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InvestWrite Topic For Grades 9-12, Fall 2013

The maximum number of words in the essay for this grade division is 1000.

Background: When choosing securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds), it is important to find out as much as you can todetermine if a particular stock, bond, and mutual fund meets your investment goals. There are many research andanalysis tools available in print and on the internet (see list below). The NASDAQ Dozen: Analyze a Stock in Twelve EasySteps provides twelve steps to helpyou find and analyze basic information that can help you make an informed decision.The items to research and analyze include revenue, earnings per share (EPS), return on equity (ROE), professional/analystrecommendations, earnings benchmarks and surprises, past and future earnings forecast, earnings growth, PEG Ratio (P/Eratio divided by expected 12 month growth), the companys earnings compared to its industry earnings and companymanagers buying their companys stock. Bond and mutual fund research involves other kinds of information. YahooFinance suggests researching basic bond definitions, types of bonds, market trends, mutual funds that meet your financialgoals and risk tolerance, maintenance fees, no load funds, and more.

Essay: Assume you will make a presentation on saving and investing to a group of adults and parents visiting your school.Your essay will be your presentation and will be based on your investment goals and research strategy. Begin byidentifying something you would like to save for over a 10-year period. Perhaps you would save to attend graduate school,start a business, prepare for retirement, volunteer or contribute to a cause that is important to youor something elseyou would like to achieve.

Identify your investment goals including what you would save for over a 10-year period. Explain why that is your choice. Choose any two or more of the following: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, cash, or any combination. (Select specific

companies, bonds, or funds)

Discussthe information you researched about the securities (i.e., revenue, earnings forecast, financials, companyoutlook, etc.).

Highlight the research and analytical tools you used. Describe reference graphs, charts, and articles that would help you reach your decision. Explain how your research helped you formulate your decisions. Assess your research tools and indicate which research tools provided the most helpful information and explain

why.

Predict if the securities would be good investments to meet your stated investment goals and defend yourreasoning.

Provide footnotes and a list of references. As you write your essay, think about how you can create interest that will make

your audience want to listen to your presentation intently.

NOTE: Your essay is in written form only. You will be describing your research tools, not inserting them in your essay. You

cannot add charts or graphs to your essay.

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Research Tools

Basic chartsidentifystock price over time (1 month, 5 years or more) Interactive charts- comparecompanies to other companies News Articles and Headlines reportand evaluatethe latest news articles on your favorite companies Industry Analysis compare companies to other companies in the same industry, or compare industry to

industry

Financialssummarizerevenue, profit, and long-term debt over time Annual Reports explainthe future of the company, perhaps even statefuture research and development

projects

Videos CNBC has several online venues including Mad Moneyand short videos about investing, company news and

stock and bond analysis

Yahoo - short videos about investing, company news, stock and bond analysis Blogs

CNBC - current company news coupled with analysis from experts in the fieldBe sure to check out the new tools in the Stock Market Game website!

Judging CriteriaUnderstanding of the Subject Matter

Does the student exhibit knowledge regarding the concept of researching and planning an investment strategy? The

student should address the scenario using relevant terminology and display an understanding of the core concepts of

the stock market in the scenario.

Rationale

Is the essay thoughtful? The written argument should be presented in a manner that indicates there was a logical

thinking process involved in addressing the assignment.

Writing Style

Is the student's work interesting to read? Does the written response encourage the reader to continue reading to the

conclusion of the essay? Students have an opportunity in this exercise to exhibit the ability to communicate thoughts in

an engaging and inviting manner, rather than focusing on grammar and spelling.

Top 10 in each class move on to the National competition.

Fall 2013 9-12th Grade AwardsEvery participant will receive an InvestWrite Certificate of Achievement.

1st place (1) 2nd place (1) 3rd place (1)Finalists(7)

Student3 Day/2 Night Trip to New York Cityand a "Wall Street Experience"

Laptop ComputerLaptopComputer

$50 GiftCard

Class Classroom Pizza PartyClassroom PizzaParty

Classroom PizzaParty

School InvestWrite Trophy InvestWrite TrophyInvestWriteTrophy

Parents InvestWrite Plaque InvestWrite PlaqueInvestWritePlaque

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1000 words or less Due Wed. December 4

InvestWrite checklistThis is a structure guide for your essay. It is not a requirement.

Beginning of essay Name Stock Market Game team login ID Title of essay

Paragraph 1 (Introduction)

Identify what you are saving for & why Identify your investment goal (grow or protect your money, risk/return, expected return, stocks

or mutual funds, etc.)

Focus on how saving & investing is 80% behavior/20% head knowledge and the need to creategood habits

Paragraph 2

Create a formula for investment success, weighting different research tools and why. (Databased objective analysis)

Discuss which research tools you used in your formula and why Basic chartsidentifystock price over time (1 month, 5 years or more) Interactive charts- comparecompanies to other companies News Articles and Headlines reportand evaluatethe latest news articles on your

favorite companies

Industry Analysis compare companies to other companies in the same industry, orcompare industry to industry

Financialssummarizerevenue, profit, and long-term debt over time Annual Reports explainthe future of the company, perhaps even statefuture research

and development projects

Videos CNBC has several online venues including Mad Moneyand short videos about

investing, company news and stock and bond analysis

Yahoo - short videos about investing, company news, stock and bond analysis Blogs

Paragraph 3 & 4

Choose at least two specific investments (Comparing each to a competitor gets you to 4) Discuss data researched about the investments (i.e., revenue, earnings forecast, financials,

company outlook, etc.) Compare company you chose to others in the same industry (possibly refer to charts here) Use of subjective tools like news articles or experts analysis/opinion Discuss how the research influences your decision to pursue these investments

Paragraph 5 (Conclusion)

Explain how your research process helps you to formulate a decision on your specific stocks(Discuss formula and the need for a data based objective analysis)

Predict if the investment would help you meet your goal and defend your reasoning