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AMIS H519: Intermediate Accounting I (Honors) Spring 2009 Instructor Larry Tomassini Office 458 Fisher Hall Phone (614) 688-3773 Email amis519@gmail.com TR Sessions in SB 209 Section 1 9:30 am-11:18am Section 2 11:30 am-1:18pm Friday Sessions All sections: 9:30 am-10:48 am in SB 220
Office Hours M 10:30 AM -12 noon and W 1:30 – 3:00 PM Please email me for an appointment at other times Course Materials
Course Objective and Description This is the second
course in the Honors Accounting sequence that focuses on financial accounting
and reporting. Together with H520, it provides the critical content material
at the intermediate level that is significant to your understanding of the
discipline and to your success in career applications of accounting. The
intermediate courses examine conceptual underpinnings of accounting, its
methods/applications, and the relevance of accounting information in
capital markets.
In this way, you
will build a strong understanding of WHY accounting is done, as well as HOW
it is done. This is quite important for those who provide or use accounting
information because the field is constantly changing. In such an environment,
only learning the rules (i.e., HOW) is futile, if not dangerous. In H519, we start by reviewing the basic accounting model and process that you have studied before in order to refresh your memory about the structure of accounting systems. We will spend the rest of the quarter looking more deeply at preparation and use of financial statements, the regulatory structure and conceptual underpinnings of financial reporting, and some controversial issues that pervade the field. We will focus in depth on the topic of measuring and reporting revenues and related matters, and to special accounting issues for asset accounts. We cover the remainder of the text (primarily liability and owners' equity issues) in H520.
Grading Final scores in the course will be based on the following weights:
The scores will translate to final assigned grades as follows:
Exams There are two in-class exams and a take-home final exam. Excused absences from exams are given only for compelling medical or personal family reasons that must be adequately documented and provided to me within 5 days after the absence. Based on the circumstances, I will then determine the remedy for the absence. Some remedies that I have used include written make-up exams, research papers, and oral exams on the material covered. Debates One of the long-standing
traditions of the Accounting Honors program is the use of debating
controversial accounting issues. These debates enable you to study an
issue in depth, to work with a team in formulating a position on issues, and
to improve your ability to communicate the position orally and in writing.
There will be six debates in the course, all scheduled on Fridays (see
assignment schedule). Each student has been assigned to a team (see team roster), and
each team will present in one debate. The debate topics and the pro-con
side assignments will be distributed 10-14 days before the presentations. All other members of the class that are not presenting will act as questioners during the debate. Non-debating teams are to formulate in advance at least two questions to challenge each presenting team. The questions must be submitted to me through e-mail no later than midnight before the debate so that I can review them in advance. Make sure that every team member is prepared to be called on during the debate to ask questions for the team. These questions are part of your classroom contribution grade in the course. Other Assignments and Practice For each classroom topic, you are given assignments for reading and preparation for class discussion. When necessary, I will present some new material in class. Usually, however, I will call on individuals or teams to answer questions, present their solutions, etc. This is part of the honors course experience and learning process, and it requires that you stay ahead of the schedule and thoroughly prepare in advance for class. This is a significant factor in your classroom contribution grade. Please note that I don't expect perfection on most assignments. Rather, I expect you to demonstrate preparation and clarity of thinking. We do learn from our mistakes, after all. Practice is an essential
component to master technical accounting skills. To allow you to
practice as much as you need, you will access various exercises and problems
that I post on our Homework Manager website: http://mh2.brownstone.net/classes/int-acc-one-hnrs/. At this site, I will place sets of
practice items for you to work, as needed. You can get feedback on what
you try at any time because the system provides your answers and the correct
answers side by side. This practice will not count in your final grade,
but doing the sets faithfully and learning from your mistakes will greatly
enhance your skills and exam scores. During the course, I will use
graded take-home quizzes on Homework Manager as well. This will keep you focused and allow
you to get valuable feedback in advance of the in-class exams. Students With Disabilities If you need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability, you should contact me to arrange an appointment as soon as possible. At the appointment we can discuss the course format, anticipate your needs and explore potential accommodations. I rely on the Office for Disability Services for assistance in verifying the need for accommodations and developing accommodation strategies. If you have not previously contacted the Office for Disability Services, I encourage you to do so.
Expectations This course demands a considerable amount of
time and commitment. The effort will pay off most immediately by preparing
you well for the follow-on courses in the financial accounting area and other
business courses. The longer-term benefit is that promising careers in
business will be open to you. The course difficulty builds up rapidly throughout
the quarter. If you feel shaky about the basics of accounting, please
be sure to review your class notes from the introductory courses now!
Being a proactive participant is essential. Merely watching others
solve problems will not help you become proficient. Working regularly
in small groups is advisable so that you can seek and provide help when you
are studying. A good test of
whether or not you understand a topic is whether you can explain it clearly
to other students. If you
cannot, you have not sufficiently mastered the material. Regular class attendance is important because
missed class meetings generally result in lower performance on exams.
If you do miss a class, it is your responsibility to ensure that you
understand the material covered in the class you missed. Communication Class announcements and updates
will be made on the course webpage continually throughout the quarter, so
please check the course webpage frequently (especially before coming to class
each day). Frequently, I will send emails to the class through Carmen
when important announcements are needed. Please contact me at any time that you need help with the class. I am here to help you learn the material. I hope you enjoy the class! |