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  • Public Health Question

    Reflection Paper #2

    Instructions: Based on the lecture readings, class discussion, and activities from the last four weeks, write a reflection that touches on the following:

    Health Disparities: roles in policies and community engagement

    Public Health Theoretical Frameworks: ecological model, life course theory, fundamental cause theory (trauma, lived experiences, ACEs/toxic stress), and others.

    Public Health Theoretical Frameworks: ecological model, life course theory, fundamental cause theory (trauma, lived experiences)

    Please ensure to highlight how this content will help shape your research project.

    The essay must be between 3-4 pages long, formatted in Arial font, 11 font size, with 1-inch margins. Students will upload their reflection papers via Brightspace by 11:59 p.m. on March 20th.

    Total Points: 5 points

  • organizacin financiera bsica.

    necesito citas nada de plagio o 0 inteligencia artificial esto es una investigacion que quiero poder poner en mi libro para crear conciencia desde la verda graficas citas de estudios de las persona que llegan ala rueza si los que nacen en buena familia o los pobres de que porsentaje hablamos si los hombres o las mujeres , mujeres solteras , o madres solteras y un secreto mejor juardado en mi libro que estoy escribiendo necito mas de 21 referencias comparativas estructuras legales que si pueden llevarte al exito , importante no plagio

  • HTY 489:CBE2-Special Topics in History (2026 Spring)

    Purpose of this Assessment

    Throughout this competency, you have learned about several infectious diseases of human history. The purpose of this summative assessment is for you to demonstrate your ability to apply this knowledge by selecting two infectious diseases and describing their impact(s) on human society, economy, culture, and politics.

    The project will have two components that will be combined together to create one project. These include: (1) a summary of three infectious diseases within their historical contexts, and (2) a description of the ways in which two of those infectious diseases affected human society, economy, culture, and politics.

    Items Required for Submission

    A 1500 word essay that includes the following:

    • A summary of three infectious diseases within their historical contexts.
    • A description of two infectious diseases, along with their impact(s) on human society, economy, culture, and politics.

    Before you submit, check to see if you believe you have met the criteria noted below. Did you.

    • Clearly explain and provide rationale for your viewpoint?
    • Write logically with accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation?
    • Adhere to the length requirements?
    • Follow APA formatting and referencing standards citations?
    • Convert all files to a doc, docx, ppt or pptx file.
  • SWK-625 Evidence Based Practice

    Social workers need to understand that one evidence-based practice intervention is not always a one-size-fits-all approach. However, for this assignment, you will be challenged to research one evidence-based intervention of your choosing that is appropriately aligned with the substance use disorder you are focusing on.

    Using the assigned readings and videos for this topic, identify ONE substance use disorder and identify ONE evidence-based practice intervention.

    Create an infographic that includes the following:

    • Briefly describe the main components of the evidence-based practice intervention across the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work.
    • Explain what impact the intervention has on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
    • Assess how applicable this intervention may be with diverse communities. Support the information in your infographic.
    • Briefly explain how a major life event like the pandemic could lead to substance use disorder.
    • Briefly describe the professional and personal implications for social workers.
    • Cite the resources that you used to create the infographic.

    Infographic Assignment Guidelines:

    To design your infographic, use the templates in Microsoft Office Publisher, Canva, or any alternative word processing program. If you do not have these programs, you can use the online template resources on the Word Automation website. Omit/delete items on templates that do not pertain to the assignment criterion. Keep in mind that only .doc, .docx, .eps, .htm, .pdf, .rtf, .txt, or .wpd files are accepted, with file size not to exceed 40 MB.

    While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

    This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

    You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.

    This assignment is informed by the following EPAS Standards:

    4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice

    5: Evaluate with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

  • MGMT 3104: International Week 12

    Assume that your academic unit (probably a college of business) wants to open a campus in a foreign country and that the dean has asked you to prepare a list of possible countries. How would you go about fulfilling the dean’s requirement? What countries would you recommend and why?

    By: Michael Geringer, Jeanne McN

    To receive full credit, the initial response should be 300-500 words in length; demonstrate an understanding of key concepts; include a rationale, evidence, or example that supports your response; and be free of significant mechanical errors. At least 1 scholarly reference should be included and should be cited and listed according to APA guidelines.

  • Touchstone 3

    Touchstone 3: Redesign a Job

    OVERVIEW: You will demonstrate an understanding of job design and how it interacts with organizational structure and employee motivation.

    Your organization has reused this job description for several years. The job has high turnover and usually does not attract a competitive pool of candidates despite a competitive wage for a job that requires no experience.

    You will redesign the job, applying the principles of job design to attract more applicants. Because you are designing a job, not just writing a job description, your description will also show elements of employee engagement.

    download

    Download the


    A. ASSIGNMENT

    STEP 1: Redesign the job.

    Redesign the job description, and the job itself, by revising the text below. You will make it more appealing to candidates and more enjoyable for the person who ends up filling the job by applying the principles from the tutorials listed below:

    Because you are redesigning the job, not just writing the description, you can make decisions about what the job will be like in terms of job characteristics as described in the tutorial on effective job design.

    download

    Download the

    The Current Job Description:
    Job Title: Machine Operator
    Job Description:

    • Operate assigned machinery according to established procedures.
    • Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions.
    • Perform basic maintenance tasks such as oiling and cleaning machines.
    • Record production data and report any issues to the supervisor.
    • Follow safety guidelines and maintain a tidy work area.

    Requirements:

    • High school diploma or equivalent.
    • Basic understanding of machine operations.
    • Ability to perform repetitive tasks with minimal supervision.
    • Must be able to stand for long periods of time and lift up to 50 pounds.
    • Good attention to detail.

