MGA 303 (F1A): Communication for Accountants

August 28 -September 29, 2006

M-W-F

3:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.

112 Jacobs Hall

Contact Information

Instructor: Mary Ann Rogers

Marketing and Business Development Manager

Center for Executive Development

School of Management

Office Hours:M-W, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

By e-mail

By appointment

Office:108 Jacobs Management Center

North Campus

Phone:(716) 645-3200

Fax:(716) 645-3202

Email:

(Please have MGA 303 as start of subject line)

Textbooks

Required:

Claire B. May and Gordon S. May, Effective Writing: A Handbook for Accountants,

7th ed. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006. ISBN 0-13-149681-6.

John A. Kline, Speaking Effectively: Achieving Excellence in Presentations.

Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004. ISBN 0-13-112833-7.

Course Structure

This one-credit course will meet three times per week for five weeks (with the exception of the week of September 4th, due to Labor Day). The term will consist of fourteen class meetings. A course website will be maintained via UBLearns, though all instruction will take place in class.

Course Description

This course will focus on developing the practical skills necessary to prepare and deliver effective oral and written communications. The goal is to improve how accounting students write and speak in a business context. Emphasis is on expectations for speaking and writing within the accounting profession.

Course Objectives

Understand the components of verbal and non-verbal communication
Learn how to prepare and deliver a formal presentation
Learn to effectively and constructively critique the communication skills of others
Increase clarity in business writing
Gain confidence in the ability to communicate both orally and in written form

Course Requirements

Students will have the opportunity to develop their writing skills through several assignments. The exercises from the May & May text, identified in the course schedule below, involve the writing of letters, memoranda, e-mails, reports, and other communications with the context of the accounting profession. Students will evaluate the clarity of annual reports, write letters and memoranda to clients regarding accounting issues, and prepare a research report on investment recommendations. Some assignments will be submitted for grading, while some may be discussed in class. In all cases, the focus will be on improving students’ ability to communicate clearly, logically, and effectively.

Students will have the opportunity to develop their oral skills primarily through active learning. Readingsfrom the Kline text, supplemental materials, presentation outline preparation, and student presentations will be required. In additional to instructor feedback, students will critique other students’ presentation outlines and formal presentations, both verbally and in writing.

All reports will be due at the beginning of class on Friday, September 29th. Oral presentations will be constructed by each student so that the content of the written report is suitably communicated to the class. Detailed instructions for the completion of the report will be distributed on August 30th, as will dates for presentation assignments.

Grading

No final exam will be given in this course. Grades will be determined based on the following:

Written Assignments: 25%

Final Report: 25%

Oral Presentation: 25%

Attendance and Participation; 25%

Peer Evaluation

Total 100%

Student scores will be weighted according to these percentages and combined into a numerical score. Final grades will then be computed on a straight percentage. Letter grades will be assigned as follows:

A / 93-100 / C / 73-76.99
A- / 90-92.99 / C- / 70-72.99
B+ / 87-89.99 / D+ / 67-69.99
B / 83-86.99 / D / 60-66.99
B- / 80-82.99 / F / Below 60
C+ / 77-79.99

Course Policies

Attendance

Attendance in all class meetings is required, and you are expected to come to class on time and ready to participate in all activities. However, it is understood that circumstances beyond our control sometimes occur. Therefore, the following attendance policy is in effect:

One class missed = Grade of "A" for attendance

Two classes missed = Grade of "B" for attendance

Three classes missed = Grade of "C" for attendance

More than three absences serves as grounds for course failure, regardless of performance in other grading areas.

Assignments

All written assignments and cases are due at the beginning of each class meeting, and will not be accepted late.

Classroom Etiquette

All students are expected to adhere to University guidelines concerning appropriate classroom behavior. To read these guidelines, go to:

Incompletes

Incompletes will be given at the instructor’s discretion. They will only be granted to students who are currently in good standing in the course, and who have a valid reason for requesting an Incomplete. The student must also submit a formal written request to the instructor.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty, ethics, and academic integrity. Each student has the responsibility (1) to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in the student’s own work and (2) to make known any violations of academic integrity by others in the university community. There is a strict “zero tolerance” policy for academic integrity violations.

Please see the following web sites for a complete explanation of the Academic Integrity Policy of the University.

Students With Disabilities

Students with disabilities needing academic accommodations should: (1) register with and provide documentation to Disability Services (2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This should be done during the first week of class.

For more information about services available to UB students with disabilities, contact:

Disability Services

25 Capen Hall

Box 601632

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY14260-1632

Tel.:(716) 645-2609

Fax: (716) 645-3116

Web:

Email:

Course Schedule

Below is the schedule for the course. This schedule may be modified at the discretion of the instructor.

Date / Topic / Assignments Due
Mon. 8/28 / Introduction / May & May, Ch. 5
Wed. 8/30 / Overview of Writing for Accountants / May & May, Chs. 1 and 2
Fri. 9/1 / Writing Letters / May & May, Ch. 9
E1-2, E2-3, and E9-1
Mon. 9/4 / No Class (Labor Day)
Wed. 9/6 / Document Formatting
Writing Memoranda and E-mail Messages / May & May, Ch. 6, Ch. 10
E9-4
E6-1, E10-2, E10-15
Fri. 9/8 / The Writing Process:
Organization and Clarity / May & May, Chs. 3, 4
E4-4, E4-6, E4-8
Mon. 9/11 / Critical Thinking and Research / May & May, Chs. 7,8
E7-2, E8-3
Wed. 9/13 / Speaking:
Know Your Audience,
Organizing a Presentation / Kline, Chs. 1, 2
Fri . 9/15 / Beginnings, Endings & Transitions
Body Language and Poise / Kline, Chs. 7, 9
Mon. 9/18 / Visual Aids
Presentation Strategies / Kline, Chs. 3, 6, 8
* Presentation Outlines *
Wed. 9/20 / Oral Presentations / 6 presentations scheduled
Fri. 9/22 / Oral Presentations / 7 presentations scheduled
Mon. 9/25 / Oral Presentations / 6 presentations scheduled
Wed. 9/27 / Oral Presentations / 7 presentations scheduled
Fri. 9/29 / Oral Presentations / 6 presentations scheduled