Cases, Exams and Projects
PURPOSE: To give the seminar participant an understanding of the issues confronting auditors in today's complex business environment.
DIRECTIONS: Each participant in the course will read the case, prepare a list of questions to discuss during class, and the outline of a solution. A one-page summary of each case will be prepared and handed in at the beginning of the next class. The summary will take the following format:
Participant:
Case:
Summary of Facts:
Issues:
Recommended Action:
See Examples for Additional Details on preparing cases
I. MIDTERM EXAM
This will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions randomly selected from a CPA review database as yet unidentified.
FINAL EXAM
This will be a take home exam consisting requiring the student to answer three out of six questions. The exam is due the final meeting of class.
AUDIT WORKPAPER PROJECT
Students will form teams of four to five members. Each team will prepare a complete set of workpapers. Grades will be based on (1) financial statement presentation, (2) memo writing, and (3) workpaper preparation.
AUDIT LITERATURE PROJECT
PURPOSE: This project is designed to give the auditing student an understanding of issues confronting the profession.
DIRECTIONS: The student will choose a topic from the list below. The student will then research the topic, and summarize this research in a class presentation and report. The class presentation will occur during the class period listed in the class syllabus. The written report should be submitted on the date of the class presentation with copies made for each member of the class using the following format (see attached samples):
TITLE PAGE
SUMMARY
ISSUES
Grades for the project will be based on writing ability and other communication skills as well on content.
AUDIT RESEARCH PROJECT
PURPOSE: This project is designed to give the auditing student experience in researching a topic of interest to practitioners.
DIRECTIONS: The student will choose a topic of interest to Virginia accountants who work in public accounting firms, government, or in industry. The student will then research the topic, and prepare a typed double-spaced manuscript, eight to 10 pages in length. The project is to be submitted during the start of the final exam. A class presentation is not required.
Grades for the project will be based on writing ability, content and expression of ideas. The manuscript should include a title page listing the paper's title, author, class, and date submitted.
CONTENT: Papers should be of interest to practitioners. Papers may offer guidance in complex situations, help in resolving questions that arise in practice, advice in implementing published standards and guides, insight to hidden problems or updates of developing issues.
WRITING: Voluminous footnotes and citations are not welcome. necessary citations should be placed at the end of the paper. Originality and logic are what is important.
FORMAT AND LENGTH: Papers should be typed on plain 8.5" X 11" paper, with one-inch margins all around. A good length to try for is 1800-2000 words.
TABLES AND FIGURES: Tables and figures should be included if they assist the reader in understanding the point being made. Volumes of data included to substantiate a point is not needed or desired. Each table and figure should have a number and title placed in an appropriate place within the article or referenced appropriately. Each figure must be on a separate sheet and must be camera ready.
AUTHOR: All papers should have a cover sheet with the following information: title of article, author's name, academic or professional degrees, professional affiliation, business telephone, and complete mailing address.
