Dear teacher,

Please use word format.

The Final Paper will involve applying the concepts learned in class to an analysis of a company using data from its annual report. Using the concepts from this course, you will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the company and write a report either recommending or not recommending purchase of the company stock.

The company I have to use is T-Mobile

Research Tip: The “Mergent” database in the Ashford University Library contains company profiles and financial information for publicly traded companies and their competitors.  To access this database enter the Ashford Library and select “Find Articles and More” in the top menu panel. Next, select “Databases A-Z” and go to section “M” for “Mergent”. For help with using Mergent, use Mergent Online Quick Tips.

For help with reading an annual report access this handy guide from Money Chimp.

The completed report should include:

• • An introduction to the company, including background information.    
  • A complete and thorough financial statement review.
  • Pro Forma financial statements (Balance Sheet and Income Statement) for the next fiscal year, assuming a 10 percent growth rate in sales and Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) for the next year.
  • Complete ratio analysis for the last fiscal year using at least two ratios from each of the following categories:

• • • Liquidity
    • Financial leverage
    • Asset management
    • Profitability
    • Market value
    • Debt
    • Per-Share
    • Measures of relative value (P/E, P/B)
    • Activity
    • Cash Flow

• • A calculation of Return on Equity (ROE) using the DuPont system. 
  • Assessment of management performance by calculating Economic Value Added (EVA). 
  • A synopsis of your findings, including your recommendations and rationale for whether or not to purchase stock from this company.
  • Evaluate the financial risks associated with operating internationally.  If your chosen company does not operate internationally, evaluate what the financial risks could be if they were to expand internationally.

The paper

• Must be eight to ten double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
• Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
• Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
• Must use at least five scholarly sources, such as the textbook, industry reports, and articles from the Ashford University library to support your findings and recommendations.
• Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Learning Resources

Required Resources

• Course Text: The Development of Language
• • Chapter 4, “Semantic Development”
  • • Read “Assessing Vocabulary in Bilingual Children” (pp. 105–106)
    • Read “Word-Meaning Awareness: Humor, Metaphor, and Irony” (pp. 108–109)
  • Chapter 8, “Variation in Language Development: Implications for Research and Theory”
  • • Read “Linguistic Factors” (pp. 253–254)
• Article: Fostering Second Language Development in Young Children (PDF)

• Article: Cultural Diversity and Language Socialization in the Early Years (PDF)

• Article: Understanding the Impact of Language Differences on Classroom Behavior (PDF)

Note: There is no Online Reading this week.

Optional Resources

• Web Article: Brains Show Signs of Two Bilingual Roads
  http://brainconnection.positscience.com/topics/?main=sci-news/bilingual

• Web Article: How the Brain Learns a Second Language
  http://brainconnection.positscience.com/topics/?main=fa/second-language

• Web Article: Babies Raised in Bilingual Homes Learn New Words Differently Than Infants Learning One Language
  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070928092050.htm

• Web Article: Raising Bilingual Children
  http://iteslj.org/Articles/Rosenberg-Bilingual.html

• Web Site: Zero to Three FAQ: Dual Language Development: Double the Benefit
  http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_key_language_dual&AddInterest=1503

• Web Article: Two or More Languages in Early Childhood: Some General Points and Practical Recommendations
  http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/earlychild.html

• Web Article: NAEYC Where We Stand: Many Languages, Many Cultures: Respecting and Responding to Diversity
  http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf

• Web Article: Children in America’s Newcomer Families: Children in Immigrant Families—The U.S. and 50 States: National Origins, Language, and Early Education
  http://www.childtrends.org/Files/Child_Trends-2007_04_01_RB_ChildrenImmigrant.pdf

• Web Article: CAL Digest: Raising Bilingual Children: Common Parental Concerns and Current Research
  http://www.cal.org/resources/Digest/RaiseBilingChild.html

• Web Article: CAL Digest: Working with Young English Language Learners: Some Considerations
  http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/0301coltrane.html

Challenges for Second Language Learnings in School

During the complex process of acquiring a second language, children sometimes exhibit behaviors that result in their being incorrectly labeled as “challenging” or as having communication disorders. It is important that every adult, including family members, understand the impact that second language acquisition may have on a child’s actions and emotional states.

Review the article “Understanding the Impact of Language Differences on Classroom Behavior.” Then bring to mind children you know—or know about from this week’s readings—for whom English is a second language, and consider the information presented in the reading about behaviors associated with second language learners.

With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 3:

Post:

• A description of some of the behaviors that children acquiring a second language might exhibit
• Advice that you might give and/or insights that you might share with family members or early childhood teachers to better support the overall development of a child who is learning a second language

Learning Resources

Note: Be sure to complete this module’s Discussion before reviewing the Learning Resources.

Required Resources

• Report: America’s Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2008
  http://www.childstats.gov/pdf/ac2008/ac_08.pdf

  As you read this report, consider the following questions:

  • What is your personal definition of well-being?
  • How are children faring overall in terms of the indicators used in the report?
  • How may this new knowledge and understanding impact your professional goals and future work with children and families?
    

Optional Resources

• Report: UNICEF: Child Poverty in Perspective: An Overview of Child Well-Being in Rich Countries
  http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/rc7_eng.pdf
• Web Site: The Annie E. Casey Foundation: Kids Count Data Center
  http://datacenter.kidscount.org/

  Note: This page connects you with state- and city-level data for over 100 measures of child well-being.
  

Activating Prior Knowledge

In the next 12 weeks, you will focus on “the well-being of children.” Pause now to consider what this phrase means to you and how, based on your current knowledge and experience, you define and determine a child’s well-being based. To prepare for this Discussion, draw on your own experiences and previous coursework to help you reflect on the following:

• What does the term “well-being” mean to you?
  
• How do you determine the well-being of a child?
  
•  
• What factors influence a child’s well-being? Which factors do you consider to be most important, and what do you know about these factors?
  
•  
• What would like to learn or gain from this course?

When you have gathered your thoughts, follow the instructions below for this Discussion.

By Day 3 of Week 1:

Post your responses to the following:

•  
• Write a definition of the phrase “the well-being of children” that reflects your current knowledge and thinking. As part of your definition, explain what the term “well-being” means to you. Describe how you would determine a child’s well-being and the factors that have the most influence on children’s well-being. Support your reasoning with examples from your own experiences or previous coursework.
  
• Explain what you hope to gain or learn from this course. As part of your response, identify factors related to the well-being of children with which you would like to know more, and why.