
  • Access/Disability
  • Religious Observance Accommodation
  • Student Code of Conduct
Additional information:
  • Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
  • Alternate Exam and Test Scheduling
  • Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy
    The Senate Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy stipulates that (a) the grading scheme (i.e. kinds and weights of assignments, essays, exams, etc.) be announced, and be available in writing, within the first two weeks of class, and that, (b) under normal circumstances, graded feedback worth at least 15% of the final grade for Fall, Winter or Summer Term, and 30% for ‘full year’ courses offered in the Fall/Winter Term be received by students in all courses prior to the final withdrawal date from a course without receiving a grade.
  • "20% Rule"
    No examinations or tests collectively worth more than 20% of the final grade in a course will be given during the final 14 calendar days of classes in a term. The exceptions to the rule are classes which regularly meet Friday evenings or on Saturday and/or Sunday at any time, and courses offered in the compressed summer terms.
  • Final course grades may be adjusted to conform to Program or Faculty grades distribution profiles.

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Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Sudies Department of Economics

Guidelines for Deferred Standing

(Final exam and term work extensions)

A Deferred Standing (extension) is a process by which students who are either unable to write their final examination at the scheduled time or submit term work before the Faculty deadline to submit final grades reach an agreement with the course director for an extension to the deadline.

The course director may grant deferred standing in the course. In doing so, a date is set for writing the exam or submitting the outstanding work. In order to qualify for Deferred Standing, a student must complete the standard Deferred Standing Agreement form. This form is available at the Office of the Registrar and the Economics Undergraduate Office (1144 Vari Hall).

Deadline:

Senate Policy states, “Normally requests for deferred standing must be communicated within one week following a missed examination or the last day to submit course work” (the period during which the University is officially closed for December holidays and statutory holidays is not counted in the determination of deadline days).

It is the responsibility of students to make arrangements with the course director to complete the course and file the Deferred Standing Agreement form with the appropriate departmental/unit office by the deadline specified on the form. Appropriate Documentation verifying the circumstances for the missed final examination must be provided at the time of requesting the Deferred Standing from the Course Director.

WHAT IS APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION?

MEDICAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

Exams missed due to medical circumstances must be supported by an attending physicians statement or a

statement by a psychologist or a counselor. The physician’s statement must include the following:

i)Full name, mailing address, telephone number of the physician.

ii)State the nature of the illness and its duration (i.e., specific dates covered).

iii)An indication of whether the illness and/or medication prescribed would have SERIOUSLY affected the students ability to study and perform over the period

in question.

NOTE: the physician’s office may be contacted to verify that the statement was actually completed by the

physician.

NON-MEDICAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

Exams missed due to non-medical circumstances must be supported by appropriate documentation, i.e.,

death certificates, obituary notice, automobile accident reports, airline/bus ticket receipt for emergency

travel (with the date of booking on the ticket), etc. Airline/train/bus ticket/receipts for emergency travel

must indicate destination, departure, and return dates. Having to work at the time of the exam or non-

emergency travel are not considered valid excuses for missing the exam.

The manner in which the missed exam (which has been legitimately documented) is handled at the

discretion of the course director, and should be outlined by the instructor within the first two weeks of the

course.

If a course director does not agree to consider requests for deferred standing students then may file a petition with the relevant Faculty-level committee for consideration within the established deadline.

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