ABSTRACT
On the first day of introductory economics, students form impressions of their instructor and of economics. Their first reactions to instructors and their more visible characteristics such as gender, race/ethnicity, age, dress, and able-bodiness are important. From these reactions, students form opinions and expectations about their instructors. On the first day of class, students also form first impressions about economics and whether or not they will like it. They form these opinions and expectations from reactions to the course syllabus and from the required textbook(s). Students examine these documents and try to figure out what they will learn, how they will learn it, and what will be expected of them. Finally, students watch how the instructor interacts with different students, and in particular, with themselves. They do a quick cost/benefit analysis and either keep the textbook(s) or fill out a drop-add slip.
