The research assignment comprises five (5) newspaper articles from 2008 demonstrating issues of relevance to accounting
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3101AFE Accounting Theory and Practice
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT
Trimester 3 2018
DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT
Students are provided with business-related news articles and a list of theories taught in lectures 1-6.
Students must choose one of the articles and evaluate the article by selecting and applying the most
appropriate accounting theory, citing at least three scholarly sources. Use of academic literature is a key
aspect of the assignment.
Assignment Due Date: 16 January 2019, before 2.00pm
Weighting: 20 marks (20%).
Word Length: XXXXXXXXXXwords
Submission XXXXXXXXXXOnline submission (see assessment tab on L@G)
ASSIGNMENT STRUCTURE
The assignment must follow this structure:
1. Cover sheet
2. Article [Type number and headline of article here]
Summarise the article you have chosen, being sure to introduce points you will discuss in more depth in your
analysis. Hint: Do not mention your theory in this section (Guide: 100 words).
3. Theory [Type name of your chosen theory here]
Identify and describe your chosen theory using high quality and appropriate academic sources to support
your discussion. Be sure to identify aspects of your theory that you will discuss in more depth in your
analysis. Hint: Do not mention your article in this section (Guide: 250 words).
4. Analysis
Apply your chosen theory to your article. Demonstrate specific application of the theory with examples from
the article. Hint: You should not need to introduce new material/sources in this section as you are
applying/synthesising what you have already introduced in the previous two sections. This is critical thinking
(Guide: 250 words).
5. Conclusion
Briefly conclude.
6. Reference list
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FORMATTING AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
1. Typed cover sheet should include your name, student number and total word count.
2. Do not exceed the maximum word limit (600 words +10% leeway).
3. The assignment should have a professional and easy to follow presentation. Style throughout the document
should be consistent.
4. Assignment should be typed. Use Times New Roman font size 12 and 1.5 line spacing.
5. Put word count under each section/heading.
6. Students must use their own words as this demonstrates your understanding. Small quotes placed within
quotation marks are acceptable.
7. Your assignment should include at least three scholarly sources. Do not use any text-book or the lecture
slides as a source (scholarly or otherwise). Only use published research articles, academic books, and
conference papers (note that published research articles rank highest for quality and credibility as they are
peer reviewed).
8. The assignment must be properly referenced using APA in-text referencing (also see point 9 below), with
a list of references provided at the end of the assignment. A university guide to using the words and ideas of
others is included with the assignment documentation.
9. Include document page number in ALL in-text citations (e.g. Smith & Jones, 1997 p.16).
10. Do not include the article with your submission.
PLAGIARISM
This course uses the SafeAssign text matching tools in L@G. You can submit a draft version of your
assignment prior to submitting your final version to allow you to view your matching report and make any
co
ections in relation to referencing and cited work. When you submit the final version of your assignment,
a final text matching report is generated for the Course Convenor.
Please note that SafeAssign is a software tool and you should not rely on it to detect all plagiarism. You are
esponsible for knowing what does and does not constitute plagiarism. The Course Convenor will use
methods in addition to SafeAssign to identify plagiarism. The university provides information for students in
elation to academic dishonesty and plagiarism here:
https:
intranet.secure.griffith.edu.au/student/academic-integrity
OTHER RESOURCES
1. Use word processing software to check your spelling and grammar before submitting. Use Australian
English spelling (not American).
2. There are links to the student support module and GBS resources bank on the L@G site.
3. Examples of previous highly rated assignments are posted in the assignment tab.
**You should refer to the Learning@Griffith website for penalties for late submission**
https:
intranet.secure.griffith.edu.au/student/academic-integrity
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THEORIES
Select one of the following theories/hypotheses. Please do not combine theories.
Theories of regulation
• Public interest theory
• Capture theory
• Private interest theory (economic theory)
Political economy or systems based theories
• Legitimacy theory
• Stakeholder theory (select one
anch)
- Ethical (moral)
anch
- Managerial
anch
• Institutional theory
Economics or market based theories
• Efficient market hypothesis
• Agency theory
• Positive accounting theory (plus select one hypothesis)
- Political cost hypothesis
- Bonus plan hypothesis
- Debt hypothesis
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3101AFE - ACCOUNTING THEORY AND PRACTICE – CRITERIA SHEET, RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT
Objective Name Criteria Excellent Very Good Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Analysis,
problem solving
and evaluation 2
marks (2%)
Summary
of selected
article
Excellent summary of
article. Clearly conveys key
points.
