Deliverable Length:  Minimum 500 words

Create a Journal Entry

Reflecting back over the entire course, prepare a narrative essay journal entry that shares your perception of your writing composition experience. Support your writing with examples from the course assignments and course resources, including the use of intellipath.

Be sure to consider the following:

• Discuss whether this course met, did not meet, or exceeded your expectations.
• Share any unexpected outcomes or identified gaps.
• Identify the strengths and weaknesses of your writing skills, and discuss how this or future courses might be adjusted to address or support them.
• List any surprises that you experienced throughout the course.
• Discuss the role that your classmates played in the growth of your writing skills.

Specifically, your journal narrative should address the following:

• Represent your personal point of view
• Offer chronological support for a well-defined thesis statement
• Tell a story with a beginning, middle, and an end
• Make a point and present a series of events in an organized manner

Your submission should be an example of reflective writing, at least 500 words, and double-spaced with 12-point font and 1″ margins.

PLease See attachment

Be sure to download the companion resources using the link provided in the reading assignments.

Spreadsheet attached!

Imagine that you are currently enrolled in three CTU classes: UNIV104, IT254, and MATH102. In this project, you will create a spreadsheet averaging the list of CTU classes that you are currently enrolled in.

1. You will begin by opining the spreadsheet IT254_week1IP_GradeAverage containing your grade percentages for each assignment in an Excel spreadsheet.
2. Additionally, you will create a formula to summarize the total average for each class you are currently taking and each assignment.
3. Finally, you will format your spreadsheet to make it visually appealing.

Instructions

Part 1: Opening the Spreadsheet

1. Open the Excel workbook titled IT254_week1IP_GradeAverage and save the worksheet as “FirstInital_LastName_GradeAverage.xlsx.”

Part 2: Entering Data and Formulas Into the Spreadsheet

1. On the Grade Average worksheet, select G7 and type “Average.” Use a formula to generate the average of the contents in Cells B8:F8 in cell G8. Use the fill handle to populate your results through G10. 
   • The syntax for the Excel Average function is the following: AVERAGE(argument1, [argument2],…).
   • Arguments can be numbers, named ranges, cell references that contain numbers, or arrays.
2. Select Cell A12, and enter “Class Average.” Use a formula to generate the average of IP Assignment 1 in cell B12. Use the fill across handle to populate your results of averaging the other assignments to F12.
3. On the Class Average worksheet, apply the Number format with zero decimal points to the range B12:F12.
4. On the Class Average worksheet, change the page setup options so that the data is centered horizontally on the page.
5. On the Class Average worksheet, create a header that will display your name in the center section of the header area. To preview your Class Average worksheet, click Print Preview. Return to Normal view to continue working on the document.
6. On the Class Average worksheet, create a footer that will display the Instructor’s name in the center section.
7. Save the workbook. Close the workbook, and then exit Excel. Submit your Excel spreadsheet.

For this assignment you will take on the role of Brad (or Brandy) Banker who works as a credit analysis for Big Bucks Lending. Your job is to evaluate Wacky Wines loan request. As a relatively new credit analyst, you will not get to make the final determination on the loan. Instead you will present your results and recommendation to the credit committee of Big Bucks Lending in a memo.

The members of the Committee are extremely well versed in finance. Hence, do not dedicate a great deal of space to explaining simple finance concepts. The members are looking for advanced analysis with evidence of critical thinking. The members always appreciate well written memos that make appropriate use of correct grammar and spelling. They are also very busy evaluating several loan proposals therefore memos written in a concise manner are better received. In order to complete the analysis of the loan request use the information below and the two sets of provided pro forma financial statements (expected and worst cases). Your memo should clearly state your recommendation regarding the loan with a supporting analysis. You must justify your decision using both qualitative and quantitative analyses. If you have just one page of analysis, I will not read it. You will earn a zero.

More specifically, please evaluate the loan request using the 5 C’s of Credit. You must explicitly address each of the C’s in your memo. Please use the ratios (liquidity, solvency, profitability, repayment capacity, efficiency, etc.) that we discussed in class to support your analysis. A competent analysis will include a discussion of the company’s past performance in terms of the financial ratios as well as also assess projected cash flow/ratios under various scenarios (expected and worst cases). In other words, you are expected to calculate relevant ratios for the historic data (years 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015) as well as for projected years (2016, 2017 and 2018) for both the expected and worst case scenarios. Note: You are asked to calculate a certain number of each type of ratio, however, do not use two ratios that convey the same information (e.g., asset turnover and capital intensity; or debt-equity ratio and equity multiplier) as these count as just one ratio.

