financial statement analysis spring 2008 syllabus.doc

FINC/ACCT 6316 Spring 2008 Syllabus 1

Abstract

This syllabus outlines the rules and procedures for the class FINC/ACCT 6316 Financial

Management in APA version 5 format according to the rules in the Publication Manual of the

American Psychological Association (5th ed., 2001). On or before the first class day, you will

find a final version posted in the Course Info area of your Blackboard class. The schedule

remains tentative throughout the trimester for your benefit to allow for flexibility at your

professor’s discretion. By the way, this syllabus is a compilation and explanation of the rules, so

it is a rather serious document, for the most part. Finally, if you find what you believe to be an

error and/or an omission, please notify your professor.

Current syllabus for this course may be obtained from professor. This is a sample syllabus and should not be used by students enrolled in this course.

Financial Statement Analysis Spring 2008 Syllabus

St. Edward’s University

FINC/ACCT 6316


FINC/ACCT 6316 Financial Statement Analysis Spring 2008 Syllabus

FINC/ACCT 6316 Financial Statement Analysis (FSA) is a core course for the MBA

program in which you will synthesize knowledge obtained in previous courses. In this course,

you will focus on using financial statement data to value a company. The effective analysis of a

set of financial statements requires an understanding of the economic characteristics and current

conditions of a firm’s businesses, the particular strategy the firm selects to compete successfully

in each of these businesses and the accounting principles and procedures underlying the firm’s

financial statements. You will integrate concepts from marketing, finance, economics, business

strategy, accounting and other business disciplines in analyzing the company’s historical

financial performance, projecting future performance and estimating the company’s market

value. Thus, it is very important that you have completed all of your 5000 level courses and

FINC 6301 Financial Management before you take this course. If you do not have the

prerequisites for this course, then you should drop the course and sign up for those. You will be

dropped administratively if you do not have the prerequisites for the course.

The premise of this class is that students learn financial statement analysis most

effectively by performing the analysis on companies. Your assignments require critical thinking,

communication skills, analysis, research, interpretation, decision-making, ethical considerations

and the use of technology. Because this combination course of finance, accounting, economics,

marketing, business strategy and management is complex, it is necessary to focus in this course

on the most important aspects of valuation and analysis. We will not cover every aspect in detail,

however. When you complete this course successfully, you will be able to:

Relate and integrate valuation and analysis with the disciplines for a

Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA)



Develop a thorough understanding of the role of the global manager

by considering and assessing how the actions of the manager

affect the value and valuation of firm

Discuss and write about valuation and analysis eloquently

More specifically, you will know how to

Evaluate a company’s standing within the industry by ranking the

competitive forces acting on that company as high, moderate or

low (Porter’s Five Forces)

Identify a company’s competitive strategy

Interpret the level of a company’s potential for profitability based on

its standing within its industry, its competitive strategy and its

strengths and weaknesses

Analyze and interpret accounting principles and practices and how

these might affect financial statements

Compute and interpret financial ratios and perform a cash flow

analysis

Project future operating results and operating position in the form of

pro forma financial statements

Compute cash flow streams necessary for valuation

Value a company and make an investment recommendation (buy,

sell or hold) using several valuation methods



Expectations

FINC/ACCT 6316 is a Phase II course, one that you should take later in your Phase II

coursework after you have taken the appropriate prerequisites. Your main goal in this course is

to arrive at a deeper understanding of valuation. You can achieve this through the following

activities:

Reading and studying learning objectives and the assigned reading material chapters

both before and after class discussion

Participating fully in class discussions

Paying attention to and asking thoughtful questions

Finding and relating relevant current events to the material covered in a specific

weekly class

Participating in problem-solving sessions, in and out of class, with others when

appropriate

Successfully completing class prep assignments and examinations

Working in a team on a team project

Finding other ways to meet the course learning objectives

Your professor’s goal is to guide you through the appropriate material, create a safe

atmosphere for you to learn about financial statement analysis and grade your performance fairly

on quizzes (if given), class contributions to discussions and on written assignments.

To make a B in this course, you should plan to spend at least three (3) hours each week

preparing for each one (1) hour we spend in class discussions each week and that includes

preparing written assignments. Thus, you should plan to spend at least nine (9) or more hours

per week outside of class preparing for class discussions by reading the text, preparing for



class and preparing your written assignments in a timely manner. You will spend approximately

three hours each week in class as well for a total of approximately twelve (12) hours per week.

