devry acct601 full course [ all discussions term paper project and all week assignment ]

What are two major points that you would like to present about your Term Paper? How do you plan to present them in an oral presentation?

Objectives|Guidelines|Milestones|Grading Rubrics|Best Practices

Objectives

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The term paper is an opportunity for you to explore in-depth an issue pertinent to the role of an accountant in your chosen area of interest. The objective of the term paper is to help you transfer the concepts and research techniques that you learned from the class and from your chosen area of interest in your MSAC degree program. Accordingly, you will be able to choose a topic in a broad area such as:

• Financial accounting and/or reporting
• Governmental accounting and/or reporting
• Nonprofit accounting and/or reporting
• Managerial accounting
• Auditing – public
• Auditing – internal
• Taxation
• Fraud
• Other topic from a course that you took in your MSAC program at DeVry/Keller

Although the topic areas are fairly open-ended, it is expected that each paper will have theoretical underpinnings, as well as practical implications. Suppose, for example, your interest is in auditing for fraud. An ideal paper would include not only a discussion of why frauds occur but also recommendations for a business or other entity to guard against frauds. Hence, a discussion of the internal control procedures and the role of internal and external auditors might be apt. In effect, both the “why” and “how” of establishing the appropriate procedures would need to be addressed.

Guidelines

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APA format and citations are required.

All DeVry University policies are in effect including the plagiarism policy.

Any questions about this paper may be discussed in the weekly Q & A discussion topic.

No late papers for Week 7 or oral presentations for Weeks 7 and 8 will be accepted.

Papers must be submitted in Word document using a 10 or 12 point font and double-spaced.

Milestones

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The ultimate result of your analysis will be a final term paper in APA format. The final term paper is due in Week 7, and an oral presentation will be presented by you in Week 7 or in Week 8 (see the instructor’s requirement for the class). Because the research and writing of the paper is a course-long project, a number of milestones and deliverables will need to be observed. As an overview, those steps are as follows. Get familiar with the Term Paper Template that should be used as a minimum format for your term paper. You can add sections if you want to break down your analysis into subjects. Use the template each week as you complete the sections to build toward your final term paper.

• Week 1 – Select your topic problem statement. Prepare a one page summary (double-spaced) describing your topic proposal problem statement. You should discuss what your topic is, between three and five areas that you plan to analyze about this topic, and how you plan to approach your research on this topic. Your problem statement should also explain how the topic fits with the course, the degree and your focus area. Submit your topic proposal problem statement to the Week 1 Term Paper Dropbox no later than midnight Sunday at the end of Week 1. Your professor will review and approve your topic – or give you feedback and comments on your topic proposal.

• Week 2 – Submit a list of five-to-eight current references in APA format for your course project. Annotate your references – briefly describe the content of the reference and how it relates to your course project. Submit your Week 2 Term Paper list of references assignment to the Week 2 Term Paper Dropbox no later than midnight Sunday at the end of Week 2.
  

References are very important. At least five-to-eight references are required for the Week 7 paper. Anonymous authors or web pages are not acceptable. At least three of those sources used should be from academic journals and/or professional publications. All sources should be current within the past 18 to 24 months from the Keller library. All references should be cited within the body of your work and listed on the last page of your term paper in a section titled "References."

• Week 3 – Complete the problem statement for your course project. You should discuss the topic problem for your term paper and a minimum of three to five problems that you intend to research related to your topic. Submit your Week 3 Term Paper problem statement assignment to the Week 3 Term Paper Dropbox no later than midnight Sunday at the end of Week 3.

• Week 4 – Research and summarize a review of the literature on your topic – briefly describe the literature and how it relates to your term paper. Submit your Week 4 Term Paper literature review to the Week 4 Term Paper Dropbox no later than midnight Sunday at the end of Week 4.

The segment referred to as a “review of the literature” is intended as a starting point for your research. In effect, you should research what other experts and commentators have already analyzed with respect to the problem that you are scrutinizing.

• Week 5 – This week, you need to submit a draft of your term paper. Submit your Week 5 Term Paper draft to the Week 5 Term Paper Dropbox no later than midnight Sunday at the end of Week 5.

• Week 6 – This week, you need to submit a draft of your term paper including your summary and conclusions. Submit your Week 6 Term Paper draft with summary and conclusions to the Week 6 Term Paper Dropbox no later than midnight Sunday at the end of Week 6.
  
