A-G Economics
About This Course
A-G Economics is a 16-week semester course introducing students to the essential concepts and dynamics of macroeconomics through a historical lens. Rather than teaching economics as abstract theory, this course embeds economic concepts in the historical situations that produced them: ancient markets and empires, the rise of currency and banking, the development of global trade, the Industrial Revolution, the Federal Reserve, Keynesian economics, and the modern digital economy. Students gain a framework for understanding the economic forces that shape their lives and their roles as citizens.
This is not a personal finance or budgeting class. The focus is macroeconomics: how economies develop, how governments interact with markets, and why the national and global economy works the way it does.
The course meets weekly for a 40 to 50 minute live online class. Required readings are assembled from articles, primary sources, and texts available free online, with links provided in the weekly Canvas assignments. Students should expect to spend approximately 3.5 to 6 hours per week, depending on assignment and reading speed.
- Weekly live class, Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. Pacific
- Recorded sessions available for students who cannot attend live
- Two graded assignments per week (terminology quiz and discussion question)
- One research paper on an economic topic, event, or historical figure
- Semester course, offered Fall and Spring; one semester of credit on transcript
- Define and apply core macroeconomic concepts including scarcity, incentives, markets, supply and demand, and monetary policy
- Trace the historical development of money, banking, capitalism, and global trade from ancient times through the digital age
- Understand the role of governments in economies, including taxation, central banking, the Federal Reserve, and economic policy
- Compare major economic theories, including classical economics, Keynesian economics, and modern alternatives
- Analyze how economic forces, historical events, and political decisions interact to shape the world
- Read and engage with primary source economic texts from Adam Smith, Keynes, Marx, Carnegie, and others
This course meets California A-G requirements. For complete standards documentation, visit the California A-G Standards Alignment page.
Schedule
A-G Economics is a 16-week semester course offered in both Fall and Spring. Classes meet live on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. Pacific; recorded sessions are available for students who cannot attend live. Pricing and purchase order details are available through your school's purchasing department.
| Session | Format | Meeting Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fall or Spring Semester | Live, online | Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. Pacific |
Course Units
| # | Unit Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intro to Economics: Basic Concepts | 1 week |
| 2 | Local and Regional Markets in Ancient Times | 2 weeks |
| 3 | Labor and Wages | 1 week |
| 4 | Money | 2 weeks |
| 5 | Global Markets in the Early Modern Era | 3 weeks |
| 6 | Banking and Finance | 3 weeks |
| 7 | Economies and Governments | 2 weeks |
| 8 | Global and Local Economies | 2 weeks |
Required Reading
There is no textbook to purchase for this course. All required readings are assembled from articles, primary source excerpts, and texts available free online. Links are provided in the weekly reading assignments in Canvas. Readings include selections from Hammurabi, Aristotle, Herodotus, Adam Smith, Malthus, Karl Marx, Andrew Carnegie, Keynes, Milton Friedman, and others.
Assignments and Assessment
WriteAtHome's Mr. Napier grades all weekly assignments and the semester paper. Optional A-G assignments (oral presentations, collaborative projects, visual projects) are overseen and graded by the student's charter school teacher or educational coordinator.
| Assignment Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Terminology Quiz | A brief quiz covering key economic terms and concepts from the week's lecture. Graded by Mr. Napier. | Weekly |
| Discussion Question | A short written response to a discussion prompt designed to develop critical thinking about economic events, concepts, and ideas. Graded by Mr. Napier. | Weekly |
| Semester Paper | A research paper examining an economic issue, theory, historical event, or important figure in economic history. Students choose from a list of suggested topics or develop their own. Graded by Mr. Napier. | Once |
| Optional A-G Assignments | Oral presentations, collaborative projects, and visual projects are available as optional A-G assignments. Rubrics and assignment details are provided by WriteAtHome; grading is completed by the student's charter school teacher or educational coordinator. | Optional |
Instructor
How to Enroll
Enrollment is handled through your charter school. Check with your school's purchasing department for enrollment details, purchase order procedures, and course approval specific to your school.
Questions? Contact WriteAtHome at info@writeathome.com.
Supplementary Education Center/Program:
WriteAtHome (4-12) is Fully Accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
533 Airport Blvd., Suite 200
Burlingame, CA 94010
Website: www.acswasc.org