Assignment InstructionsRespond to the following questionAs pa.docx

Assignment Instructions
Respond to the following question:
As part of the financial planning process, a common practice in
the corporate finance world is restructuring through the process
of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). It seems that on a regular
basis, investment bankers arrange M&A transactions, forming
one company from separate companies. What are the advantages
and the disadvantages of a merger? In your response, provide an
example of either - a merger that was successful, or one that
was unsuccessful.
· Write a paper of 600-750 content words (title page, abstract
and reference page not included), double-spaced format (Times
New Roman 12-point font), 1 inch page margins Top, Bottom,
Left Side and Right Side, with reasonable accommodation being
made for special situations and online submission variances.
· Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines,
including a title page, an introduction, and a conclusion. An
abstract is not required. Cite in text and include a References
section. A template is included in the assignment.
· In your report, make certain that you include at
least three credible outside references from search engines or
scholarly sources from the APUS Online Library.
· Note that your attached paper will automatically be submitted
to Turnitin, and an Originality Report should be sent back to the
classroom within around 15 minutes. The Originality report
does not actually recommend changes. It does point out where
you may need to add a citation or quotation marks (if not
already cited). Once you use it a few times, you will appreciate
this tool, as it will assist you in improving quality and content,
as well as avoid plagiarism. Your goal is to keep direct
quotations to a minimum and to make sure that you do not just
cut and paste material. Ensure that all your references are

cited. A report with a similarity index less than 20% is
acceptable for graduate level work.
Your paper will be evaluated according to the Writing
Assignment Grading Rubric shown below. To maximize your
grade, be sure to use the proper organization (intro, body,
conclusion) and follow APA style. Your paper should have a
title page and reference page, but you do not need an abstract
for this assignment. See the PowerPoint presentation attached
for APA assistance.
Guidelines
Writing Assignment Requirements
Content (60%)
· Response demonstrate a clear understanding of the key
elements of assignment questions.
· Responses thoroughly cover the elements in a substantive
manner.
· Response demonstrates critical thinking and analysis.
· Content is complete and accurate.
· Introduction and conclusion provides adequate information on
the given topic.
Organization (20%)
· Paper structure is clear and easy to follow.
· Ideas flow in a logical sequence.
· Introduction provides a sound introduction to the topic and
previews major points.
· Paragraph transitions are logical and support the flow of
thought throughout the paper.
· The conclusion thoroughly reviews the major points.
Writing Style,
Grammar, APA Format (20%)
· Sentences are well constructed, complete, clear, and concise.
· Words used are specific and unambiguous.

· The tone is appropriate to the content and assignment.
· Grammar, spelling and punctuation are correct.
· APA guidelines (6th edition) are followed, such as title
page, headers, citations, references, etc.
· Effective use of aids, such as sections, summaries, table of
contents, indices, and appendices (if appropriate)
This module is designed to show the basic elements of APA
style writing and provide examples of appropriate APA
guidelines
Sixth Edition of the APA Manual
APA Style and Formatting
American Public University System
American
Military
UniversityAmerican
Public
University
Updated 08/10
APA Style and Formatting

This module is designed to show the basic elements of
APA style writing and provide examples of appropriate APA
guidelines; however, it is not intended as an exhaustive
reference guide.
(Sixth Edition - 2010)
Why Use APA?
APA writing style is used to assist in the formatting and
organization of written work for the presentation of ideas
APA rules permit uniformity of many styles to one
consistent style
APA (Sixth Edition) has broadened its audience since it is
consulted not only by psychologists but also by students &
researchers in many fields such as business, education, social
work, nursing and many other behavioral and social sciences

