Building an Effective Team

In Unit III, you started on your course project by selecting an organization and developing a SMARTER outline. For this unit, you will apply the team effectiveness model discussed in this unit and the Five Cs (cooperating, coordinating, communicating, comforting, and conflict-handling) into a team-building plan.

In a two-page explanation, describe how you will assemble and lead a team who will develop the new product you discussed in your Unit III Assignment. Describe who will be a part of your team, how you will ensure the team is successful, and how you will apply the Five Cs. Additionally, include how you will account for different personalities and needs.

Outside sources are not a requirement for this assignment. Use your creativity and knowledge of effective teams discussed in this unit.

Attached is the UNIT III project discussed as well as the unit IV study guide 

For unit one Complete assignment, write a narrative essay (minimum of 1000 words) which addresses the statements below. When finished the essay should reflect a thorough understanding of the read and attend sections. A minimum of three scholarly sources are required in APA format. 

•  Define critical thinking and the process of attaining proper critical thinking. 
•  Does a failure to engage in critical thinking harm others? 
•  Compare and contrast the three levels of thinking.
•  What are the traits of a disciplined mind and how do we integrate those traits into our own thinking process?

Argumentative Essay

In the Week Three Assignment, you engaged in a case analysis of a current business problem using some of the components of an argumentative essay. In this written assignment, you will write a complete argumentative essay as described in Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of With Good Reason: A Guide to Critical Thinking (Foster, Hardy, & Zúñiga y Postigo, 2015). This essay will include a revised and polished version of your Week Three Assignment, an objection to your thesis, a rebuttal, and concluding remarks. In order to benefit the most, you should start working on your Final Project from the time you receive your Week Three Assignment back with comments from your professor.

Your assignment should include the following:
A revision of your Week Three Case Analysis Assignment. Your revision should represent a substantial edit of your work that fully incorporates feedback from your professor and goes well beyond correcting any grammatical or APA errors.

The strongest possible objection to your thesis. After the final paragraph of your Week Three Case Analysis Assignment, start a new paragraph that introduces the strongest possible objection to your thesis. The considerations for this are detailed in Section 9.2 of With Good Reason: A Guide to Critical Thinking (Hardy, Foster, & Zúñiga y Postigo, 2015). Make sure to employ the appropriate language to introduce the objection, such as “some may object to my thesis as follows” or “according to [so and so] the thesis presented here fails to account for X” [whatever he or she finds problematic]. You can find other language to do this, of course, but the key point here is to make sure that you indicate that someone else is speaking when presenting this objection.

It is also important to remember that you do research to discover good objections and not merely objections that are weak and thus easily rebutted. Look for peer-reviewed journal articles in the Ashford University Library, full-text articles in Google Scholar, or articles in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Present the opposing position fairly and in detail. This may take more than one paragraph.

A rebuttal. This is a refutation of the objection that you have just presented. Start this in a new paragraph following the objection paragraph(s). Once again, follow the indications of Section 9.2 of With Good Reason: A Guide to Critical Thinking (Hardy, Foster, & Zúñiga y Postigo, 2015). You may point out an error in the objection. Or you may show that, while it is an important objection, it does not apply squarely to your argument, or does not account for facts that make it irrelevant. Above all, make sure to maintain philosophical decorum in your rebuttal. Toward this end, you should apply the principles of charity and of accuracy, first introduced in the Week One course material. See “Confronting Disagreement” in Section 9.4 of With Good Reason: A Guide to Critical Thinking (Hardy, Foster, & Zúñiga y Postigo, 2015).

Closing remarks. End your argumentative essay with a paragraph of closing remarks. Provide some reflections of what you have attempted to achieve by means of your essay. You could, for example, explain how your essay sheds light on the broader controversy that it addresses. Or you could point out how your essay addresses a frequently ignored point or the unpopular side in the controversy. You could also reflect on the related matters in the broader controversy that would be useful to examine by others. Do not merely summarize what you have done in the body of your essay, and do not add new information here that would support or contradict your essay since the body of your essay should have addressed all the relevant points. See “Closing Your Essay” in Section 9.2 of With Good Reason: A Guide to Critical Thinking (Hardy, Foster, & Zúñiga y Postigo (2015).

