PODCASTS

For each topic I provide a link to a page or more of questions on the readings, which I post to the public website for the course and also link to on this syllabus. These questions have several purposes:
• To assist you in studying the material. I suggest that, when you finish reading and making notes on an assigned reading, you immediately see if you can answer these questions. If not, go back and look for the answers while the reading is fresh in your mind.
• To provide the basis for in-class discussion. I will ask a few of these questions during class discussion. By preparing beforehand, you'll be better able to participate, either by answering the questions themselves or by responding to answers that others give.
• To give you a glimpse of part of what will appear on quizzes (see below). In addition to asking you to understand and use the economic tools in the course, quizzes will also include more qualitative and informational questions, many of which will be drawn from these posted questions, whether or not we have addressed them in class.

REQUIREMENTS

Requirements for the course consist of three graded short papers handed in during the term, graded weekly quizzes, and class participation. There is also a series of problem sets that you may wish to work through, though they will not be graded, and are not particularly relevant for the papers nad quizzes.

• The papers will be written by assigned groups of two or three. They are intended for you to apply the tools of economic analysis of trade policies that you'll be learning in this class.
• The quizzes will also test that knowledge, but in addition they will let you show more broadly what you have learned about the role of trade policy, both in general and in the context of current events. Only ten of these quizzes (which I expect will number 12 or 13) will count toward your grade, as I will drop the two or three on which you score the worst or do not submit. Each quiz is worth 10 points and you have 45 minutes to complete them. Quizes become available after class on Wednesdays and are due at 11:59 PM on Fridays. You may submit them late, up to 11:59 PM on Saturdays, but one point will be deducted from your score.
• Class participation will involve your answering and asking questions during class, through Zoom. In addition to answering the questions that I will ask (see above), you'll get credit for asking your own questions and answering questions raised by others. Note that there ARE NO stupid questions! If you don't understand something, it's almost certain that others (and perhaps I) share your confusion, and you'll be helping both them and me by asking your questions.

The weights on each of these requirements in determining your grade will be as follows:

WRITING ASSISTANCE

I will grade your papers on both content and presentation, which means you should take full advantage of the Ford School resources for helping you with your writing. See http://fordschool.umich.edu/writing-center/ for more information, including links to the websites for signing up for advising appointments. This assistance is available to all students in Ford School courses, such as this, whether or not you are enrolled in a Ford School program.

FORD SCHOOL POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS

Ford School Public Health Protection Policy: In order to participate in any in-person aspects of this course, including meeting with other students to study or work on your group papers, you must follow all the public health safety measures and policies put in place by the State of Michigan, Washtenaw County, the University of Michigan, and the Ford School. Up to date information on U-M policies can be found here. It is expected that you will protect and enhance the health of everyone in the Ford School community by staying home and following self-isolation guidelines if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19. Inclusivity: Members of the Ford School community represent a rich variety of backgrounds and perspectives. We are committed to providing an atmosphere for learning that respects diversity. While working together to build this community we ask all members to: share their unique experiences, values and beliefs be open to the views of others honor the uniqueness of their colleagues appreciate the opportunity that we have to learn from each other in this community value one another's opinions and communicate in a respectful manner keep confidential discussions that the community has of a personal (or professional) nature use this opportunity together to discuss ways in which we can create an inclusive environment in Ford classes and across the UM community Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: If you believe you need an accommodation for a disability, please reach out to U-M Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office to help determine appropriate academic accommodations and how to communicate about your accommodations with your professors. Any information you provide will be treated as private and confidential. Student Mental Health and Well-Being Resources: The University of Michigan is committed to advancing the mental health and wellbeing of its students. We acknowledge that a variety of issues, both those relating to the pandemic and other issues such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, and depression, can directly impact students’ academic performance and overall wellbeing. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and/or in need of support, services are available. You may access counselors and urgent services at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and/or University Health Service (UHS). Students may also use the Crisis Text Line (text '4UMICH' to 741741) to be connected to a trained crisis volunteer. You can find additional resources both on and off campus through the University Health Service and through CAPS. Academic Integrity: The Ford School academic community, like all communities, functions best when its members treat one another with honesty, fairness, respect, and trust. We hold all members of our community to high standards of scholarship and integrity. To accomplish its mission of providing an optimal educational environment and developing leaders of society, the Ford School promotes the assumption of personal responsibility and integrity and prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty, plagiarism and misconduct. Academic dishonesty may be understood as any action or attempted action that may result in creating an unfair academic advantage for oneself or an unfair academic advantage or disadvantage for any other member or members of the academic community. Plagiarism involves representing the words, ideas, or work of others as one’s own in writing or presentations, and failing to give full and proper credit to the original source. Conduct, without regard to motive, that violates the academic integrity and ethical standards will result in serious consequences and disciplinary action. The Ford School's policy of academic integrity can be found in the MPP/MPA, BA, and PhD Program handbooks. Additional information regarding academic dishonesty, plagiarism and misconduct and their consequences is available at: http://www.rackham.umich.edu/current-students/policies/academic-policies/section11#112. Use of Technology Students should follow instructions from their instructor as to acceptable use of technology in the classroom, including laptops, in each course. All course materials (including slides, assignments, handouts, pre-recorded lectures or recordings of class) are to be considered confidential material and are not to be shared in full or part with anyone outside of the course participants. Likewise, your own personal recording (audio or video) of your classes or office hour sessions is allowed only with the express written permission of your instructor. If you wish to post course materials or photographs/videos of classmates or your instructor to third-party sites (e.g. social media), you must first have informed consent. Without explicit permission from the instructor and in some cases your classmates, the public distribution or posting of any photos, audio/video recordings or pre-recordings from class, discussion section or office hours, even if you have permission to record, is not allowed and could be considered academic misconduct. Technology in this class: Regarding technology, you will of course be using it for our class meetings, since they are all online. You are welcome to use whatever devices you find helpful during class, such as looking up current news and other information relevant to class discussion. Quizzes will be open book, and you will be welcome to use online resources (but not other students) to help you, subject to the quiz time limit. In this class, contrary to what is stated above, not all course materials are confidential, because I post them on my publicly available website. Specifically, this syllabus and the associated list of readings, slides for each class, and the assignments are all available there. Therefore you are also free, if you wish, to share them with others. The questions that I provide on the readings for each class are also posted on my public website, as will my answers to those questions after the quizzes associated with them have been graded, so these too can be shared if you wish. Quiz questions and answers, however, should not be shared. Please review additional information and policies regarding academic expectations and resources at the Ford School of Public Policy at: https://intranet.fordschool.umich.edu/academic-expectations.