    Benefits:

    • Hourly wage.
    • Basic health insurance.
    • Paid breaks.

    STEP 2: Explanation.

    Write 23 paragraphs explaining the changes you made and how they align with the concepts of job design covered in the tutorial.

    STEP 3: Submit your Touchstone.

    Once you have completed the template and reviewed your work to make sure it is clear, complete, and correct, it is time to submit your document.

    Please only submit work entered directly into the template provided.


    B. Requirements

    1. All content must be original, created for this assignment, and appropriate for an academic audience.
    2. Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited, including the use of AI-generated content.
    3. Submission must include your name, the date, and the title of your paper.
    4. The choice of formatting decisions like font size are up to you, but make sure it is easy to read and consistently formatted.
    5. Include all of the assignment components in a single .doc or .docx file.

    C. RUBRIC

    Advanced (100%) Proficient (85%) Acceptable (75%) Needs Improvement (50%) Non-Performance (0%)

    Coherence

    Student answers all questions clearly, completely, and with internal consistency. (40%)

    Job description addresses important elements in the redesign that include variety, autonomy, contributions, feedback and measurement, communication, relationships, and value of the job to the company. Job description mostly addresses important elements but may be missing addressing one item in the redesign that may include: variety, autonomy, contributions, feedback and measurement, communication, relationships, and value of the job to the company. Job description mostly addresses important elements but is missing two items in the redesign that may include: variety, autonomy, contributions, feedback and measurement, communication, relationships, and value of the job to the company. Job description mostly addresses important elements but is missing three or more items in the redesign that may include: variety, autonomy, contributions, feedback and measurement, communication, relationships, and value of the job to the company. So little work is evident in the Touchstone, no credit can be given.

    Concepts

    Touchstone applies at least three job design concepts from the tutorials, and job description is realistic and consistent with the tutorial information. (40%)

    Touchstone applies at least three job design concepts from the tutorials, and job description is realistic and consistent with the tutorial information. Touchstone applies at least two job design concepts from the tutorials, and job description is realistic and consistent with the tutorial information. Touchstone applies at least one job design concept from the tutorials, and job description is realistic and consistent with the tutorial information. Touchstone does not apply job design concepts from the tutorials. So little work is evident in the Touchstone, no credit can be given.

    Conventions

    Includes virtually no minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. (20%)

    Includes virtually no minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes fewer than five minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes five minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes more than five minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes consistent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and usage.

    Touchstone 4: Write a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP)

    OVERVIEW: You will act as an operations consultant and will outline a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) for a small company. The QIP will apply concepts learned in the tutorials to help PhonePro resolve issues in efficiency, supply chain flow, and remaining viable in a competitive field. Your QIP will include recommendations based concepts learned in the class.

    BACKGROUND: PhonePro is a company that designs and manufactures phone cases. Their biggest differentiator is in utility design, such as combining phone cases with other storage to replace wallets or handbags, and rugged cases for hiking and climbing. While their cases were popular for several years, they have noticed declining sales and an increase in customer returns, citing the fact the cases do not last more than a few months and are unable to handle extensive usage, which is particularly a problem since durability is a key selling point and is backed by a generous warranty.

    • PhonePro is offered in dozens of colors, many of which do not sell well, resulting in a lot of unsold inventory. This is further complicated by the attempt by the company to have each style available for all popular phones and stay up to date with the specific sizes of Apple and Android models. At the same time, there is often a shortage of the most popular sizes and colors.
    • Although they manufacture their products in Montana, they are dependent upon suppliers from Malaysia and Thailand for rubber and suppliers in China for high-quality silicone. Unreliability of these suppliers has disrupted production schedules. There is also varied quality of materials from these suppliers, leading to the variability in quality of the phone cases that has in turn led to many customer returns.
    • PhonePro sells most of their phones through distributors, particularly a few high-volume chain retail stores like Walmart and Target and online retailers like Amazon. Regardless of the retailer, the phone cases sell at $24 each; PhonePro gets $16 per order with the rest going to the retailer.
    • They have been inefficient in filling orders when they are placed, often lagging several days behind the order, and getting the phone cases to the distribution centers around the country. This is further affected by the extreme weather in Montana, where heavy snowfall can close roads and delivery routes for days.
    • They position themselves as a green company but have a high amount of waste from their production process.
    • Workers have a great deal of autonomy and task variability but are disorganized.

    Further problems that are caused by the operations problems:

    • Negative online reviews from customers, due to quality issues
    • High employee turnover due to low morale

    Helpful Links:


    A. ASSIGNMENT

    Address each of these operational elements for PhonePro below. Each major element should be a level one heading in your paper, with 23 paragraphs analyzing the problem and making your recommendations.

    Part One: The Supply Chain

    • How can PhonePro make their procurement of materials more reliable?
    • How can PhonePro maintain and improve distribution?
    • What inventory optimization strategies can improve efficiency during the manufacturing process?
    • Name at least one recommendation in these areas that will solve a problem identified in the scenario, using the concepts in the tutorials and performing calculations when necessary.

    See .

    Part Two: Production Efficiency

  • What are the utilization and efficiency of PhonePro, based on these figures?
    • Their average is 25,00030,000 units per month.
    • Operating at full capacity around the clock, their facilities are capable of producing 40,000 units per month.
    • Based on staffing hours, maintenance needs, and other mitigating factors, they can realistically produce 32,000 units per month. If they could solve other logistical problems, they feel they could sell that many without either backlog of inventory or unmet demand.
  • What factors from the scenario may be leading to the inefficiency?
  • What measures could they take to anticipate and meet demand given the challenges of the market? Recommend one or more manufacturing models or concepts from the tutorials, such as Lean, Six Sigma, and TQM. Give specific aspects of any model you recommend and how it will help with the specific problems identified above.
  • In all, there should be three specific recommendations of changes to their process; these may be all part of one model or taken from different models, as long as there are three specific recommendations that would work well together.
  • See Challenge 3.1, Manufacturing Models, and Challenge 4.1, Methods of Quality Control.