Requirements for your Assignment:

• Your assignment should be between 1500 to 1700 words in length, excluding the cover and references pages.
• Your examination should be both thorough and succinct. This is a combination that demands time and thought, so give yourself sufficient time to draft and revise.
• Your assignment should include citations, as well as a list of references. Both must be in APA form.
• Your references should include at least four peer-reviewed articles in addition to those that you will be carrying over from our Week Three Case Analysis Assignment. These references should be drawn from the Ashford University Library, Google Scholar, or the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
• Your assignment should be submitted no later than the end of Monday (midnight, U.S. Mountain time).

Purpose and objectives

·      Analyze a rhetorical situation and how the author effectively (or not) makes rhetorical appeals in their argument

·      Articulate and develop a critical and analytical perspective in writing

·      Develop strategies for critically engaging information and develop it in writing as evidence for arguments

The Specifics

·      In a nutshell: Summarize. Analyze. Critique. Support. Conclude.

·      Must be 3-4 pages, double spaced

·      Times New Roman, 12 pt font

·      Hook and Title

·      No in-text citation or Works Cited page needed for this assignment (see note below on research)

For this assignment, you will be given the choice of analyzing the rhetorical situation, use of rhetorical appeals, and visual elements in either a textual or visual argument. You may select one of the essays in the Practical Argument text (Part 6, Debates, Casebooks and Classic Arguments starting on page 646) OR a visual argument of your choosing. If you are going to write your essay on a visual argument, you must print it out and attach to your paper (if it’s a video clip, please provide the link in the essay).

Using the strategies discussed in class and your readings, you will analyze the argument and both summarize and assess the rhetorical strategies used. Your thesis must specifically state whether you think the author presented an effective argument based upon the strategies used, intended audience and contextual factors.

Address the following:

·      The basics – set the argument up for us by providing the author, genre/publication, title, and when was it written

·      Audience – who is the target audience? Are there preconceptions or common ground established? What is the author’s overall tone?

·      Purpose – why is the author writing this argument? What is their thesis?

·      Context – what are the historical, social, political factors that influence the argument?

·      How and where does the author employ the three rhetorical means of persuasion of ethos, logos and pathos?

·      Discuss the use or absence of evidence and stylistic techniques (110-112)

·      Does the text move you/challenge you/get you to think?

If you are using a visual argument, be sure to address the following:

·      Comprehension Clues on page 84 of Practical Argument text

·      Basic principles of design: font, color, spatial elements, use of people (think back to the group work we did in class)

·      What is the relationship between words and pictures in your visual? Are there any words in the visual? Or any words needed or does the visual stand on its own?

Getting Started

·      Find your article/visual

·      Read it over. Read it again.

o   Jot down the thesis, audience, context, tone, genre

o   Formulate your own assessment of the effectiveness of the argument

o   Turn that into your working thesis statement

Tips

·      Don’t try to do it all. Find three things to focus on and elaborate. This isn’t intended to be a complete accounting of the entire argument, just what you feel is most critical and where you think you will have the most to say in a well-written and supported essay.

·      You must develop a clear thesis statement. Do not simply restate or reword the author’s original thesis (your purpose is different than the original author’s purpose). In addition to stating your stance, your thesis should provide the reader (me) with a clear direction of where you’re heading and what you’ll be demonstrating and arguing.

·      A word on research: in order to address some of the rhetorical elements, you may have to go outside of the original text to find the appropriate information (e.g. you may need to do a little research to find the author’s background, the general understanding of a particular publication, what was happening in the world, at the time the essay was written, etc.), if these things are relevant to your thesis (and they likely will be).

