COURSE SYLLABUS – Income Tax Fundamentals ACC 255.01N
Winter QUARTER, 2007, NorthSeattleCommunity College
Instructor:Larry W. Hopt, J.D.
Class Room: IB 3413
Times:5:30 – 7:40 pm Mondays & Wednesdays
Instructor’s Office: IB 2314A This is in the Business Division, on the second floor of the InstructionBuilding.
Office Hours: I will officially be available:
Mondays 2:00 - 4:00 PM
However, I am on campus many more hours than the hours listed here. If you want or need to meet in person, and cannot make one of these times, I’ll be happy to set up an appointment for other times or days that work for you.
Phone: (206) 528-4529 There is Voice-Mail if I am not able to answer when you call. I try to check this daily, but may not be able to get back to you for a day or so.
FAX: (206) 527-3735 Note that this is the fax machine for the whole Business & Engineering Technologies Division, and your message will NOT be private.
e-mail:
(That is a small “L” before the “hopt” I prefer e-mail over phone messages, if you can. Also, NOTE that e-mail messages through the college will NOT be private, as network technicians etc. have access to e-mail!!)
Text:This quarter, we will be using publications & forms from the IRS, and instructor handouts.
COURSE OBJECTIVE:The objective of this course is to introduce the student to Federal individual income tax law and income tax form preparation. No previous knowledge of income tax or accounting is required for this class.
APPROACH: We will approach these questions from the point of view of the income-tax practitioner - the preparer. Note that as an introductory survey course in taxation, it will not be possible to cover every topic in comprehensive detail.
NSCC GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES MET BY COURSE:
Outcome 1. Think critically in reading and writing.
Outcome 4. Access, evaluate, and apply information from a variety of sources and a variety of contexts.
GRADING POLICIES
I have attached a scoring guide which will be used for assigning grades. 1,000 points total are possible, to be earned as follows:
TAKE-HOME EXAMS. I will give you three take-home exams, that you will have at least a week in which to complete. You can work on these together, and I will give you some time in class in which to compare notes with other students. (150 Points possible for each exam; 450 total)
IN-CLASS EXAM. The last exam will be in-class, with no opportunity for you to talk or compare notes with other students, although it will be open-book and open notes. If you have done all the research needed to answer all the questions on the take-home exams, and you put in time reviewing at the end of the class, you should do well on the final exam. (200 Points possible)
HAND-IN HOMEWORK. There will be several homework assignments to hand in, for a total of 240 points.
CLASS QUIZZES & CLASS PARTICIPATION. The final 110 points will be assigned in a combination of “pop quizzes” and class participation (including asking/answering questions in class for problems from the text). You will be expected to have read the assigned chapters, and attempted the assigned problems prior to class. We will go through some, but not all, of the homework problems in class. You will, however, be responsible for all problems assigned, whether or not we have time to review them in class.
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Points SheetNAME:______
POSSIBLEEARNED
POINTSPOINTS
Exam 1Take-Homedue 150_____
Exam 2Take-Homedue 150_____
Exam 3Take-Home due 150______
Exam 5Last Exam on 3/19/07200_____
______
Subtotal for Exams650_____
Class Quizzes &
ClassParticipation 110_____
Hand-In Homework
POSSIBLEEARNED
POINTSPOINTS
HW140_____
HW240_____
HW340_____
HW440_____
HW540_____
HW640_____
Subtotal for Homework: 240_____
Total points possible: 1,000
TOTAL Points EARNED:_____
GRADE:_____
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GRADING SCALE:
At the end of the quarter, your total score will be compared to the following table to determine the grade you have earned for the class. This scale may require higher scores than other classes you have taken or are taking now. This reflects the fact that many of the exams/projects in this class are “take-home,” and “open-book” in nature.
Percentage4.0 Grade Scale
98 – 100%4.0
973.9
963.8
953.7
943.6
933.5
923.4
913.3
903.2
893.1
883.0
872.9
862.8
852.7
842.6
832.5
822.4
812.3
802.2
792.1
782.0
771.9
761.8
751.7
741.6
731.5
721.4
711.3
701.2
691.1
No credit is given for ending scores with less than 69%.