    Part Three: Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis

    Based on the information below, calculate the variable and fixed costs at their current location. See for detailed instruction and an example.

    • Remember that PhonePro sells between 25,00030,000 units a month at a retail price of $24. The retailer gets $8 of this, and PhonePro collects $16.
    • Materials cost 30% of the retail cost, or an average of $7.20 per unit.
    • They have 1820 workers on the factory floor who are paid hourly, dependent on production. These workers make an average of $13/hour, and the facilities are in operation 10 hours a day, 6 days a week; the company thus pays between $58,000 and $69,000 a month. You can calculate this as $2.32 per unit.
    • There are four full-time managerial staff (CEO, COO, CFO, and HR Manager) who make a combined $37,500 a month in salary and benefits.
    • PhonePro pays an additional $24,000 a month in insurance for the workers, who do not get any other benefits; this only covers on-site accidents.
    • Rent, taxes, and insurance for the facilities is $7,000 a month.
    • Utilities are $1,000$1,200 a month depending on how busy they are. You can calculate this as $0.04 per unit.
    • Packaging and shipping cost $50,000$60,000 per month depending on production. You can calculate this at $2.00 per unit.

    Based on the costs you calculated above, calculate the following for 25,000 units sold:

    • The variable costs per unit
    • The fixed costs per month
    • The contribution margin per unit and total contribution margin
    • The net operating income
    • The break-even point (round up to the nearest 100)
    • The margin of safety

    hint

    Use the spreadsheet provided to help with these calculations. This is provided as an aid only and will not be returned to us as part of your Touchstone.

    Part Four: Location Selection

    PhonePro is considering moving facilities out of Montana so they can be closer to suppliers and distributors. You have already completed a cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis for Billings, Montana. Perform a similar analysis for the locations below to help PhonePro make this decision.

    Cupertino, California

    • The company projects they will be able to sell more units, between 32,00040,000, due to having immediate access to a much larger population.
    • Materials will be cheaper due to lower shipping costs and proximity to the Pacific trade routes. These will now be 25% of the retail cost, or an average of $6 per unit.
    • The salary expectations in California are higher, even with higher unemployment; these will be an average of $17.50/hour.
    • They will need a bigger team of 2224 people to handle the higher production, for an approximate total of $87,000$110,000 per month. You can calculate this as $2.73 per unit.
    • The managerial staff (CEO, COO, CFO, and HR Manager) will receive a cost-of-living increase, bringing their salary and benefits to $50,000/month.
    • PhonePro will pay $28,800 a month in insurance for workers, due to the higher number of staff.
    • Rent, taxes, and insurance for the facilities will be $10,000 a month.
    • Utilities are expected to be about $1,300$1,600, but still $0.04 per unit.
    • Packaging and shipping will be cheaper due to better transportation routes. You can calculate this at $1.80 per unit.

    Walla Walla, Washington

    • The company anticipates they will be able to sell more units, but not as many as they would in California, estimating sales at 28,00032,000 per month.
    • Materials will be similar to Cupertino, at $6 per unit.
    • The salary expectations are also the same, at $17.50/hour, due to a high state minimum wage. The team will be 2022 people. You can calculate labor as $2.73 per unit.
    • The managerial staff (CEO, COO, CFO, and HR Manager) will receive a smaller cost-of-living increase, bringing their salary and benefits to $40,000/month.
    • PhonePro will pay $24,400 a month in insurance for workers.
    • Rent, taxes, and insurance for the facilities will be $8,000 a month.
    • Utilities are the same, at $0.04 per unit.
    • Packaging and shipping will be the same as Cupertino, at $1.80 per unit.
    • Washington State has a Green Energy Incentive Credit for small businesses that follow ISO guidelines. PhonePro believes they could meet these standards, which would save them $500/month.

    hint

    Use the spreadsheet provided to help with these calculations. It is the same spreadsheet you used in step 3. This is provided as an aid only and will not be returned to us as part of your Touchstone.

    Based on your calculations, make a conclusion on the economics of different facility locations based on variable costs, contribution margin, net operating income, and break-even analysis for all three locations.

    hint

    Create a table in your report to help readers visualize this information.

    Also, do additional research on quality-of-life factors to further guide your recommendations. Only the four high-ranking managers of PhonePro would make the move, and they are all very interested in issues beyond the economics of the company, such as the quality of life in the community, the cost of living, the ranking of public schools, and access to recreational activities. Make a final recommendation on location based on all the considerations and CVP analysis and be sure to justify your rationale.

    Part Five: Performance

    Explain some of the potential reasons for high turnover and create a human resource strategy to manage these challenges. Make two specific recommendations on topics like job design, performance management, and motivation. Your recommendations should address problems described in the scenario and apply concepts from the tutorials. For the purposes of these recommendations, assume that the issues and solutions will be the same at the new location, unless you discover reasons in your research that they may be different.


    B. Requirements

    1. All content must be original, created for this assignment, and appropriate for an academic audience.
    2. Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited, including the use of AI-generated content.
    3. Submission must include your name, the date, and the title of your paper.
    4. The choice of formatting decisions like font size are up to you, but make sure it is easy to read and consistently formatted.
    5. Include all of the assignment components in a single .doc or .docx file.

