• Typed, double spaced• Make sure your name, banner ID#, and date are at the top of the essay• Title of essay center spaced • No less than two pages, no more than three• Thesis statement should be the last sentence in the introductory paragraph (first paragraph) and your thesis statement should be paraphrased or repeated in the concluding paragraph (last paragraph).• Make sure you have, at minimum, three paragraphs or else your grade will suffer significantly (see rubric).Essay Topic: Drugs, Thugs, and Other Things We’re Taught to FearYou have viewed Gabriel Sayegh’s Tedx Talks, Drugs, Thugs, and Other Things We’re Taught to Fear. Although some things have changed in the past 6 years since this video was created, such as, more states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana and the heroin epidemic, much of the video is still relevant today. There are several key points I want you to respond to and expound on in your essay. Gabriel talks about his own path to drug use and progression, things that were common to his community, and the risks of treatment. In your essay, discuss the drugs issues that plague your own community; what drugs pose the greatest problems for the citizens and why you believe that. Do you believe that most addiction can be traced back to trauma and abuse, as Gabriel indicates? Is there truth to this view, why or why not? Gabriel gives a brief history on the “War on Drugs” and discusses mass incarceration and the racial disparities that plague this country. He lays out several approaches that address mass incarceration and the disproportionate rates of arrest and incarceration of people of color for drug use. Which of these approaches do you believe are realistic and could make positive change? What policies, treatment or approaches do you believe can be put in place or changed in order to address drug use in this country?For this assignment you can do research if neededLinks for this assignment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHrCfrXdVcchttps://www.history.com/topics/crime/the-war-on-drugs

Part 2Write a five- to seven-page comparative financial statement analysis of the three companies listed below, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. In this analysis, you will discuss the financial health of these companies with the ultimate goal of making a recommendation to other investors. Your paper should consist of the following sections: Company Overview, Comparison of Accounting Methods, Ratio Analysis, Final Recommendation, Conclusions. You will also submit an appendix as a separate document. Additional research may be necessary to provide company background information, or to support your analysis and recommendations. Your paper needs to include a minimum of two scholarly, peer-reviewed, and/or credible resources in addition to the textbook as references.Download the Form 10-K for each company.The Coca-Cola Company: Form 10-K. Financial statements and notes start on page 60.Accounts receivable, page 66 Inventories, page 66Depreciation, page 66Goodwill, page 66Dr. Pepper Annual Report. Financial statements and notes start on page 53.Click on Download Annual ReportOpen with AdobeAccounts receivable, page 59Inventories, page 70Depreciation, page 60Goodwill, page 61PepsiCo Annual Report. Financial statements and notes start on page 79.Accounts receivable, page 87, Note 2Inventories, page 124, Note 13Depreciation, page 96, Note 4Goodwill, page 96, Note 4Here is a breakdown of the sections within the body of the assignment (Use paragraph headings to indicate each section): Company Overview Provide a brief overview of the three companies (at least two pages). What industry is it in? What are its main products or services? Who are its competitors? Where is the company located?Ratio AnalysisCalculate the current ratio, quick ratio, gross profit percentage, inventory turnover, accounts receivable turnover and asset turnover ratios for all three companies for the current year.Note: Cash includes cash and cash equivalents and short term investments.Explain how the ratio is calculated and discuss and interpret the ratios that you calculated.Discuss potential liquidity issues based on your calculations of the current and quick ratios.Are there any factors that could be erroneously influencing the results of the ratios?Discuss liquidity issues of the three companies. Comparison of Accounting MethodsIn your paper, ascertain from the notes of the financial statements the following:Explain the difference between the allowance method and the direct write off method for accounts receivable. Document the method used for each of the three companies.Explain the difference between the straight line, double declining balance and the unit-of-production depreciation methods. Document the method used for each of the three companies.Explain the difference between LIFO and FIFO and document the method used for each of the three companies.Explain the different categories of intangible assets and document the method used for each of the three companies.RecommendationBased on your analysis, would you recommend an individual invest in these companies? What strengths do you see? What risks do you see? It is perfectly acceptable to state that you would recommend avoiding this company, as long as you provide support for your position. ConclusionsInclude an appendix in a separate document. The appendix must include screenshots of the financial statements and information obtained for the receivables, intangible assets, depreciation, and inventory. You can get help with creating an appendix in APA format by using the Ashford Writing Center’s guide, Tables, Images, & Appendices.The Financial Statement Analysis Final PaperMust be five to seven double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center’s APA StyleMust include a separate title page with the following:Title of paperStudent’s nameCourse name and numberInstructor’s nameDate submittedFor further assistance with the formatting and the title page, refer to APA Formatting for Word 2013.Must utilize academic voice. See the Academic Voice resource for additional guidance.Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.For assistance on writing Introductions & Conclusions as well as Writing a Thesis Statement, refer to the Ashford Writing Center resources.Must use at least two scholarly/peer-reviewed and/or credible resources in addition to the course text.The Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.Must document any information used from sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center’s Citing Within Your PaperMust include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. See the Formatting Your References Listresource in the Ashford Writing Center for specifications.