Day: April 25, 2018

Research project instructions
Follow these steps assiduously.

Final project topic: Design a small country that fosters the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.
The correct approach or tone is explanatory, though you will use argumentation to present your evidence.
It is due at the end of Week 8, Sunday at 11:59 p.m. As this is the end of the semester, no work submitted after the deadline will be accepted.
Project is to be formatted using APA style, which we learned earlier this semester.
Your research essay will begin with a Cover Page and end with References.
Below I provide a sample of APA formatting. Download and use it; it is the example against which your paper will be graded. You may use it as a template. Note that it includes additional info that your final papers will need, such as an abstract.
As usual for essays in our class, use Times New Roman font, size 12. Standard margins. Double-spaced.
Running header (shows up on each page) in upper right hand corner beside the page number; the running header is an abbreviated version of your title.
You must create (not copy/paste) one original graph as a visual aid in your essay. In Word: Insert > Chart. The graph or chart should be no larger than 1/3 of a page.
You must use at least five sources. These will be documented under References.
As you practiced earlier in the semester, at least three sources must be from EBSCO. To use this database, first go to this Coastline Virtual Library link (Links to an external site.), where you’ll need to enter your Coastline MyCCC username and password. Then click on “EBSCOhost” > “Student Research Center.”
You may use and quote articles from our textbook.
In your essay, you’ll create policies and justify them using evidence from your research.
You’ll need to define clearly your terms (happiness, greatest number, etc.).
Organization: Your essay will have an introduction paragraph, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph–a beginning, middle, and end.
Final Research Project’s total length = 10 pages. [1 page title + 1 page abstract + 7 pages content + 1 page references]
Your body paragraphs will zoom in on five or more national interests.
Examples include: class, race, ideologies (belief systems, religions, and so on), urban design, architecture, transportation, renewable resources, leadership / system of government, arts (painting, literature, music, film), military, cuisine, physical / mental health of citizens, entertainment, invented history, scientific innovation / research, technology, health care, family structure, economic policies, business practices, imports / exports, geographic location, topography, natural habitat . . . and any others you can think of.
Again, you are creating your own ideal country.
Support your proposed policies with concrete evidence from EBSCO articles and other online research. For inspiration refer to the essays in Chapters 26 (on the ideal society), 27 (on free will), and 28 on happiness–you’re assigned to read it this week–c’est parfait!
Each body paragraph must have at least one relevant quotation and citation from a reputable source.
This is a creative expository essay. Have fun with it–strut your stuff–you’re all strong, capable writers by now.
Be sure to create an outline, organize your ideas, and use transitions to signal shifts from section to section.
Proofread and edit like mad!
As always, ask anything in the Q/A discussion topic.

Final Research Project Rubric: My Ideal Country
/3 Format: cover page, abstract, references, margins, spacing, font, header
/4 Organization: intro, body, conclusion; topic sentences, transitions
/5 Mechanics: grammar, punctuation, syntax, spelling
/8 Argumentation: integration of sources, graph, detail, depth of thought, fluidness
/20 TOTAL

** I WILL COPY CHAPTER 26 OF my book if needed

Extra Credit

This assignment is completely optional. It is worth up to 10 points toward your final grade.

The task in this assignment is to summarize (to demonstrate your comprehension) a research article on perception and draw connections between the article’s findings and (1) the concepts we have already discussed in class and (2) the “real world” (e.g., everyday experience).

The article you will read and write about is posted on Blackboard: Neels et al. (2012).

You will write a paper at least 750 words in length that accomplishes the following tasks:

– Summarize the hypotheses, procedures, and results of the article in no more than 350 words. Do not directly quote from the article. Do not copy and paste from the article. Demonstrate that you understand what occurred in the studies and what the researchers found. The summary portion of the paper is worth up to 4 points.

– Describe how the results of these studies relate to concepts we have discussed in class. How, for example, do these results compare to what we have covered in our discussions of vision and neural processing? You may also discuss how these results might apply in the “real world” outside of the laboratory. For example, what do these results suggest for the way perception works in our everyday life? This discussion portion of the paper is worth up to 6 points.

The book “gang leader for a day” by Sudhir Venkatesh revolves around various ways people participate in the underground economy.
Discuss the specific factors of the underground economy. Why do people participate in the underground economy? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this system?

An underground economy is illegal and the government is generally opposed to allowing one to operate. Discuss the relationship between the government (police, city government, school system, etc.) and the underground economy. Does the government attempt to shut down the underground economy? How does the underground economy interact with the legitimate (aboveground) economy?

Lastly, argue whether or not the underground economy should be allowed to exist. Include specific examples from your book (citations!) to support your argument. You must also include material from class (Micro Economics )(i.e. the underground economy is good/bad because of something we learned in class – more citations!).

Your argument must be consistent with the advantages and disadvantages you discuss earlier in your paper.
You must use MLA format.