  
• Week 7 – Prepare an executive summary; finalize your term paper including executive summary and the finalized version of the term paper components that you completed in Weeks 1 through 6 – with references in APA format. Submit your Week 7 Final Term Paper to the Week 7 Term Paper Dropbox no later than midnight Sunday at the end of Week 7.

For the Week 7 paper, you should use the Term Paper Template which includes (in APA format): a cover page, table of contents, an executive summary, introduction, review of the literature, analysis and recommendations, summary and conclusion, appendix (if you want to include items in an appendix) and references. Appropriate headings should be used to designate the various sections of the paper. The paper should be in the range of a minimum of 15 pages, double-spaced, and 10-12 point fonts. The page count is of the content and, thus does not include the cover page, table of contents, appendix or exhibits, or references.

References are very important. At least five-to-eight references are required for the Week 7 paper. Anonymous authors or web pages are not acceptable. At least three of those sources used should be from academic journals and/or professional publications. All sources should be current within the past 18 to 24 months from the Keller library. All references should be cited within the body of your work and listed on the last page of your term paper in a section titled "References."

• Weeks 7 and 8 – Oral Presentation - prepare a 10–15 minute oral presentation of the summary of your Term Paper. Submit your Weeks 7 and 8 Term Oral Presentation of your term paper to the Week 8 Term Paper Dropbox no later than midnight Tuesday of Week 8.

Weeks 7 and 8 Oral Presentation will include the use of PowerPoint slides to be used as talking points with a 10–15 minute presentation. No more than 10 slides should be used. The oral presentation is intended as a summary of your research and analysis. As such, it should be a summary of the problem you researched, an overview of the literature review, and a discussion of your conclusions and recommendations.

Grading Rubrics

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• The term paper will be graded each week on the deliverables that are due for the week. The deliverables will be graded on factors such as the quality of the research topic, the quality of the information properly cited within the paper, the introduction, main content and facts, the analysis and recommendations, the conclusion, organization and structure, professional appearance, length, grammar, and sentence structure.
• The oral presentation will be graded on factors such as the quality of the PowerPoint slides, the effectiveness of the narration, professionalism, validity and structure, length, grammar, organization, main content, and the overall communication aspects of the presentation.
• Specifics regarding the grade point allocations are presented in Doc Sharing in a grading rubric. The grading rubric for your Term Paper and Oral Presentation is in Doc Sharing in a document titled Grading Rubrics for Term Paper and Oral Presentation.

Best Practices

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The following are the best practices in preparing this paper.

• Cover Page – Include who you prepared the paper for, who prepared, and date.
• Table of Contents – List the main ideas and section of your paper and the pages in which they are located. The illustrations should be included separately.
• Introduction – Use a header on your paper. This will indicate you are introducing your paper.

The purpose of an introduction or opening:

1. Introduce the subject and why the subject is important.
2. Preview the main ideas and the order in which they will be covered.
3. Establish a tone of the document.

Include in the introduction a reason for the audience to read the paper. Also, include an overview of what you are going to cover in your paper and the importance of the material. (This should include or introduce the questions you are asked to answer on each assignment.)

• Body of Your Report – Use a header titled with the name of your project. Example: “The Development of Hotel X – A World Class Resort”. Then proceed to break out the main ideas. State the main ideas, state major points in each idea, and provide evidence. Break out each main idea you will use in the body of your paper. Show some type of division like separate sections that are labeled; separate group of paragraphs; or headers. You would include the information you found during your research and investigation.
• Summary and Conclusion – Summarizing is similar to paraphrasing but presents the gist of the material in fewer words than the original. An effective summary identifies the main ideas and major support points from the body of your report. Minor details are left out. Summarize the benefits of the ideas and how they affect the tourism industry.
• Work Cited – Use the citation format as specified in the Syllabus.

Additional hints on preparing the best possible project.

1. Apply a three step process of writing… Plan, Write, and Complete.
2. Prepare an outline of your research paper before you go forward.
3. Complete a first draft and then go back to edit, evaluate, and make any changes required.
4. Use visual communication to further clarify and support the written part of your report. You could use examples like graphs, diagrams, photographs, flowcharts, maps, drawings, animation, video clips, pictograms, tables, and Gantt charts.

Include who you prepared the paper for, who prepared the paper, and date submitted.

