Category: Essays

Please write a paper that is at least two to three pages in length in which you address the questions below. Write your paper in APA format with at least one cited scholarly reference. Review Kilian and Vigfussion’s article, Do oil prices help forecast US real GDP?, as a starting point for your academic research. Please utilize the LIRN library to help you get started with your research. You may visit the Academic Resource Center for a guide on how to utilize the LIRN library successfully.

Kilian, L., & Vigfusson, R. J. (2013). Do oil prices help forecast us real GDP? The role of nonlinearities and asymmetries. Journal of Business & Economic Statistics,31(1), 78-93 (http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/ifdp/2012/1050/default.htm).

1. Carefully read the article above and then research and identify the current levels of the real and nominal GDP, the unemployment rate, the inflation rate, and the key interest rate. Relate these variables to the current state of the economy. What is the forecast for these variables for the next one to two years? How has the economic recession of 2006 and beyond affected real GDP and nominal GDP? Which is impacted more in a recession and why? Be sure to validate your opinions with scholarly research. Utilize credible, academic search strategies to apply the concepts in this assignment.

PART II: Case Study

1. Choose a company with which you are familiar or that you work for/have worked for in the past and identify how variables discussed in this module’s work affect the business. Be sure to touch on at least three concepts discussed in this module and to cite at least one scholarly source. Your submission must be at least two to three pages in length in APA format. Please utilize the LIRN library to help you get started with your research. You may visit the Academic Resource Center for a guide on how to utilize the LIRN library successfully.

PART III: Reflection Paper

1. Write a reflection paper on how the most recent recession personally affected you or someone to whom you are close. Your paper must be at least one page in length and in APA format. Identify at least two concepts that you learned in this module that help to explain how you were impacted and what you can do to help protect yourself in the future.

Craft a research question on the topic media’s influence on body image. Then locate at least five articles from peer-reviewed journals that pertain to your question that will be used to write the introduction section of your research proposal.

Submit these five citations in the form of an APA-style reference page. Under each citation, write one paragraph summarizing the main points of the article. As you read your articles, keep the following questions at hand; these will help you generate the information about each article.

What were the topic/research questions being investigated?

How was the study conducted (participants, materials, procedure, etc.)?

What did the results reveal?

How might these methodological considerations affect the research findings and the conclusions drawn from them?

How does this article fit in with your paper? How did it influence your own ideas about your paper?

Based on your reading of the literature, what do you expect to find?

Include a hypothesis and a title page for your submission.

All written assignments and responses should follow APA rules for attributing sources.

Assignment 3 Grading Criteria

Maximum Points

Created a research question based on a research topic approved by the instructor and submitted a testable hypothesis.

15

Submitted citations in the form of an APA-style reference page for five articles and included a paragraph summarizing each article and discussing its relevance.

40

Ensured that all the articles are from peer-reviewed journals.

20

Submitted a title page for the submission.

5

Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; displayed accurate spelling

Directions: Please answer each of the following questions. Please ensure that your responses are at least 3 to 5 sentences in length.

1. What four functions are performed by nucleic acids?

2. Describe three differences in the structure of DNA and RNA.

3. List the sequence of events that takes place when a DNA message is translated into protein.

4. What is a silent mutation? Provide an example.

5. Name the four stages of mitosis and describe what occurs in each stage.

6. Define the terms zygote, fertilization, and homologous chromosomes.

7. List three differences between mitosis and meiosis.

8. What is the difference between probability and possibility?

9. In your own words, describe Mendel’s Law of Segregation.

10. What is a Punnett square?

PART II: ESSAY

Directions: Write a 1 to 2 page, double-spaced paper in 12 pt. font in response to the following question. Find one article using AAU’s LIRN (library) to use as support. Please use APA format. Please visit the Academic Resource Center for an effective guide on how use LIRN and for concise APA guidelines.

Stem Cells

Stem cell research has been very controversial in the past decade. There are many benefits of stem cells that could potentially save lives for people diagnosed with cancer, individuals who need lung transplants, and etc. Please look up the article titled, “Stem Cell Engineering 101” using LIRN and summarize what you learned. The article’s information is found below:

Publisher: American Institute of Chemical Engineers

Author: Monk, Jonathan

Identifier: http://search.proquest.com/abitrade/docview/807390480/abstract/embedded/V5CYU9W58QV2TU

ISSN: 03607275

Location: United States

Source: Chemical Engineering Progress, 106(11), 35p

The following are the historic returns for the Chelle Computer Company:

 

Based on this information, compute the following:

a. The correlation coefficient between Chelle Computer and the General Index.

b. The standard deviation for the company and the index.

c. The beta for the Chelle Computer Company.