    B. RUBRIC

    Advanced (100%) Proficient (85%) Acceptable (75%) Needs Improvement (50%) Non-Performance (0%)

    Overall Report Structure

    Paper is clearly presented following the recommended structure with fully developed introduction and conclusion and connectivity and coherence between each set of recommendations. (15%)

    Introduction provides an overview of the papers major sections. The sections are connected by transitional language and synthesis of concepts. The conclusion summarizes the recommendations in a clear and succinct way. The introduction provides an overview but may not include all major sections in the right order. Sections are usually connected with transitional language and synthesis of concepts. The conclusion provides a summary of the recommendations but may not include all the recommendations. The introduction provides an overview but does not outline the major sections in the right order. Sections are not connected with transitional language or synthesis of concepts and recommendations. The conclusion provides a summary but does not list the recommendations. Either the introduction or conclusion is missing, overly brief, or so off-topic that it does not serve its purpose. The other may provide an adequate or limited overview of the paper. Sections are not connected, and recommendations may have contradictions. So little work is evident in introducing, connecting, and summarizing ideas, no credit can be given.

    The Supply Chain

    Paper applies concepts from the tutorial to propose solutions and explanations that resolve procurement and distribution issues described in the scenario. (15%)

    The paper demonstrates a thorough understanding of supply chain and production and how it pertains to PhonePro. The recommendations are feasible for PhonePro and consistent with the tutorials. The paper mostly demonstrates an understanding of supply chain and production and how it pertains to PhonePro. There may be small inconsistencies or gaps with the scenario or the tutorials. The paper generally demonstrates an understanding of supply chain and production and how it pertains to PhonePro. There may be major inconsistencies or gaps with the scenario or the tutorials. The paper only demonstrates a partial understanding of supply chain and production and does not make any recommendations appropriate to PhonePro. So little work is evident in the section, no credit can be given.

    Production Efficiency

    Paper applies concepts from the tutorial to propose solutions and explanations that resolve efficiency issues described in the scenario. (15%)

    The paper shows a thorough understanding of production challenges described in the scenario and recommends at least three strategies from the tutorials, all from the tutorials on manufacturing models and/or quality control. The paper shows a good understanding of production challenges described in the scenario and recommends at least two strategies from the tutorials, preferably the tutorials on manufacturing models and/or quality control. The paper shows some understanding of production challenges described in the scenario and recommends at least one strategy from the tutorials, preferably the tutorials on manufacturing models and/or quality control. The paper may only describe the production challenges in the scenario without applying concepts from the tutorials or describes content in the tutorials without applying them to the scenario. So little work is evident in the section, no credit can be given.

    CVP Analysis

    Paper shows understanding of the CVP formula and use of the spreadsheet provided to accurately report the net revenue, break-even point, and margin of safety. (15%)

    The paper shows a thorough understanding of cost-volume-profit analysis and how it pertains to PhonePro. Students perform the analysis and answer the questions correctly, distinguishing between fixed costs and variable costs to correctly predict net income, the break-even point, and the margin of safety. The paper shows some understanding of a cost-volume-profit analysis and how it pertains to PhonePro. Students perform the analysis and mostly answer the questions correctly to correctly (or closely) predict at least two of the following: net income, the break-even point, and the margin of safety. The paper shows a fair understanding of a cost-volume-profit analysis and how it pertains to PhonePro. Students perform the analysis and answer the questions but may arrive at incorrect answers to the net income, break-even point, and margin of safety either due to mathematical errors or inconsistency in following the formulas and figures provided. The paper shows a limited or poor understanding of a cost-volume-profit analysis. The student may not use the tool provided or fails to use it correctly, arriving at numbers that are inaccurate and unrealistic for a business the size of PhonePro. So little work is evident in the section, no credit can be given.

    Location Selection

    Paper applies concepts from the tutorials and uses the spreadsheet provided to arrive at a cogent analysis of the three locations and make a recommendation that includes economic and other factors. (15%)

    The paper shows a thorough understanding of location selection and how it pertains to PhonePro. Students use a cross-CVP analysis to compare the three locations and provide an economic analysis, as well as describing other quality-of-life issues for each location which are supported by research. The paper shows a good understanding of location selection and how it pertains to PhonePro. Students use a cross-CVP analysis to compare the three locations and provide an economic analysis; the response may fail to include other factors in each community that would impact the decision or reveal small mistakes or misunderstandings in the economic comparison. The paper shows some understanding of location selection and how it pertains to PhonePro. Students use a cross-CVP analysis to compare the three locations and provide an economic analysis; the response may fail to include other factors in each community that would impact the decision or reveal small mistakes or misunderstandings in the economic comparison. The paper shows a limited or poor understanding of location selection and how it pertains to PhonePro. Students fail to correctly use a cross-CVP analysis to compare the three locations and provide and economic analysis, as well as describing other quality-of-life issues for each location which are supported by research. So little work is evident in the section, no credit can be given.

    Performance

    Applies concepts from the tutorial to address personnel issues described in the scenario. (15%)

    The paper analyzes the performance problems as given in the scenario and makes at least two recommendations. The recommendations apply concepts from the tutorials that respond to the challenges of high turnover and low motivation. The paper analyzes the performance problems as given in the scenario and makes at least one recommendation. The recommendation applies a concept from the tutorials that responds to the challenges of high turnover or low motivation. The paper analyzes the performance problems as given in the scenario but fails to make an appropriate recommendation, or the recommendation is inconsistent with the tutorials or the scenario. The paper analyzes the performance problems as given in the scenario but fails to make any recommendations or describes concepts in the tutorials but does not apply them to the scenario. So little work is evident in the section, no credit can be given.

    Conventions (10%)

    Minimize errors in standard English grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Follows APA formatting.

    Includes virtually no minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Any outside references are cited correctly in the paper with a complete reference at the end. Includes fewer than five minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes five minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes more than five minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes consistent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and usage, or so little work is present, no credit can be given.
  • AD255ARTAPPRE Critical analysis wrap up

    Have part of the essay already completed, just need the rest of it to be finished. Open to correction on my half of the half I completed.