In addition, you are expected to conduct Du Pont analysis of ROE for all years (historic and projected) for all cases (expected and worst). Recall, that Du Pont analysis is useful for identifying the drivers of ROE and hence you must show all three parts of the analysis (profit margin, asset turnover, and the equity multiplier).

Banks often request that potential borrowers submit additional information to support their loan application. Discuss additional factors/information that you would like Dr. Frenz and Mr. Wolf to supply to assist the Committee in making a final determination about the project’s credit worthiness.

The course website will only allow you to submit one document in Microsoft word format. Thus, you will need to embed your excel tables and graphs in your word document before uploading your write-up to the course website.

Wacky Wines opened in 2009 as a boutique wine retailer specializing in hard to find premium wines from around the world. Wacky Wines is unlike other wine retailers in that it employs several level 3 sommeliers who are available to assist costumers whenever the store is open. In addition, Wacky Wines offers an innovative interactive wine of the month club. When members enroll, they complete a survey that indicates their wine preferences. Each month each member receives a custom selection of wines based on his/her preferences. The member then rates the selections and future wines received through the club are selected based on the member’s prior ratings. Because of this customization, Wacky Wines is able to charge a premium on its wine club memberships relative to other on-line clubs. In addition, Wacky Wines requires members to pick up their club selections at the store. On average, club members purchase six additional bottles of wine when they pick up their customized club selections.

As a result of these innovative marketing activities as well as traditional marketing techniques such as regular wine tastings events and discounts on cases, Wacky Wines has achieved accolades from Somm and Wine Spectator magazines. Hence, Wacky Wines has brand recognition and is ready to expand into two new locations while maintaining its flagship store located in Manhattan. Wacky Wines is requesting a $550,000 real estate loan to purchase retail space (along with furniture and fixtures, signage, etc.) to open new stores in Washington, DC and Boca Raton, FL. If the expansion is successful, Wacky Wines would like to open an additional store in LA. However, Wacky Wines views expansions into the California market as being more risky due to the presence of serval competitors and close proximity to Napa and Sonoma. Washington, DC and Boca Raton, FL were chosen as optimal expansion locations based on the per capita incomes of residents, per capital wine expenditures, and other market research. 

Wacky Wines is owned and operated as a LLC by Dr. Kropp and her partner Mr. Wolf. Dr. Kropp and Mr. Wolf met in college where Kropp studied finance and Wolf studied food and beverage management with a minor in viticulture. After receiving her doctorate, Kropp taught finance at a prestigious university for several years before opening Kropp’s Hops Brewery. Unfortunately, Kropp’s Hops Brewery suffered from liquidity issues, product quality issues (Kropp had no idea how to make beer), and low profits due to stiff competition and went out of business three years after opening. Realizing the shortcomings of her prior business failure, Kropp contacted Wolf who had developed a stellar reputation as an industry leader in the wine world since entering the industry in 2001. Wolf’s contacts and reputation are responsible for Wacky Wines ability to procure and maintain such an eclectic inventory of hard to find wines.

Key assumptions used to construct the pro forma statement projections: 

1. 1)  In both the expected and worst case scenarios, Wacky Wines receives the $550,000 loan and uses the loan proceeds to purchase retail space, furniture and fixtures, signage, etc. 
2. 2)  In the expected scenario, Wacky Wines’ sales from the flagship store are expected to increase by 15% in 2016 over the 2015’s value. Also in 2016, Wacky Wines is expected to generate $500,000 in revenue from the new stores. Sales growth is expected to be 15% at all stores in both 2017 and 2018. 
3. 3)  In the worst case scenario, Wacky Wines’ sales from the flagship store are expected to increase by only 10% in 2016, while revenue generated from the new stores is expected to be $250,000. Sales growth is expected to be 10% at all stores in both 2017 and 2018. 
4. 4)  The gross profit margin is assumed to be 5% lower in the worst case scenario than the expected case. 
5. 5)  The interest rate on all loans is assumed to be 3 percentage points higher in the worst case scenario than the expected case scenario. 
6. 6)  It is assumed that 50% of all sales are made on credit. 
7. 7)  Wages and benefits are assumed to be 10% of sales in the expected case scenario, while wages and benefits are assumed to be 15% of sales in the worst case scenario.