QUESTION 8

As an equity analyst, you have developed the following return forecasts and risk estimates for two different stock mutual funds (Fund T and Fund U):

FORCASTED RETURN CAPM BETA

Fund T 9.0% 1.20

Fund U 10 0.80

a. If the risk-free rate is 3.9 percent and the expected market risk premium (i.e., E(RM) − RFR) is 6.1 percent, calculate the expected return for each mutual fund according to the CAPM.

b. Using the estimated expected returns from Part a along with your own return forecasts, demonstrate whether Fund T and Fund U are currently priced to fall directly on the security market line (SML), above the SML, or below the SML.

c. According to your analysis, are Funds T and U overvalued, undervalued, or properly valued?

QUESTION 10

Draw the security market line for each of the following conditions:

a. (1) RFR = 0.08; RM(proxy) = 0.12

(2) Rz = 0.06; RM(true) = 0.15

b. Rader Tire has the following results for the last six periods. Calculate and compare the betas using each index.

RATES OF RETURN

Period Rader Tire (%) Proxy Specific Index (%) True General Index (%)

 

c.If the current period return for the market is 12 percent and for Rader Tire it is 11 percent, are superior results being obtained for either index beta?

CHAPTER 9

QUESTION 3

You have been assigned the task of estimating the expected returns for three different stocks: QRS, TUV, and WXY. Your preliminary analysis has established the historical risk premiums associated with three risk factors that could potentially be included in your calculations: the excess return on a proxy for the market portfolio (MKT), and two variables capturing general macroeconomic exposures (MACRO1 and MACRO2). These values are: λMKT = 7.5%, λMACRO1 = −0.3%, and λMACRO2 = 0.6%. You have also estimated the following factor betas (i.e., loadings) for all three stocks with respect to each of these potential risk factors:

 

a. Calculate expected returns for the three stocks using just the MKT risk factor. Assume a risk-free rate of 4.5%.

b. Calculate the expected returns for the three stocks using all three risk factors and the same 4.5% risk-free rate.

c. Discuss the differences between the expected return estimates from the single-factor model and those from the multi factor model. Which estimates are most likely to be more useful in practice?

d. What sort of exposure might MACRO2 represent? Given the estimated factor betas, is it really reasonable to consider it a common (i.e., systematic) risk factor?

QUESTION 5

Suppose that three stocks (A, B, and C) and two common risk factors (1 and 2) have the following relationship:

 

a. If λ1 = 4% and λ2 = 2%, what are the prices expected next year for each of the stocks? Assume that all three stocks currently sell for $30 and will not pay a dividend in the next year.

b. Suppose that you know that next year the prices for Stocks A, B, and C will actually be $31.50, $35.00, and $30.50. Create and demonstrate a riskless, arbitrage investment to take advantage of these mispriced securities. What is the profit from your investment? You may assume that you can use the proceeds from any necessary short sale.

QUESTION 7

a. Using regression analysis, calculate the factor betas of each stock associated with each of the common risk factors. Which of these coefficients are statistically significant?

b. How well does the factor model explain the variation in portfolio returns? On what basis can you make an evaluation of this nature?

c. Suppose you are now told that the three factors in Exhibit 9.12 represent the risk exposures in the Fama-French characteristic-based model (i.e., excess market, SMB, and HML). Based on your regression results, which one of these factors is the most likely to be the market factor? Explain why.

d. Suppose it is further revealed that Factor 3 is the HML factor. Which of the two portfolios is most likely to be a growth-oriented fund and which is a value-oriented fund? Explain why

Thus far in this course, many different theories have been used to address widely varied health problems. Climate change is one example of a global environmental issue that can affect human health in a surprising variety of ways: aiding in the spread of infectious diseases such as malaria, creating conditions that lead to potentially fatal malnutrition and diarrhea in large populations, and increasing the likelihood of heat waves and floods. Think about the myriad ways behavior change theories have been used to try to ameliorate the damage done to Earth’s environment. If you have switched to reusable shopping bags, stopped buying bottled water, or started using energy-saving light bulbs, there is a behavior change theory that could be applied to the process by which you changed your practice.

