Elements of a Good Research Write-up

* Short summary of the issue. This should not be repeating all the facts of the case but summarizing in a sentence or two what the most important questions are.

* Your conclusion as to the appropriate accounting treatment. Propose short conclusion and the remainder of the write-up should support the conclusion.

* Summary of the relevant accounting guidance with reference to the codification (you can use ASC##-##-##). * Short phrases only should be quoted (i.e. a quote from the ASC should not take up half a page.

* Accounting guidance should be linked to the facts of the case to support the conclusion. * The accounting guidance and the facts of the case should be linked together in one discussion not listed separately. * For example: The machine was sold on December 15 with a 60 day right of return. The final sales price is based on market prices for similar machines as of January 12. ASC605-15-25-1 lists six conditions that must be met in order to recognize the sale of a product with a right of return on the date of sale. Condition 1a. states that “the seller’s price to the buyer is substantially fixed or determinable at the date of sale.” Because the sales price is not determinable until January 12, the sale should not be recognized on December 15. * Alternative answers should be considered if applicable. If alternative conclusions were considered and discarded, the reasons that you did not support the alternative conclusion should be