·      Supporting evidence and analysis: Most of your paper will be devoted to the supporting evidence for your thesis statement. This includes (brief) direct quotes, paraphrasing/summary and your own assessment. For each point you want to make in your analysis, provide examples to support your claims. For example, if you find a place in the text where the author is using pathos to appeal to the reader’s emotions, you should quote the place in the text where this appeal takes place (if you’re going to argue that the author’s use of pathos was particularly effective, include the part where they talk about poor little puppies that need homes). Using examples to support your claims will help your reader understand why you are making the claim you are making.

·      DO NOT MAKE THIS A SUMMARY OF THE AUTHOR’S ARGUMENT. I want to read YOUR assessment and analysis. Also, paraphrase and be succinct (no lengthy block quotes).

·      “What about MY opinion on the topic?”A rhetorical analysis is much less about your emotional response to an issue addressed by the author, and more about your reaction to the process by which the author effectively achieves (or not) his/her intention. This essay is not about whether or not you ultimately “like” or “dislike” what the author has stated. It is about whether the author was successful in conveying their side (and persuading you).

·      Put a nice little bow on your paper with a solid conclusion at the end. Reiterate and reinforce your thesis statement. Your conclusion could include an important point or rhetorical method that is missing from the argument and/or a suggestion for how to utilize it to enhance the argument.

For peer review, be sure to bring TWO copies of your printed work on the due date.

Week 8 : Final Week – Final Exam

Page 1

 
Question 1.1. (TCOs 2 & 3) Evelyn sold her personal residence to Drew on March 1 for $300,000. Before the sale, Evelyn paid the real estate taxes of $3,000 for the calendar year. For income tax purposes, the real estate tax deduction is apportioned as follows: $750 to Evelyn and $2,250 to Drew. Drew’s basis in the residence is: (Points : 5)
        $297,750.
        $299,250.
        $300,750.
        $302,250.
        None of the above

Question 2.2. (TCOs 3, 4, 5, & 7) In the current year, Galaxy Corporation, a closely held C corporation that is not a personal service corporation, has $80,000 of passive losses, $60,000 of active business income, and $10,000 of portfolio income. How much of the passive loss may Galaxy deduct in the current year? (Points : 5)
        $0
        $10,000
        $60,000
        $70,000
        None of the above

Question 3.3. (TCOs 3, 4, 5, & 7) Dorothy holds two jobs. Her main job is with Eggplant Corporation, and her part-time job is with Carrot Company. On a typical workday, she drives her car as follows: home to Eggplant, Eggplant to Carrot, and Carrot to home. Applicable mileage is as follows:
 
  Miles
Home to Eggplant 4
Eggplant to Carrot 10
Carrot to home 14

On a typical day, Dorothy’s deductible mileage is: (Points : 5)
        10.
        20.
        24.
        28.
        None of the above

Question 4.4. (TCOs 3, 4, 5, & 7) Carrie owns a mineral property that had a basis of $15,000 at the beginning of the year. The property qualifies for a 22% depletion rate. Gross income from the property was $150,000, and net income before the percentage depletion deduction was $100,000. What is Carrie’s tax preference for excess depletion? (Points : 5)
        $0
        $15,000
        $18,000
        $33,000
        None of the above

Question 5.5. (TCOs 3, 4, 5, & 7) During the past two years, through extensive advertising and improved customer relations, Beech Corporation estimated that it had developed customer goodwill worth $100,000. For the current year, determine the amount of goodwill Beech Corporation may amortize. (Points : 5)
        $3,334
        $5,000
        $6,667
        $20,000
        None of the above

Question 6.6. (TCOs 3, 4, 5, & 7) Damien, not a dealer in real estate, sold real estate with a basis of $250,000 for $500,000 cash, a note for $250,000, and the buyer assumed Damien’s mortgage on the property of $125,000. During the year, the purchaser paid Damien $30,000 principal and $72,000 interest on the note and paid $6,000 principal and $18,000 interest on the mortgage he assumed. The contract price for the above transaction is what amount? (Points : 5)
        $875,000
        $750,000
        $625,000
        $500,000
        None of the above

Question 7.7. (TCOs 3, 4, 5, & 7) Which of the following is not an itemized deduction allowed for AMT purposes? (Points : 5)
        Casualty losses
        Gambling losses
        State income taxes
        Medical expenses in excess of 10% of AGI
        None of the above