For this Assignment, you choose a theory presented in the course and apply it to a global environmental or occupational health problem.

The Assignment (6-7 pages):

Provide an overview of the problem and region you selected.
Summarize pertinent data about the problem and the affected population (e.g., incidence and prevalence rates, fatality rates, demographics of population[s] at highest risk, risk factors).
Select and briefly summarize a theory to apply to this problem.
Provide a rationale for your choice of this theory for this problem.
Apply constructs of the theory to the problem then explain how you would use these constructs to select an intervention.

Explain the strengths and limitations of the theory as it relates to the problem you selected.

Support your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation.

You are to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course

Select one of the major topics listed below using course topics previously referenced as the basis for the paper.

Explain the role of the FASB in monitoring and controlling business reporting and accounting practices in the modern organization. In what ways do FASB rules limit business practices and reporting financial information? How do such rules and regulations protect the business and public stakeholder communities? To whom is the FASB accountable and who appoints members to FASB?
Explain how external stakeholders use financial information such as company income statements and balance sheets to make decisions about the company in such cases as advancing credit or offering leasing vehicles. Discuss how common financial ratios and investment analysis is used to conduct due diligence by external parties and how factors such as accounts receivables, accounts payables, earnings returns, returns on inventory, etc. are applied to evaluate a firm’s financial and business health.
Discuss depreciation as a tool for managing and evaluating the life and utility of assets of the firm. What are the methods and under what conditions would each method be used and applied? Does a firm’s tax planning influence the decision? How do external stakeholders assess the validity of depreciation schemes?

Your paper must:

Identify the main issues in the chosen area and accurately respond to each of the questions from the chosen area.
Build upon class activities by referencing new learning that has occurred.
Present specific current and/or future applications and relevance to the typical workplace.

Guidelines for Writing the Final Paper

Paper must be seven to ten (7-10) double-spaced pages in length, exclusive of Appendix, References, Exhibits, etc.
Formatted according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide (including title page and reference list).
Must include an introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis statement.
Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
Must conclude with a restatement of the thesis and a conclusion paragraph.
Must include at least three other appropriately documented, related articles drawn from the University’s library (excluding your textbook).
Must include, on the final page, a Reference Page that is completed according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide.

Develop a five page APA style paper in which you research and discuss one of the major civil rights initiatives of the last century.

The focus of your paper should be on the initiative’s impact on current and future public policies.

How have these initiatives and policies affected the average American citizen?

1. Research the photographer from your set listed under Week 4 – Robert Rauschenberg. Look up the photographer in your textbook, check for references in the Week 4 lectures, conduct thorough Internet searches, or visit your local library.
2. Make notes in your own words while researching. Keep track of quotations and sources so that you can reference the information later.
3. Create an outline for your research paper and then fill out the details. Compose a written paper that discusses all the following topics:
   1. A brief biography of the photographer, including his or her birth and death dates, nationality, and occupation and places where the photographer’s works were published
   2. A discussion of the works, photographic styles, and approaches of the photographer
   3. At least one visual example from photography, painting, or another medium that was an influence on this photographer, as well as your interpretation of how the photographer was influenced by this artist or artwork
   4. A discussion identifying the social, political, economic, or cultural influences of the works as related to the time period
   5. A description of how the photographer’s works differ from his or her peers’ in style or approach and where he or she exemplifies the fine art photography aesthetic
4. Locate three examples of images by your photographer. Embed copies of the images in your paper and cite the source. Critique all three images using the describe, interpret, and evaluate method.
5. Conduct an Internet search for recent examples (within the last two years) of fine art photography. Find at least one contemporary artist who cites your photographer as an innovator or an influence. Make connections between the two photographers by discussing the similarities and differences in their works. Embed at least one image by the recent photographer and cite the source.
6. Add a works-cited page to your Microsoft Word document that lists all the sources you used in your research. Follow MLA conventions.
7. Save your paper, which should be a minimum of 750 words,