Part of your grade is your class contribution, so you should be prepared to discuss

thoroughly the topics assigned for the class. In addition to your discussion contributions, your

professor may choose to give you quizzes as well, announced or unannounced, that count

towards your class contribution grade.

If you would like to earn an A, you will most likely have to devote more time to the class.

Finally, just because you spend a certain amount of time or energy on the class does not mean

that you will earn a specific or good grade. You must show to your professor’s satisfaction that

you know the material for you to earn a good grade, i.e., an A or a B.

Whether or not you learn anything is entirely up to you, your talents and skills as

well as your efforts both in and out of class .

Course Information

Prerequisites

The prerequisites for this course are all of your 5000 level courses and FINC 6301. See

the graduate bulletin and/or your advisor for the prerequisites if you are unsure. You will have to

write in this course as well as solve problems and create Excel workbooks, skills you should

have learned in the prerequisites for this course. You do have a software package that

accompanies the textbook that you may use as well.

If you do not have the prerequisites, you need to drop this course immediately and sign

up for whatever prerequisite(s) you are lacking. You may not take any prerequisites concurrently

with FINC/ACCT 6316. Finally, you should know how to use Microsoft Excel and a financial

calculator. You will be applying those tools to your work in this course extensively. The TI BA-



II Plus calculator is recommended. You are responsible for you knowing how to use Excel,

the calculator and Blackboard. Do not expect to spend any time in class learning how to use

any of these items.

Professor Contact Information

See the Faculty Info area of Blackboard for your professor’s contact information. Email

works well. Email with FINC 6316 in the subject line works the best.

Required Course Materials

We require one item for this course: the textbook Financial Reporting, Financial

Statement Analysis, and Valuation: A Strategic Perspective (Stickney, Brown & Wahlen, 2007).

You do not need to purchase anything else. You will access company data using the SEU Library

databases.

You will be using Blackboard extensively, so you need to have reliable Internet

connectivity and know how to use Blackboard. It is your responsibility to read and retrieve all

necessary information from the Blackboard website on a regular basis (to be determined by your

professor). In addition to posting all announcements and course documents in Blackboard, your

professor may choose to collect and return your assignments via Blackboard, either through the

Digital Drop Box (DDB) or the Assignments feature. Your professor has the option to require

hard copies of assignments as well and/or to give you feedback electronically through

Blackboard.

It is also your responsibility to make sure that you check your St. Edward’s University

email account on a regular basis or that you have properly forwarded your email to your own

email address. See the Useful Web Sites area of your Blackboard class for all kinds of help

links for email issues, Excel and Blackboard. Do search out the help and information at these



websites but do not expect your professor to help you fix your email or your Blackboard

problems.

Recommended Course Materials

If you have not already, you should purchase the Publication Manual of the American

Psychological Association (5th ed., 2001) [hereafter referred to as APA version 5] since it will be

useful in writing the team wikis in this course in this course and in the remainder of your career

as an MBA student at SEU. The library has copies of this manual. It is your responsibility to use

APA version 5 rules when turning in any written work, be it online or hard copy, in this course.

If you have a question about the rules, go to the manual. There are some useful web sites in the

Useful Web Sites area of your Blackboard class for help with APA version 5 format. Notice that

this document is in APA format. You can download and save it to use as a template for your

papers.

Just for your information, the MBA faculty adopted the APA format because of

overwhelming student desire for a single uniform format for papers. The faculty realizes that it is

not perfect. It is required and your best bet is to accept that you will use it, so you should figure

this out as early as possible so that you can focus on the content and not the format. See the

website http://www.stedwards.edu/business/graduate/current/apa.htm for an APA template to

copy and use along with other very useful writing information.

Forbidden Course Materials

You may not use any materials that you may have received from anyone, including

students from previous semesters, except the books. These materials include notes, answer keys,

graded or not graded problem sets or papers or other assignments, cases and quizzes, as well as

any other material that deemed inappropriate for you to use. If you use such materials, you are


http://www.stedwards.edu/business/graduate/current/apa.htm


cheating. If you know of anyone using such materials, you must inform your professor of such

behavior. See the section Additional Thoughts and Academic Integrity regarding such violations.

Grades

You must complete all assigned work in this course to your professor’s satisfaction

to be eligible to receive a passing grade in the course. You must also return all original

graded work to the professor to be eligible to receive a passing grade in this course.

There will be two examinations: a mid-term and a final as noted in Table 1: Tentative

Schedule. See the end of this document for the tables.