Question 8.8. (TCOs 3, 4, 5, & 7) Alex works as an auditor for a major CPA firm. During the months of August and September of each year, he is permanently assigned to the team auditing of Hummingbird Corporation. As a result, every day he drives from his home to Hummingbird and returns home after work. Mileage is as follows:
 
  Miles
Home to office 15
Home to Hummingbird 22
Office to Hummingbird 6

For the period of August and September, Alex’s deductible mileage for each workday is: (Points : 5)
        12.
        15.
        30.
        44.
        None of the above

Question 9.9. (TCOs 7, 8, & 9) Matt and Shanekwa, ages 45 and 44, respectively, file a joint tax return for 2012. They provided all of the support for their 24-year-old son, who had $2,500 of gross income. Their 23-year-old daughter, a full-time student until her graduation on June 14, 2012, earned $6,000, which was 45% of her total support during 2012. Her parents provided the remaining support. Matt and Shanekwa also provided total support for Shanekwa’s father who is a citizen and life-long resident of Portugal. How many personal and dependency exemptions can Matt and Shanekwa claim on their 2012 income tax return? (Points : 5)
        Five
        Four
        Three
        Two
        None of the above

Question 10.10. (TCOs 2, 8, & 9) Shaquille operates a drug-running operation and incurred the following expenses:
Salaries $200,000
Illegal kickbacks $32,000
Bribes to border guards $24,000
Cost of goods sold $300,000
Rent $12,000
Interest $18,000
 
Which of the above amounts reduces his taxable income? (Points : 5)
        $230,000
        $300,000
        $386,000
        $586,000
        None of the above

Question 11.11. (TCOs 2, 8, & 9) During 2012, Robin sold the following assets: business equipment for a $6,000 loss, stock investment for a $15,000 loss, and her principal residence for a $14,000 loss. Presuming adequate income, how much of these losses may Robin claim on her 2012 return? (Points : 5)
        $3,000
        $9,000
        $21,000
        $35,000
        None of the above

Question 12.12. (TCOs 2 & 11) Nicholas loaned Lyle (a friend) $30,000 in 2011 with the agreement that the loan would be repaid in two years. In 2012, Lyle filed for bankruptcy and Nicholas learned that he could expect to receive $0.50 on the dollar. In 2012, final settlement was made and Nicholas received $16,000. Assuming the loan is a nonbusiness bad debt, how should Nicholas account for the bad debt? (Points : 5)
        $14,000 ordinary loss in 2012
        $15,000 ordinary loss in 2010, and $9,000 ordinary loss in 2012
        $14,000 short-term capital loss in 2012
      275  $15,000 short-term capital loss in 2010, and $9,000 short-term capital loss in 2012
        None of the above

Question 13.13. (TCOs 2 & 11) Kelsey, a stock broker, owns a separate business in which he participates in the current year. He has one employee who works part-time in the business. Which of the following statements is correct? (Points : 5)
        If Kelsey participates for 300 hours and the employee participates for 300 hours during the year, then Kelsey does not qualify as a material participant.
        If Kelsey participates for 50 hours and the employee participates for 2 hours during the year, then Kelsey probably does not qualify as a material participant.
        If Kelsey participates for 501 hours and the employee participates for 2,000 hours during the year, then Kelsey does not qualify as a material participant.
        Kelsey will automatically be a material participant in an activity in the current year if he was a material participant in a personal service activity for the three prior years.
        All of the above

Question 14.14. (TCOs 2 & 11) During the year, Clara took a trip from Chicago to Rome. She was away from home for 20 days. She spent 6 days vacationing and 14 days on business (including the 3 travel days). Her expenses are as follows:
Airfare $1,600
Lodging (20 days x $70) $1,400
Meals (20 days x $120) $2,400
Valet service (cleaning of laundry) $160

Chris’s deduction is: (Points : 5)
        $3,100.
        $4,360.
        $5,080.
        $5,560.
        None of the above

