INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR AF301 INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT

This assignment will be undertaken individually. You may discuss the questions with other students.
However, you must write your own answer with careful regard to academic honesty.
Learning
Objectives

This assignment addresses course learning objectives L4, L5 and L6 in the Course
Outline.

Weight

10% of overall course mark

Your assignment grade will be based on the attached marking rubric.

Due Date

On-line submission (Moodle drop box) by 10:00 am Monday 24th April. If your
similarity index exceeds 15%, you must revise your assignment and reduce the
similarity index before submitting the final version for grading.

Print-out (School of Accounting & Finance office) by 12:00 pm Monday 24th

August.

Peerrefereed
Journal
Articles

You can perform an on-line search using ProQuest or another search engine
accessible through the USP Library website.

Word Limit

1,000 words.

Consult the USP Library Information Desk if you need assistance with using on-line
search engines. However, they will not find the articles for you.

Write about 500 words for each question.

Disclose the word count in your final submission.

If your assignment exceeds the word limit, check that all your content is relevant,
avoid repetition of the same ideas and paraphrase lengthy quotes.
Style Guide

Use a font size of 12 or larger and line spacing of 1.5.

Fully-justify text and include page numbers.

Referencing

Follow the APA referencing system. Consult FBE Student Learning Support if you
need assistance with this.
You may use a maximum of 6 references including:

The assignment article

At least 1 article from peer-reviewed accounting journals (the article must have
been published in the last 5 years i.e. 2011 onwards)

At least 1 accounting text book

The IASB conceptual framework

You may only use one direct quotation in your essay.

Assessment
Policy

Refer to Pages 9 to 14 in the Course Outline, paying close attention to the sections
on plagiarism, academic dishonesty and submission of assignments.

Read the following article

Hines, R. 1998. Financial Accounting: In communicating reality, we construct reality. Accounting,
Organisations and Society Vol. 13, No. 3 p 251-261

Required
1.

Once the organization becomes accountable for something, we must account for it, sooner or
later (Hines, 1998 p254)
Explain how the conceptual framework and accounting standards contribute to the
communication and construction of reality by the accounting profession.
Hint: consider the purpose of GPFR, qualitative characteristics of useful information and
definitions of reporting elements.

2.

Discuss how the accounting profession has changed or upheld the status quo, using examples
from the article.

Page 2 of 4

Suggested Work Schedule

This is provided as a guide. You may prefer to follow a different schedule.
Week

Tasks

Output

Read the assignment questions.

Short notes

Read the article by Hines (1988).

References

Highlight relevant sections, points etc.

Look up words or concepts you dont understand.

Search for other relevant journal articles, which:

cite or critique Hines (1988).

discuss relevant aspects of the conceptual framework.

Review relevant sections of the IASB Conceptual Framework.

Short notes

Highlight relevant items.

Write your answer to the first question.

Use a separate paragraph for each new idea.

Check the similarity index using Turn-it-in.

Write your answer to the second question.

Check the similarity index for the assignment using Turn-it-in

Revise your answer by referencing, paraphrasing and avoiding
repetition.

Prepare your assignment for submission

Perform a spell-check.
Format the article.
Check referencing.
Review similarity index.

Aim to submit 24 hours in advance, to avoid congestion on Moodle

Page 3 of 4

Draft essay
Final essay

Grading
Assignments will be graded according to the following rubric. Attach a copy to your print-out only (do not include a copy with your on-line submission).
Grade

Range

CONTENT (4 marks)

ANALYSIS (4 marks)

PRESENTATION (2 marks)

Depth and Breadth of Coverage

Critical and Analytical Elements

Structure, Language & Conventions

78-100%

All sections/questions of the assignment

are covered in a thorough way.

The assignment shows great depth of

thought, excellent development of
discussion, logical analysis and insight
into the issues.

All aspects of the assignment conform to

a very high academic standard.

64-77%

Most sections/questions of the

assignment are addressed in depth.

The assignment shows strong evidence

of analysis supported by logical
discussion and insight into the issues.

Most aspects of the assignment conform

to a high academic standard.

50-63%

Key sections/questions of the

assignment are addressed adequately.

The assignment is mainly descriptive,

showing basic understanding of the
issues.

Most aspects of the assignment conform

to an acceptable academic standard.

40-49%

Most sections/questions of the

assignment are addressed inadequately.

The assignment demonstrates limited

understanding of the issues.

The assignment is not of an acceptable

academic standard.

0-39%

Most sections/questions of the

assignment are addressed in a
superficial way.

The assignment demonstrates weak

understanding of the topic.

The assignment is far below an

acceptable academic standard.

Evidence includes

Evidence includes

Evidence includes

appropriate allocation of word count

to each aspect of the question
correctly applying relevant
information provided in the question
citing sufficient credible references

conclusions supported by evidence

and logical arguments
analysis of multiple perspectives or
different possibilities

Page 4 of 4

grammatical correctness
consistency with the style guide
accuracy of referencing
general neatness of presentation