Basic APA paper consist of:
The title page
Abstract (optional – ask instructor)
Text of the paper
Reference page
The Title Page
APA requires five basic elements to your title page:
Running head: TITLE OF PAPER 1
Title of Paper
Author's Name
American Public University
2. Title should typed in upper and lower letters, centered and

positioned in the upper half of page
Running head is aligned on the left margin on the same line as
page number (page number is flush right margin). Should read
“Running head: <space> Notice the Running head is flush left
and the page number is flush right on the same line. They are
permanent. (NOTE: “Running head:” should appear before the
short title in the header on the title page only. Thereafter, the
short title should appear in the header on its own appearing on
each page of the paper with only page numbers changing). The
title should be no more than 12 words in length and should not
contain abbreviations. All letters of the title are capitalized.
Headers must be PERMANENT. The Title page is always page
1. “Running head:” should appear before the short title in the
header on the title page only. Thereafter, the short title should
appear in the header on its own.
The Cover Page (or Title Page) is always page 1.
3. Author’s Name
4. Institution affiliation
#5: Sixth Edition requires an author’s note which is not needed
for essay papers.
Elements of the header
Elements of the running head:
Aligned on left margin on same line as page number
(page number is flush right).
The word “Running” is capitalized, but the word “head “ is not.

Place a colon (:) following the word head
“Running head:” should appear before the short title in the
header on the title page only
Thereafter, the short title should appear in the header on its own
appearing on each page of the paper with only page numbers
changing)
The running head title (not to exceed 12 words in length and
should not contain abbreviations ) is written in all capital
letters.
Headers must be PERMANENT.
See 8.03 APA Manual (Sixth Edition)
6
Title
The title is typed in uppercase and lowercase letters and must be
centered in the upper half of your cover page.
Capitalize the significant words of the title. Do not capitalize
words such as: the, in, of, or, and, unless the word is the first
word in the title.
If the title contains two lines of text, double spacing between
the lines is required.

See 2.01 APA Manual (Sixth Edition)
7
Byline, Affiliation,
Course Instructor, and Date
Byline refers to the name of the person who is submitting the
paper.
Type the byline in upper and lower case letters directly below
the title and centered on the page. Following the student name,
the student number should be listed in parenthesis. Example:
Wesley G. Smith (001435)
Affiliation refers to the institution for which the paper was
created. The affiliation is the name of the university. Type the
affiliation in upper and lower case letters directly below the
byline and centered on the page. Example: American Military
University
Type the instructor’s name in upper and lower case letters
below the affiliation information. Example: Professor Marie
Bolyard
Type the date directly below the instructor name. Example:
03/10/09

Abstract
Some papers require an Abstract
TITLE OF PAPER 2
Abstract
This is a summary, not an introduction of the paper. This is one
of the few times an indent is not required. The length of the
abstract is one paragraph (double spaced) and should consist of
150-250 words.
Running head is permanent, therefore, will appear at the top of
the page.
The Abstract page is always number 2
The abstract (in block format) begins on the line following the
Abstract heading. The abstract is a one-paragraph, self-
contained summary of the most important elements of the paper.
The word “Abstract” is centered
on the page
The length of the abstract should
Be one paragraph and consist of
150-250 words
No indention is needed. This is one
of the few times an indent is not
required

Basic Writing Components
Title: Name your paper. The title can “hook” your readers.
Introduction Paragraph: Tell the readers what you are about to
tell them. The thesis statement is often the last sentence of the
first paragraph.
Thesis Statement: Essentially, a thesis statement
answers the question, "What do I want my readers
to know after they have read my essay?"
Body: Discuss topic. The number of paragraphs will depend
on the length and complexity of your paper.
Concluding Paragraph: A short summary. Do not introduce
any new information.
Writing Tips
Brainstorming: Before beginning to write, take the time to put
your ideas on paper. Mind-mapping and list-making are two
useful brainstorming techniques.
Organizing: Plan your paper or assignment. This may be as
simple as a chronological list of your points or as elaborate as a
formal outline.
Multiple Drafts: Professional writers create multiple drafts of

their writing. You should too.
Extra Time: Quality writing takes time – lots of time.
Build in a cushion of extra time.
Allow Time Between Drafts: While a break of
twenty-four hours or more is ideal, a thirty minute
break will yield positive results.
Help From Others: Being mindful of plagiarism
and academic honesty, request proofreading help.
Writing Tips
Use Formal Voice: Academic writing is more formal than
casual conversations, emails, and instant messages.
Complete Sentences: Write in complete sentences.
Complete sentences contain both subjects and verbs.
Subject-Verb Agreement: Be sure your subject and
verb agree. For example, “we are” rather than “we is,”
“they did” rather than “they done.”
Verb Tense and Active Voice: Limit shifts in verb tense,
and use active voice rather than passive voice.
Awkward Phrasing: Use standard English phrasing.
For example, “try to do” rather than “try and do,”
“we went” rather than “us went.”

