DISCUSSION WK 4

Where can you find evidence to inform your thoughts and scholarly writing? Throughout your degree program, you will use research literature to explore ideas, guide your thinking, and gain new insights. As you search the research literature, it is important to use resources that are peer-reviewed and from scholarly journals. You may already have some favorite online resources and databases that you use or have found useful in the past. For this Discussion, you explore databases available through the Walden Library.

To Prepare:

Review the information presented in the Resources for using the Walden Library, searching the databases, and evaluating online resources.

Begin searching for a peer-reviewed article that pertains to your practice area and is of particular interest to you.

Rate of Return for Stocks and Bonds 

Purpose of Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to allow the student an opportunity to calculate the rate of return of equity and debt instruments. It allows the student to understand the effects of dividends; capital gains; inflation rates; and how the nominal rate of return affects valuation and pricing. The assignment also allows the student to apply concepts related to CAPM, WACC, and Flotation Costs to understand the influence of debt and equity on the company’s capital structure. 

Assignment Steps

Resources:  Corporate Finance

Calculate the following problems and provide an overall summary of how companies make financial decisions in no more than 700 words, based on your answers: 

1. Stock Valuation: A stock has an initial price of $100 per share, paid a dividend of $2.00 per share during the year, and had an ending share price of $125. Compute the percentage total return, capital gains yield, and dividend yield.

2. Total Return: You bought a share of 4% preferred stock for $100 last year. The market price for your stock is now $120. What was your total return for last year?

3. CAPM: A stock has a beta of 1.20, the expected market rate of return is 12%, and a risk-free rate of 5 percent. What is the expected rate of return of the stock?

4. WACC: The Corporation has a targeted capital structure of 80% common stock and 20% debt. The cost of equity is 12% and the cost of debt is 7%. The tax rate is 30%. What is the company’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC)?

5. Flotation Costs: Medina Corp. has a debt-equity ratio of .75. The company is considering a new plant that will cost $125 million to build. When the company issues new equity, it incurs a flotation cost of 10%. The flotation cost on new debt is 4%. What is the initial cost of the plant if the company raises all equity externally?

1. How does the capital asset pricing model work and how is it used to measure risk?

2. The Return and Risk for Portfolios?

3. RISK: SYSTEMATIC AND UNSYSTEMATIC?

4. What is the purpose of the Weighted Average Cost of Capital model?

5. How does increasing debt financing or equity financing affect the results in this model?

6. Explain The Dividend Discount Model Approach

7. Provide citation and reference to the material(s) you discuss. Describe what you found interesting regarding this topic, and why.

8. Describe how you will apply that learning in your daily life, including your work life.

9. Describe what may be unclear to you, and what you would like to learn.

Research the implications of equal protection for K-12 students within one of the following groups:

Classifications based on English language learners;

Classifications through ability grouping/tracking;

Classifications in academic programs based on gender;

Classifications in sports programs based on gender; and

Classifications to assign students to specific schools for racial balance.

In a 500-750-word essay, address the following for the group that you have chosen:

Summarize the factual background on how the students are classified;

Identify the legal issues presented by these classifications; and

Describe what equal protection requires.

Include at least five references in your essay. At least three of the five references should cite U.S. Supreme Court cases.

The Anti-Federalists: Assessment

Assessment

Prominent Americans wrote essays and gave speeches to support their positions. You will now follow their example by writing and editing your own persuasive argument either for or against ratifying the Constitution in your state. You will find it helpful to complete this Activity on Persuasive Writing before you begin.

Steps

Choose whether to argue as a Federalist or as an Anti-Federalist. Review the lesson to make sure you understand their main points.

Using quotes from the Federalist Papers, write an opinion article for a newspaper, or create a speech podcast to convince people in your state to agree with your position. Include the following in your speech or article:

teens shaking hands after playing a game of tennis© 2012 Polka Dot/Thinkstock

introductory paragraph that clearly states your position as a Federalist or Anti-Federalist

at least two paragraphs to explain the meaning of at least two quotes from the Federalist Papers. If you would like to explore more of theFederalist Papers and find your own quotes, these sites will be helpful.

American Studies at the University of Virginia

The Avalon Project at Yale Law School

The Law Center at the University of Oklahoma

at least one paragraph to explain why you agree or disagree with the quotes

strong concluding paragraph that summarizes your position and persuades others to support you

Edit your work before submitting. Be sure your article or speech has an introduction, a separate paragraph for each point you make, and a strong conclusion. If you choose to make a podcast, be sure you are in character when you perform your speech. 

UNDERSTANDING THE ASSIGNMENT: ESSAY – EXPLORING ANCIENT MYSTERIES

Write a 3-4 paragraph essay (of at least 250-500 words) which adequately address the topic and requirements stated below. 

Format your essay according to the Strayer University Writing Standards as detailed in the formatting instructions below.

STEP 1: TOPIC SELECTION

Select a topic from the list below and include this topic on your title page.