    Guidelines: at least 1000 words, 12-point Times New Roman Font, double-spaced, with 1″ margins.

    Upload all written assignments to Brightspace. Make sure your last name is in the document title.

    YOUR PAPER SHOULD INCLUDE A COVER PAGE WITH YOUR NAME, THE TITLE OF YOUR PAPER, AND A PICTURE OF THE ARTWORK IN THE SPACE YOU SAW IT IN, AS WELL AS ANY WALL TEXT THAT ACCOMPANIES THE ARTWORK ON DISPLAY. IF THERE IS NO WALL TEXT YOUR COVER PAGE SHOULD INCLUDE THE ARTWORK’S TITLE AND THE ARTIST’S NAME. THIS PAPER SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ANY WORKS CONSULTED.

    THIS BIBLIOGRAPHY SHOULD INCLUDE A CITATION FOR THE ART SHOW YOUR CHOSEN ARTWORK APPEARS IN, AS WELL AS ONE FOR ANY EXTERNAL REFERENCES YOU CONSULT.

    Formal Analysis

    Formal analysis is an analytical method of looking at and discussing a work of art. It includes describing the work in terms of various design elements, such as color, shape, texture, line, lighting, mass, and space, as well as a discussion of how those elements have been used (the design principles). Formal analysis moves beyond description of the artwork and its content by linking the elements of the work to the effects that they have on the viewer. This is discussion of the artwork from the point of view of here is the artwork, and this is what I see and can make sense of . . . Formal analysis uses art terminology to consider the effects of an artwork on the viewer (you), and its a process that enables us to think about and consider the overall meaning of the artwork.

    NOTE: Formal analysis does not necessarily require research, as it is based on your point of view. The more informed you are, the deeper your analysis will gobut that depth depends on experience, knowledge, and careful attention, not necessarily on research. It is good to arrive at your own conclusions about what you think an artwork means, and I am more interested in hearing what an artwork means to you than I am in hearing what historians have said about your chosen artwork. Most students do include some historical information (what movement the artwork is part of, for example) but it isn’t a requirement.

    FINDING AN ARTWORK!

    In lieu of visiting another artwork in person you will be searching for artists within the Museum of Modern Art’s Artist Database, Located at . If you, for some reason, feel a strong urge to write about artwork located somewhere else you must reach out to me via email or Brightspace message and we can discuss what you would like to do for this paper.

    The MoMA database has some 27,000+ artists, so to help you narrow it down I’ve included a list of artists by category that I feel would be good below. The MoMA has more info on some artists than others, so you will need to look at what info is available online. Several of the artists on this list only have a couple major works in the MoMA’s collection. You can choose an artist that isn’t on this list if you would like, but you need to shoot me an email or canvas message, so I can approve your plans for this paper. For some artists in this list the MOMA just has an image and wall text for artworks in their collection. For other artists there may be the option to look at images of the artwork installed in the galleries, or even to watch an interview with the artist themselves! These are good resources, and I highly recommend you look at all the information present for your artist, but make sure you quote the website or the artist if you use their language.

    It is INCREDIBLY important to cite your sources in academia, and I will be looking through what is posted about your artist when I grade your papers. I will also be using TurnItIn to check your work for plagiarism, and it will flag stuff that gets copy-pasted from the MOMA. QUOTATIONS DO NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE WORD COUNT OF YOUR PAPER.

    There are many artists here who could fit several categories! Artist’s generally aren’t one-dimensional 🙂
    The Museum of Modern Art has mostly Modern artists. Don’t expect classical paintings here!

    Painters
    Alice Neel
    Anselm Kiefer
    Leon Golub
    Jacob Lawrence
    Julie Mehretu

    Photographers
    Graciela Iturbide
    Harry Callahan
    Deana Lawson
    Lorna Simpson
    Nan Goldin

    Sculptors
    Richard Serra
    Louise Nevelson
    Donald Judd
    Eva Hesse
    Ursula von Rydingsvard

    Printmakers
    Kthe Kollwitz
    William Morris
    Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
    Charles White
    Vija Celmins

    Designers and Text Artists
    Barbara Kruger
    Jenny Holzer
    Glenn Ligon
    Paula Scher
    Edward Ruscha

    Installation
    James Turrell
    Doris Salcedo
    Olafur Eliasson
    Yayoi Kusama
    Kara Walker

    Assembly/Collage
    Romare Bearden
    Betye Saar
    Hannah Hch
    Kurt Schwitters
    Wangechi Mutu

    Other
    Ana Mendieta
    David Hammons
    Marina Abramovi
    Ai Weiwei
    Nam June Paik

    WRITING YOUR PAPER!

    Step 2: Writing a critical analysis. There are four aspects of a critical analysis: description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation. It includes a description of a work of art, but it goes beyond mere description because it tells how the described object “works.”

    Description = pure description of the object without value judgments, analysis, or interpretation.

    • Describes “What do you see?” This is a good place to include details about how the elements of art are being used.
    • Form and Content: Content begins with the subject matter. Describing the form of the artwork should naturally flow into describing the content of the work. What is the subject matter of the artwork? How does the subject matter of the artwork connect back to way this artist used the elements and principles of art?

    This paper should begin with a description of the work (although your description will likely be less detailed than in your descriptive essay assignment) While restricting our attention during our description of the formal elements of an artwork may at first seem limited or even tedious, a careful and methodical examination of the physical components of an artwork is an important first step in decoding its meaning.

    Analysis = how have principles of design been employed? and how did the artist do it?

    • Analyzes how the component parts work together, and how the artistic choices (choices of medium, shape, color, etc.) communicate the message of the work to the viewer. This is generally where you start talking about the how the principles of art are being used.