Question 15.15. (TCOs 2 & 11) In January, Charlie sold stock with a cost basis of $40,000 to his brother Allen for $30,000, the fair market value of the stock on the date of sale. Five months later, Allen sold the same stock through his broker for $45,000. What is the tax effect of these transactions? (Points : 5)
        Disallowed loss to Allen of $10,000; recognized gain to Charlie of $5,000
        Disallowed loss to Charlie of $10,000; recognized gain to Allen of $15,000
        Deductible loss to Charlie of $10,000; recognized gain to Allen of $15,000
        Disallowed loss to Charlie of $10,000; recognized gain to Allen of $5,000
        None of the above

Week 8 : Final Week – Final Exam

 
Question 1.1. (TCO 1) Which of the following is a judicial source of the tax law? (Points : 5)
        Revenue Procedure 99-12
        108 T.C. 384 (1997)
        § 61 of the Internal Revenue Code
        All of the above
        None of the above

Question 2.2. (TCOs 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, & 10) Which, if any, of the following is a deduction from AGI? (Points : 5)
        Individual retirement account contributions
        Moving expenses
        Investment interest expense
        One-half of self-employment tax paid
        All of the above

Question 3.3. (TCOs 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, & 10) Sergio lives in an apartment building and has a 2-year lease that began 13 months ago. His landlord is willing to pay Sergio $2,000 to vacate the apartment immediately. The landlord wants to sell the building to a buyer who will convert the building into condominiums. Sergio’s lease on the apartment is a capital asset, but has no tax basis. The $2,000 Sergio will receive if he accepts the landlord’s offer will be: (Points : 5)
        an ordinary gain.
        a short-term capital loss.
        a long-term capital gain.
        a short-term capital gain.
        excludible from gross income.

Question 4.4. (TCOs 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, & 10) Rockwell purchased a tract of land for $125,000 in 2004 when he heard that a new highway was going to be constructed through the property and that the land would soon be worth $300,000. Highway engineers surveyed the property and indicated that he would probably get $200,000. The highway project was abandoned in 2012, and the value of the land fell to $80,000. What is the amount of loss Rockwell can claim in 2012? (Points : 5)
        $0
        $100,000
        $175,000
        None of the above

Question 5.5. (TCOs 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, & 10) Donald has a $20,000 disallowed loss from a sale of property to a related taxpayer. The property was sold for $70,000. Donald uses the $70,000 to purchase different property than the property that was sold. Which of the statements below is correct concerning the property Donald purchased? (Points : 5)
        The basis of the property purchased is $50,000 ($70,000-$20,000).
        The holding period of the property sold carries over to the property purchased.
        Donald will be able to offset his $20,000 disallowed loss against any realized gain he has when he sells the property purchased.
        The related taxpayer will be able to offset as much of this $20,000 disallowed loss as is necessary to reduce his realized gain to $0 when he sells the property.
        None of the above

Question 6.6. (TCOs 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, & 10) A taxpayer who loses in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims may appeal directly to the: (Points : 5)
        U.S. Court of Appeals (Regional Circuit).
        U.S. Court of Appeals (Federal Circuit).
        U.S. District Court.
        U.S. Supreme Court.
        None of the above

Question 7.7. (TCO 6) Eighteen-year residential real property owned by an individual has accumulated accelerated depreciation of $275,000 at January 1, 2012. If depreciation had been computed under the straight-line method, accumulated depreciation would be $200,000. The property is sold on January 1, 2012 with a recognized gain of $300,000. What is the amount of depreciation recapture? (Points : 5)
        $75,000
        $200,000
        $275,000
        $300,000
        None of the above

Question 8.8. (TCO 6) Opal, Inc. owns a delivery truck that initially cost $40,000. After a depreciation of $15,000 had been deducted, the truck was traded-in on a new truck that cost $50,000. Opal was required to pay the car dealer $10,000 in cash. What is Opal’s basis for the new truck? (Points : 5)
        $0
        $35,000
        $50,000
        $65,000
        None of the above

