Lone Star College - Creekside

ACNT 2345.KE01
SUMMER 2024

INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION

Instructor: Greg McHaney, MBA Office Phone: N/A
Office Location: N/A Office Hours: Online
E-mail: gregory.b.mchaney@lonestar.edu

COURSE DETAILS
Course Subject & Number: ACNT 2345 Course Title: Technical Writing for Accountants
Course Section : KE01 Course Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 03 Course Session: 6 Week Session 1
Semester & Year: Summer 2024 Classroom Location: Online D2L
“W” Date: 06/27/24 Class Days and Times: Online D2L

INSTRUCTIONAL CONTACTS

Accounting & Data Analytics Program Coordinator

Professor Clifton Hill
832-761-6636
Clifton.Hill@LoneStar.edu

Vice President of Instruction Dean

Latoya Hardman Dr. Jerica Nickerson
Latoya.Hardman@lonestar.edu Jerica.C.Nickerson@lonestar.edu
281-655-3642 832-761-6613

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Examination and application of effective written business and accounting communications. This course may also be
offered for qualifying education credit for CPA examinations by Texas community colleges that meet Texas State Board of
Public Accountancy standards. Instructor consent required.
1|Page
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS AND/OR MATERIALS

Textbook: EFFECTIVE WRITING: A HANDBOOK FOR ACCOUNTANTS, May and May, 11th Edition. Publisher:
Pearson ISBN 13: 9780134667386

Textbook: ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION, Guffey and Loewy, 11th Edition. Publisher: Cengage
ISBN 13: 9781337386494

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Demonstrate the ways in which technical writing differs from academic writing.
• Select appropriate communication methods for various situations and audiences.
• Research and prepare business reports.
• Prepare business documents using proper grammar and appropriate business style.
• Conduct research using electronic library resources and the internet for the preparation of written and oral business
reports.
• Prepare effective business presentations for a variety of contexts.
• Critique oral communications/critique and edit written communications to improve skills.
• Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate interpersonal communication skills for business.
• Use communication technology appropriately and effectively.

QUALIFYING EDUCATIONAL CREDIT FOR CPA EXAMINATION

The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA) awarded Lone Star College System (LSC) the designation to offer
“Qualifying Educational Credit for the CPA Examination.” Thirteen of the LSC accounting courses meet the TSBPA’S
definition of upper-division accounting courses required to take the CPA exam. This designation allows individuals who
have already earned a baccalaureate or higher degree from a recognized educational institution to gain the thirty (30)
advanced accounting hours required to qualify for the CPA exam. The individual shall earn the “certificate in accounting”
designation. Contact the accounting department of any LSC college for specific information, advising, and recommended
sequencing of courses.

COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE CPA EXAM

The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy requires each candidate to complete a minimum of two semester hours in
accounting communications or business communication from a recognized college or university. This course is identified
as a discrete course that meets the requirement for accounting communications and includes basic writing mechanics;
effective business writing principles, including organization, clarity, and conciseness; ability to exchange technical
information and ideas with co-workers and other professionals; prepare documents and presentations that are concise,
accurate, and supportive of the subject matter; document and cross-reference work performed and conclusions reach in
an accurate manner; assist clients in recognizing and understanding implications of critical business issues by providing
recommendations and informed opinions; and prepare and present written work products in the form of memos, letters,
opinions, reports -- such as audit reports -- to others. See State Board website for more information regarding approved
communication courses https://www.tsbpa.state.tx.us/pdffiles/accounting-courses.pdf.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROCTORED EXAMS

The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy requires that exams be proctored for all accounting classes that are used
to fulfill the educational requirement for taking the CPA examination. Exam proctoring may be done in-person (at one of
the LSC testing centers) or via remote proctoring. This course will use Examity for remote proctoring of exams.

2|Page
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CPA CANDIDATES OBTAINING COLLEGE CREDITS

You are required to have academic advising and orientation about the certificate program in accounting and the courses
that are accepted by the Texas State Board of Public Accounting to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam. You should have
already received advising upon entering the ATC program. See the list below to determine the official to select for
advising.

Jacqueline Pierson: jacqueline.t.pierson@lonestar.edu - Program Chair, Faculty Advisor for CyFair/OL

Madeline Brogan: madeline.m.brogan@lonestar.edu – Faculty Advisor for Montgomery
Clifton Hill: clifton.hill@lonestar.edu – Faculty Advisor for Tomball
Lindsey McGriff: lindsey.mcgriff@lonestar.edu – Faculty Advisor for University Park

BOARD ELIMINATES IN-PERSON CLASS REQUIREMENTS

As of July 2020, an amendment to Board Rule 511.57 allows Texas CPA Exam applicants to take the 30 semester hours
of upper level accounting in any format established by the university and has eliminated the required 15 hours of face-to-
face accounting courses.