    Interpret = find meaning in the artwork. Meaning is subjective, but your interpretation should be based off of how the artwork makes you feel or what “catches your eye” about the work.

    • Interprets your personal response to the work based on what you know about it and other artworks you’ve seen. Think about how artworks can have different interpretations, there is no right interpretation. Your goal is to provide a framework for understanding the artwork which is insightful, interesting, informative, and reasonable. Interpretations usually involve talking about context.

    Evaluation = How do you feel when you look at this work and why?

    • Evaluates what makes this work of art special. Do you like the work? Why or why not? Based on your interpretation of the work, what unique things about the artwork make it successful? Your reaction to the artwork is an important component of your evaluation. Evaluating a work involves judging it based off of Aesthetic Values.

    Prompts to guide your Description:

    • What can we notice at first glance about a work of art? Is it two-dimensional or three-dimensional? What is the medium? What kinds of actions were required in its production? How big is the work? What are the elements of design used within it?
    • Line: is it soft or hard, jagged, or straight, expressive, or mechanical? How is line being used to describe space?
    • Shape: are the shapes large or small, hard-edged, or soft? What is the relationship between shapes? Do they compete with one another for prominence? What shapes are in front? Which shapes fade into the background?
    • Mass and volume: if two-dimensional, what means if any are used to give the illusion that the presented forms have weight and occupy space? If three-dimensional, what space is occupied or filled by the work? What is the mass of the work?
    • Space: does the artist use perspective? If so, what kind? If the work uses linear perspective, where are the horizon line and vanishing point(s) located?
    • Texture: how is texture being used? Is it actual or implied texture?
    • Light/Value and or color: what kinds of colors are used? Is there a color scheme? Is the image overall light, medium, or dark?

    Prompts to guide your Analysis:

    • Once the elements of the artwork have been identified, next come questions of how these elements are related. How are the elements arranged?
    • What elements in the work were used to create unity and provide variety? How have the elements been used to do so?
    • What is the scale of the work? Is it larger or smaller than what it represents (if it does depict someone or something)? Are the elements within the work in proportion to one another?
    • Is the work symmetrically or asymmetrically balanced?
    • What is used within the artwork to create emphasis? Where are the areas of emphasis?
    • How has movement been conveyed in the work, for example, through line or placement of figures?
    • Are there any elements within the work that create rhythm? Are any shapes or colors repeated?

    Prompts to guide your Interpretation

    • What does the artwork mean to me?
    • What is the message of the artwork?
    • What is the iconography artwork?
    • What is the context of the artwork?

    Prompts to guide your Evaluation

    • How do you feel when you look at this work and why? Is it visually pleasing, disturbing, emotionally engaging?
    • Do you like the work? Why or why not? Be specific and use art terms. Merely stating, I like it or I dont like it is not enough.
    • Does the artwork convincingly express the subject or idea it was based on?
    • How original is the artwork?
    • What degree of uniqueness and imagination has the artist displayed in the artwork?

    Other things to Keep in mind:

    1. (Axiom of Intent) – Accept the work as it is. Do not “second guess” the artist and make such statements as, “I think the painting would have been better if the artist had . . .”

    2. Watch out for generic words. Avoid such bland terms as “beautiful,” “unique,” “big,” “short” or “artistic.” Refine what you are really trying to say and use a more descriptive phrase. Instead of “big,” try “towering,” “imposing” or “powerful.” Don’t force your reader to fill in the gaps because they are unsure of your meaning.

    2a. Similarly, watch out for marketing words with flexible meaning. Words like vintage or rustic or aesthetic mean very different things to different people. If you use one of these words it is important to clarify what you mean to your audience.

    3. Proofread your paper. It will count against your grade if your paper is full of typos or mistakes in spelling and grammar. Do not rely on your computer spell-check to proofread your paper for you. It often cannot tell the difference in usage between ‘it’s’ and ‘its’, for instance.

    4. Read your paper out loud when you are finished. Look for missing words where sentences have been re-written, and ask yourself if reordering parts of your sentence will make it clearer to understand.

    5. Don’t turn in an outline! Your paper should not contain section headings. Work on your transitions between paragraphs if you are tempted to include section headings.

    6. Have fun with it! – While I’m sure many of you don’t associate final papers with fun, it is so much easier to write about artworks you are inspired by. Try to find excellent art, and tell me why it’s so fantastic! No one wants to write a formal paper about a subject they aren’t interested in.

  • Touchstone

    Touchstone 1: Design a New Product

    OVERVIEW: You will conceive of a new product and complete a FAD (features, attributes, and design) template to describe the idea, the requirements for production, ideas for marketing, and the differentiating features that will make your product competitive.

    Review the tutorial on for an explanation of the FAD template and an example completed template. Please only submit work entered directly into the template provided.

    download

    A. Assignment

    STEP 1: Come up with an idea.

    The first step is to either conceive of an idea for a product that is distinct from any other on the market or pick an example from the list below. For the assignment to be successful, we recommend a low-price consumer product like a new kind of packaged food, a utility app, or a home improvement product. You are not graded on the idea itself, so dont worry if yours isnt a world-changing breakthrough! It could be something as simple as a new flavor of chewing gum or a single-function kitchen tool. It may also be a strategic repackaging of an existing product for a blue ocean market. If you are really stuck, we have a few suggestions below; feel free to use any one of them, and feel free to alter one if it inspires an even better idea.

    Remember that new products almost always cater to a real or imagined need, so your own idea might come about at a moment of frustration or disappointment. In the tutorials, Gordons idea for an electric bike came when he struggled uphill on a bicycle. Your idea should come at a similar moment, whether it is wishing a task were easier or wishing there was something new and different to liven up your day.

