REQUIREMENTS
1. IT News Commentary Research. Identify a recent IT news item of interest (e.g., article, issue, report, or event) to serve as the focus for your news commentary. The news item must be recent in occurrence[footnoteRef:0] and address an information systems (IS) related technology topic of direct relevance to accounting practice and/or course content.[footnoteRef:1] Conduct supporting research to synthesize a sound understanding of the selected news item and IT topic(s) to which it relates. Supporting research is required and may be conducted using print, media, and/or online sources.
Note
: Research must include a minimum of 3 distinct outside sources. [0: The news item must have occurred within the last 6 months; older items are only appropriate if more recent items (i.e., recent items that follow-up on or update the selected item) can be integrated into your commentary.] [1: There are numerous IT topics relevant to accounting practice/course content. See the AICPA Information Technology Resource page https://www.aicpa.org/interestareas/informationtechnology.html and/or Cybersecurity Resource Center https://www.aicpa.org/interestareas/frc/assuranceadvisoryservices/cyber-security-resource-center.html for examples of relevant IT topics.]
2. IT News Commentary Write-Up. Prepare a concise, properly formatted write-up (1-2 pages including written responses, illustrations, references). Write-ups must
a. Include the title and original source of the recent news item (1 line).
b. Include a discussion of the IT topics(s) (e.g., background/concepts/issues) to which the news item relates (1 paragraph)
c. Include a discussion of the key point(s) of the news item (1 paragraph).
d. Include a commentary on the relevance of the news item to accounting practice and/or course content[footnoteRef:2]
AND
a statement re the personal value of the knowledge you acquired while completing this assignment[footnoteRef:3] (1 paragraph). [2: Consider the topics(s)/issue(s) to which the news item relates and comment on relevance to course content.] [3: Consider what you learned while completing this assignment and comment on the personal importance of such knowledge to you, how such knowledge furthered your understanding, and/or how such knowledge offers value to you as an aspiring accounting professional.]
e. Include a properly formatted reference section containing a minimum of 3 distinct outside sources (e.g., articles, news reports, websites) used to support your news commentary.[footnoteRef:4] [4: The course text, course notes, and other assigned course materials may be referenced but will NOT count as outside sources. Moreover, Wikipedia is NOT a legitimate reference for the purposes of this assignment.]
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