EVALUATION:
Points
Project 1: Letter 16
Project 2: Memo 16
Project 3: Report 36
Final Exam (cumulative) 16
Quizzes (4 @ 4 points each) 16
Total 100

Projects:
This segment of your grade consists of three projects that are selected from chapters 9, 10, and 11 of your Effective
Writing textbook. You will need to create each project as a Microsoft Word document and then upload the document
using the dropbox utility in D2L. LATE PROJECTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES AND
WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A GRADE OF ZERO.

Final Exam:
The Final Exam is cumulative and will consist of 20 true/false questions and 40 multiple choice questions that are
designed to evaluate your comprehension of the reading assignments from your textbook. Students will be given three
hours to complete the exam. Ten points will be automatically deducted from the exam if it is not taken during the time
indicated in the Schedule of Assignments (see section on Make-Up Exams).

Quizzes:
Four quizzes are assigned, and each quiz consists of 24 questions in the true/false and multiple choice formats. A quiz
may be taken only one time, and you are allowed one hour to complete it. NO RETAKES OR MAKE-UP QUIZZES WILL
BE PROVIDED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

MAKE-UP EXAMS

Ten points will be automatically deducted from a make-up exam since a student who is allowed to take a make-up exam
has more time to study and confer with classmates than a student who takes an exam during the scheduled class
session. Students should contact the instructor prior to missing a scheduled examination by phone, in-person, by e-mail,
or by voice mail. An opportunity to take an alternative examination will be offered to those who make prior contact with
the instructor and have a valid excused absence. Furthermore, it is possible for the ten-point penalty to be waived when a
student is able to present a written excuse that the instructor has been able to validate by contacting reliable sources.

3|Page
LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT

Final letter grades will be assigned after computing individual final averages in percent as follows:

Final Average in Percent Letter Grade

90 – 100 % A
80 – 89.9 % B
70 – 79.9% C
60 –69.9% D
0– 59.9% F

STUDENT COURSE EVALUATION

Lone Star College-Tomball/Creekside is committed to acting intentionally about student success. As part of our
institutional effectiveness efforts, our instructors are assessed in several ways. For the continuous improvement of our
instruction, you are encouraged to provide input for each course you take each semester using the Course Evaluations
Questionnaire, which can be accessed through your myLoneStar account. This occurs approximately halfway through
your course, and you will be notified when surveys are available for completion. Instructions on how to access and
complete the Course Evaluations Questionnaire can be found by logging into your myLoneStar Account and clicking on
the Quicklinks – “How To” Documents. The college deans review these evaluations each semester. Additionally, the
deans and/or department chairs may visit each instructor’s class at some time during the semester to observe the
instructional environment being provided and complete an assessment of the instructor.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

Withdrawal from the course after the official day of record will result in a final grade of “W” on the student transcript and no
credit will be awarded. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a request for withdrawal from any course.
The last day to drop this course with a “W” is 6/27/24.

Please visit Schedule Changes and Withdrawals | (lonestar.edu) for more information concerning schedule changes,
withdrawals, and refunds.

LSC SYLLABUS POLICIES

PLEASE use the following links to find ALL LSC policies, procedures, and student success information. It is your
personal, academic, and legal responsibility to know and adhere to the information provided.
http://www.lonestar.edu/syllabus-policies

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

The Lone Star College System upholds the core values of learning: honesty, respect, fairness, and accountability. We
promote the importance of personal and academic honesty. We embrace the belief that all learners – students, faculty,
staff and administrators – will act with integrity and honesty and must produce their own work and give appropriate credit
to the work of others. No fabrication of sources, cheating, or unauthorized collaboration is permitted on any work
submitted within the District.

Consequences for academic dishonesty to be determined by the professor, or the professor and Academic Dean, or the
professor and Chief Student Services Officer can include but are not limited to: 1.) having additional class requirements
imposed, 2.) receiving a grade of zero or “F” for an exam or assignment, 3.) receiving a grade of “F” for the course,
4.) being withdrawn from the course or program, 5.) being expelled from the college district.

4|Page
NON-ATTENDANCE DROP

If you do not attend class or participate in an academically related activity by the Official Day of Record (ODR), you will be
dropped from your course and may lose financial eligibility for the semester. Any financial aid funds disbursed to you, or
your account, must be returned to the U.S. Department of Education.

SYLLABUS DISCLAIMER

The instructor’s right is to modify the class schedule when necessary, and cover course topics as he/she feels are
necessary to meet the learning outcomes; therefore, this syllabus is subject to change. Students will be contacted
regarding any changes.

