MGST 198D Syllabus Supplement, Term 5, 2007-08, Harrogate

Grading Information:

I prefer to give each student an 'A' in each of my courses. The grade, however, must be earned as I can only reflect the performance I observe. I do understand that students have many other responsibilities, but your own learning is your responsibility. Moreover, I also expect you to assist the learning of others in this class. I will work with every student within reason to help her or him complete this course successfully.

Students concerned with slow progress should seek help before getting into grade trouble. Contact me, your instructor, early. "Incompletes" will not be given unless thoroughly justified and backed up by a contract negotiated with the instructor allowing for completion within four weeks.

Other Information:

• Class Policy:    http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/class_policy.html
  
  
• Working in Groups:
        http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/smlgrp_process.html
        http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/grp_dynam.html
        http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/peer_eval.html
        http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/team_rules.html
  
  
• Case Analysis :    http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/case_analysis.html
  
• Oral presentations in class:    http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/speaking_improv.html
  
  
• Using email in this course (when needed): The first element of the subject line of every email in this course will begin "MGST198D 08t5" followed by a brief topic indicating of the content of the email. All electronic mail will be acknowledged so that you will know I have received your message. See also:
        http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/email_hints.html
        http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/email_attach.html
  

I reserve the right to make minor changes in assignments and schedules. Changes will only be made if there are unforeseeable circumstances. I will not make major changes without first consulting with the class.

Course Project:

1.    Content: You will identify
   1.    Your investment goals in general,
   2.    Your willingness to assume risk for future returns (for example, modestly aggressive, modestly conservative, etc.), and
   3.    Analyze at least one common stock, one corporate bond, one government instrument, and one mutual fund that could form a part of your portfolio.
   4.    At least two of these instruments must be 'new to you'; that is, not part of your current investment portfolio.
   5.    I understand that, in this short course, you will not have sufficient time to develop details in all parts of your analysis. Include extensive details for any two investment instruments. Be as detailed and complete as you can for the other two.
   6.    You will explain why and how each investment instrument could be included in your investment strategy.
   7.    Please justify your investment selections with respect to other alternatives available (the industry, the country, other stocks, bonds, funds, etc.)
   8.    Consider both fundamental and technical analysis in your discussion of the instruments selected. While I do not expect or require an extensive analysis of either type, I do want you to display an understanding of the key questions to ask in these areas as well as any obvious answers. Where you see elements of information are missing for an instrument, it is vital that you assess whether the added information is essential, valuable (or useful), or simply 'nice to have' prior to your making an investment decision. Make good use of the information made available in this course.
   9.    Research Support: In addition to investigating your investments (the "facts") on-line, you need to find support for your assertions and strategies apart from our text. Use the UMUC library and databases. Be alert for sources that offer opinion rather than demonstrated achievements. Seek out sources which offer valid and reliable information that you can independently test when needed.


2.    Format: In addition to the writing guidance above, you will
1.    Write and present your analysis professionally, with clear syntax, correct grammar and spelling, and correct citations of the sources of all quoted, prŽcised, and paraphrased material according to any one of the following: MLA Handbook, Publications Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), or the UMUC Guide to Writing and Research.
2.    Begin with a title sheet followed on a separate sheet by an executive summary or abstract stating your investment goals, your attitude toward risk and returns, and the financial instruments you have selected for analysis. As needed use a table of contents (useful if you have many sections or appendices in your report).
3.    Use tables, spreadsheet models, diagrams, charts, and other graphics to enrich your presentation. Place them in appendices as needed to maintain the flow of your report. Extended discussions of detailed, subordinate areas also belong in appendices.
4.    Include clickable links for all on-line sources. To make a "clickable link" in Microsoft Word, copy and paste the link from your browser into the Microsoft Word document or type it. If typed, remember to press the Enter key for the link to turn "blue."
5.    Keep your written report between 6 and 15 typed, double-spaced pages of text.
6.    Exclude from your page count the title page, table of contents, abstract, executive summary, spreadsheet models, charts, diagrams, graphics and similar items. Appendix material may be used, and is encouraged, to support the narrative and is not included in the page count.
7.    Submit your investment plan electronically by email attachment in Microsoft Word® format (if you use a different word processor, save your work as MS Word.) Your spreadsheet analysis will be presented in Microsoft Excel® format. (if you use a different spreadsheet, save your work in Microsoft Excel format if possible, otherwise in SYLK format.)
8.    Check all files for viruses prior to dispatch. Any submissions containing viruses will not be opened (or graded).
9.    Reports are due in the hands of the instructor not later than 2400 hours, 6 July 2008.

Two "Must's":

•    Attribution:
  
  •    Give credit in your work to those whose ideas and words you use - and use them well. No one is expected to know everything. Indeed, we need to avoid "re-inventing the wheel". So look around and build on the ideas and words of others. Just take care to give them full credit.
  •    Use footnotes or endnotes where needed and construct a proper "References", "Works Cited" or "Bibliography" page to accompany your work.
  •    Plagiarized papers, reports, projects, or exams will receive a grade of 0 (zero) whether copied in whole or in part. This includes "accidental" plagiarism. See the UMUC European Division Catalog policy on academic integrity.
  •    This includes prior works presented or published by you for other purposes or in prior or other classes.


•    Good grammar, punctuation, usage and style:
  
  •    Effective writing is critical to the intellectual life of university students and graduates within the workplace. Effective managers are usually effective communicators. Your work in this course must demonstrate your ability to master and effectively communicate course content.
  •    We must be able to share our ideas with others properly. That means we need to pay constant attention to the way in which we present those ideas. Written and oral work which contains significant errors in English or presentation typically impairs the quality of the message you are trying to communicate.
  •    Use your eyes and brain to check your work -- a mechanical computer can hurt as well as help. Proofread and check your work PRIOR to submission.
  •    Poor English or presentation will reduce my evaluation of your work by one or more letter grades regardless of the brilliance of the ideas therein.

Additional Guidelines for Assignments:

Effective writing

•    Meets the needs of the reader;
•    Covers the subject in a clear, concise, complete, accurate and timely manner;
•    Uses expected conventions of format and organization;
•    Demonstrates use of credible reasoning and evidence;
•    Satisfies standards of style and grammatical correctness; and
•    Requires 100% compliance with UMUC's zero-tolerance policy regarding plagiarism.

Use diagrams, charts, and other graphics to enrich your presentations.

Word Processor: Where possible, use Microsoft Word^®. For the present, this word processing package is still the 'industry standard.' Hence, it will serve you well to learn more about using it to fulfill a formal, written requirement. If you do not have access to Microsoft Word, use "Save As" in your usual word processor and select the MS Word document option.

•    Use Page Setup in the Printer to configure it.
•    Set page size to A-4.
•    Use 1" margins top, bottom, left and right sides.
•    Use Times New Roman, size 12.
•    Use double spacing.
•    Use appropriate headings and subheadings. Headings and subheadings should be placed at the left margin.
•    The first word of each new paragraph should be indented 1" from the left margin of the paragraph.
•    Create a template with these settings and use it as the basis of your written assignments in this course.
•    Use a header on each page (except the title page) for your name, course ID and date.
•    Number each page (except the title page) in the bottom right corner using a footer.

• [ Your Name ]
• MGST 198D
• [ Title of your Report ]
• [ Your selected topic if not obvious from the Title ]
• Term 5, 2007-2008
• UMUC European Dvn., Harrogate, UK
• [ date ]
• Instructor: Phil Richardson