Giving Accounting Students Writing Experience as Job Preparation

Abstract

"Most business majors are required to take a written communication course covering memos, letters, and long reports. The current level of student writing skills is low enough that the one semester course can usually do no more than give an overview of business writing style and forms, so advanced courses are frequently offered. One such advanced course is Report Writing for Accountants, which is now required by a number of AACSB accounting schools. Because writing competence is required on the job, schools training accountants have begun requiring extra training in writing skills. As the designer of a new accounting writing course, I will describe the ways in which the writing assignments prepare students for the actual writing experiences they will meet on the job. Because the class writing assignments are actual accounting firm cases and formats, they exemplify a new area of experiential learning. "