Gaps in Talent

In order to develop talent, an organization must first identify a gap in the talent pool. This may be an existing or anticipated gap consistent with the long-term strategic objectives of an organization. Once the talent gaps have been identified, these and other questions may be examined: How might we select potential talent that might fill these gaps? What are the different evaluation methods for recognizing talent? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these evaluation methods?

For this Application, suppose you have been asked to develop a talent management initiative for identifying gaps and recognizing talent. With this in mind, respond to the following in a 2- to 3-page paper:

What are some techniques an organization might use in identifying gaps in talent?
Are multisource assessments (the ratings assigned by supervisors, peers, and employees) a good method for recognizing gaps in talent? Why or why not?
Compare the strengths and weaknesses of a multisource assessment to another evaluation method of your choice.

Use comparison and contrast in writing based on purpose and intended audience
Apply punctuation rules to compose correctly punctuated sentences
Edit sentences to correct improper use of punctuation
Write an effective body paragraph
Write an effective and grammatically correct essay
Describe MLA style and when it should be used
Apply strategies to achieve emphasis in writing
Apply the rules of spelling to correct spelling issues in writing samples
ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW
This writing assignment asks students to write a comparison-contrast essay on the topic of their choice.
DELIVERABLES
An essay (1,250-word limit) containing at least four sources cited according to MLA style (you may use sources you identified in previous assignments)
Any debatable topic is acceptable for this assignment. Due to the length of the assignment, complex topics such as gun control, immigration law, abortion rights, and capital punishment are not recommended. If these issues interest you, find a specific instance or aspect of the topic to research. For example, you might want explore the recent laws concerning immigration rights in Arizona; such a project is more focused (and more interesting) than addressing immigration rights in general.
Consider addressing a topic that is personally important to you, including issues related to health, beauty, family life, and career decisions. The more relevant your topic is to your priorities, the more likely you are to write in an engaging, compelling way.
To find ideas for debatable topics, consider these sources:
nytimes.com (opens an external site)
ontheissues.org (opens an external site)
procon.org (opens an external site)

For this project, you need to visit a historic site in San Antonio that is related to US history prior to 1865. I would recommend Mission Valero/the Alamo, Mission San Juan, Mission, San José (this one is great because it has the visitors center and film), Mission Concepción, Mission Espada, or Casa Navarro. I want you to do a little research on the site before you go.
In a 2-3 page paper (double-space, 12 point font), address the following questions. What story does the site tell? Do you find any inaccuracies at the site? Are there biases present in the stories that are told? Are there people’s stories that are neglected, ignored, or overemphasized? Who is the intended audience? What is the key point that the site is trying to make to its audience? What type of evidence do the sites use to tell their stories? (primary documents, archaeological artifacts, recreations, etc.) I encourage you to be analytical and critical (not necessarily negative). You can begin with a summary of the site and then address these questions.
Be sure to cite all information whether quoted or paraphrased. You may use the National Park Service website to gather more information or the Casa Navarro website. In addition, you must use one other secondary source for your essay. It needs to be a book or e-book. For citation style, go to blackboard and look at the citation style guide and then the Chicago Style tab. You need to use footnotes and follow the examples for the notes rather than the bibliography entries. If you find a book through the university library website, you can click on a little tab that says cite/export. Then choose either Chicago style or Turabian. This will provide the citation for your footnote!

Expansionary Economic Policy

Prior to beginning the final assignment, review the following chapters:

Chapter 7: Classical Macroeconomics and the Keynesian Challenge
Chapter 9: Taxes, Government Spending, and Fiscal Policy
Chapter 12: Banking and The Federal Reserve System
Chapter 14: Monetary Policy In Theory And Practice

Focus of the Final Paper

In an effort to move the economy out of a recession, the federal government would engage in expansionary economic policies. Respond to the following points in your paper on the actions the government would take to address expansionary fiscal and monetary policies:

Expansionary Fiscal Policy:

Explain the actions the federal government would take while engaging in expansionary fiscal policy in terms of the following:

The necessary change in taxes and government spending,
The effect on aggregate demand, GDP, and employment.

Expansionary Monetary Policy:

The three tools the Federal Reserve Bank (The Fed) uses when conducting monetary policy are the required reserve ratio, the discount rate, and open market operations.

Explain the actions of the Fed in regard to the three tools.

When the required reserve ratio is increased or decreased
When the discount rate is increased or decreased
Buying or selling government securities when conducting expansionary monetary policy

Explain how these actions would affect the money supply, interest rates, spending, aggregate demand, GDP, and employment.