Very good summary of
article. Clearly conveys key
points.
Good summary of article.
Clearly conveys most key
points.
Satisfactory summary of article.
Attempts to convey key points.
Unsatisfactory summary of
article. Conveys few or no key
points.
Analysis,
problem solving
and evaluation 2
marks (2%)
Discussion
of chosen
theory in
context of
article
Sophisticated discussion of
general theory,
demonstrating understanding
of aspects of theory relevant
to article.
Very good discussion of
general theory,
demonstrating understanding
of aspects of theory relevant
to article.
Good discussion of general
theory, demonstrating basic
understanding of aspects of
theory relevant to article.
Satisfactory discussion of
general theory, demonstrating
limited understanding of aspects
of theory relevant to article.
Unsatisfactory discussion of
general theory, demonstrating
little or no understanding of
aspects of theory relevant to
article.
Written
Communication
3 marks (3%)
Sources for
discussion
of theory
Utilises highly appropriate
and credible sources which
strongly and convincingly
support the discussion of
theory.
Utilises highly appropriate
and credible sources which
in most cases convincingly
support the discussion of
theory.
Utilises appropriate and
credible sources which support
the discussion of theory.
Utilises appropriate and credible
sources which somewhat
support the discussion of theory.
Utilises few appropriate and
credible sources and/or sources
do not support the discussion of
theory.
Analysis,
problem solving
and evaluation 6
marks (6%)
Application
of theory to
article
(critical
thinking)
1. Convincingly interprets
and explains the facts of the
article in the context of the
chosen theory.
2. Provides strong evidence
of the connection, linking
points from the article to the
discussion of theory,
appropriately referenced.
1. Co
ectly interprets and
explains the facts of the
article in the context of the
chosen theory.
2. Provides sufficient
evidence of the connection,
linking points from the
article to the discussion of
theory, appropriately
eferenced.
1. Co
ectly interprets and
explains the facts of the article
in the context of the chosen
theory.
2. Provides some evidence of
the connection, linking points
from the article to the
discussion of theory,
appropriately referenced.
1. Partially interprets and
explains the facts of the article
in the context of the chosen
theory.
2. Provides some evidence of
the connection by linking points
from the article to the discussion
of theory, appropriately or
mostly appropriately referenced.
1. Fails to co
ectly interpret
and explain the facts of the
article in the context of the
chosen theory.
2. Provides some or limited
evidence of the connection by
linking points from the article
to the discussion of theory,
mostly or not appropriately
eferenced.
Written
Communication
3 marks (3%)
Structure
and
presentation
1. The format and structure
of the assignment, including
the conclusion is as
equested.
2. The overall presentation is
of a high professional
standard.
3. Referencing contains no
technical mistakes and is in
accordance with APA
4. Page numbers are in all
citations.
1. The format and structure
of the assignment, including
the conclusion, is as
equested.
2. The overall presentation is
of a very good professional
standard.
3. Referencing contains no
substantive technical
mistakes and is in
accordance with APA.
4. Page numbers are in all
citations.
1. The format and structure of
the assignment, including the
conclusion, is substantively as
equested.
2. The overall presentation is
of a good professional
standard.
3. Referencing contains few
substantive technical mistakes
and is in accordance with
APA. 4. Page numbers may
not be in all citations.
1. The format and structure of
the assignment, including the
conclusion, is substantively as
equested.
2. The overall presentation is of
a satisfactory professional
standard.
3. Referencing contains
substantive technical mistakes
and is in accordance with APA.
4. Page numbers are not in
citations.
1. The format and structure of
the assignment, including the
conclusion, depart substantially
from what is requested.
2. The overall presentation is
not of a professional standard.
3. Referencing is not in
accordance with APA.
4. Page numbers are not in
citations.
Written
Communication
4 marks (4%)
English
composition
English composition,
spelling and grammar are