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Winter Quarter 2007
ACC 255.01N Fundamentals of Income Tax Schedule
This is the tentative schedule for Class Topics (subject to revision, due to possible guest speakers, instructor absence for illness). Note: There may be chapters assigned that we are not able to cover fully in class sessions; and there may be subjects that are not in the text that we do cover in class sessions. All of these topics may be the subject of exam questions. Although attendance is not required, you will be held responsible for everything covered in class or assigned for reading.
Materialto Read/Prepare
WEEK 1W 1/3Overview of Federal Income Tax System
WEEK 2M 1/8
W 1/10
WEEK 3W 1/17
(No Class Monday, 1/15, Martin Luther King Holiday)
WEEK 4M 1/22
W 1/24
WEEK 5M 1/29
W 1/31
WEEK 6M 2/5
W 2/7
WEEK 7M 2/12
W 2/14
WEEK 8W 2/21
(No Class Monday, 2/19, President’s Day)
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WEEK 9M 2/26
W 2/28
WEEK 10M 3/5
W 3/7
WEEK 11M 3/12
W 3/14
WEEK 12M 3/19FINAL EXAM
W 3/21Final Exam returned, Questions reviewed
ABSENCES:
Appropriate absences during the quarter include health, work, and family emergencies. Consistent attendance and participation is important. Part of your grade is dependent upon your participation in class, which will not be possible if you do not attend! If you miss a class, it is your sole responsibility to obtain class notes and other lecture materials that may have been handed out, from other students. Get the phone numbers and/or e-mail addresses of at least two students in the class so that you may share information. In general there will be no makeup quizzes, and you must turn in your homework on the days they are due. Any requests for changes on due dates must be made prior to the due dates. The best way to reach me is to use my e-mail address.
POLICYON COURSE WITHDRAWAL: The instructor may initiate administrative withdrawals of students who do not come to class during the first week of the quarter in order to accommodate other students seeking entry into the class. Official withdrawal at other times of the quarter is the responsibility of the student
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CLASSROOM RULES:
Please respect the opinions expressed in class by your classmates. If you disagree with their opinion, state so respectfully, and not as a personal attack.
IF you bring a laptop to class - do not play computer games during class.
Turn off all cell phones, pagers, etc. at the start of class. If you do have a device that goes off during class, please turn it off right away, and wait to respond to it after the class is over.
Please allow others to be able to hear what the instructor or classmates participants are saying, by not engaging in ancillary conversations.
Students are expected to comply with NSCC student conduct policy and procedures. Information on student responsibilities and rights is available at the following website:
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT:
If you need course adaptations or accommodation because of a disability; if you have emergency medical information to share with your instructor; or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated; please meet with your instructor as soon as possible.
ACADEMIC HONESTY: Academic honesty is highly valued at NSCC. A student must always submit work that represents his/her original words or ideas.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY COULD INVOLVE:
1. Having a tutor or friend complete a portion of your assignment.
2. Having a reviewer make extensive revisions to an assignment.
3. Copying work submitted by another student.
4. Using information from online information services without proper citation.
5. Taking exam answers from another student’s paper.
6. Using materials not allowed to answer exam questions.
EXAMINATION CONDUCT: Students are expected to complete examinations without the unauthorized use of reference materials, notes, or classmates.
CLASSROOM DIVERSITY STATEMENT: Respect for diversity is a core value of NSCC. Our college community fosters an optimal learning climate and an environment of mutual respect. We, the college community, recognize individual differences. Therefore, we are responsible for the content and tone of our statements and are empathetic speakers and listeners.
RESPECTFUL AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT: The instructor and student share the responsibility to foster a learning environment that is welcoming, supportive, and respectful of cultural and individual differences. Open and respectful communication that allows for the expression of varied opinions and multicultural perspectives encourages us to learn freely from each other.
FRAGRANCE POLICY: Students are encouraged to refrain from wearing heavily scented products during class sessions, since some individuals may experience chemical sensitivities to fragrances that interfere with their learning.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES:
Students are encouraged to seek campus support services when necessary to support their learning and academic progress. Refer to student handbook, brochures/flyers, or college website for information about:
Educational Access Office (accommodations)
Tutoring Services
Library
LOFTWritingCenter Plus
Counseling
Women’s Center
Multicultural Services Office
WellnessCenter
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