Home Page for ECON 251
Intermediate Microeconomics

Announcements
Project
  • Instructions for the group project  
  • Presentation dates:
    • Friday 11/20:  Chris Brucher, Nathan Giebel, Tony Walek
    • Wed 12/2:   Jared Fryksdale, Amy Ziesemer
    • Wed 12/2:   Jacob Kling, Chi Nguyen, Zaklin Pisowodzki
    • Wed 12/2:  Ana Soskic, Brendan Walsh
    • Fri 12/4:   Ryan Duncan, Jeff Meyer, Connor Patterson
    • Fri 12/4:  Tyler Pouros
    • Mon 12/7:  Sarah Katt, Ryan Kelley, Josh Khoshbin
    • Mon 12/7:  Jimmy Stevens, Cory Wulff Plumb
    • Wed 12/9:  Mike Fitzgerald, Dustin Heinrichs, Robert Janik 
Syllabus
 Problem Sets:  Results and Miscellaneous Info
  • Results                 PS1(9/16)     PS2(9/28)     PS3(10/7)     PS4(10/16)    PS5(11/2)
    individual average         3.6                3.4               1.8               2.2             2.1
    group average              4.0                4.7               2.2               2.9             3.4
  • Question:  I missed class on a day we did graded problem solving.  Does that count toward my grade?  
    Answer:  You get a zero for the individual and group score that day.  But don't fret.  At the end of the semester, if you have missed only one problem-solving day, I won't count your zero in the calculation of your grade.  
  • Question:  I understand you'll drop a zero for someone who missed just one in-class problem set.  That doesn't seem fair to people like me who don't miss any.  What gives?  
    Answer:  If you don't miss any in-class problem sets, I'll drop your lowest score at the end of the semester.  Group and individual.  Happy now?
  • Question:  I got only two wrong.  But, there were only 5 problems, so my score is 3 out of 5 or 60%.  In all my other classes, 60% is like a D or something.  Should I be upset?
    Answer:   I grade on a curve, and I use a different curve for each part of your course grade.  So, if one exam turns out to be harder than another exam, I'll use a more generous curve on the harder exam than on the easier exam. Similarly, I'll use a different curve on these problem sets.  If a score of 60% is more common on these problem sets than on the exams, then I'll use a more generous curve on these problem sets to compensate people for the extra difficulty.  However, the average score on the first problem set was 73% on the individual and 79% on the group, so 60% is a bit low compared to the average.  Try to do better on the next one.  
  • Question:   Our group only had 3 people.  The other groups had 4.  That doesn't seem fair.  
    Answer:   Due to the odd number of students in the class, and due to the occasional absence, there will be a couple groups with 3 when most groups have 4.  However, the groups will be different every time, and group assignments are purely random.  So, it is statistically likely that you will be in a group of 4 most of the time, but you will be in a group of 3 once in a while.  My other answer is:  Life is unfair.  As the instructor, I have tried to make this equally unfair to everyone.  Fair enough?  
  • Question:   My group's score was lower than my individual score.  My group hurt my grade.  May I have permission to submerse my teammates in boiling water?  
    Answer:   No, you may not. But if you do anyway, we didn't have this conversation.  Look, when you're working with your group, it's your job to convince them that your answer is correct.  If you can't do that, then you appropriately won't get as high a score on the group part as on the individual part.  In any case, the group assignments are random and different each time, so you probably won't have to work with these people too many more times, if at all.  So be kind to them and save the boiling water for your tea.   
  • Question:   These questions and answers are starting to get tedious.  I have other things to do besides read them.  Can I go now?  
    Answer:   Yep.  See ya later. 
  • Question:   Okay, thanks.  Have a good day.  
    Answer:   You too!  
  • If you have any questions or concerns about this activity that are not answered here to your satisfaction, please let me know.  
Resources
 Handouts and "virtual handouts"
Your midterm exam
  • After you take the midterm exams, I will post the exam here with a detailed answer key.  I do not post final exams or return them to students.  If you wish to see your graded final exam, please contact me after the semester for an appointment. 
  • Midterm exam answer key
Last year's midterm exam
  • Here is the actual midterm exam from the last time I taught this course.  I provide it to you with important disclaimers.  Please read and understand each one before accessing the old midterm exam.  
    • When preparing for your midterm, do not rely too heavily on the old one.  I don't always teach the course exactly the same way - the order and selection of topics may change, the textbook may change, and the way I present some of them may change. 
    • The old final exam is not available.  Don't ask for it.
  • The exam
  • The answer key