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Appendix
3
Analytic Criteria for Evaluating Content and Process in a
Writing Assignmenta
Process-Oriented Writing Assignment PROFESSIONAL REPORT #3
Topic:
Pronouncements
Writer:
Controller for a small, privately held corporation at the end of its first year of operation
Audience:
Chief Executive Officer of the corporation
Report Type:
Intracompany Memorandum
Length of Report:
2-5 pages with an appendix of two balance sheets
Credit:
40 points
Your CEO has asked you to draft the balance sheet for the company. Since you know that the same information can be communicated in several different ways and you are unsure which will be preferred by the CEO, you prepare two alternative balance sheets for the CEO and indicate in your memorandum your recommendation based on your knowledge of authoritative pronouncements (cite specifically both GAAP and SEC), accounting theory and the potential business consequences of different financial statement presentations.
Grading Criteria For Students PROFESSIONAL REPORTING GRADE SHEET: PROFESSIONAL REPORT #3
Name: Grade:
CONTENT (75 points = 75%)
10
Cites appropriate SEC pronouncements
10
Cites appropriate FASB pronouncements
15
Classified balance sheets in accordance with GAAP and at least 1 in accordance with SEC
40
Provides comprehensive, insightful and logical support for balance sheet recommended. Demonstrates an understanding of accounting policy choice.
* * * * * * *
WRITING (25 points = 25%)
5
Writes in a concise, professional tone of an expert controller to a nonexpert CEO. Clarifies accounting terminology a general business person would not be expected to understand
5
Facilitates ease of reading and understanding through organization
15
Facilitates ease of reading and understanding through standard spelling, grammar and structure
Grading Criteria Sheet with Checklist PROFESSIONAL REPORTING GRADE SHEET: PROFESSIONAL REPORT #3
Name: Grade:
CONTENT (75 points = 75%)
10
Cites appropriate SEC pronouncements
ASR 268
10
Cites appropriate FASB pronouncements
ARB 43
SFAS 47
ETTF 85-23
ETTF 86-32
15
Classified balance sheets in accordance with GAAP and at least 1 in accordance with SEC
Note payable is short term
40
Provides comprehensive, insightful and logical support for balance sheet recommended. Demonstrates an understanding of accounting policy choice.
Understood SEC requirements
Understood FASB requirements
Private company
Debt-to-equity ratio affected
Net worth affected
Characteristics of liability
Characteristics of equity
User needs
Firm's self-interest
WRITING (25 points = 25%)
5
Writes in appropriate tone of controller to CEO. Clarifies accounting terminology a general businessperson would not be expected to understand
5
Facilitates ease of reading and understanding through organization
Introduction states accounting decision
Conclusion summarizes accounting decision
15
Facilitates ease of reading and understanding through standard spelling, grammar and structure
A single firm is referenced by plural pronouns
Homonyms are misused: there/their, its/it's
Subject/verb disagreement
aScofield and Combes, 1993, pp. 80-82.