Writing the Final Paper

The Final Paper:

Must be seven to ten double-spaced pages in length and formatted according to APA style as outlined in your approved styled guide.
Must include a title page that includes:
Title of paper
Student’s name
Course name and number
Instructor’s name
Date submitted
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 use at least four scholarly resources, including the textbook. Two sources must come from the Ashford Library.
Must use APA style as outlined in your approved style guide to document all sources.
Must include, on the final page, a reference List that is completed according to APA style as outlined in your approved style guide.

misconception persists that Christopher Columbus couldn’t initially get funding for his voyage to the new world because potential investors believed the earth was flat. In fact, he couldn’t get funding because he was a bad geometer. His estimation of the earth’s circumference was far smaller than it had been known for centuries to be. Some blame the historical misconception (not Columbus’s miscalculation) on Washington Irving’s biography of Columbus.
Part I
Do some investigation on Washington Irving’s biography on Christopher Columbus and comment both on the adequacy of (1) Irving’s sources for his book project and on the adequacy of (2) Irving’s book as a source on Columbus. Propose a reason for any difference you find between the adequacy of (1) and (2).
Part II
Read Chapter V in Book I of Volume I of Irving’s A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus. The chapter, titled “Grounds on which Columbus founded…”, begins on page 52 of the book which is freely available as a Google ebook: http://books.google.com/books?id=uIADAAAAQAAJ. Also, look up confirmation bias. Say what it is and say whether Irving has established in that chapter that Columbus committed that mistake in reasoning. Justify your position.
Part III
Finally, comment on the adequacy of your sources for this project. A suitable source of information should be (1) disinterested and should be (2) an expert. You needn’t comment again on Irving’s book but you should consider your sources of information about Irving’s book. Also consider the quality of your sources on confirmation bias.
Type your paper and organize it well. Clearly mark the three parts of the paper. Write grammatically, spell correctly and cite your sources in your favorite style. I will grade your assignment on mechanics, organization (and clarity), your understanding of the material, and your reasoning (how well you defend your claims).

misconception persists that Christopher Columbus couldn’t initially get funding for his voyage to the new world because potential investors believed the earth was flat. In fact, he couldn’t get funding because he was a bad geometer. His estimation of the earth’s circumference was far smaller than it had been known for centuries to be. Some blame the historical misconception (not Columbus’s miscalculation) on Washington Irving’s biography of Columbus.
Part I
Do some investigation on Washington Irving’s biography on Christopher Columbus and comment both on the adequacy of (1) Irving’s sources for his book project and on the adequacy of (2) Irving’s book as a source on Columbus. Propose a reason for any difference you find between the adequacy of (1) and (2).
Part II
Read Chapter V in Book I of Volume I of Irving’s A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus. The chapter, titled “Grounds on which Columbus founded…”, begins on page 52 of the book which is freely available as a Google ebook: http://books.google.com/books?id=uIADAAAAQAAJ. Also, look up confirmation bias. Say what it is and say whether Irving has established in that chapter that Columbus committed that mistake in reasoning. Justify your position.
Part III
Finally, comment on the adequacy of your sources for this project. A suitable source of information should be (1) disinterested and should be (2) an expert. You needn’t comment again on Irving’s book but you should consider your sources of information about Irving’s book. Also consider the quality of your sources on confirmation bias.
Type your paper and organize it well. Clearly mark the three parts of the paper. Write grammatically, spell correctly and cite your sources in your favorite style. I will grade your assignment on mechanics, organization (and clarity), your understanding of the material, and your reasoning (how well you defend your claims).

misconception persists that Christopher Columbus couldn’t initially get funding for his voyage to the new world because potential investors believed the earth was flat. In fact, he couldn’t get funding because he was a bad geometer. His estimation of the earth’s circumference was far smaller than it had been known for centuries to be. Some blame the historical misconception (not Columbus’s miscalculation) on Washington Irving’s biography of Columbus.
Part I
Do some investigation on Washington Irving’s biography on Christopher Columbus and comment both on the adequacy of (1) Irving’s sources for his book project and on the adequacy of (2) Irving’s book as a source on Columbus. Propose a reason for any difference you find between the adequacy of (1) and (2).
Part II
Read Chapter V in Book I of Volume I of Irving’s A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus. The chapter, titled “Grounds on which Columbus founded…”, begins on page 52 of the book which is freely available as a Google ebook: http://books.google.com/books?id=uIADAAAAQAAJ. Also, look up confirmation bias. Say what it is and say whether Irving has established in that chapter that Columbus committed that mistake in reasoning. Justify your position.
Part III
Finally, comment on the adequacy of your sources for this project. A suitable source of information should be (1) disinterested and should be (2) an expert. You needn’t comment again on Irving’s book but you should consider your sources of information about Irving’s book. Also consider the quality of your sources on confirmation bias.
Type your paper and organize it well. Clearly mark the three parts of the paper. Write grammatically, spell correctly and cite your sources in your favorite style. I will grade your assignment on mechanics, organization (and clarity), your understanding of the material, and your reasoning (how well you defend your claims).