FINAL COURSE PAPER
The Goal
The goal of the assignment is to create a 10-12-page argumentative (or position) essay (not including the cover page and the reference pages) utilizing at least four selected peer-reviewed journal articles.
The Writing Prompt
You will examine the use of public/private partnerships (PPPs) in aiding an organization with a problem (see for information on PPPs and for examples of PPPs). Further, you will argue either for or against using a PPP to address a problem.
Find a problem open to a PPP opportunity. Search the Web and find a problem that may benefit from PPP financing—the problem should be able to use a mix of private (debt, notes, and cash) and (bonds). If you need inspiration for finding a problem, then remember that offers examples of PPPs.
Think about the PPP opportunity. Using what you learned in this course, create a description of the proposed investment opportunity, the goals and mission of the opportunity, the financial impact of the opportunity, the financial considerations for all the stakeholders, and a discussion of the private and public funding mechanisms. Further, identify the opportunity’s assumptions, risk factors, and microeconomic and macroeconomic factors. Remember to include estimates of the cost of capital and total funding required. If possible, estimate the WACC for public and private financings.
Take a position. Establish whether you wish to argue for or against the PPP opportunity.
Remember, you are producing an argumentative (or position) essay requiring you to take a stance after discussing the problem with an audience! You may wish to refer to and for advice on writing an argumentative essay.
Assignment Instructions
The assignment is to create a 10-12-page argument utilizing at least 8 selected peer-reviewed journal articles (not including the cover page and the reference page which are required on every you write). You should strive to produce an argumentative essay addressing the writing prompt.
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Your paper should follow the guidelines below:
I. Introduction – Give background or perhaps an illustrative example to show the significance of the subject or the nature of the controversy. Consider stating the conclusion of your argument here as the thesis of your essay.
II. Refutation – Give a brief statement of a refutation of the opposing view(s) to make your reader aware that you have considered but rejected it (them) for good reasons. This refutation may be more appropriately placed last, just before your conclusion, or even interspersed at effective locations throughout the essay. You must choose the best location.
III. Presentation of your argument – Throughout the body of your essay you should build your case one point at a time, perhaps devoting one paragraph to the defense of each of your premises, or setting forth your evidence in separate, meaningful categories.
IV. Conclusion – After all your evidence has been presented and/or your premises defended, pull your whole argument together in the last paragraph by showing how the evidence you have presented provides sufficient grounds for accepting your conclusion. You may also add here some conventional device to finish your essay, such as a prediction, a new example, a reference to the example with which you began (now seen in a new light) etc.
You have two applications to select from:
- financing infrastructure (such as roads, bridges, railroads, etc.), or
- financing a global climate change project (possibly using bonds).
You are expected to apply what you have learned in the by defining the problem you have selected and follow with an inclusion of (a) the proposed investment opportunity, (b)the goals and mission of the project, (c)the financial impact of the project, (d)the financial considerations for all the stakeholders, and (e)a discussion of the funding mechanisms. You need to identify the public and private partnerships that you propose to solve the problem. You will need to include your assumptions of the risk factors and micro and macroeconomic factors that could affect the project being funded.
Remember: If you are arguing against using a public/private partnership, you will need to suggest an alternative method of finance to solve the problem or achieve the goal. If you are arguing for using a public/private partnership, you will need to address the reasons it is better than alternative methods of financing to solve the problem or achieve the goal.
Be sure to write on a that you are trying to solve and not one that was provided as an example.
