成人大片

Course Co-Ordinator
Associate Professor Janice Loftus
Location: 13:10, Level 13, 10 Pulteney Street (Nexus 10)
Telephone: 8313 1024
email: janice.loftus@adelaide.edu.au

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge of accounting techniques, concepts, principles and theories to solve financial reporting problems.
2. Apply a structured decision model to exercise judgement in the application of accounting standards.
3. Work in teams to design and undertake a research project.
4. Effectively utilise oral and written communication skills to communicate to peers.
5. Apply the code of ethics for professional accountants to make sound decisions.

Rankin, M., K. Ferlauto, S. McGowan, and P. Stanton, Contemporary Issues in Accounting, 2018, 2nd edition, John Wiley and Sons, Australia.* AND

Financial Reporting Handbook, 2019, John Wiley & Sons, Australia (CAANZ Handbook).*

* E-book is available.

Students shouls use the most recent version. Students are permitted to use earlier editions of the Handbook but may place themselves at a disadvantage in doing so.
Readings
At relevant sections of the course additional prescribed readings elaborate on, or supplement, items in the prescribed texts. These readings are provided via links on the course website (MyUni) or are available in the Barr Smith library.

If you are seeking additional reading in relation to assumed knowledge you should refer to:

• Deegan, C. (2014). Financial Accounting Theory, 4th Edition.McGraw-Hill, Australia.
• Godfrey, J., A. Hodgson, A. Tarca, J. Hamilton and S. Holmes, Accounting Theory, 7th Edition, 2010, John Wiley and Sons, Australia.
• Henderson, S., G. Peirson, K. Herbohn, T. Artiach and B. Howieson (2017) Issues in Financial Accounting, 16th edition. Pearson Education Australia.
• Leo, K., J. Knapp, S.McGowan and J. Sweeting (2015) Company Accounting, 10th Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia.
• Loftus, J., K. Leo, S. Daniliuc, N. Boys, B. Luke, H.N. Ang and K. Byrnes, (2018) Financial Reporting, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia.
• Loftus, J., K. Leo, N. Boys, S. Daniliuc, B. Luke, H.N. Ang and K. Byrnes, (2015) Financial Reporting, John Wiley & Sons Australia.
• Loftus, J., K. Leo, R. Picker, V. Wise and K. Clark (2013), Understanding Australian Accounting Standards, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia.
• Picker, R., K. Clark, J. Dunn, D. Kolitz, G. Livne, J. Loftus and L. van der Tas, (2016), Applying IFRS Standards, 4th Edition, Wiley.

Resources to assist in developing communication skills:

The writing centre provides academic learning and language development services and resources for local and international students including drop-in consultations: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/

Students should refer to the course website for certain required readings and additional references as directed. The website also includes links to some useful websites.

https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/

At this advanced level of study you are much more responsible for the quality of your learning than when you first entered university. Accordingly, active rather than passive learning is emphasised. For each topic there are self-study questions and tutorial questions.

Self-study questions

Self-study questions facilitate your comprehension of the content of the prescribed readings. Guidance on self-study questions is provided on MyUni. Your learning will be enhanced by attempting the questions before referring to the guidance notes to assess your response.

Tutorial questions

Tutorial questions are generally more challenging than self-study questions because they emphasise analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information, as well as the development of creative solutions to problems. There are two types of tutorial questions:

• Tutorial questions that you should attempt in preparation for the tutorial, and which are submitted electronically as homework; and
• In-class activities, which are to be completed during tutorials.

Students in this course are expected to attend one lecture and one tutorial class each week.
· Lectures : 2 hours per week, commencing Monday, WEEK 1
· Tutorials: 1 hour per week, Tutorials START Monday, WEEK 2
The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units/semester) to devote a total of 48 hours/week to their studies. Accounting Theory is a three-unit course and you are expected to commit 8 - 9 hours of private study outside of your regular classes.

Wk           Topic
1             Topic 1: Why we need to exercise judgement in applying principles-based accounting standards
               Communication skills workshop - Analysing the question
2             Topic 2: Definition and recognition
               Workshop on using databases for the Small Group Discovery Experience (SGDE) project
3             Topic 3: Measurement and disclosure
4             Communication skills workshop - Critiquing writing; Revision
5             Mid-semester test held during scheduled lecture time
6             Topic 4: Exercising judgement in choosing an accounting policy         
7             Topic 5: The role of ethics in accounting
8             Topic 6: Economic consequences of accounting policy choice- agency theory

9             Communication skills workshop: Report writing, including writing an executive summary      
10            Topic 7: Capital markets research
11            Topic 8: Social & environmental reporting and accounting for carbon trading
12            Course overview, revision and workshop on exam skills

The third-year stage of the the 成人大片 Small Group Discovery Experience (SGDE) for accounting is implemented in this course. Students can either form their own group of five members from the same tutorial, or be placed in a group by staff.

Several skills workshops will be provided to help you (and your small group) on your journey of discovery. The skills workshops will be accommodated within the usual lecture timetable. The skills workshops will cover analysing questions, giving and using feedback, research skills, using a commercial database and report writing.

Assessment Task	Task Type	Due	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Mid Semester Test	Individual	Week 5 (details TBA)	20%	1, 4
Individual Assignment	Individual	11:59pm Monday Sept 23	8%	1, 2, 4
Tutorial Activities	Individual	Weekly	8%	1, 2, 4, 5
Research Project	Group	11:59pm Monday Oct 21 (Week 11)	14%	1, 3, 4
Final Exam	Individual	Exam Period (details TBA)	50%	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Total			100%

Requirements
To pass this course, a mark of at least 50% must be obtained on the final exam, as well as a total of at least 50% overall. Students not achieving the minimum exam mark will be awarded no more than 49.

Assignment Guidelines including Referencing Details: Correct referencing is important because it identifies the source of the ideas and arguments that you present and helps to avoid the problem of plagiarism. This course makes use of the “Harvard” system of referencing. Guidelines for the use of this style of referencing can be found in the Communication Skills Guide which is available on MyUni. This booklet also provides guidelines on a range of other important communication skills (including writing essays and reports, making oral presentations etc.).

Late Assignment Submission: Students are expected to submit their work by the due date to maintain fairness and equity. Extensions will generally only be given for medical or other serious reasons. All requests for extensions must be emailed to the lecturer in charge of the course before the due date. Each request will be assessed on its merits. Unless subject to an extension (by prior arrangement) assignments will be penalised by a 10% mark reduction (10% of the maximum mark) for each day, or part thereof, that it is late.

Extensions for assignments may be granted under special circumstances. An extension request based on illness or exceptional personal circumstances must include the Supporting Statement/Certification Form, of the Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment application form at: /student/exams/forms
Students applying for an extension based on medical reasons must visit their medical practitioner, with that approved University form, and have the medical practitioner complete it. A doctor's certificate will not be accepted. Any student seeking an extension must contact the course co-ordinator PRIOR to the due date. Extensions, except on medical grounds, cannot be given after the due date.

Marking of Assignments: Staff will aim to complete marking communicate feedback and grades to students within three weeks of submission.

Assessment Detail
The assessment components are as follows:

Mid-semester Test (Week 5) 20%
A closed-book test will covering topics one to three, inclusive during the scheduled lecture time. This assessment task relates to course learning outcomes 1 and 4. Further details, including location(s), will be posted on MyUni. There will be no lecture in week 5.

Individual Assignment 8%
Course learning outcomes 1, 2 and 4.Due Date: 23.59 (11.59 p.m.) Monday 23 September 2019

Tutorial Activities: 8%
This assessment task relates to learning outcomes 1, 2, 4 and 5. Tutorial marks will be awarded for:
· Writing tasks (average of two) (4 marks)
· Homework (4 marks)

Short-Answer Writing Tasks: Two writing tasks will be held during tutorials. They are held at the beginning of tutorial classes, unless specified otherwise by your tutor. Writing tasks can only be taken in your enrolled tutorial. Missed tests cannot be 'made up' on another occasion for any reason (including medical). Requests for special consideration may be made in accordance with University policy and, if granted, will be addressed by reweighting of assessment. The writing tasks are intended to help develop your written communication skills. Details of the scheduling of writing tasks and topics assessed are provided in the Schedule of Assessments in the Course Information module on MyUni.

Homework: Completed homework must be uploaded on MyUni each week by 6.00 p.m one day prior to your scheduled tutoiral. The homework will be assessed four times per semester. Students are not given prior knowledge of the weeks in which homework will be assessed. Tutors do not provide feedback on submitted homework. It is the responsibility of students to take additional notes, etc. during tutorials.

Research Report on Small Group Discovery Experience (SGDE)  14%
This assessment task relates to course learning outcomes 1, 3 and 4. This course will facilitate the third-year SGDE for students enrolled in accounting programmes. Assessment of your participation in the SGDE project will be as follows:
·        Individual contribution to group meetings held in tutorials and the account of your contribution provided in final report (6 marks)
·        Group mark awarded for written submission due by 23.59 (11.59 p.m.) 21 October 2019 (8 marks)

Final Exam 50%
There will be a three-hour exam. This assessment task relates to course learning outcomes 1 - 5. The Financial Reporting Handbook will be permitted in the final examination (Hard copies only; e-books not permitted). This must be unannotated and contain no inserts or other material and no sticky tabs. It is permissible for the Handbook to include highlighted text. Handbooks will be checked and offenders may face penalties for cheating. In this course, only calculators incapable of storing text are permitted in the final examination. You are not permitted to take a DICTIONARY (English or English-Foreign) into the examination. Legible hand-writing and the quality of English expression are considered to be integral parts of the assessment process. Poor or illegible handwriting may result in marks not being awarded.

Presentation of Assignments

· Assignments must be submitted electronically through MyUni Turnitin Assignments, which is a computer programme that detects plagiarism.
· Please retain a copy of all assignments submitted.
· All group members are expected to contribute approximately equally to the group project.

We acknowledge the contribution of feedback from past students in our endeavours to providing a more effective learning environment.
Last year students said (agreement %):

The learning outcomes are clearly identified (100%) and it is well organised (98%).
The course helps to improve skills in problem solving skills and critical analysis (88%) and the methods of assessment help to achieve learning outcomes (93%).
Our learning was supported by effective feedback (83%).
The course has effective resources (96%) and effective strategies to encourage students to engage in learning (93%), specifically including: the diversity of assessment tasks; and the tutorial layout, which encourages studentsto complete tutorial questions in advance and then discuss the answers in class.

In response to student feedback, we trialed allowing students the option to form their own groups for the small group discovery experience (SGDE) project in 2017. As many students took advantage of this opporuntity we have decided to continue the practice.
The redesign of the SGDE project for 2019 incorporates student feedback. We have also increased the extent of self-study material in response to student feedback.