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Overview The final project for this course is the creation of a professional or scholarly white paper for a federal taxation topic of interest

Taxation

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Overview

The final project for this course is the creation of a professional or scholarly white paper for a federal taxation topic of interest. The white paper must be comprehensive and contain conclusions based on sound research and appropriate integration of relevant cases and tax law. This white paper must demonstrate students’ significant knowledge and analysis in the area. There will be milestones due in Modules Two, Four, Seven, Nine, and Ten.

 

Topics: The topic can be one of academic interest, whether based on a topic encountered in tax courses at SNHU or personally or professionally, and must include thorough analysis and insight of a topic in today’s environment based on current law and the most recent judicial authority. Students can draw topics from either experiences as a student, professional interest, or any of the module topics discussed in this course.

 

Main Elements of the Final Product

The format of the white paper will consist of the following based on Purdue OWL’s format.

 

1. Cover page

This must include the title, your name, the date, and the federal tax issue or constitutionality argument you have addressed.

 

2. Introduction

This section should include a description of your topic. Include information pertaining to federal taxation law that you are going to explore and any major influences or discrepancies as a result of that taxation law.

 

3. Background and thorough exploration of topic

This section should include a description of the taxation issue at hand and the historical background of the subject matter. Students will include a discussion of the primary tax authority, including IRC sections and relevant case law and decisions applicable to the topic. In examining the topic, students must cite and discuss recent and relevant tax cases to determine the current state of the subject matter. Students should include at least four recent tax cases that apply. These should be a mix of supportive and contradictory cases, where applicable, to properly examine the issue at hand.

 

4. Summary/conclusions

This section should include a summary of the topic explored based on the research and cases discussed and a clearly stated conclusion. Students must use hard evidence and sound reasoning to support their conclusions.

 

5. List of references cited AND footnotes as needed

 

 

Format

Milestone One: Topic

Due in Module Two—this will consist of a federal tax topic that you want to research. The topics are selected on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be approved by the instructor. The instructor will respond with feedback and suggestions as needed. You must also state the principles that will guide your research. Provide examples of an acceptable resource and an unacceptable resource when conducting research. Explain why you classified each as such. This milestone is worth 15 points, and the incorporation of feedback at this stage will affect the summative white paper grade (see Critical Element “Milestone Submission…”).

 

Milestone Two: Outline of White Paper

Due in Module Four—this will consist of a brief outline describing the topic that you want to research, the federal tax issue at hand, and at least three questions that will guide your research. This milestone is worth 50 points and the incorporation of feedback at this stage will affect the summative white paper grade (see Critical Element “Milestone Submission…”).

 

Milestone Three: Review of Applicable Cases

Due in Module Seven – This will consist of the list of the taxation cases you are going to use. You must have at least four cases that are recent, relevant, and a mix of supportive and contradictory perspectives. You must summarize your cases and describe the viewpoint and evidence behind it. How will the cases support or refute your argument? This milestone is worth 50 points, and the incorporation of feedback at this stage will affect the summative white paper grade (see Critical Element “Milestone Submission…”).

 

Milestone Four: Peer Review

Due in Module Nine—this will consist of a peer review of final project. You must have at this points all of the Main Elements. Students will post their paper to their group discussion board; each student will read all other students’ papers and provide feedback. This milestone is ungraded, and the incorporation of feedback at this stage will affect the summative white paper grade (see Critical Element “Milestone Submission…”).

 

Milestone Five: White Paper Due

Due in Module Ten—this will consist of the final draft of the white paper. Students are expected to demonstrate a significant knowledge in the research area as well as communicate the results in a professional and meaningful manner. This milestone is graded at 335 points and students must incorporate feedback from the previous milestones. The instructor will evaluate the final assessment using the White Paper Rubric below and calculate a number grade out of 335.

 

 

Deliverable Milestones

Milestone	Deliverables	Due in Module	Grading
1	Topic Due	Two	Worth 15 points; will affect White Paper grade under “Milestone submission…”
2	Outline of Project	Four	Worth 50 points; will affect White Paper grade under “Milestone submission…”
3	Review of Cases	Seven	Worth 50 points; will affect White Paper grade under “Milestone submission…”
5	Final Draft	Ten	Worth 335 points; graded using the White Paper Rubric

 

 

White Paper Rubric

Requirements of submission: Written components of projects must follow these formatting guidelines when applicable: Page length: 15 pages, not including cover page or references, double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and APA citations.

 

Instructor Feedback: Students can find their feedback in the grade book as an attachment.

 

Critical Elements	Exemplary	Proficient	Needs Improvement	Not Evident	Value
Milestone Submission and Incorporation of feedback	Meets Emerging requirements and addresses all instructor feedback through incorporation or clarifying questions/dialogue with instructor (14-15)	Meets Emerging requirements and incorporates some of the instructor’s feedback throughout the progression of the project   (12-13)	Student completes and submits all milestones by the due date       (11)	Student submits incomplete milestones or does not submit by the due date     (0-10)	15
Main Elements	Addresses all of the main elements of the final product directly and includes additional elements that logically enrich and extend (18-20)	Addresses all of the main elements of the final product listed above directly     (16-17)	Addresses all of the main elements of the final product listed above either directly or indirectly   (14-15)	Does not address all of the main elements of the project listed above     (0-13)	20
Integration and Analysis of Case Law	Effectively analyzes and applies case law that is current and relevant and includes recent tax cases that are a mix of supportive and contradictory cases to the topic at hand (18-20)	Effectively applies case law that is current and/or relevant and includes recent tax cases that are a mix of supportive and contradictory cases   (16-17)	Effectively applies case law that is current and/or relevant         (14-15)	Does not apply case law that is current or relevant, and case laws are only supportive       (0-13)	20
Research/ Information Literacy	Identifies, locates, evaluates, and effectively and responsibly uses and shares information based on sound research (14-15)	Identifies, locates, evaluates, and responsibly uses and shares information for problem at hand    (12-13)	Identifies, locates, uses, and shares information for problem at hand   (11)	Does not Identify, locate, evaluate, and responsibly use and share information for problem at hand (0-10)	15
Critical Thinking	Justifies all claims with specific evidence demonstrating a nuanced appreciation for the complexity of the issues (18-20)	Justifies almost all claims with specific evidence demonstrating an appreciation for the complexity of the issues (16-17)	Justifies almost all claims with specific evidence     (14-15)	Does not justify all claims with specific evidence     (0-13)	20

 

 

Mechanics	No errors related to organization, grammar, citations, and style   (9-10)	Errors of grammar, organization, citations, and style are marginal and rarely interrupt the flow    (8)	Errors of grammar, organization, citations, and style are limited enough that the paper is still able to be understood (7)	Errors of grammar, organization, citations, and style make the paper difficult to understand   (0-6)	10
Earned Total Comments:					100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sample White Papers

 

Improving the Due Process Test for Retroactive Taxation

 

The Tax Benefit Rule

 

The Tax Treatment of Advance Receipts

 

Defining “Partnership” for Federal Tax Purposes

 

Use of judicial doctrines in federal tax cases decided by trial courts, 1993-2006: a quantitative assessment

 

 

oNLY mODULE 1 REQUIRED