See Table 2: Grades for a grade breakdown. You should read Table 3: Course

Performance Criteria for further information about how you will be graded in this course.

Class Prep and Contribution

Your enthusiastic contribution is required to make the class a fun and exciting learning

experience for all present, including your professor. Consequently, your professor expects you to

have completed all work assigned (found in Blackboard/Class Prep) prior to coming to class and

be fully prepared to discuss the material in class. If you do not turn in the class prep assignment

before class, then you will still have to complete the assignment and upload it to Blackboard in

Blackboard/LATE Class Prep. You will earn 0% on late assignments so please plan

accordingly.

Class contribution grades start at zero each week. Your grade depend upon your

appropriate contribution in the class discussion and your completion of the post-class class

contribution assignment (found in Blackboard/Class Contribution immediately after each class).

Sitting quietly in class will earn you 0%. Prepare for class as directed and see Table 4: Holistic

Scoring Guide for Class Contribution Work for the items you should think about as you



contribute in class. It is up to the professor to decide which of these items he or she will grade in

a particular class session.

Missed Classes

You should let your professor know via email in advance, if possible, if you will miss

class. If you miss class for acceptable reasons (your professor decides what is acceptable), then

you will either not get a class contribution grade for that particular class or you will have to

submit make up work for the grade. If you miss class for unacceptable reasons, you will receive

0% for that class contribution grade. If you miss class two (2) or more times for unacceptable

reasons, you may be withdrawn from the course.

Your professor may ask for documentation of your excuse if necessary. You will receive

a zero for any work missed during an unexcused absence, but you must turn in all work

regardless. As stated previously, you must complete all assigned work in this course to your

professor’s satisfaction to be eligible to receive a passing grade in the course.

You are entirely responsible for all missed class material. The first thing you should do if

you miss class is to talk to classmates about the information covered in the missed class. You

should not rely solely on the postings in Blackboard nor should you ask your professor what you

did in the missed class before you check with your classmates. If you have a question about what

happened in class after you have spoken to your classmates and reviewed their notes, then please

feel free to contact your professor.

Team Project

You will, as part of a two- or three-person team, compare two companies. You will write

in team wikis (located in Team Project/Wikis…available after you form teams) with deadlines

spread throughout the semester. You can find more explicit instructions in Team Project/Wikis/



Ultimately, your team will make a buy, sell or hold recommendation for the main company

based upon analysis and valuation. You will use the other company as your comparison

company. Your team will also make a team presentation in class regarding your

recommendations.

Although your teammates will not grade you on your teamwork, I will be asking for

feedback during the semester regarding issues. If, for some reason and according to my

judgment, you are unable to work successfully with a team at any time during the trimester, you

will have to complete the equivalent work by yourself.

You will also find two rubrics (Writing and Presentation Rubrics) in Blackboard in one

Excel workbook in Team Project. There is one for written work and one for presentations. You

will also see at the end of this syllabus in Table 5: Holistic Scoring Guide for Written Work. This

guide will give you some idea of how the wiki should read. Study those before, during and after

writing and presenting. These are general rubrics. You also have a rubric within the document

Team Wiki Instructions in Team Project in Blackboard (posted during the first two weeks of

class).

Finally, although you should also run the grammar and spell checkers available to you

before you turn in your paper assignment, you should also read the material you have written

aloud for continuity, flow and correct grammar usage. One problem with team projects is the

lack of cohesion. Build into your schedule a period for each team member to read the entire

posting before you submit it. Your grade will be much better if you do so.

Special Circumstances (adapted from Student Disability Services (current edition))

If you have a medical, psychiatric or learning disability and require accommodation in

this class, you need to let your professor know early in the semester or as soon as you are eligible



by providing the appropriate, current-trimester letter from the Student Disability Services Office.

You will first need to provide documentation of your disability to the Student Disability Services

Office located in Moody Hall 155 in Academic Planning and Support. We will make special

accommodations for individuals only as provided for in the appropriate current trimester letter

from the Student Disability Services Office.

Additional Thoughts and Academic Integrity

You are responsible for knowing the administrative details associated with your

matriculation. If you have a question about such things as drops, either late or early, you

need to consult with your advisor and/or the graduate bulletin.

Most of us know what good business manners are and are not, so if you know what those

are, use them. If you do not, ask your classmates for guidance.