Long Paragraphs Preferred: Be sure your ideas are
fully developed in each of your paragraphs. This
usually results in paragraphs of five or more sentences.
Writing Tips
Full Wording Rather Than Contractions: Convert contractions
to their complete word-partner. For example:
it’s = it is
won’t = will not
haven’t = have not
Homonyms: Homonyms are words that sound alike but are
spelled differently and have different definitions. For
example,
new and knew, your and you’re, and know and no.
Non-words: Ensure that all your words are standard
English words. For example, “alot” is not a word.
Frequently Misspelled Words: Be alert for commonly
confused words. For example, possess and posses,
a lot and allot, definitely and defiantly, and their
and there.
etc.: Avoid using etc. at the end of a list unless it
is part of the quotation.

Writing Tips
Use 3rd person point of view (unless opinion paper): Avoid
pronouns such as I, we, my, our (1st person) and you, yours,
your, us, we (2ndperson). Deal with facts, thus, providing
citations within paper and reference page. Focus on subject; not
feelings about the subject. The use of 3rd person retains a
formal tone:
Academic writing is more formal than casual conversation.
Parenthesis: Parentheses are most often used
in citations. Before using them in other applications,
consult the APA handbook for guidance.
Commas and Introductory Phrases: Usually
commas are placed between an introductory phrase
and the main sentence; however, commas are rarely
used to separate a concluding phrase.
Colon: Colons should only be used when the
introductory phrase is a complete sentence.
Semicolon: Semicolons are used to either connect
two complete sentences, or to connect a list
that contains commas.
Slashes: Use dashes rather than slashes.

Writing Tips
Punctuation when ending a Quote: If quotation is at the end of a
sentence, close quote with quotation marks, cite the source in
parentheses, and end with a period or other punctuation outside
the final parenthesis. If quote is in mid-sentence, close quote
with quotation marks, cite the source immediately after the
quotation marks, and continue the sentence. (6.03)
Question Marks and Quotation Marks:
Place question marks outside the quotation mark
unless the question mark is part of the quotation.
Single Quotation Marks: The only time you use
single quotation marks is inside of double quotation
marks.
Exclamation Points: Exclamation points should not be
used unless the exclamation point is part of a quotation.
Titles of Books and Magazines: Italicize
the title of books and magazines.
Bold: Use italicizing to emphasize
words rather than Bold Type Style.
Spell-Checker, Grammar-Checker, and You
Use your word processor’s spell-checker
and grammar-checker to catch common

mistakes. Remember, these are tools and
neither is perfect.
Spell-checkers identify the words in its dictionary
but can not identify correct contextual spelling.
Grammar-checkers may fail to identify incorrect
punctuation or usage. It may also highlight
correct usage and punctuation.
You must follow along behind them to
ensure that the spelling and grammar
are correct.
Body of the Paper
The body must conform to many guidelines:
TITLE OF PAPER 3
Title of paper centered
Body of the paper requires many set rules and guidelines. The
examples shown are not to scale, therefore, you must visit the
online library for exact placement within your paper.