    While we hope you come up with an idea of your own, if you are stuck, you may use one of these ideas:

    • Instant Smoothie Packs: Pre-portioned packs of freeze-dried fruits and vegetables that you just blend with water or milk for a quick, healthy smoothie.
    • Toothpaste Tablets: Solid toothpaste tablets that you chew to create a paste, reducing plastic waste.
    • Emergency Phone Charger: A compact power generator that can charge your phone with solar power, a wind-operated turbine, or a hand crank in case of an emergency.
    • Meal Planner: An app that learns your tastes, schedule, and habits to recommend meal plans and generate shopping lists.
    • USB Projector: A small device that can connect to the USB port in any computer or phone and project the devices screen on a screen or wall, for quick, on-the-fly presentations.

    STEP 2: Complete the FAD template.

    Download the FAD template if you have not already done so. Open the document and answer each question regarding your product idea. The questions will help you develop and explain your concept. Remember to complete the table of considerations for item #6.

    download

    STEP 3: Submit your Touchstone.

    Once you have completed the template and reviewed your work to make sure it is clear, complete, and correct, it is time to submit your document.

    Please submit work entered directly into the template provided to ensure all questions are answered and the touchstone is complete.


    B. Requirements

    1. All content must be original, created for this assignment, and appropriate for an academic audience.
    2. Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited, including the use of AI-generated content.
    3. Submission must include your name, the date, and the title of your paper.
    4. Use a conventional 12-point font like Times New Roman.
    5. Include all of the assignment components in a single .doc or .docx file.

    C. Rubric

    Advanced (100%) Proficient (85%) Acceptable (75%) Needs Improvement (50%) Non-Performance (0%)

    Coherence

    Student answers all questions clearly, completely, and with internal consistency. (40%)

    Touchstone is complete, answering all questions and meeting the length requirement, is internally consistent, and is clearly presented. Touchstone is mostly complete but may not quite meet the length requirement and/or may be missing complete answers on one question. Touchstone is not complete and does not meet the length requirement and/or may be missing complete answers on two to three questions. Touchstone is missing significant information and/or does not meet the length requirement and/or may be missing complete answers on more than three questions. So little work is evident in the Touchstone, no credit can be given.

    Concepts

    Student demonstrates thorough understanding of product design and development concepts covered in the tutorials. (40%)

    Touchstone applies at least three concepts from the tutorials in Unit 1, and answers are realistic and consistent with the tutorial information. Touchstone applies at least three concepts from the tutorials in Unit 1, but answers may be slightly unrealistic or not consistent with the tutorial information. Touchstone applies at least two concepts from the tutorials, and/or some answers are unrealistic or not consistent with the tutorial information. Touchstone only applies one or more concepts from the tutorials, and answers are unrealistic or not consistent with the tutorial information. So little work is evident in the Touchstone, no credit can be given.

    Conventions

    Student meets conventions for grammar, punctuation, and spelling. (20%)

    Includes virtually no minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes fewer than five minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes five minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes more than five minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes consistent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and usage.

    Touchstone 2: Make Inventory Recommendations

    OVERVIEW: In this Touchstone, you will demonstrate your ability to make decisions about inventory based on supply chain factors and demand predictions.

    BACKGROUND: Old Towne Root Beer (OTRB) is a private family-owned business in Maine that produces only root beer and one of the few companies making the beverage with the traditional sassafras root. Although the process involves fermentation, the drink is nonalcoholic.

    OTRB sells most of their product as 42-gallon barrels throughout New England to various vendors like restaurants and poolside concessions. Wholesale, these cost $450 each. OTRB sells 300800 barrels per month, lagging in winter and peaking in the summer. They sell 6,800 barrels a year in this manner.

    To avoid ever delaying an order, they produce slightly more than expected orders and end up with a surplus of inventory at the end of every summer, when their busy season is winding down and they have to make room for new supplies. To remedy this, they sell $3 growlers (half-gallon bottles) on-site in a 2-week annual sale; these sales are extremely popular and serve their purpose in dumping inventory, but OTRB loses money. The sale earns about $50,000 against $70,000 to produce that amount of root beer and another $30,000 in additional labor to run the event.

    There is no template for this assignment. Please include all of the assignment components in a single .doc or .docx file. Remember to include your name, date, and the name of the class in the document.


    A. Assignment

    STEP 1: Analyze the problem.

    You are hired specifically to advise OTRB on inventory issues. At present, there are four primary ingredients in the root beer and the finished product. Each item has unique inventory considerations.

    Item Inventory Issues
    Water OTRB uses filtered tap water and does not need to keep inventory.
    Extract OTRB is one of few companies in North America that still makes root beer with sassafras root, the historic recipe for root beer. The root beer company outsources to another local company, Oronoco Growers, for the sassafras extract. The root is native to Southwest Maine, and the root can be stored for up to 1 year if refrigerated. Oronoco Growers delivers 5,000 gallons of extract per year, and OTRB is their only customer for that product. At $60 a gallon, this is OTRBs biggest annual cost other than labor.

    • It costs $2,400 in labor to order the stock, make room for it, unpack the truck, store it safely, and do quality checks throughout the year.
    • OTRBs refrigeration unit costs an average of $100 a month for energy costs, and another $200 a month must be set aside for repairs and eventual replacement of the unit, adding up to $3,600 a year.
    • OTRB insures the extract as a special rider on their business insurance because of the catastrophic losses to the company if the refrigerator were to break down. This costs $14,000 a year.
    • OTRB uses about 90% of the sassafras extract; they always over-order just in case. They freeze the surplus but have not used it. They are concerned a plant blight or other problem could make the extract cost skyrocket or even make it unavailable, in which case they would use the frozen extract, but also know that root beer will have a noticeable drop in quality if they use frozen extract. For now, 10% of the value, or $30,000, can be described as shrinkage.
    • OTRB has considered making other products, like cream soda or ginger ale, but their commitment to using fresh, natural ingredients and the space needed for the extract prevents them from taking this move. However, with their restaurant partnerships and brand recognition, even a conservative estimate would put the opportunity cost for not branching out at $50,000 a year.

    hint

    You should calculate the holding costs using this information. Total the costs like labor, refrigeration, and storage; divide this by the total value of the extract.