LSC-TOMBALL RESOURCES LSC-CREEKSIDE RESOURCES

LSC- TOMBALL LIBRARY
HOURS & PHONE:
Phone: 832-559-4211
For the most up-to-date information on LSC-Tomball’s Library
hours and services, please visit
https://www.lonestar.edu/library/tomball.htm
LSC-CREEKSIDE LIBRARY
HOURS & PHONE:
Phone: 832-761-6621
For the most up to date information on LSC- Creekside’s
Library hours and services, please visit
https://www.lonestar.edu/library/16656.htm

LSC-TOMBALL ASSESSMENT CENTER: LSC-CREEKSIDE ASSESSMENT CENTER:

Phone: 832-559-4245 Phone: 832-761-6615
For the most up to date information on LSC-Tomball’s For the most up to date information on LSC-Creekside’s
Assessment Center hours and services, please visit Assessment Center hours and services, please visit
https://www.lonestar.edu/testing-tomball.htm https://www.lonestar.edu/28239.htm

DROP-IN TUTORING: DROP-IN TUTORING:

Information on how to reach tutors can be found here: Information on how to reach tutors can be found here:
https://www.lonestar.edu/learning-Tomball https://www.lonestar.edu/learning-Tomball

LSC-HEALTH SCIENCE BUILDING RESOURCES

LSC-HSB LIBRARY
HOURS & PHONE:
Phone: 832-761-6621
For the most up-to-date information
on LSC-HSB Library hours and services,
please visit https://www.lonestar.edu/library/15804.htm

LSC-TOMBALL ASSESSMENT CENTER:

Phone: 832-559-4245
For the most up to date information on
LSC-Tomball’s Assessment Center hours
and services,
please visit https://www.lonestar.edu/testing-tomball.htm

DROP-IN TUTORING:
Information on how to reach tutors can
be found here: https://www.lonestar.edu/learning-Tomball

5|Page
 STUDENT RESOURCES

Advising Disability Services Bookstore

Phone: 281.351.3310 Phone: 281.357.3777 Phone: 281.351.3398

Email: tc-advising@lonestar.edu Email: Carolyn.L.Williams@lonestar.edu Email: tm8292@bncollege.com

Website: Website: Website:

https://www.lonestar.edu/tomballad https://www.lonestar.edu/Tomball- https://www.lonestar.edu/bookstore.htm
vising.htm disability-services.htm

Communities in Schools Admissions & Records Financial Aid

Main Campus: TBD Phone: 281.351.3389 Phone: 281.290.2700
Contact: LSC-Tomball Office of the
Vice President of Student Success Email: TC-Admissions@lonestar.edu Email: FACC@lonestar.edu

Phone: 281-357-3737 Website: https://www.lonestar.edu/66399 Website: https://www.lonestar.edu/financial-

aid.htm
Email: LSC-
TomballOfficeOfTheVicePresidentOfS
tudentSuccess@lonestar.edu

Creekside & HSB:

Amanda Heij, MSW
AHeij@CIS-Houston.org
Amanda.Heij@LoneStar.edu

832.761.6609 LSC-Creekside Center,

Office 117E (Wed and Thurs in office)
281.826.5354 LSC-Health Science
Building, Office 115 (Mon, Tues, and
Fri in office)

Website:
https://www.lonestar.edu/cis.htm

Bookstore
Phone: 1-855-463-5531
Email: LSC-Bookstore@lonestar.edu

Website:
https://www.lonestar.edu/bookstore.htm

For additional Student Resources please visit: https://www.lonestar.edu/TB-Student-Resources.htm

DISTANCE LEARNING HELPDESK NUMBER: 1-866-614-5014 – OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY - 7 DAYS A WEEK.

6|Page
 TECHNICAL WRITING FOR ACCOUNTANTS – ACNT 2345
SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS – Summer 2024

Week Start Date Study Assignments Assignments

Due
1 6/3 Guffey: Chapters 1, 2, 3 • Quiz 1 6/8
May: Chapter 1, 2, 5
2 6/9 Guffey: Chapters 4, 5, 9 • Quiz 2 6/15
May: Chapter 9, 14 • Project 1: Letter
3 6/16 Guffey: Chapters 6, 7 • Quiz 3 6/22
May: Chapter 8, 10, 12 • Project 2: Memo
4 6/23 Guffey: Chapter 10, 11, 12 • Quiz 4 6/29
May: Chapters 11, 15 • Begin Project 3: Report
5 6/30 • Complete Project 3: Report 7/9
7/6-7/9 FINAL EXAM Cumulative

