Chart upload instructions

How to upload chart:

1. Copy chart from Excel:
2. Click select chart you want to copy
3. Use 'Edit/Copy' pull down command in excel
4. Paste it into MS Paint
5. File save as BMP file
6. Upload to your blog.

If anyone knows an easier way, let me know by posting in teh comments section below.

Westchester Real Estate

I read this article in the Journal News yesterday: Westchester, Putnam sales still slipping. I created this chart using data from an on-line database (link below). Your assignment is to create your own chart from the data, upload it to your blog and make an observation about it.

1. Follow this link to reach the on-line database of real estate statistics over the past ten years.
2. Copy the table into an excel spreadsheet.
3. Make a chart from the data.
4. Upload it to your Blog and make an observation about the data and analyze it.

Observation & analysis example using the chart above:

I didn't realize there is a seasonal pattern to the median housing prices in Westchester. It seems the highest median price occurs in the 3rd quarter of each year. The market demonstrated significant growth over the 1st seven years, but it levelled off over the last three. This is the first time there was a drop in the 3rd quarter prices from the previous year. With the finanacial mess that has happened in September, I wouldn't be surprised if 4th quarter figures for 2008 repeat the negative growth of the 3rd quarter.

Candidate comparison

Look at the websites of the two Presidential candidates: Obama and McCain.

ON YOUR BLOG: Compare their approaches to one of the following:

1. Health care reform
2. Taxes
3. Solution to the financial crisis
4. The war in Iraq
5. Immigration
6. Energy & Environment

Who are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?

The US Federal Government decided to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. Do some research on these two entities and post on your blog answers to the following questions:

1. Why and when were they formed?


2. What action did the US government take this past weekend?


3. What is the goverment trying to prevent by backing these two organizations?

Remember: post your answer on your Blog.

Rubrics for final project

Follow the links to the rubrics for your final project:
Business plan document
Investor pitch (presentation to your classmates)

Just for fun: history quiz

Take the civics quiz that is stumping college students accross the country.

2nd semester project: Business Plan

Create a business plan for a new venture! The SBA has a good site for planning small businesses. I've also located a template on the share drive S:\Josephson\Econ\Business Plan for a Startup Business.

This project has the following deliverables:

1. A business plan document including financial projections (see details below) - 50%.
2. A powerpoint "investor presentation" - 30%.
3. Presentation of your pitch to investors - 20%.

You may work alone or with up to two partners. Your business plan must include the following:

1. Executive overview (quick summary - write this last!)
2. Company description (how is your company organized?)
3. Product or service description (what is your product or service?)
4. Marketing plan (how will people know about your product/service?)
5. Operational plan (how will your company run?)
6. Financial projections (how much $ will your company make & when?) useful templates may be found here: http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html
7. Star-up expenses and capitalization (how much $ do you need to start? will you need more before you break even?)

Due dates:

April 17 - Choice of business to launch

May 15 - Business Plan

May 25 - Investor PowerPoint

Class presentations to begin after May 25th