The St. Edward's University Graduate Bulletin and the Student Handbook state that a

student who is dishonest in any work may receive the maximum penalty of a mark of F for that

course. Withdrawal from a course is not allowed when an F in the course for academic

dishonesty has been imposed. Students caught committing academic dishonesty in this course

will be subject to the full range of penalties as described in the Graduate Bulletin, Student

Handbook and online at http://www.stedwards.edu/stubook/academic/acad_rules/grievance.html.

You can find the Graduate Bulletins online at http://www.stedwards.edu/cap/gradbulletin.htm

We do use turnitin.com to check any written work for plagiarism.


http://www.stedwards.edu/cap/gradbulletin.htm

http://www.stedwards.edu/stubook/academic/acad_rules/grievance.html


References

Academic integrity policy. St. Edward’s University.


American Psychological Association. Publication manual of the American Psychological

Association (5th ed.). (2001). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

Graduate bulletin (various years). Austin, Texas: St. Edward’s University.


Nichols, W.E. (n.d.) Plagiarism.

http://www.stedwards.edu/bss/nichols/nichols/plagiarismexamples.htm

Stickney, C.P., Brown, P.R.., and Wahlen, J.M. (2007). Financial Reporting, Financial

Statement Analysis, and Valution: A Strategic Perspective . Mason, OH: Southwestern, a

division of Thomson Learning.

Porter, M. E. (1980). Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and

Competitors, with a New Introduction. New York, NY: The Free Press, a division of

Simon and Schuster, Inc.

Student handbook (current year). Austin, Texas: St. Edward’s University.

Student Disability Services. Faculty guidebook for students with disabilities. (current year).

Austin, Texas: St. Edward’s University.

White, E.M. (1988). Teaching and assessing writing. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Writing and presentation rubrics. Austin, Texas: School of Management & Business, SEU.

Blackboard/Team Project.


http://www.stedwards.edu/bss/nichols/nichols/plagiarismexamples.htm




Writing resources. (n.d.) http://www.stedwards.edu/business/graduate/current/apa.htm .


http://www.stedwards.edu/business/graduate/current/apa.htm


Table 1: Tentative Schedule

DateClass

NumberCovers

Chapter(s)Class Topics

Class Prep due by 6 pm

the day of class

1 Overview of Financial Reporting, Financial Statement Analysis & ValuationApp 1.1 Preparing a Term Project

Using Excel appropriatelyApp C Financial Statement Analysis Package (FSAP) User's Manual

Discuss various companies & industries2 Asset & Liability Valuation & Income Measurement3 Income Flows versus Cash Flows: Key Relationships in the Dynamics of a Business

Choose team; discuss company choice with professor3 No Class Work on Wikis Class 03 Prep

Wiki 1 preliminary deadline for first substantive postings by each team member4 Profitability Analysis

Wiki 1 final deadline: Porter & Competitive Strategy Analysis5 Risk Analysis

Discuss first Wiki with professor & work in teams6 Quality of Accounting Information & Adjustments to Reported Financial Statement Data

Wiki 2 preliminary deadline for first substantive postings by each team member7 Revenue Recognition & Related Expenses8 Liability recognition & Related Expenses

Wiki 2 final deadline: Financial Analysis8 9 Intercorporate Entities Class 08 Prep

Discuss second Wiki with professor & work in teamsThu 06 Mar 9

10 Forecasting Financial StatementsReview mid-term exam

11 Risk-Adjusted Expected Rates of Return & the Dividends Valuation ApproachDiscuss third Wiki with professor & work in teamsWiki 3 preliminary deadline for first substantive postings by each team member

12 Valuation: Cash-Flow-Based Approaches13 Valuation: Earnings-Based Approaches14 Valuation: Market-Based Approaches

Discuss third Wiki & presentation with professor & work in teamsThu 17 Apr 13 Class PresentationsThu 24 Apr 14 Final ExamThu 01 MaySat 03 May GraduationTue 06 May Grades due in EdWeb by 11:59 pm

Class 02 Prep

Thu 03 Apr 11

Thu 10 Apr 12

Class 11 Prep

Class 12 Prep

Thu 21 Feb 7

Thu 10 Jan 1 Class 01 Prep

Thu 17 Jan 2

Thu 31 Jan 4

5

Thu 14 Feb 6

Thu 27 Mar 10

Wiki 3 final deadline: Valuation

Thu 24 Jan

Thu 28 Feb

Class 04 Prep

Class 05 Prep

Class 06 Prep

Class 07 Prep

Mid Term Exam

Class 10 Prep

Thu 07 Feb



Table 2: Grades

Total Number Planned Each is worth

Individual grades 65%Class Prep 15% 11 1.4%

Class contribution 10% 11 0.9%

Class quizzes 10% 11 0.9%In-class mid-term exam 15% 1 15.0%

In-class final exam 15% 1 15.0%Team project grades 35%

Team wikis: team grade 15% 3 5.0%Team wikis: individual grade 10% 3 3.3%

Presentation: team grade 5% 1 5.0%Presentation: individual grade 5% 1 5.0%

Total 100%Final course letter grade

A 90% or higherB 80-89%C 70-79%D 60-69%F lower than 60%

Other assignments may count as part of or all of your class contribution grade.

