Syllabus

GRISWOLDHIGH SCHOOL PERSONAL FINANCE
 * COURSE DESCRIPTION:** Provides students with a working understanding of consumer economics with an emphasis on developing a basic core of financial skills and money sense.


 * COURSE PREREQUISITE :** none


 * RECOMMENDED TEXT:** __Managing Your Personal Finances__, Third Edition, Ryan, South-Western, ISBN 0-538-62902-9


 * EVALUATION**: Each assignment and periodic exam will be assigned points. Students will not be allowed references on exams. The points will be converted into a final grade. The final grading scale is as follows:
 * 100% - 90% = A
 * 89% - 80% = B
 * 79% - 70% = C
 * 69% - 60% = D
 * Below 59% = F


 * These competencies represent the minimum requirements necessary to gain credit for this course.**


 * Quarter 1**


 * I. CHOOSING AND PLANNING FOR A CAREER**
 * Perform a Self-Assessment Inventory
 * Research a Variety of Sources of Career Information
 * Complete Job Search Materials
 * Letter of application
 * Resume
 * Application form
 * Job interview practice questions
 * Thank you letter


 * II. BASIC EMPLOYMENT KNOWLEDGE**
 * Federal Employment Laws
 * Calculating Pay
 * Gross Pay, deductions, net pay
 * Benefits and Incentives
 * Labor Unions
 * Budgeting


 * Quarter 2**


 * III. SAVING AND INVESTING FOR THE FUTURE**
 * Checking Accounts and Basic Banking Services
 * Opening, using, and reconciling a checking account
 * Compounding Interest
 * Basic Investing
 * Reasons to invest
 * Risk
 * Investment strategies
 * Where to find investment information
 * Investment options
 * Investing in Stocks
 * Types and classification of stocks
 * Stock values and computing returns
 * The securities market
 * Short term strategies
 * Long term strategies
 * Reading stock listings
 * Researching and buying stocks
 * Investing in Bonds
 * Government bonds
 * Corporate bonds
 * Investing in Mutual Funds
 * Investing in Real Estate, Metals, Gems, and Collectibles
 * Planning for Retirement
 * Retirement plans, pensions


 * IV. UNDERSTANDING AND USING CREDIT WISELY**
 * History of Credit
 * Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Credit
 * Kinds of Credit
 * Open-ended credit
 * Closed-end (installment) credit
 * Service credit
 * Credit Records and Credit Ratings
 * Credit Worthiness
 * 5 C’s of credit
 * Credit Laws
 * Consumer Credit Protection Act
 * Fair Credit Reporting Act
 * Fair Credit Billing Act
 * Equal Credit Opportunity Act
 * Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
 * Responsibilities of Using Credit
 * Computing the Costs of Credit
 * Using Credit Cards Wisely
 * Solving Credit Problems
 * Self-control and personal discipline
 * Not-for-profit credit counseling
 * Commercial debt-adjustment firms
 * Chapters 7, 11, 13 bankruptcy proceedings


 * Quarter 3**


 * V. TAXES**
 * Tax theory, preparing basic forms


 * VI. HOUSING**
 * Housing Alternatives
 * On-campus
 * Apartments
 * Duplexes
 * House
 * Renting a Residence
 * Advantages and disadvantages
 * Leases
 * Landlord and tenant responsibilities
 * Owning a Residence
 * Advantages and disadvantages
 * Financial factors
 * Principles of real estate transactions


 * VII. TRANSPORTATION**
 * Purchasing an Automobile
 * Financial considerations
 * Buying vs. leasing
 * Steps and strategies
 * Financial costs of auto ownership


 * Quarter 4**


 * VIII. PERSONAL RISKS AND INSURANCE**
 * Fundamentals of Personal Risk and Risk Management
 * Property and Liability Insurance
 * Homeowner’s insurance
 * Renter’ insurance
 * Automobile insurance
 * Health and Life Insurance


 * VIX. CONSUMERS IN THE MARKETPLACE**
 * Essentials of a Free Enterprise System
 * Competition
 * Purchasing power
 * Informed consumers
 * Fraudulent and Deceptive Marketing Practices
 * Bait and switch
 * Referral sales
 * Fake sales
 * Lowballing
 * Pyramid schemes
 * Pigeon drop
 * Fraudulent representation
 * Health and medical product frauds
 * Infomercials
 * Consumer Rights and Legislation
 * Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938
 * Fair Packaging and Labeling Act of 1966
 * Legal Recourse
 * Court proceedings