Research Topic:   (Choose only one)

· Financial Markets

· Capital Allocation Process

· Debt, Equity and Derivative

· Securitization

· Mortgage-backed securities

· Federal Reserve Policy

· Investment Fund

· Regulation of Financial Institution

· U.S. Stock Market

· Financial Statements & Reports

· Working Capital

· Sarbanes-Oxley and Financial Fraud

· Performance Evaluation

· Return on invested capital

· The Federal Income Tax System

· Corporate Capital Gains

· Financial Analysis & Financial Ratios

· Common Size Analysis & Trend Analysis

· Comparative Ratios & Benchmarking

· Time Value of Money

· Perpetuities & Annuities

· What loans really cost

· The Great Recession of 2007

Assignment Requirements:

1. Choose a research topic from the chapter readings or from the list provided by your professor.
2. Research/find a minimum at least four (4), preferably five (5) or more, different peer-reviewed articles on your topic from the University of the Cumberlands Library online business database. The article(s) must be relevant and from a peer-reviewed source. While you may use relevant articles from any time frame, current/published within the last five (5) years are preferred. Using literature that is irrelevant or unrelated to the chosen topic will result in a point reduction.
3. Write a four (4) to five (5) page double spaced paper in APA format discussing the findings on your specific topic in your own words. Note – paper length does not include cover page, abstract, or references page(s).
4. Structure your paper as follows:
   1. Cover page
   2. Overview describing the importance of the research topic to current business and professional practice in your own words.
   3. Purpose of Research should reflect  the potential benefit of the topic to the current business and professional practice and the larger body of research.
   4. Review of the Literature summarized in your own words. Note that this should not be a “copy and paste” of literature content, nor should this section be substantially filled with direct quotes from the article. A literature review is a summary of the major points and findings of each of the selected articles (with appropriate citations). Direct quotations should be used sparingly. Normally, this will be the largest section of your paper (this is not a requirement; just a general observation).
   5. Practical Application of the literature. Describe how your findings from the relevant research literature can shape, inform, and improve current business and professional practice related to your chosen topic.
   6. Conclusion in your own words
   7. References formatted according to APA style requirements