Part 2: Creative Brief

1. Review the four photographers you’ve studied already in the final project and look ahead at the last two weeks. Select one photographer whose works inspire you and pick one image he or she created. By Week 5, you will present your own photograph inspired by this master photographer.
2. Once you’ve selected the image you will re-create, open a new Microsoft Word document and embed a copy of the master work.
3. Research the image in more depth, and in a narrative paper, which should be a minimum of 300 words, discuss the following in your creative brief:
   1. What is the date of creation of this image?
   2. How was the image made? Discuss the specific process in depth and the equipment required, as well as how innovative the process was at the time. How difficult was it for the photographer to acquire the materials and equipment needed for this image?
   3. How long was the exposure? How did this impact the look of the image?
   4. Critique the image, focusing specifically on:
      1. Subject matter
      2. Stylistic choices
      3. Lighting
      4. Background
      5. Message or intent
   5. Compose a plan to re-create the image. Discuss how you plan to:
      1. Scout a similar location.
      2. Cast for subjects with similar physical appearances.
      3. Locate similar costumes, props, and accessories.
      4. Light the scene or choose an appropriate time of day and appropriate weather to re-create the natural lighting.
      5. Use analog methods or digital postprocessing to mimic the look of the historical process, borders of the photograph, etc. Remember, you may use film or digital media, scanner or recombined artwork, Adobe Lightroom presets, Adobe Photoshop filters, and even Instagram to create your final piece

Course Project—Part 2 (length: 6 pages)

Instructional Unit: Goals, Objectives, and the Teaching Plans

Submit your instructional unit, which should include three lesson plans: one focused on patient education, one on family education, and one on staff development. Remember, your plans should demonstrate a logical approach to teaching, communicate what is to be taught and how, and outline how objectives are to be evaluated.

Building on the work that you started in Project Part 1, for all three groups of learners:

Write several broad instructional goals for the educational experience.
Write several behavioral objectives based on Bloom’s taxonomy.
Describe the lesson content.
Provide a sequence for teaching activities.
Describe instructional methods.
Indicate time allotted for each activity.
Identify and describe the instructional resources (materials, tools, etc.) and technology to be used.
Describe how the learning will be evaluated.

Lesson Components

At a minimum, each final lesson must contain the following components:

Introduction:

Provide the title of the lesson.
Identify and describe the learners.
Include Learner Assessment: educational level, developmental level, readiness to learn, etc.
Describe the educational setting: (staff development, patient education, family education, etc.).

Purpose and rationale for the lesson(s):

Provide a rationale for selecting this lesson.
Describe the philosophical or theoretical basis for teaching approaches used in the lesson.

Statement of goals and objectives:

Write several broad instructional goals for the educational experience.
Write several behavioral objectives based on Bloom’s taxonomy.

Instructional methods and evaluation of learning—For each objective:

Describe the lesson content.
Provide a sequence for teaching activities.
Describe instructional strategies.
Indicate time allotted for each activity.
Describe the instructional resources (materials, tools, etc.) to be used.

· Describe how the learning will be evaluated.

Assignment Grading Criteria

Maximum Points

Listed two broad instructional goals for the educational experience for each of the three groups of learners.

8

Listed one learning objective for each of the three groups of learners that addressed the cognitive capabilities of the learner.

8

Listed one learning objective for each of the three groups of learners that addressed the affective capabilities of the learner.

8

Listed one learning objective for each of the three groups of learners that addressed the psychomotor capabilities of the learner.

8

Provided an appropriate description of the lesson content.

8

Provided a sequence for teaching activities and time allotted for each activity.

8

Described the instructional methods planned.

8

Identified and described the instructional resources and technology.

8

Provided an evaluation methodology.

8

Written components

Use the TNA to identify performance gaps and to establish specific training outcomes. In this first assignment, you started to develop a training needs analysis (TNA) for your chosen organization. This assignment builds on the previous one and will complete your TNA. Open the TNA created in Assignment 1 and complete steps 6-8 on the same document. Add the following section headings to your paper. Organize your information into these sections:

Outcome 1

Outcome 2

Outcome 3

Expected Performance

Performance Gaps

6. Include at least three training outcomes, based on the TNA.

Describe each outcome in detailed sentences and paragraphs, ideally about 3 or more paragraphs for each outcome. Explain each outcome as it related to the organizational goals.

7. Identify the expected performance of the group or individuals as a result of the training

8. Identify performance gaps and detail how training can help close those gaps