CSE (Comparative Studies: Economics) 250-01
M W F 2:45 - 3:50
Rike 018
Fall 2008
Department of Economics (248 Rike)
208-H Rike Hall
775-2080
E-mail: barbara.hopkins@wright.edu
Office hours: M W 1:00 -
2:30 or by appointment
Course Packet
Services:
WSU Writing Center: http://www.wright.edu/academics/writingctr/ 775-4186, 031 Dunbar Library
APA style guide: http://www.wright.edu/academics/writingctr/apa2.pdf
Writing Center’s Writer’s Hotline: 775-2158
Students are ultimately responsible for what they choose to take away from this course. Learning is facilitated through reading assignments, writing assignments, lectures, films, and class discussion. Reading each assignment before the class for which it was assigned allows you, as the student, a full opportunity to understand the lectures and ask questions that will help you to understand the material and relate it to your own educational and life experience.
Comparative Non-Western Economic Systems will expose students to cultures and economies that are different from those in the United States and Western Europe. After this course students should be able to explain several different mechanisms for organizing production and distribution associated with societies that vary both historically and geographically.
CSE 250 is part of the general education program at Wright State. This course meets requirements for Area II and Area VI (Liberal Arts only). The general education program provides a foundation for learning and seeks to:
• “develop skills and knowledge that will form the basis for…lifelong learning”
• “…sharpen critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills while learning about the aesthetic, ethical, moral, social and cultural dimensions of human experience”
Specifically, CSE 250 uses class discussion, and writing assignments to sharpen students' critical thinking and communication skills and to prepare students for life long learning.
Students through their writing assignments and participation in class discussion will investigate the moral and ethical implications of economic systems. Readings, lectures, and films will expose students to social and cultural influences on economic behavior.
Area II
• describe and analyze historical-social elements of nonwestern cultures.
• describe and analyze the global interdependence of groups and of individuals.
Specifically, CSE 250 includes both present day and historical economic systems that will continue to impact the world economy well into the next century. As the economy becomes more global, the economic systems of other countries will impact our daily lives more and more. In particular, a key question of economic structures is the degree of information about production available to decision makers. As global trade increases the distance between the consumer and the producer, the consumer’s knowledge of the true costs of production decreases.
Area VI
• communicate with individuals who are in the student’s major, in allied fields, and non-specialists
• understand important relationships and interdependencies between the student’s major and other academic disciplines, world events or life endeavors.
CSE250 is one of only two economics courses offered for the college component of the college where most social science majors are located.
This class meets the writing across the curriculum requirements for a general education writing intensive course.
Writing in General Education serves the following purposes:
• To improve students’ writing proficiency – their ability to develop ideas and transmit information for an appropriate audience in an organized, coherent fashion while writing with appropriate style and correct grammar, usage, punctuation and spelling.
• To encourage students to use writing as a learning tool to explore and structure ideas, to articulate thoughts and questions, and to discover what they know and do not know, thereby empowering students to use writing as a tool of discovery, self-discipline, and thought.
• To demonstrate for students the ways in which writing is integral to all disciplines, essential to the learning and conveying of knowledge in all fields.
The writing intensive requirement is met with short essays addressing questions about each system. Appropriate style for economics, or any social science, is to use the APA format for citations. A separate pass/fail writing intensive grade will accompany your grade for the course. Writing assignments cover 18% of your grade for the course. To pass the writing intensive portion of the course you must receive a minimum of 135 points out of 180.
Grades will be based on:
Two pop (unannounced) quizzes 40 points (20 points each)
Midterm 200 points
Nine System Projects (done as a Group) 180 points (20 points each)
Nine Personal Reflection Essays 180 points (20 points each)
Cumulative Final 400 points
If you are unable to attend, it is your responsibility to obtain notes from another student. However, there is no substitute for participating in class. Every three class periods you miss represents 10% of the material, equivalent to one letter grade. A make-up quiz will NOT be given. Make-up exams will be given at the discretion of the instructor only if she has been notified of the extenuating circumstances BEFORE the exam begins. Essays must be handed in at the beginning of class (2:45 by my watch) and will not be accepted late. That means that you want to start printing by 2:15 to allow for printer difficulties and time to get to class. All films are held by Dunbar library and may be viewed ahead of time if you know you will have a conflict.
The University policies on Academic Dishonesty will be strictly enforced. Plagiarism is clearly defined in the guide provided by WSU’s English Dept. http://www.wright.edu/cola/Dept/ENG/wsuwweb/guide/integrity.htm
Reading assignments should be read before coming to class. You are responsible for all of the material in the reading assignments and the films. Films will be shown in class, but may be “made up” through media services in the library.
Written assignments must be handed in on the day they are due. Late assignments will not be accepted, except in the case of serious illness. It is your responsibility to keep yourself aware of all due dates.
SCHEDULE: (This schedule is subject to change. Changes will be posted on Wings.)
Sept. 8-10: Introduction to Economic Systems
Sept. 12-17 Hunter Gather Economy: Affluence without Abundance
Sept. 19-24 Village Economy: Development of Ownership, Exchange, and Inequality
Sept. 26-Oct. 1 Slavery: Forms of Labor Relations
Oct. 3-8 Capitalism: Growth and Inequality
Oct. 10 MIDTERM
Oct. 13-17 Asian Capitalism: Developmental Capitalism or Crony Capitalism
Oct. 20-24 Reforming Socialism: China
Oct. 27-31 Structural Adjustment and Colonialism
Nov. 3-7 Buddhist and Confucianist Economic Systems
Nov. 10-14 Islamic Economic Systems
Wednesday Nov. 19 Final Exam, 3:15-5:15
Videos
|
9/15 |
Hunter Gatherer |
Trinkets and Beads – 53 Minutes |
HD9574.E22 T7 1996 |
|
9/22 |
Village Economy |
Legacy of Malthus – 52 minutes |
HB863.L43 1994 |
|
9/29 |
Slavery |
Dying to Leave – 60 minutes |
JV6201 .D95 2006 |
|
10/6 |
Growing Capitalism |
Behind the Smile – 46 minutes |
HD6192.55.T5 B44 1993 |
|
10/15 |
Japan |
Inside Japan, Inc. (Pacific Century Ch. 6) – 60 minutes |
DS519.1.P273 1992 V 6. |
|
10/22-24 |
China |
In Search of China – 90 minutes |
HC427.92.I5 2000 |
|
10/29 |
Structural Adjustment |
T-Shirt Travels – 57 minutes |
HD9940.D462 T74 2001 |
|
11/5 |
Buddhist Economics |
Gross National Happiness – 60 minutes |