Financial Accounting I

Individual Taxation ACT 281-75Z1 Fall 2007 3 Credit Hours
Instructor:	Debbie L. Wright
E-mail:	debbie.wright@kctcs.edu (this is the best way to contact me)
Phone/Voice Mail:	270-824-8614 (email is the best way to contact me; I'm VERY, extremely, awfully bad about voice mail!)
Home Phone:	270-825-8893. Leave a message if necessary I do answer these messages. Please limit your calls to between 8:00am & 10:00pm (I am very old!).
Fax:	270-821-1555
Office Hours:	MW 1:30-3:30, T 1:00-2:00 RF by appointment. I am also happy to see you anytime I'm in my office. Email me and I’ll be happy to call you back!
Office:	Room 267, John Gray Bldg.

Description

The study of the theory and applications of federal and individual income taxes will be emphasized.

Academic Prerequisites

One semester of college accounting or consent of instructor.

Technical Requirements

You will need a reliable internet connection preferable in your own home. If you are not connected you may use Madisonville’s computer labs for the homework. You need to contact me so we can get the proper software installed for you. Email me with any questions.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student can: 1) demonstrate the ability to identify and accumulate data necessary to complete individual federal tax returns; 2) demonstrate the ability to prepare individual federal tax returns; 3) demonstrate appropriate computerized applications of individual taxation.

Text

Fundamentals of Taxation, 2007 edition, Cruz, Deschamps, Niswander, Prendergast, Schisler, Trone. McGraw-Hill Irwin 2008. This text should be packaged with Tax Act, which is required for this class.

Methods

This course involves a great deal of independent work on the part of the student. The instructor is available for questions by email and through the discussion area for any help you might need.

Exams

There will be four exams worth 100 points each. Exams may consist of definitions, problems, and short essays. There will be 10 quizzes online worth 10 points each. I will take the 9 highest quizzes for a total of 90 points towards your final grade.

Make-Up/Late Work Policy

If you must miss an exam for any reason, you may take a comprehensive make-up exam during finals week. There is no make-up for a second missed exam. I will not accept homework or quizzes after the scheduled due date for any reason.

Homework

Homework will be done in Word, Excel or the Tax Act (required) program packaged with the book.

Withdrawal

I will discourage you from dropping if, in my opinion, you are passing the course. December 1st is the last day that I will give my permission to drop. If you must drop a class you should email me a request to drop, your social security number or student id and the person to contact at your college with the permission (if necessary). I will email you permission so you can initiate the withdrawal process at your home college. Remember, I cannot drop the class for you; I can only give you permission!

Attendance

It is important that you maintain a presence in the online discussion area and turn in the homework on time as the semester progresses. You should check into the website three times per week for announcements and answers to questions in the discussion area. Also check your KCTCS email address for messages from me relating to class.

Important Web Sites—these links are also on the web site.

1. The website for the course is: http://http://dwrightmcc.pageout/net. This is where you will interact with the class, upload homework and view Power Points.

2. You may view the KCTCS Student Code of Conduct at www.kctcs.edu/student/code.htm.

3. To get to your KCTCS email account go to http://www.madcc.kctcs.edu/newsite/index.htm.

4. Library services: http://www.kctcs.edu/distancelearning/libraries.htm. Link to Madisonville Community College Library on MCC Homepage. Use the same KCTCS email link above.

5. If you are having logon problems or have any technical questions contact KYVU at 877-740-4357. Help desk information at http://www.kyvuorg/contact_us.asp.

Library Information

You may use the Kentucky Virtual Library (http://elearning.kctcs.edu/@@b893c3b30a24afaae90cd86156312b29/courses/1/MDC_4074_ACT_281_75Z1/debbie.wright/My%20Documents/ACC202/Fall_2003/www.kyvl.org ) where many books and other resources are available online. The librarians here can also help you find other materials you need and have them delivered to your local library. They will even help you with research - all for free! To access the Library databases, you will need a username and password. Email me if you wish one.

General Education Competencies

Communicate Effectively

--Course objective: The student will read with comprehension, write clearly using standard English, interact cooperatively with others using online means and demonstrate information processing through basic computer skills. This competency will be evaluated via discussion questions on quizzes, computerized tax preparation problems, communication on the discussion board and completion of exams.

--Instructional objectives: The student will demonstrate reading skills by reading the textbook and various websites to preparing assignments. Writing will be evaluated by examination of student writing assignments, including quizzes, critical thinking exercises and exams. The student will demonstrate effective communication through such activities as threaded discussions, interactions with other students, and homework preparation. The student will demonstrate computer skills by using excel, word, the internet to complete class assignments.