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary.1

II. Introduction.1

III. Review of Literature.1

IV. Analysis.1

V. Recommendations.1

VI. Summary and Conclusions.1

VII. Appendix x.1

VIII. References.1

List the main ideas and section of your paper and the pages in which they are located. The illustrations should be included separately. Make sure that you have page numbers in your paper and list the page number(s) in the table of contents for the page where the appropriate section starts.

Helpful Notes: Prepare an outline of your paper before you go forward. The outline is due at the end of Week 5 – which is also the first draft of your paper.

Complete a first draft and then go back to edit, evaluate, and make any changes required.

You can use example like graphs, diagrams, photographs, flowcharts, maps, drawings, etc. to help clarify and support the written part of your report.

Use a header titled with the name of your project.

Explain what you found, how you researched your topic, and what you recommend.

Problem statement and how the topic fits with the course, the degree, and your focus area.

Include a reason for the audience to read the paper. Include an overview of what you are going to cover in your paper and the importance of the material.

Preview the main ideas and the order in which they will be covered.

Establish a tone of the document.

References and sources used should be from academic journals and professional publications and should be current within the past 18–24 months.

State the main ideas, state major points in each idea, provide evidence. Show some type of division like separate sections that are labeled; separate group of paragraphs. You would include information you found during your research and investigation.

Generally your analysis will depend on what your intent is in your problem statement. You need to analyze your findings in comparison to what you said that you wanted to study (in your problem statement). You can discuss such things as: how do the findings relate to your problem statement? How do your findings compare and contrast with each other or with your problem statement or with an aspect of the profession?

What do you recommend? The recommendation can be for a particular company, the profession or the public.

Summarize your work and your findings. The conclusion should include a recommendation.Summarizing is similar to paraphrasing but presents the gist of the material in fewer words than the original. Identify the main ideas and major support points from the body of your report. Minor details are left out. Summarize the benefits of the ideas and how they affect the profession, company, or public.

You can include an appendix or exhibits if you would like to (this is optional).

References are very important. At least five-to-eight references are required for the term paper. Anonymous authors or web pages are not acceptable. At least three of those sources used should be from academic journals or professional publications and should be current within the past 18 to 24 months from the Keller library. All references should be cited within the body of your work and listed on the last page of your term paper in a section titled "References."

you decide

Scenario

Scenario Summary

You have been invited to attend a meeting where your immediate supervisor will be presenting a draft of detailed financial projections to the chief financial officer and a subsequent meeting with the company president. You've not been involved in the preparation of the analysis thus far but understand that you might have some tasks delegated to you after the meeting. In addition, you realize that the company is at a critical juncture from issues such as high attrition of the accounting staff, current economic conditions, and increased competition.

Your Assignment

You have recently been hired in the fairly small accounting department of a corporate business. The department is so small, in fact, that you may be called on at times for tasks ranging from simple bookkeeping, to preparation of financial statements and projections, and to perhaps even filling-in on the internal audit staff. One of your first responsibilities is to assist a senior level accountant with a detailed financial projection after input from the chief financial officer and the president of the company.

KEY PLAYERS

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Transcript

YOU DECIDE

Activity or Assignment

Week 1

Communication Skills and Report Writing Individual Assignment

Using the articles that were selected on communication skills and report writing from the Week 1 readings, summarize five aspects of communication skills and report writing that are discussed in the articles that you selected. Explain why each aspect of communication skills and report writing is vital to an accountant’s professional career. The summary should be a minimum of five-to-eight pages (counting the cover page and bibliography). The font size should be 12 and the type can be Times New Roman, Verdana, or Arial. Your paper should be properly cited using APA referencing style. This means that the citation should be in a bibliography – and in the body of the paper if you refer to or directly quote any information, terms, etc. from others. You should include a minimum of three references in your paper. This paper is a research/reference paper – you need to learn something new from this assignment, not give your ideas about your experience. Submit your paper to the W1_Individual_Assignment Dropbox no later than midnight Sunday at the end of Week 1.

Week 2
Current Issues Paper Individual Assignment

Go to a website that discusses FASB, SEC, IFRS, etc.

Describe and discuss the changes that have occurred within the prior 12 months in the standards and rulings issued by one of these standard setting bodies. You could also incorporate the standards that are being contemplated through pending discussion drafts/exposure documents.

Your paper should be a minimum of five-to-eight pages including a cover page and bibliography.

