Topic:
Instruction: BEC Practice Written Communication Task #1
BEC Practice Written Communication Task #1
Spring 2018 Accounting 351COM
Due: Monday, February 12, 2018 (typed, printed and submitted in class)
You are a staff accountant at Gill Lam, a 30-year-old public accounting firm with 10 partners, 100 staff accountants, and 25 administrative employees (e.g. executive assistants, Information Technology support staff, etc.) in several offices in the Los Angeles area, with plans to grow in size and location. In June 2017, Gill Lam was selected by the American Theatre Association (“ATA”) to tabulate the votes for the February 20, 2018 Stage Awards, an annual televised awards show honoring off-Broadway and smaller stage theatre productions and professionals that draws celebrities in the audience and as presenters that is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The Gill Lam partners, in agreement with the ATA, decided last week that two partners will attend the Stage Awards to secure and distribute to presenters backstage the envelopes containing winners’ names, with two other staff accountants assisting them onsite. You are one of these staff accountants. Whether the ATA will give extra tickets to Gill Lam has not yet been determined.
This morning, Lee Gill sent an email to Gill Lam partners proposing that all Gill Lam partners, staff accountants, and administrative employees who may be given tickets should not be allowed to use their cellphones at the Stage Awards.
After getting a negative reaction to her email message, Lee has asked to write her a memo on the “pros and cons” of the proposed ban on cellphone use at the Stage Awards, and any alternatives you might suggest. You think Lee asked you to write this memo because you are on the Gill Lam Social Media Committee which seeks to both monitor and promote Gill Lam’s presence on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
REMINDER: Use an appropriate business format with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Do not convey information the form of a table, bullet-point list, or another abbreviated presentation. (From the CPA Exam’s BEC Written Communication Task 88237_01)
As stated in the Course Syllabus, the 5 (five) point score on this assignment will be based on organization (2 pts.), development (2 pts.), and expression (1 pt.) as defined by the AICPA. Please see: https://www.aicpa.org/becomeacpa/cpaexam/forcandidates/howtoprepare/writtencommunication.html
The May & May text’s guidance on writing for the CPA Exam is still relevant for BEC Written Communication Tasks. The Student Manual on the Case Assignment Rubric (“the Student Manual”) has been updated to include “BEC Practice” Tips on topic sentences, paragraph structure, and analysis. The textbook and online resources given in the “Writing Fundamentals” Module, as well as the Student Manual offer guidance and tips that will be helpful in the “expression” aspect of BEC Written Communication Tasks.
Per the apparent CPA Exam practice, the “To” and “Re:” (Subject) Lines have been given to you below. The “From” line template and the “Date” have also been provided.
No. of pages: 2