Think Critically

--Course objective: The student will demonstrate problem solving through interpreting, integration of knowledge, analyzing, evaluating and deduction. The student will use mathematics to organize, analyze, and synthesize data to solve homework problems.

--Instructional objectives: The student will demonstrate critical thinking by evaluation and discussion of various homework problems. The information gathered will be effectively presented using various Tax Act computerized tax preparation software. The student will be required to analyze information provided, draw reasonable conclusions and propose a course of action to solve a problem.

Learn Independently

--Course objective: The student will use appropriate search strategies and resources to find, evaluate, and use information.

--Instructional objectives: The student will demonstrate independent learning by answering “Critical Thinking” questions for each chapter.

Disability Statement

"Students with documented disabilities that require individualized accommodations should schedule a conference with the Disability Resources Coordinator, Valerie Wolfe, room 112LRC at their earliest convenience.

Grading

Event	Points	My Scores
Exam 1 Chapters 1-3	100
Exam 2 Chapters 4-5	100
Exam 3 Chapters 6-8	100
Exam 4 Chapters 9-10	100
Homework Chapters 1-10 (Discussion questions and/or Tax Act)	390
Online Quizzes (I will count the 9 highest grades. If you do all 10 home works I’ll add in the points here as “extra credit”)	90
Orientation Week 1	20
Total Points	900

	Letter Grades	Points Required
	A	810-900
	B	720-809
	C	630-719
	D	560-629
	E	less than 560

Individual Taxation

Assignment Schedule

Fall 2007

Specific homework assignments will be listed in each chapter folder. There will be some special instructions so please read carefully to prevent needless work (for both of us)! Thanks, d.

Date	Chapter	Assignment	Comments/Due Dates
8/20		Orient yourself Install Tax Act 20 Points	Start in Week 1 under “Go to Class” for instructions/orientation Finished? Work ahead!
8/27	1	Chapter 1 Homework & Quiz 1	Homework & Quiz Due: 9/3 midnight ET This is Labor Day Weekend, if you plan to travel--hand in hw early!
9/4	2	Chapter 2 Homework & Quiz 2	Homework & Quiz Due: 9/9 midnight ET Always look for specific assignments and instructions in Chapter 2 folder
9/10	3	Chapter 3 Homework & Quiz 3	Homework & Quiz Due: 9/16 midnight ET Always look for specific instructions in the Chapter 3 Folder
9/12		Practice Exam Open through 9/23	Does not affect your grade. See Review for Exam 1 in “Exams”
9/20	Exam 1	Chapters 1-3. Opens 9/20 6AM -9/23 Midnight ET	You will have 2 hours to take this exam during this 4-day window.
9/24	4	Chapter 4 Homework & Quiz 4	Homework & Quiz Due: 9/30 Midnight ET
10/1	5	Chapter 5 Homework & Quiz 5	Homework & Quiz Due: 10/14 Midnight ET.
Madisonville’s Fall Break 10/8-10/12 Instructor offline If your fall break is different work ahead this week!
10/18	Exam 2	Chapters 4 – 5. Open from 10/18 6:00AM, through 10/21 Midnight ET	You will have 2 hours to take this exam during this 4 day period. Exam Review in Exams Folder
If you miss an exam for any reason you may take the comprehensive make-up during finals week.
10/22	6	Chapter 6 Homework & Quiz 6	Homework & Quiz Due: 10/28 Midnight ET
10/29	7	Chapter 7 Homework & Quiz 7	Homework & Quiz Due: 11/4 Midnight ET
11/5	8	Chapter 8 Homework & Quiz 8	Homework & Quiz Due: 11/11 Midnight ET
11/15	Exam 3	Chapters 6-8 Open 11/15 6:00AM-11/18 Midnight ET	You will have 2 hours to take this exam during this 4-day window. See Review in Exam Folder
If you miss an exam for any reason you may take the comprehensive make-up during finals week.
11/19	9	Chapter 9 Homework & Quiz 9	Homework & Quiz Due: 11/25 Midnight ET
11/26	10	Chapter 10 Homework & Quiz 10	Homework & Quiz Due: 12/2 Midnight ET
12/5	Exam 4	Chapters 9-10 Test open from 12/5 at 6:00AM—12/10 at Midnight ET	You will have 2 hours to take this exam during this 6-day window. See Review in Exam Folder
12/10	You may take a make-up for any missed exam. You should email me before this date!
This schedule is subject to change; however exams will occur as scheduled. No homework is accepted late. You may turn in homework early.