Be sure to consult all APA guidelines in all aspects of your
paper.
Center the title at the top of page. The title is written in
uppercase and lowercase letters.
Helpful tips:
*Tables (if applicable) are numbered sequentially and
labeled
*Illustrations are also individually numbered and
treated like tables
Margins are set at 1 inch at top, bottom,
left and right
All text is double spaced
Clearly visible type, i.e. 12 point
Times Roman
Paragraphs are indented ½ inch

General Formatting Information
Begin writing your paper on page two unless there is an
Abstract or Table of Contents (the cover page is page one). The
page header on the top right hand side must reflect page two on
the same line with the running head.
Center the title at the top of page two directly under the 1”
margin. The title is written in uppercase and lowercase letters.
Margins are set at one inch (top, bottom, left, and right).
Double space the entire paper.
Use a typeface of 12-point Times New Roman
Indent the first line of every paragraph five spaces or ½ inch.
Type the entire paper left aligned.
There are specific guidelines when writing an APA style paper.
Center the title at the top of page two (page 3 if there is an
Abstract). The title is written in uppercase and lowercase
letters. (3.03)
Double space entire paper (8.03)
Use 1 inch margins (8.03)
Text is left aligned (8.03)
Two spaces after sentence terminator - rather than one (New
Sixth Edition Change) (4.01)
12 point font (new Sixth Edition of APA requires New Times

Roman only) and black ink (8.03)
Same font throughout with the exception of italicizing (8.03)
(1) introducing a key term you wish to emphasize(4.21) (2)
titles of books, periodicals, films, videos, TV shows and
microfilm publications (4.21) (there are more in-depth examples
if you would like to reference 4.21 in New Sixth Edition of
APA Manual)
First sentence of a paragraph must be indented (8.03) (with the
exception of the Abstract) (2.04)
18
Writing the Paper
APA writing should be straightforward with an active voice –
i.e., “Jones developed the project..” as opposed to the passive
voice – i.e. “The project was developed by Jones…”
Use past tense when describing earlier research
Spell out on first use of an acronym (example: American
Military University (AMU) – first use. Next time referenced in
paper use AMU.
Quotes of 40 words or more
Block quotations of 40 words or more: Indent (as if a new
paragraph) and continue to make each line of the quote begin in
the same place, creating a straight line on the left side of the
quotation, while the right side is jagged. If more than one
paragraph for the blocked quote, indent the first line of each
paragraph an additional half inch. Double space entire quote.

Do NOT use quotation marks for the entire quotation. For
quotations within that quotation, use normal quotation marks,
not single ones.
Remember, you must still give credit for the source. Place
periods or commas within quotation marks when they are part of
the quoted material. At end of quote, place period then page
number. Example: …… placebo effect. (p. 276)
Citations – Giving credit where credit is due
It is very important to give proper credit when words or
thoughts are not ours originally.
Citing the source means mentioning the author/s within the text
so the reader can look up the source at the back of the paper.
APA has very specific ways this must be done. The model must
be followed exactly. With a little practice, citing sources gets
easier!
Approximately 14 million women in the United States are
battling with the disease Anorexia Nervosa, AN, which is
described as “one of the least understood and most intractable
of all mental illnesses” (Schindehette, Sandler, Nelson &
Seaman, 2003, p. 136). – this is an example of a direct quote.
Many of the victims of this disease will battle it for the
rest of their lives. However, if AN is diagnosed early, during
the teen years, it is possible to cure it with appropriate
treatment (Cooper, 2001). – this is an example of a paraphrase

21
Parenthetical Citations
APA relies on in-text citations within the narrative.
Quotations call for the addition of pagination at the end of the
quote (p. #) and can take two forms:
Author mentioned: According to Shakespeare (1598),"The
quality of mercy is not strained" (pp. 63-64).
- Author not mentioned: As indicated, "If they prick me, do I
not bleed" (Shakespeare, 1598, p. 82).
Paraphrasing does not require the addition of pagination
indicators, but these are encouraged.
Guidelines for Citing References
Keep the format simple
No retrieval dates needed unless the source material may change
over time.
For electronic references, give the DOI, if assigned. Database
names are not needed.
If no DOI assigned, provide the URL of the journal or book

publisher.
Discontinued journals, monographs, dissertations, or papers not
formally published (archival documents), give the URL for the
online archive.
The Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
The digital object identifier (DOI) is an alphanumeric string
identifying content providing a link to location on the Internet.
Give DOI for journal articles, books, or book chapters accessed
online. No period at the end of the string. Do not use the phrase
retrieved from. Do not give a retrieval date. The DOI is
typically located on the first page of the electronic journal
article, near the copyright notice.
Lee, C. (2009, September 21). Re: A DOI Primer [Web log
message].
To Search for a DOI
To search for DOIs, use CrossRef. The free DOI
lookup (http://www.crossref.org/guestquery/ ) searches for
DOIs using information such as article title, authors, and
publisher information.
Or cut and paste your entire reference list into the Simple Text
Query form (http://www.crossref.org/SimpleTextQuery/) and

