"CONSUMER RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES"
ChFam 3150
COURSE SYLLABUS

This course will be taught Spring, 2004.

Instructor: Joyce Buck, MS, CFLE
Office: Edu. Bldg. #245; phone: 626-6880; e-mail: jbuck1@weber.edu
Text: Economic Issues for Consumers, (9th ed.), Miller & Stafford
Resource Materials for ChFam 3150, Buck

Catalogue Description: The role and responsibilities of the family and its members as consumers. An exploration of marketplace fact and fraud and identification of consumer resources.

CFLE Certification: This class is designated as a support course for the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) credential Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) Standard #6: "Family Resource Management."

 

Date: Topic: Reading: Assignments:
Week 1: Intro/Effective Complaints    
  Historical Perspectives   VIDEO: America at Risk
Week 2: Consumer in an Electronic Economy Ch 1 Assign#1 DUE (letter)
  Consumer Decisions Ch 2 VIDEO: Secrets of Selling
Week 3: Advertising Ch 3 VIDEO: 30-Second Seduction
  Advertising    
Week 4: Consumer Fraud Ch 4 VIDEO: Buyer Be Aware
  Consumer Protection Ch 5  
Week 5: EXAM I: Ch 1-5   Assign#2 DUE(ads)
  Consumer Rights & Responsibilities    
Week 6: CPI/Consumer Budgeting Ch 6-7  
  Tax Considerations Ch 8  
Week 7: American Diet Ch 9 VIDEO: Read & Use Food Label
  Consumer Choices: Nondurables Ch 10  
Week 8: Consumer Choices: The Bargain guest  
  Consumer Choices: Durables Ch 10 11  
Week 9: Housing Ch 12  
  Product Testing & Quality    
Week 10: Bank Services/Credit Ch 13 VIDEO: Dealing w/Debt
  Credit Use and Abuse Ch 14 guest  
Week 11: EXAM II:
Ch. 6-14		   Assign#3 DUE
(court visit)
  Saving and Investing Ch 15 16  
Week 12: Insurance Ch 17 19  
  Estate Planning Ch 20  
Week 13: Oral Reports    
  HOLIDAY    
Week 14: Oral Reports    
  Oral Reports    
Week 15: Consumer's Changing World Ch 21 22  
  FINAL EXAM: Ch 15-23 & oral reports   Assign#5 DUE
(issues paper)

 

Class Assignments: Points:

1. Complaint/Compliment Letter 25 points
2. Advertising Analysis 25 points
3. Small Claims Court Visit 50 points
4. Oral Purchase Project Report 100 points
5. Consumer Issues Paper 100 points

 

Exams:

3 Exams @ 100 points each 300 points
Total Points Possible: 600 points

 

Extra Credit:
A maximum of 20 points extra credit is available for news clipping addressing consumer issues.

Grading Criteria:
Grades will be based on a percentage of the total 600 points possible:

94 -100% = A 564-600 points   74- 76% = C 444-461 points
90- 93% = A- 540-563 points   70- 79% = C- 420-443 points
87- 89% = B+ 522-539 points   67- 76% = D+ 402-419 points
84- 86% = B 504-521 points   64- 73% = D 384-401 points
80- 83% = B- 480-503 points   60- 63% = D- 360-383 points
77- 79% = C+ 462-479 points   59- below = E 354 or fewer points


NOTE: A 10% penalty will be assessed on all late work. Any work over one week late will not be accepted and a zero score assigned.

SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS: After contacting Services for Students with Disabilities, please identify yourself with the instructor by week two. "Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary."