ISSUES in ACCOUNTING ASSIGNMENT

Select and research thoroughly an issue affecting the accounting profession. Some topics are below but others are welcome with teacher approval:

1. Effects of Inflation on Financial Reporting
2. Mergers & Acquisitions – current trends in Canada
3. CGA and the Audit – a good thing?
4. The Role of the Auditor General in Canada
5. Accounting treatment of Goodwill
6. The Enron Scandal – what was it and what have we learned?
7. Stock Options and Accounting
8. CEO Salaries – out of control?
9. International Accounting – should standards be merged?
10. Gender Issues in Accounting
11. Personal Income Tax System – time for an overhaul?
12. Corporate Tax Structure in Canada – uncompetitive?
13. Classes of Stocks – uneasy existence?
14. Forensic Accounting
15. Electronic (Internet) Banking
16. Income Trusts - what are they and what happened?
17. Capital vs. Revenue Expentitures - where are we now?
18. GAAP (choose one and expand)

Your tasks will include:

A formal well written report with headings, citations and works cited page.

The format will follow the following guideline:

1. Title Page - topic, your name, teacher name, course, date

2. Executive Summary – a one paragraph summary of your key findings; pretend I had no time to read anything else!

3. Introduction – discuss the thesis or argument that is the controversy or main professional discussion point

4. Body – use headings to outline the arguments on all sides, facts included

5. Conclusion – very brief points summarizing where the stands at the moment

6. Works Cited – complete citations in alphabetical order

Presentation – a five minute summary of your report with or without an electronic presentation; assume you are making a report to a financial newspaper or tv show.

See the rubric below to help you.

Category	Criteria	Level 1 (50-59%)	Level 2 (60-69%)	Level 3 (70-79%)	Level 4 (80-100%)	Weighting
Knowledge/	Student exhibits evidence of understanding the issue to a significant level	Student exhibits some evidence of understanding the issue to a significant level	Student exhibits acceptable evidence of understanding the issue to a significant level	Student exhibits very good evidence of understanding the issue to a significant level	Student exhibits outstanding evidence of understanding the issue to a significant level	10 marks
Application	Student can show how the accounting profession is affected in the issue	Student seldom shows how the accounting profession is affected in the issue	Student sometimes shows how the accounting profession is affected in the issue	Student can often shows how the accounting profession is affected in the issue	Student consistently shows how the accounting profession is affected in the issue	10 marks
Thinking	Student's research and interpretation of the issue	Student's research and interpretation of the issue are done poorly	Student's research and interpretation of the issue are done to an acceptable level	Student's research and interpretation of the issue are done very well	Student's research and interpretation of the issue are done exceptionally well	10 marks
Communication	Student communicates clearly and promotes sense of understanding of the issue in the report and presentation	Student communicates somewhat and promotes minimal understanding of the issue in the report and presentation	Student communicates with reasonable clarity and promotes some sense of understanding the issue in the report and presentation	Student communicates with significant clarity and promotes a good sense of understanding of the issue in the report and presentation	Student communicates with excellent clarity and promotes a thorough sense of understanding the issue in the report and presentation	20 marks