CrossRef will return all available DOIs at once.
Lee, C. (2009, September 21). Re: A DOI Primer [Web log
message].
Reference Page
The word “References” should appear at the top center of the
page. Entries are double spaced with the top line justified to
the left. Additional lines of each reference are indented
(hanging indent).
Example:
References
Stielow, F. J. (2003). Building digital
archives. New York: Neal- Schuman.
References are alphabetized
References are in alphabetical order by author(s) last name on
the reference page; list last name, then first and middle initial

only. If no author is provided, use the first character of the title.
Only list the last name of an author or authors followed by
initials for the first and middle names. Do not write out first
and middle names. For example: Marcia L. Conner would be
listed as Conner, M. L.
Do not list the author as anonymous or unknown unless that is
the way the author is listed on the source. Use a title as stated
above.
Insert the publication date in parentheses following the author.
Insert the publication date in parentheses following the author.
The date (in parentheses is always the second part of a
reference).
List the date as follows:
(year). For example: (2009).
(year, month). For example: (2007, January). Note: Do not use
month abbreviations.
(year, month day). For example: (1998, June 16).
(n.d.). Use n.d. for works which do not contain a publication
date.

What to italicize
Italicize the name of books, journals, and magazines, but do not
italicize the name of an article.
For example:
Book: Learn more now: 10 simple ways to learning better,
smarter & faster.
Journal: Journal of Social Psychology
Magazine: Newsweek
Example of a Book Reference
Last name, Initials. (yyyy published).
Book title. Place of Publication:
Publisher.
archives. New York: Neal-
Schuman.

Example Book Reference from Website
Book title. Retrieved from http://www.xxx
archives. Retrieved from http://www.xxx
Note: Database names are no longer needed such as ProQuest
or EBSCO.
Example Book Reference w/DOI
Book title. doi:xxxxx
archives. doi:xxxxx
Note: For electronic references, give the DOI, if assigned.
Database names are no longer needed such as ProQuest or
EBSCO.

Example of a Reference for a Journal Article
Last name, Initials. (yyyy of journal
volume). Article title. Journal, volume
number, (issue number), pages
Roy, A.J. (1982). Suicide in chronic
schizophrenia. British Journal of
Psychiatry, 96(1), 171-177
It should be noted using the words Volume or Vol., Issue or
Iss., or Pages, p. or pp. are not acceptable in the citation. Also,
the journal title and volume number are italicized.
Example Reference Journal Article w/DOI
number, (issue number), pages. doi: xx.xxxxx
Psychiatry, 96(1), 171-177. doi: xx.xxxx

Note: For electronic references, give the DOI, if assigned.
Database names are no longer needed such as ProQuest or
EBSCO.
Iss., or Pages, p. or pp. are not acceptable in the citation. Also,
the journal title and volume number are italicized.
Example Reference Journal Article w/out DOI
number, (issue number), pages. Retrieved
from http://xxxxxxx
Psychiatry, 96(1), 171-177. Retrieved from
http://xxxxxxx
Note: If no DOI assigned, provide the URL of the journal or
book publisher. Database names are no longer needed such as
ProQuest or EBSCO.