    Molasses The root beer is sweetened with molasses. They use 2,6002,700 gallons per year at $10/gallon. It is sold in crates of 24 gallons and can be delivered any time. Molasses is kept at room temperature and has a shelf life of 18 months, but OTRB staff notice crystallization after 3 months. This is still usable but takes extra time to prepare. Although they do use FIFO, they have no real system for ordering; they simply stock up and restock when supplies run low. Holding costs can be calculated at 10%.
    Yeast A small amount of yeast is added to the molasses to cause fermentation; this is enough to cause natural carbonation but not enough to make the beverage alcoholic. Although yeast requires special treatment, it takes up very little space. Better yet, since OTRB can grow yeast from other cultures it already has, it does not require ordering and only requires the small labor costs to grow it in-house.
    Finished Product As detailed above, another inventory issue is the finished root beer, which is overstocked and sold at a loss each year. Although holding costs are typically a modest 15% of the value of stock at any time, this loss of product makes overall holding costs 20%.

    STEP 2: Make recommendations.

    Your assignment is to write a short paper and make recommendations on the inventory issues for Old Towne Root Beer described above. The structure of the paper will be:

    1. Introduction
    2. Extract
    3. Molasses
    4. Finished Goods
    5. Conclusion

    Your task as consultant is to propose and defend an inventory management system for the root beer company by answering the following questions:

    Each description will:

    • Summarize the problem you are trying to solve.
    • Describe one or more inventory processes OTRB should be using for that item. Each item may use a different method.
    • Explain why this inventory method is the best to mitigate the challenges OTRB faces, both within the business itself and the effects of their decisions up and down the supply chain.
    • Recommend order amounts that are appropriate to that inventory method.
    • Explain how you reached the methods and figures for ordering.

    hint

    You may need to use formulas like Holding Costs, Economic Order Quantity, or Total Cost Formula; these are explained (and a tool provided to help calculate them) in the tutorial for inventory management techniques; the link is below.

    For help with these questions, see these tutorials:

    STEP 3: Submit your Touchstone.

    Once you have reviewed your work to make sure it is clear, complete, and correct, it is time to submit your document. Please include all of the assignment components in a single .doc or .docx file. Remember to include your name, date, and the name of the class in the document.


    B. Requirements

    1. All content must be original, created for this assignment, and appropriate for an academic audience.
    2. Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited, including the use of AI-generated content.
    3. Submission must include your name, the date, and the title of your paper.
    4. The choice of formatting decisions like font size are up to you, but make sure it is easy to read and consistently formatted.
    5. Include all of the assignment components in a single .doc or .docx file.

    C. Rubric

    Advanced (100%) Proficient (85%) Acceptable (75%) Needs Improvement (50%) Non-Performance (0%)

    Coherence

    Student answers all questions clearly, completely, and with internal consistency. (40%)

    Touchstone is complete, addressing recommendations on inventory processes, best options, and order amounts. It is internally consistent and clearly presented. Touchstone is mostly complete but may be missing complete answers on inventory processes, best options, and order amounts. Touchstone is incomplete and/or may be missing significant details on inventory processes, best options, and order amounts. Touchstone is missing significant information and/or does not meet the length requirement and/or may be missing any details on inventory processes, best options, and order amounts. So little work is evident in the Touchstone, no credit can be given.

    Concepts

    Student demonstrates thorough understanding of inventory management and supply chain factors as covered in the tutorials. (40%)

    Touchstone applies at least three concepts from the tutorials, and answers are realistic and consistent with the tutorial information. The answers display an excellent understanding of inventory and supply chain management. Touchstone applies at least two concepts from the tutorials, but answers may be slightly unrealistic or not consistent with the tutorial information. The answers display a good understanding of inventory and supply chain management. Touchstone applies only one concept from the tutorials, and/or answers are not completely consistent with the tutorial information. The answers display an acceptable level of understanding of inventory and supply chain management. Touchstone only partly applies one concept from the tutorials, and answers are unrealistic or not consistent with the tutorial information. The answers display only a minor understanding of inventory and supply chain management concepts. So little work is evident in the Touchstone, no credit can be given.

    Conventions

    Student meets conventions for grammar, punctuation, and spelling. (20%)

    Includes virtually no minor errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling. Includes fewer than five minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes five minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes more than five minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Includes consistent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and usage.

  • English Question

    Purpose

    For this assignment I ask that you engage deeply with a nonfiction text and analyze how the writer develops meaning. Rather than simply summarizing the text, you will craft an argument about the writer’s choices.

    You will choose one (1) of these texts to use for your paper.

    Option 1: “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again” by David Foster Wallace

    OR

    Option 2: “Consider the Lobster” by David Foster Wallace

    Requirements:

    Length: 750 words (approximately 3+ pages, double-spaced, 12-pt Times New Roman).

    Thesis: Your essay must include a clear, arguable thesis about how the author achieves their purpose or develops meaning.

    Evidence: Use at least 35 specific quotations or examples from the text to support your analysis. Introduce and explain each quotation.

    Organization: Include an introduction with a thesis, body paragraphs with clear topic sentences and analysis, and a conclusion that reflects on the significance of your argument.