PROMPT: 

During the mid-18th Century, English colonists appealed to the metropole for redress of various grievances. In this essay, I want you to consider the ethics and civics of the elite members of colonial society seeking change (later known to us as the Patriots). Who were these Patriots? What methods did they use to further their goals through civic engagement? What ethical considerations did they take into account in seeking redress of their grievances? How did they fail in the creation of the first American government under the Articles of Confederation? Did the second government under the Constitution address their grievances or did they simply remove the imperial government and placed themselves in that position?

Note 1:  Successful responses will consider a broad range of evidence in support of arguments.  Take a few moments to consider how you would respond by making a list of both “ethics” and “civics” related to the colonists and their grievances.  Be sure to have a mixture of big/broad ideas and specific/detailed evidence in your argument. 

Note 2: We DO NOT want summaries. Summaries will not earn a high grade. “A papers” utilize rule of three analysis (including strong rule of three thesis statements in the introduction and each paragraph of the body), specific and detailed historical facts as evidence, analysis instead of summary, consider change over time and historical geography (as necessary in response to the prompt), and properly cite both primary and secondary sources (Turbian/Chicago).

Note 3: Required length is 2-3 pages (introduction, 3 paragraphs of the body, conclusion), no longer than 4 pages.

Requirements: 

• Must be in Rule of Three format with an introduction and strong thesis statement, 3 paragraphs of the body (each with their own thesis statement – one for each of the three key points of your overall thesis), and conclusion. So a minimum of 5 paragraphs. (2-3 pages)
• This is a fact based essay, you must provide specific and detailed evidence for your hypotheses.
• You must utilize a minimum of three primary sources from the assigned materials (primary sources posted in the course module OR found under the primary source section of each chapter in American Yawp only; you may not utilize sources linked to in the reference section of American Yawp) as evidence in your essay
• You must utilize a minimum of three secondary sources from the assigned materials as evidence in your essay
• You may only use materials assigned in this course for your essay (we have vetted all the materials utilized in this course, other materials may not be appropriate or accurate). If you use outside sources your grade will be docked.
• DO NOT QUOTE sources, paraphrase in your own words and cite
• You must consider ethics/ethical decision making in this essay
• Don’t forget about historical geography, where something takes place matters and it may be important to your argument.
• You must use Turabian citation style in this essay; all citations must be footnote style citations (no parenthetical cites allowed, no endnotes/works cited at the end, you need footnotes).  Be sure to review how to properly cite a primary source that may be contained in another work and be sure to use page numbers where possible.
• 12 pt type, 1 inch margins, double-spaced

CASE #1: MICAWBER CAPITAL

       Individual assignment

•       You have been hired as a consultant to the senior director at Micawber Capital (KEL #712, 2012), one of India’s largest microfinance organizations. Your main task is to recommend a corporate structure and organization for Micawber. Evaluate the materials in the case study and provide a recommendation focused on answering the three questions posed at the end of the second-to-last paragraph (p. 8).

•       Format: a business memorandum of no more than 1000 words of text (use standard fonts and margins, single-spacing, and double-sided printing), including a concise executive summary.  Use visual aids to clarify, simplify, and/or emphasize your ideas, and integrate them within the text rather than as appendices (they don’t count against the word limit).  Memorandum should have a professional appearance, be formatted with page numbers and descriptive headings, and include proper citations of at least three outside sources using APA style.  Your memo should be free of grammatical, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and other basic English language usage errors.

At minimum*, the memorandum should include the following:

•       An executive summary, providing a concise overview of your analysis, insights, and recommendation.

•       Brief statement of the issues as you understand them, focusing on the three questions posed at the end of the second-to-last paragraph (p. 8).

•       Identification of the specific social responsibility and ethical factors relevant to the issue, along with application of the key ethical theories to the facts of this case.

** please no plaigrisim no copy