Communication Skills Handbook for Accounting

The Communication Skills Handbook for Accounting, 2nd edition has been designed to develop the written and oral communication skills of university accounting students. The authors introduce successful approaches to researching, writing and referencing, and review the main problems accounting students are likely to encounter when preparing and presenting reports, essays and other work for assessment. The handbook, which reflects the recommendations of the sixth edition of the Style Manual, covers specialist requirements for accounting assignments, including: * Referencing accounting standards and pronouncements * Writing and presenting guidelines for accounting topics * Tailoring writing to an accounting audience The objectives of this handbook are: * To provide students with guidelines that are consistent across their university studies and to outline the minimum requirements for formal presentation of written and verbal assignments * To assist university staff to apply a consistent approach to the assessment of formally presented written and verbal material by students, irrespective of university, department, course or level of study * To reinforce among students the view that communication skills are an integral component of their studies and essential to their careers, rather than optional skills isolated from their chosen disciplines

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 General Guidelines for Assessment Introduction Writing Styles Writing for textbooks Writing for newspaper Writing for academic purposes Writing guidelines Non-offensive language Use of numbers Tables, figures and graphs Titles Foreign terms and acronyms Parentheses Points of ellipsis Bullet points Assignment preparation guidelines Topic analysis Presentation guidelines Finding the information Preliminary plan Making the most of the library Resources for accounting and finance students Summary Chapter 2. Referencing Introduction Referencing - a helpful hint Unethical behaviour Plagiarism Collusion Referencing -- general information When to provide a reference How to avoid plagiarism Methods of referencing The Harvard System In-text references Format How to include a reference in your writing When to include page numbers Footnotes Single author Two or more authors Two or more works in one citation Newspapers Personal communications Anonymous works Publication date unavailable Sponsoring organisation Citations for sources other than the original Tables and figures either extracted or taken whole List of references (LOR) entries for paper-based sources -- specific rules and examples LOR -- book citation LOR -- article or chapter in an edited book LOR -- study notes LOR -- books of readings LOR -- indirect quotation LOR -- article in journal LOR -- sponsoring organisation LOR -- multiple publications by the same author LOR -- conference paper, working paper series and thesis LOR -- article in newspaper or magazine Electronic referencing method Electronic referencing -- general information In-text references -- electronic sources LOR -- electronic sources, general LOR entries for electronic sources -- specific rules and examples CD-ROM -- book CD-ROM -- journal Internet sites (author and date available) Internet sites (author and date not available FTP sites Discussion group message Personal email message Films, videos and television Referencing accounting standards and regulations AAS accounting standards AASB accounting standards Statement of Accounting Concepts Auditing standards Urgent Issues Group Other professional pronouncements International accounting standards Summary Bibliography Chapter 3 Writing Skills Starting to write Topic analysis The preliminary plan Research The working plan Thinking like an accountant First draft Layout Length Structure Topic sentence Supporting sentences Second draft The introduction Introductory comments Statement of purpose The conclusion Final submission Checklist Grammar and spelling check Chapter 4 Report Writing Introduction Report structure Assignment cover sheet Letter of transmittal Title page Executive summary Table of contents Introduction Body Using graphs, tables and illustrations Conclusions Recommendations Bibliography/List of references Glossary Appendices Summary Chapter 5 The Case Study Introduction Preparing a case analysis The structure of the problem-specific case analysis report Introduction Problem specification External requirements Internal preference Recommendation The structure of the Harvard MBA case analysis report Introduction or case background Body of the analysis Formulation of alternatives or a possible solution Recommendations or choice of solutions Implementation plan Strategic analysis tools for the Harvard MBA case study The SWOT analysis Situation analysis Summary List of references Chapter 6 Essay Writing Introduction Writing the essay Style Sample Essay Summary Some variations on the formal essay structure Chapter 7 Oral Presentations Overview Oral presentations at university Preparing the presentation Presentation value Structure of the presentation Introduction and conclusion The body of the presentation Visual aids Audience handouts Practising the presentation Planning for contingencies Just before the presentation Equipment Anxiety Delivering the presentation Delivery speed Gestures Audience rapport Reading the speech Stance during the speech Humour Nervousness Annoying habits Presenting in teams Handling questions from the audience Summary Alternatives to oral presentations for distance education students Chapter 8 Examination Techniques Introduction General hints When to start studying Revision Pre-examination planning Perusal time After the examination begins Content and style of questions Subject matter limited Scope limited Combined subject and scope limited Multiple-choice questions Short-answer questions Point-by-point questions Essay-style questions Hybrid questions Case studies Other types of questions Do\'s and don\'ts when answering examination questions Summary Glossary List of reference Index