Note. Rounding is according to convention. For example, 89.4% becomes 89% , a B.

You must complete all assigned work to your professor's satisfaction to receive a C or higher

grade in the courseGrading Table

Table 3: Course Performance Criteria

Course Performance See the performance criteria or expectations for each letter grade in the table below. Students demonstrating the requirements listed for each particular grade level will have clearly demonstrated those requirements to the professor’s satisfaction.Grade Requirements




Course Performance AExceptional or outstanding mastery

Accurate and sophisticated understanding of readings and issues with the ability to do more than repeat what the text says or what was said in class, such as the ability to infer additional important information from sources

Critical stance toward opinions communicated in class or in the readings and the ability to express individual views articulately and defend them well

Originality of thought in expressing the critical stance, in drawing out additional implications from the readings and class discussions, and in finding personal meaning in the readings and issues discussed

Clear expressions of ideas with papers containing very few grammatical or stylistic weaknesses

BVery good mastery

All the elements of “A” work, but with fewer accomplishments

Accurate understanding of reading and issues, with the ability to do more than repeat the text

A critical stance, with some effort, but not always successful to defend that stance

Some attempt to find personal meaning, with at least hints of originality and creativity of thought

Very clear expression of thoughts and ideas




Course Performance CThe minimum of what was expectedNote: C-Level work generally is unsatisfactory at the graduate level. Students who earn a C in a course are not required to repeat the course. Students who earn more than the allowable number of course grades below a B will not be allowed to continue in the Program. See the Graduate Bulletin, current year, or talk with your advisor for more information.

A generally accurate grasp of the readings and issues, but with some inaccuracies; a lack of sophisticated understanding, such as the ability to infer from sources

Some attempt to take a critical stance, but with little effort or success in defending that stance

Some attempt to find personal meaning Sufficient clarity of expression to

communicate ideas, but with stylistic or grammatical weaknesses which create some difficulties

DGenerally inadequate and less than expected

Genuine efforts to understand, with some demonstrated understanding of readings and issues, but with serious deficiencies

General lack in critical stance or in a defense of that stance

Lack of understanding or an attempt to find personal meaning

FVirtually no demonstrated mastery

Failing to display anything approaching a satisfactory effort in key respects, especially in understanding or clarity of expression



Table 4: Holistic Scoring Guide for Class Contribution Work

Grade RequirementsAExceptional or outstanding mastery

Exhibiting thorough knowledge of the assigned material by completing any preparatory work for the class and by contributing in class discussions

Relating the course goals and/or objectives to the assigned material in a meaningful manner

Showing strong ability to relate extra material to the assigned material

Articulating your thoughts well on your feet or in your seat

Outpouring of genuine enthusiasm for the material

Treating classmates with grace and dignity, particularly those with whom you disagree

Appropriately challenging others, including the professor, when suitable

Exhibiting a desire to listen to others that is at least as strong as your desire to tell us what you think and do

Displaying an appropriate sense of humor




Low A or high B Exhibiting knowledge of the assigned material by completing any preparatory work for the class and by contributing in class discussions

Relating the course goals and/or objectives to the assigned material in a meaningful manner

Showing ability to relate extra material to the assigned material

Articulating your thoughts fairly well on your feet or in your seat

Outpouring of enthusiasm for the material


Appropriately challenging others, including the professor, when suitable

Exhibiting a desire to listen to others that is at least as strong as your desire to tell us what you think and do





BVery good mastery

Exhibiting a not-quite-complete knowledge of the assigned material by completing any preparatory work for the class and by contributing in class discussions

Relating the course goals and/or objectives to the assigned material

Attempting to show ability to relate extra material to the assigned material

Articulating your thoughts somewhat successfully on your feet or in your seat

Moderately exhibiting genuine enthusiasm for the material


Challenging classmates when appropriate

Exhibiting a desire to listen to others that is stronger than your desire to tell us what you think and do


CThe minimum of what was expectedNote: C-Level work generally is unsatisfactory at the graduate level.