The font size should be 12 and the type should be Times New Roman, Verdana, or Arial.

Your paper should be properly cited using APA referencing style. This means that the citation should be in a bibliography – and in the body of the paper if you refer to or directly quote any information, terms, etc. from others.

Submit your paper to the W2_Individual_Assignment Dropbox no later than midnight Sunday at the end of Week 2.

Week 4

Current Issues Paper Individual Assignment

Go to a website that discusses FASB, SEC, IFRS, and/or IASB.

Describe and discuss the standards and rulings that are being contemplated through pending discussion drafts/exposure documents of FASB and IASB.

Your paper should be a minimum of five-to-eight pages including a cover page and bibliography.

The font size should be 12 and the type should be Times New Roman, Verdana, or Arial.

Your paper should be properly cited using APA referencing style. This means that the citation should be in a bibliography – and in the body of the paper if you refer to or directly quote any information, terms, etc. from others.

Submit your paper to the W4_Individual_Assignment Dropbox no later than midnight Sunday at the end of Week 4.

Week 6
Financial Statement Analysis Paper Individual Assignment

One basic method that an accountant can use to analyze the financial situation of a business is ratio analysis. This can be a useful tool no matter the type of legal structure of the business and regardless of whether or not ownership is public or private. To help assure the availability of the necessary data, though, this assignment will be focused solely on a publicly-traded company.

As an overview, you will choose a publicly traded company from a list provided at the end of this assignment. Locate the company’s website, retrieve the latest company’s annual report from that site, calculate specific ratios for the latest two fiscal years, and respond to a limited number of analysis questions.

Please note that this entails far more than finding pre-calculated ratios from a website such as Yahoo! Finance or Google Finance. If you desire, you can use such a site for a reasonableness check on the results of your calculations, but any such comparisons should not be part of your resulting paper. Also, you might not match exactly to their figures anyway since those may include quarterly updates.

The paper should be three-to-four double-spaced pages (not counting the cover page and bibliography) in Word doc using a standard font (11 or 12 point) and appropriate margins (e.g., no more than one-inch). APA formatting should be followed. The paper should include a section for the ratio calculations and a section to respond to questions. You should also include a cover page and a bibliography.

Your paper should be properly cited using APA referencing style. This means that the citation should be in a bibliography – and in the body of the paper if you refer to or directly quote any information, terms, etc. from others.

Submit your paper to the W6_Individual_Assignment Dropbox no later than midnight Sunday at the end of Week 6.

For the section showing the ratio calculations, provide appropriate details regarding the formula used, the source of the data, and the resulting calculations. Although you are certainly welcome and encouraged to use Excel to complete these tasks, copying and pasting from Excel into the Word document is discouraged unless it can be done in a manner that is cosmetically appropriate.

The requirements for the ratio analysis section are:

1. Compute the following for each of the two most recent years:

· Profit Margin

· Return on Shareholders’ Equity

· Current Ratio

· Interest Coverage Ratio

2. Document your work by including items such as:

· The website for the company

· The web page link for the annual report (or file name if a PDF is downloaded)

· The page number of the annual report (rather than the PDF) for each number used

· Appropriate details of the calculations

The questions that should be addressed in the second section of the paper are:

1. If you were an accountant for a potential vendor for this company, explain which of these ratios would be of the most interest to you. Would there also be a second ratio of interest to you?

2. If you were an accountant for a potential investor in this company, explain which of these ratios would be of the most interest to you. In your opinion, what other ratio or ratios beyond the ones listed above should also be considered in an investment context?

3. What is your overall opinion of this company based on the limited analysis completed via the four ratios? Feel free to mention any questions that you feel should still be considered in view of the ratios and/or the changes from one year to the next.

Please also consider these suggestions for your success on this assignment:

o If you choose a company from the list and have any trouble finding its website, the annual reports, or specific information, consider selecting a different company from the list instead.

o If the company has subsidiaries, be sure to use the consolidated financial statements.

o Be sure to use the financial statements rather than summaries elsewhere in the annual report.

ACCT601

Lists of companies for the financial statement analysis individual assignment.

List #1

Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Intuit Inc.

The Kroger Co.

Macy’s Inc.

Zale Corporation

List #2

Dell Inc.

Family Dollar Stores Inc.

Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp.

Tractor Supply Company

Verizon Communications Inc.