Question 9.9. (TCO 6) Judy exchanges a rental house at the beach with an adjusted basis of $165,000 and a fair market value of $150,000 for a rental house at the mountains with a fair market value of $100,000 and cash of $50,000. What is the recognized gain or loss? (Points : 5)
        $0
        $100,000
        $50,000
        ($15,000)
        None of the above

Question 10.10. (TCO 6) Terron gives her son stock with a basis in her hands of $225,000 and a fair market value of $180,000. No gift tax is paid. Her son subsequently sells the stock for $190,000. What is his recognized gain or loss? (Points : 5)
        $0
        ($45,000)
        ($35,000)
        $10,000
        None of the above

Question 11.11. (TCOs 2, 6, & 11) Juaquin owns five activities. He elects not to group them together as a single activity under the appropriate economic unit standard. He participates for 140 hours in Activity A, 165 hours in Activity B, 196 hours in Activity C, 100 hours in Activity D, and 85 hours in Activity E. Which of the following statements is CORRECT? (Points : 5)
        Activities A, B, C, D, and E are all significant participation activities.
        Activities A, B, C, and D are all significant participation activities.
        Juaquin is a material participant with respect to Activities A, B, and C only.
        Juaquin is a material participant with respect to Activities A, B, C, D, and E.
        None of the above

Week 8 : Final Week – Final Exam

Page 3

 
Question 1.1. (TCOs 1, 2, 4, & 7) Dabney and Nancy are married, both gainfully employed, and have two children who are 3 and 6 years old. Dabney’s salary is $35,000 while Nancy’s salary is $40,000. During the year, they spend $7,000 for child care expenses that are required so both of them can work outside of the home. Calculate the credit for child and dependent care expenses. (Points : 15)
     
      

Question 2.2. (TCOs 1, 3, & 10) In 2012, Walter had the following transactions:
Salary $80,000
Capital loss from a stock investment ($4,000)
Moving expense to change jobs ($10,000)
Received repayment of $10,000 loan he made to his brother in 2007 (includes interest of $1,000) $11,000
Property taxes on personal residence $2,000
Based on the information given above, determine Walter’s AGI. Be sure to show your work. (Points : 15)
     
      

Question 3.3. (TCOs 9 & 12) In connection with facilitating the function of the IRS in the administration of the tax laws, comment on the utility of the following: I) the power to make adjustments to properly reflect a taxpayer’s income, and II) the availability of interest and penalties for taxpayer noncompliance. (Points : 15)
     
      

Question 4.4. (TCOs 1 & 5) Steve has a tentative general business credit of $85,000 for the current year. His net regular tax liability before the general business credit is $95,000, and his tentative minimum tax is $90,000. Compute Steve’s allowable general business credit for the year. (Points : 20)
     
      

Week 8 : Final Week – Final Exam
 
Question 1.1. (TCOs 1, 6, 8, & 11) Faith inherited an undivided interest in a parcel of land from her father on February 15, 2012. Her father had purchased the land on August 25,1965, and his basis for the land was $325,000. The fair market value of the land is $1,250,000 on the date of her father’s death and is $1,100,000 six months later. The executor elects the alternate valuation date. Faith has nine brothers and sisters and each inherited a one-tenth interest.
 
I) What is Faith’s adjusted basis for her one-tenth undivided interest?
II) What is her holding period for the land? (Points : 20)
     
      

Question 2.2. (TCOs 2, 3, & 11) Discuss the computation of percentage depletion. (Points : 15)
     
      

Question 3.3. (TCOs 1, 2, 3, & 11) Travel status requires that the taxpayer be away from home overnight. I) What does away from home overnight mean? II) What tax advantages result from being in travel status? (Points : 10)
     
      

Question 4.4. (TCOs 1, 2, 3, & 11) Rachel owns rental properties. When Rachel rents to a new tenant, she usually requires the tenant to pay an amount in addition to the first month’s rent. The additional amount serves as security for damages to the property and the tenant’s failure to pay future rents. How should the payments be characterized (e.g., on lease documents) to minimize Rachel’s current tax liability? (Points : 10)