Exhibiting an incomplete knowledge of the assigned material or not contributing in a meaningful manner to the discussion either in class discussions

Unsuccessfully relating the course goals and/or objectives to the assigned material

Not attempting to show ability to relate extra material to the assigned material

Not attempting to articulate your thoughts somewhat successfully on your feet or in your seat

Not exhibiting genuine enthusiasm for the material

Treating classmates with something less than grace and dignity,




particularly those with whom you disagree

Attempting to challenge others inappropriately or unsuitably

Exhibiting a desire to listen to others that is not quite as strong as your desire to tell us what you think and do

Displaying a sense of humorDGenerally inadequate and less than expected

Exhibiting little knowledge of the assigned material


Not attempting at all to show ability to relate extra material to the assigned material

Showing a serious reluctance to articulate your thoughts somewhat successfully on your feet or in your seat

Exhibiting slight disdain for the material

Treating classmates negatively or ignoring them completely

Attempting to challenge others inappropriately or unsuitably

Exhibiting a desire to listen to others that is much less than your desire to tell us what you think and do

Displaying an inappropriate sense of humor or no sense of humor


Exhibiting no knowledge of the assigned material, i.e., saying “I don’t know” in a response to a question


No ability to relate extra material to the assigned material

Showing total reluctance to articulate your thoughts somewhat




successfully on your feet or in your seat

Exhibiting disdain for the material Ignoring classmates and professor Challenging others inappropriately Exhibiting no desire to listen to others Displaying an inappropriate sense of

humor or no sense of humor



Table 5: Holistic Scoring Guide for Written Work

Holistic Scoring Guide for Written WorkThis guide is adapted from White (1988).Grade RequirementsAExceptional or outstanding mastery

Outstanding: An “A” paper completes the task set by the assignment and is excellent in nearly all respects. Well argued and well organized, such a paper has a clear thesis stated or implied. The content is specific, accurate, interesting and appropriate. The paper demonstrates an ability to produce and synthesize complex ideas. Logical transitions contribute to its fluent style. It is virtually free from errors in mechanics, usage and sentence structure and shows evidence of excellent command of language.

Low A or high B Very good: This paper shares most of the characteristics of the outstanding paper. Although it shows no serious errors in logic, the reasoning is not as good as that of an outstanding paper. There may be minor weaknesses in paragraphing, but the units are coherent and organized effectively. This paper that is well written and largely free from errors in mechanics, usage and sentence structure.

B Satisfactory: This paper is generally competent. It may accomplish the assignment less completely than the outstanding or very good paper, but it does come to terms with the basic task of the assignment. Compared to a very good paper, it may have a weaker thesis and less effective or complete development. It may insufficiently develop minor points, but it does give evidence of the writer’s ability to support key ideas. The reader can move with relative ease through the discourse because it is fairly organized. This paper may contain some awkward or ineffective sentences and may show some problems with mechanics and usage, but these errors are not frequent enough to distract the reader consistently from the content. It does come to terms with the basic task of the assignment.

CThe minimum of what was expected

Minimally satisfactory: This paper may show difficulty managing the task of the assignment.



Table 5: Holistic Scoring Guide for Written Work

Holistic Scoring Guide for Written WorkNote: C-Level work generally is unsatisfactory at the graduate level.

The thesis may be vague or too obvious for effective development. The paper may lack adequate support for the thesis. There may be distinct weaknesses in paragraphing and organization, but the total effect is not chaotic. Errors in mechanics, usage and sentence structure interfere with readability.

DGenerally inadequate and less than expected

Poor: This paper fails to come to terms with the assignment. The writer has ignored, misconstrued, badly mishandled or redefined the task to accommodate what the writer wants to say or is able to say. There may be a combination of the following defects: serious errors in reasoning, little or no development of ideas or no clear progression from one part of the paper to the next. This paper may have ungrammatical or poorly constructed sentences and serious, frequent errors in mechanics and usage that impede understanding.


Unacceptable: This paper is seriously flawed. It is likely to have no clear thesis or central topic. Further, it may display random organization, lack adequate support or specific development, include irrelevant detail and fail to fulfill the assignment or be unduly brief. It may also contain major and repeated errors in mechanics, usage and sentence structure. In addition, a paper that does not address the topic in the assignment is unacceptable.


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