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Writing an essay can be a daunting task, especially when it involves the analysis of complex concepts such as investments and financial planning. This pathfinder is intended for Ms. Mulcahy’s math students completing the InvestWrite Essay. This resource will walk you through the structure of the essay, provide tips on how to analyze your investments, and explain how to use sources and cite them in MLA format.

Understanding the Essay Structure

The structure of the essay is divided into three main sections: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.

Introduction (100-150 Words)

The introduction is where you explain the Stock Market Game and its purpose. You should also introduce the idea of building a diversified portfolio and mention the personal, family, or community goal for 2033. Your thesis statement should summarize your experience with the Stock Market Game, hinting at the investment that performed well or not.

Body (400-800 Words)

In the body of the essay, you will be expected to analyze your investments, discuss your goals, and explain how you would manage your portfolio. You should name and describe the investment(s) that performed well, analyze the reasons for their success, and identify the investment(s) that did not perform well. Discuss the factors that led to their underperformance, and summarize the key takeaways from these experiences. Your strategy for diversification should be detailed, as should your goal for 2033. Explain the rationale behind your initial allocation of $10,000 and how you would monitor and adjust your portfolio.

Conclusion (50-100 Words)

The conclusion should briefly summarize the analysis of the Stock Market Game investments and the diversified portfolio strategy. Reflect on the importance of financial planning and investment for achieving long-term goals.

Using Sources

You will need to do some research to figure out how much your 10-year goal will cost in today's dollars and in a decade's worth of dollars (inflation). You will also need to reason through which stocks, bonds, and/or mutual funds to invest in to meet your goal. The performance history of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds will be necessary to justify your choices. Some examples of useful and reputable sources are:

• Google Finance

• Yahoo Finance

• NASDAQ

• NYSE

Citing Sources in MLA

MLA in-text citations are brief references in the body of your document which direct your reader to the full reference in the Works Cited list. You must include an in-text citation whenever you quote or paraphrase a source.

Here are some examples:

66% of voters disagree with the policy (Smith 13).

According to Smith, 66% of voters disagree with the policy (13).

For online sources without authors or pages, the citation would focus on the title of the web page or the name of the website. For example:

The stock market has seen significant fluctuations in recent months. For example, according to Google Finance, Apple's stock price experienced a notable drop in value last week.

Formatting Your Works Cited Page in MLA

For your Works Cited page, you would format the entry for a website without an author like this:

"Title of the Web Page." Name of the Website, Publisher (if different from the name of the website), URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

For example:

“Google Finance - Stock Market Prices, Real-time Quotes & Business News.” Google, www.google.com/finance/?hl=en. Accessed 28 November 2023.

Remember, the Works Cited page must be on a separate page at the end of the essay. Use a page break after your conclusion to create this separation.

Essay Checklist Document

Help from the School Librarian

Writing an essay is an art that requires practice. But with the right structure, a clear understanding of your topic, and proper citation, you can write an impactful piece. Don't forget that Ms. Wright is available for further assistance if needed!