This assessment task has two parts:

Task Description

Part 1 - Individual Critical Reflections

For 7 of the 13 weeks you will be given two chapters and/or articles to read. You are asked to provide a written individual critical reflection of 250 words about the readings and argue how they apply to the nominated case company.  This assessment is designed to introduce you to different contemporary accounting and corporate governance issues and how to apply them to real world cases. These form the basis of the material to be covered in the individual essay and as source material for the exam. The critical reflections allow you to develop writing skills and the ability to express your knowledge about the course content. This part of the assessment is graded individually in class using peer feedback and assessment. This contributes 15% of your grade for ACCG727. The first assessment in Week 3 will not count towards your grade as it is a trial assessment. However, it is still compulsory. Each Critical Reflection is required to be uploaded to Turnitin by the due date and a hard copy brought to your scheduled class for peer marking.

Part 2 - Presentations

For 8 of the 13 weeks you will be given two chapters and/or articles to read, and a case study or quantitative research critique. You will participate in four group case studies and four quantitative research critiques which are designed to help you and your group to develop skills for working together as you might in a work situation. The case studies are formative assessments that engage you directly with the concepts covered in the weekly readings and with a real life accounting and corporate governance situation. It allows you to develop skills to work together to analyse a real life accounting or corporate governance situation and argue for taking a particular course of action.  The quantitative research critiques are formative assessments that allows you to appreciate the valuable insights provided by quantitative methods.  The group will receive a grade and the group grade contributes 15% towards your grade for ACCG727. The assessments in Weeks 3 and 5 will not count towards your grade as they are trial assessments, however they are still compulsory.

Other Information

The group case study will be assessed by the lecturer using the following criteria:

• How the argument and critique shows a good appreciation of the weekly readings.
• Shows evidence of an overall integrative view how the issues raised in the readings are used and applied to the case study with some reflection on past work.
• Evidence that the group has participated as a whole and no one member dominates.
• Evidence of individual contribution to the group via a peer evaluation.

 Assessment Criteria

1. Presentation, communication & style (written)

2. Use of literature/ Knowledge of theory

3. Data/information gathering/processing

4. Conclusions

5. Critical reasoning / critical thinking

6. Time management/self management

Extensions

There are no extensions for this assessment. Students must be present in Class when the critical reflection is peer marked or else they will receive a zero grade. Students must be present in Class when the presentation is prepared and given or else they will receive a zero grade. 

Penalties

Students not attending the class to peer mark will be given a 0 grade. Students not attending the class to prepare the presentation will be given a 0 grade. This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.

 Task Description

The class quiz is a one hour diagnostic summative assessment designed to let you demonstrate the knowledge and skills you have attained in the first formative assessment; Presentation.

   Assessment Criteria

• Use of literature/ Knowledge of theory
• Conclusions
• Conceptualisation

Extensions

There are no extensions for this assessment. Students must be present in Class to sit for the class quiz.

Penalties

Students not attending the class quiz will be given a 0 grade. This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.

Task Description

The purpose of the individual essay is to allow you to put accounting and corporate governance concepts into practice in a real life setting and allow you to demonstrate your research and writing skills on an individual basis. The assignment and the arguments you develop should help you reflect on your learning and link accounting theory to practice. This is a formative assessment designed to prepare you for the final exam. 

Assessment Criteria

• Conforming with instructions (e.g. word length, font, other instructions)
• Clarity of expression (including grammar, spelling, referencing)
• Presentation, communication & structure
• Use of literature/ Knowledge of theory
• Analysis / critical reasoning / evaluation
• Problem solving / synthesis or evaluation / reflection

Extensions

No extensions will be granted. Late tasks will be accepted up to 72 hours after the submission deadline.  

Penalties

There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.

Task Description

The final exam is summative assessment designed to let you demonstrate the knowledge and skills you have attained in the previous three formative assessments.

Assessment Criteria

• Conforming with instructions (e.g. word length, font, other instructions)
• Presentation, communication & style (written)
• Clarity of expression (incl. accuracy, spelling, grammar, punctuation)
• Use of literature/ Knowledge of theory
• Conclusions
• Conceptualisation

A two hour final examination for this unit will be held during the University Examination period.  You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the University Examination Timetable. The timetable will be available in Draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in Final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of the examinations.

http://exams.mq.edu.au/ The only exception to not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you may wish to consider applying for Special Consideration. The University’s policy on Special Consideration is available at

 https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/universitypolicies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the Special Consideration the examination will be scheduled as per the Supplementary Examination timetable of the Faculty. Please note that the supplementary examination will be of the similar format as the final examination.

The Macquarie university examination policy details the principles and conduct of examinations at the University.  The policy is available at: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/examination/policy.htm Further details about the final exam for this unit will be available in the final week of classes and also on the unit web page (iLearn).