Pyramids at Giza 

There have been many theories regarding how the pyramids at Giza were constructed. Most experts agree that they were constructed as burial monuments for pharaohs, but “how” these ancient people constructed monuments of such great size without modern machinery is a mystery which is still being debated.

Tutankamen

Tutankhamen died young, at approximately eighteen (18) years of age. However, his cause of death has been the subject of quite varied scholarly theories and conclusions. Did he die of an injury, of illness, of murder, or something else?.

Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe is an enormous complex of structures in East Africa. Since the builders and occupants left no written records, several theories have developed as to the identity of its builders and the functions of the structures. Which theory makes the most sense?

Tomb of Shihuangdi

The monumental size and complexity of the Tomb of Shihuangdi is astounding, yet its location and construction details were to be kept secret. What was the emperor’s purpose for such an elaborate, secret burial place?.

STEP 2: MYSTERY & THEORIES

Describe the mystery as though someone is hearing it for the first time.

Provide a brief summary of at least 2 reasonable and scholarly theories which could explain the mystery. Because some theories may sound far-fetched, include the source or promoter of each theory – such as a scientist, a historian, a theologian, etc.

STEP 3: EXAMINING THE MOST PLAUSIBLE

Identify 1 of the theories that you summarized above as the most plausible.

Provide at least 2 convincing reasons why the theory you have chosen is the best one to explain the mystery.

STEP 4: REFERENCES & CITATIONS

Include a reference page that identifies at least 3 references. The class text may be included in the list of 3 or more.

In-text citations are required when paraphrasing or quoting another source. (i.e., STEPS 2 and 3 above)

STEP 5: DOUBLE CHECK FORMATTING

Formatting and writing standards are part of your grade. Align your formatting to the Strayer University Writing Standards.  

From the perspective of the dominance theory which you have been assigned, consider the following prompts in your paper:

Regarding  the seven levels of corporate power, how did the power of Standard Oil change society?

Was the power exercised in keeping with the social contract of Rockefeller’s  era?

Does the story support the position of the dominance theory of business power?

Did  the arguments you read in this case study change your perspective?

ASSIGNMENT 04

C08 American Government

Directions:  Be sure to save an electronic copy of your answer before submitting it to Ashworth College for grading. Unless otherwise stated, answer in complete sentences, and be sure to use correct English, spelling and grammar. Sources must be cited in APA format. Your response should be four (4) double-spaced in length; refer to the “Assignment Format” located in the Introduction of this learning guide for specific format requirements.

Part A

Step 1: Complete the online activity.

Go through all the pages of the activity on the website below carefully.

Federalism and Regulations

http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/pls_coco_2/american_government/assignments/0558594131/activities/Player/vl.federalismregulations.html

Step 2: Write a paper summarizing your responses to the questions.

In a concisely written paper, respond to the following questions:

1. What do you think would happen to state employment if the federal government decided that, rather than passing laws and making states carry them out, it would simply give the states responsibility for a major social program such as welfare? Provide at least two (2) examples of what might happen in this situation.

2. In a situation like this, why might state employment levels go up, even when federal activity might be going down? Provide at least one (1) reason with support.

3. Do federal grants represent an appropriate percentage of the total federal budget and gross domestic product (GDP)? Explain, providing at least one (1) supporting fact.

Part B

Step 1: Complete the online activity.

Go through all the pages of the activity on the website below carefully.

What Speech Is Protected by the Constitution? -http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/pls_coco_2/american_government/assignments/0558594131/activities/Player/vl.whatspeechprotectedbyconst.html

Step 2: Write a paper summarizing your responses to the questions.

In a concisely written paper, respond to the following questions:

1. Describe two (2) circumstances under which speech might legitimately be suppressed. Provide one (1) original example for each circumstance.

2. Do some types of speech deserve more constitutional protection than others? If so, describe one (1) type that deserves the most protection and one (1) type that deserves the least.

3. Describe two (2) advantages and two (2) disadvantages of a free, uncensored flow of information and images.

Review the details of Coatesville Fires Case.

The four functions of probation/parole work include the following:

Presentence investigations

Intake procedures

Needs assessment and diagnosis

Supervision of clients

Write a 350-700 word essay based on the above terminology. Incorporate the following in your essay:

Describe in detail the definitions of the four functions of probation/parole.

Describe how each of the four functions of probation/parole can be applied to the Coatesville Fires Case.

For this assignment, you will write a 2–3-page paper (double-spaced, 1-inch margins) providing at least 1 example of how government has overstepped biblical principles in some form of economic policy.

Options include the following topics:

A specific piece of legislation relating to business regulation or taxation.

The “party platform” of either the Republican Party or the Democratic Party (or both).

The role of the Federal Reserve.

The budget process.

In discussing one of these topics, incorporate clear references from the required reading.

The required Reading & Study material for Module/Week 7 must be cited specifically, and you must include outsides sources as well. You must include at least 2 sources in your essay, cited in current APA formatting.