Week Additional Details for Writing Assignments

2 Complete your job application letter and résumé according to the directions underneath the heading for
Exercise 14-7 found on page 270 of your May textbook. Your completed job application letter should
have an appearance similar to the example found in Figure 14-2 on page 263 of your May textbook,
and your completed résumé will have an appearance similar to the example found in Figure 14-1 on
page 258 of your May textbook. Please make sure that your job application letter has one-inch margins
at the top, bottom, left, and right. You should also utilize a 12-point font with single spacing, and the
body of your letter must have at least four paragraphs. As indicated on page 262 of your May
textbook, you will use the first paragraph as the introduction and the final paragraph to include a
courteous closing and to suggest a response from the reader or to indicate a follow-up action you will
take. Use the second and third paragraphs to indicate that you are familiar with the organization doing
the hiring and that you have the credentials the organization is looking for. This document should be
completed using the Microsoft Word software. You should format your Word document so that the
first page will be your job application letter, and the second page will be your résumé. Please submit
your completed document in the dropbox labeled Project 1 Dropbox in the Week 2 module in D2L.
3 From the 12 exercises shown on pages 200-204 of your May textbook, select one exercise that will
enable you to create a memo that resembles the example shown on pages 192-194 of your May
textbook. I want no more than three students working on each exercise, so please send me an email
message that indicates the exercise you have selected for Project 2 (either 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4, 10-5,
10-6, 10-7, 10-8, 10-9, 10-10, 10-11, or 10-12). When I have been able to determine that your exercise
has been selected by fewer than three other students, I will give you permission to start on your memo.
Please make sure that your document has one-inch margins at the top, bottom, left, and right. You
should also utilize a 12-point font with single spacing, and your document must be at least two pages in
length. This document should be completed using the Microsoft Word software. When you finish this
assignment, please submit it in the dropbox labeled Project 2 Dropbox in the Week 3 module in D2L.

7|Page
 Week Additional Details for Writing Assignments (continued from previous page)
4-5 From the nine exercises shown on pages 222-225 of your May textbook, select one exercise that will
enable you to create a report that resembles the example shown on pages 214-220 of your May
textbook. I want no more than three students working on each exercise, so please send me an email
message that indicates the exercise you have selected for Project 3 (either 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, 11-4, 11-
5, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8, or 11-9). When I have been able to determine that your exercise has been
selected by fewer than three other students, I will give you permission to start on your report.
Alternatively, you may notify me of your own topic for Project 3 if you are unable to select a suitable
topic from the nine exercises shown on pages 222-225. Please keep in mind, however, that I must
approve your topic before you begin working on your report. Your report must include an executive
summary of at least one single-spaced page and a body of at least four single-spaced pages. You
may include graphics and diagrams in your report, and they will be included in the four page total.
In other words, if your text is included on the first three pages, you may include a diagram on the
fourth page to meet the four-page requirement. Please note that if your diagram covers only the top
half of the fourth page, you must include text beneath the diagram so that your report has a total of
four pages. Margins must be one inch (top, bottom, left, right), and you must use a 12-point font.
Your report must include 1) a title page, 2) a table of contents, 3) an executive summary of at least
one page, 4) a body of at least four pages, and 5) a references page. Thus, you should expect your
report to include at least eight pages: one page for the title page, one page for the table of contents,
one page for the executive summary, four pages for the body, and one page for the references.
Finally, since you will be performing research for this assignment, make sure that your report
includes at least three references which you will document using the guidelines specified on pages
156-162 of your textbook. This document should be completed using the Microsoft Word software.
When you finish this assignment, please submit it in the dropbox labeled Project 3 Dropbox in the
Week 5 module in D2L.

NOTE: Students are encouraged to view the Announcements for this course in the D2L online
classroom. The Announcements will contain details of the latest modifications to the assignments and
exams.

NOTE: Please be sure to view the word count shown in the left corner of the status bar located at the
bottom of your Word document as you prepare each project. For Project 1, the word count of your
completed document should be no less than 500 words; for Project 2, the word count of your completed
document should be no less than 800 words; and for Project 3, the word count of your completed
document should be no less than 2,000 words. I will be closely monitoring the word count of each
student’s document to ensure that the proper length has been attained. There will be a deduction of 10
points from your project’s grade for every 10% of the words that are missing. For example, there will be
a deduction of 10 points from your Project 1 document if it is missing 50 words (500 words x 10% = 50
words); there will be a deduction of 10 points from your Project 2 grade if it is missing 80 words (800
words x 10% = 80 words); and there will be a deduction of 10 points from your Project 3 grade if it is
missing 200 words (2,000 words x 10% = 200 words).

NOTE: Students must work independently as they complete each project. Since this is a CPA
preparation course, students must complete each project in the same manner as if the writing assignment
were encountered on the CPA exam. Students will be penalized when there is an obvious indication of
collusion or if it appears that a project was completed within a group environment in which thoughts and
ideas were freely exchanged and shared with other students (see section on Academic Integrity).

THIS SCHEDULE IS TENTATIVE AND MAY VARY AS THE SEMESTER PROGRESSES.

8|Page