Iss., or Pages, p. or pp. are not acceptable in the citation.
Additional Examples
The new Sixth Edition of the APA Manual has many
examples of the various types of references including:
periodicals, books, technical & research reports, meetings &
symposia, doctoral dissertations & master’s theses, reviews &
peer commentary, audiovisual media, data sets, software,
internet message boards, electronic mailing lists and other
sources.
Running head: ASSIGNMENT TITLE HERE
1
PAGE

5
ASSIGNMENT TITLE HERE
Typing Template for APA Papers
Student Name
University
Course
Date
Abstract (not required for this paper)
An abstract is a brief, comprehensive summary of the contents
of a paper (American Psychological Association, 2001) that
runs a maximum of 120 words. It should contain a synopsis of
the points in the paper, but also be readable and well organized.
To use this page of the template, simply delete this paragraph
and start typing. The formatting should stay the same.
Typing Template for APA Papers
This is an electronic template for papers written in APA style
(American Psychological Association, 2009). The purpose of
the template is to help the student set the margins and spacing.
Margins are set at 1 inch for top, bottom, left, and right. The
type is left-justified only—that means the left margin is
straight, but the right margin is ragged. Each paragraph is
indented five spaces. It is best to use the tab key to indent,
since five spaces on the computer is different from five spaces
on a typewriter. The line spacing is double throughout the
paper, even on the reference page. Two spaces are used after
punctuation. The font style used in this template is Times New
Roman and the font size is 12, which is now required in APA
6th edition.

First Heading (Introduction or Title of Paper)
The heading above would be used if you want to have your
paper divided into sections based on content. This is the first
level of heading, and it is centered and bolded with each word
of four letters or more capitalized. The heading should be a
short descriptor of the section. Note that not all papers will
have headings or subheadings in them.
First Subheading
The subheading above would be used if there are several
sections within the topic labeled in a heading. The subheading
is flush left and bolded, with each word of four letters or more
capitalized.
Second Subheading
APA dictates that you should avoid having only one subsection
heading and subsection within a section. In other words, use at
least two subheadings under a main heading, or do not use any
at all.
Conclusion
Wrap up major points in a few sentences.
When you are ready to write, and after having read these
instructions completely, you can delete these directions and
start typing. The formatting should stay the same. However,
one item that you will have to change is the page header, which
is placed at the top of each page along with the page number.
The words included in the page header should be reflective of
the title of your paper, so that if the pages are intermixed with
other papers they will be identifiable. When using Word 2003
at a minimum, double click on the words in the page header.

This should enable you to edit the words. You should not have
to edit the page numbers.
In addition to spacing, APA style includes a special way of
citing resource articles. See the APA manual for specifics
regarding in-text citations. The APA manual also discusses the
desired tone of writing, grammar, punctuation, formatting for
numbers, and a variety of other important topics. Although the
APA style rules are used in this template, the purpose of the
template is only to demonstrate spacing and the general parts of
the paper. The student will need to refer to the APA manual for
other format directions. A sample reference page is included
below; however, this page includes special spacing and
formatting. The examples on the following page include
examples taken directly from the APA manual.
References (samples)
Daresh, J. C. (2004). Beginning the assistant principalship: A
practical guide for
new school administrators. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Herbst-Damm, K. L., & Kulik, J. A. (2005). Volunteer support,
marital status, and the survival times of terminally ill patients.
Health Psychology, 24, 225-229. doi:10.1037/0278-
6133.24.2.225
Investopedia. (2016). Fair market value. Investopedia
Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National
Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
(2003). Managing asthma: A guide for schools (NIH Publication
No. 02-2650). Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
health/prof/asthma/asth_sch.pdf
In-text Citations (Samples)
PLEASE NOTE: I placed sample citations in a chart so you
could see the difference. Do not place cites in a chart format in

your paper.
Within a sentence
At end of sentence
Daresh (2004)
(Daresh, 2004).
Herbst-Damm and Kulik (2005)
(Herbst-Damm & Kulik, 2005).
First citation: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute [USDHHS] (2003)
Subsequent cites: USDHHS (2003)
First citation: (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute [USDHHS], 2003).
Subsequent cites: (USDHHS, 2003).
First citation: Tempel, Seiler, and Burlingame (2016).
Subsequent cites: Tempel et al. (2016).
First citation: (Tempel, Seiler, & Burlingame, 2016).
Subsequent cites: (Tempel et al., 2016).
Investopedia (2016).
(Investopedia, 2016).

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