Mastering WGU D252 – Accounting Research and Critical Thinking

If you’re starting WGU D252 – Accounting Research and Critical Thinking, this guide shows how to navigate the FASB ASC, structure research memos, and build clear, supportable conclusions.

Course Description

WGU D252 – Accounting Research and Critical Thinking develops your ability to research authoritative guidance (FASB ASC/GAAP; IFRS if applicable), synthesize findings, and communicate positions in professional memos. You’ll practice framing issues, identifying alternatives, citing codification, and justifying conclusions.

These research and reasoning skills transfer directly to audit, advisory, financial reporting, and tax engagements.

Useful Resources & Tips

  • FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC): Use search and topic navigation; record section numbers precisely.
  • AICPA & PCAOB: Professional guidance on ethics, documentation, and audit standards.
  • SEC EDGAR: Browse real filings for examples of disclosure language and applications.
  • Writing Guides: Purdue OWL for memo structure and citation clarity.
  • Study Groups/Reddit: Look up recent D252 threads for pacing tips and memo examples.

Tip: Keep a running citation log with exact ASC references as you research; it saves time and reduces re?work.

Mode of Assessment

  • Type: Performance Assessment (PA)
  • Format: Professional research memos and briefs that cite ASC guidance and defend conclusions.
  • Focus: Issue identification, authoritative research, clear reasoning, and professional writing.
  • Confirm: Verify specific task prompts and rubric in your course dashboard.

Common Challenges

  • Scoping the issue: Jumping into the ASC without first defining the research question.
  • Citation precision: Vague section references weaken conclusions.
  • Memo organization: Mixing analysis with conclusions instead of a clear, logical flow.
  • Time management: Over?researching without drafting early.

How to Pass Easily

  1. Outline first: Write the issue, facts, alternatives, criteria, and conclusion before deep research.
  2. Search the ASC smartly: Use keywords and related topics; copy exact section citations into your notes.
  3. Draft while researching: Don’t wait to have “everything” before writing—iterate quickly.
  4. Mirror the rubric: Use headings that align to grading criteria for easy assessor mapping.
  5. Polish professionally: Active voice, concise sentences, and consistent formatting/citations.

Conclusion

WGU D252 – Accounting Research and Critical Thinking is absolutely manageable with a focused plan. Combine official materials, practice, and peer insights to build confidence and speed. Stay organized and emphasize the highest?yield concepts to finish efficiently.

Want more course guides? See all WGU course guides here.

FAQs: WGU D252 – Accounting Research and Critical Thinking

Is WGU D252 hard?

It’s challenging at first because of research depth, but becomes straightforward once you master ASC navigation and memo structure.

How long does WGU D252 take?

Allocate 1–2 weeks for research, drafting, and revisions; actual time varies by writing speed and familiarity with GAAP.

Is WGU D252 an OA or PA?

D252 typically uses a Performance Assessment (PA) involving research memos. Confirm details in your dashboard.

What are key skills for D252?

Framing issues, citing the ASC precisely, weighing alternatives, and writing concise, well?supported conclusions.

Best resources for D252?

FASB ASC, AICPA, PCAOB, SEC EDGAR, and writing resources like Purdue OWL.

🎓 Stressed About This Exam? You're Not Alone. But We've Got the Solution!

Failing attempts? Confusing materials? Overwhelming pressure?

✨ We help you pass this exam on the FIRST TRY, no matter the platform or proctoring software.

  • Real-time assistance
  • 100% confidential
  • No upfront payment—pay only after success!

📌 Don’t struggle alone. Join the students who are passing stress-free!

👉 Book your exam appointment today and never get stuck with an exam again.

🎯 Your success is just one click away!

🌐 Visit Site

Explore more courses

D454 – Adult Health III (Solution 2025) D024 – Professional Presence and Influence (Solution 2025) D609 – Data Analytics at Scale (Solution 2025)

Question 1

P 13-1 Bank loan; accrued interest ? LO2 Blanton Plastics, a household plastic product manufacturer, borrowed $14 million cash on October 1, 2011, to provide working capital for year-end production. Blanton issued a four-month, 12% promissory note to L&T Bank under a prearranged short-term line of credit. Interest on the note was payable at maturity. Each firm?s fiscal period is the calendar year. Required: 1. Prepare the journal entries to record (a) the issuance of the note by Blanton Plastics and (b) L&T Bank's receivable on October 1, 2011. 2. Prepare the journal entries by both firms to record all subsequent events related to the note through January 31, 2012. 3. Suppose the face amount of the note was adjusted to include interest (a noninterest-bearing note) and 12% is the bank's stated discount rate. (a) Prepare the journal entries to record the issuance of the noninterest-bearing note by Blanton Plastics on October 1, 2011, the adjusting entry at December 31, and payment of the note at maturity. (b) What would be the effective interest rate? P 13-2 Various transactions involving liabilities ? LO2 through LO4 Camden Biotechnology began operations in September 2011. The following selected transactions relate to liabilities of the company for September 2011 through March 2012. Camden?s fiscal year ends on December 31. Its financial statements are issued in April. 2011 a. On September 5, opened checking accounts at Second Commercial Bank and negotiated a short-term line of credit of up to $15,000,000 at the bank?s prime rate (10.5% at the time). The company will pay no commitment fees. b. On October 1, borrowed $12 million cash from Second Commercial Bank under the line of credit and issued a five-month promissory note. Interest at the prime rate of 10% was payable at maturity. Management planned to issue 10-year bonds in February to repay the note. c. Received $2,600 of refundable deposits in December for reusable containers used to transport and store chemical-based products. d. For the September?December period, sales on account totaled $4,100,000. The state sales tax rate is 3% and the local sales tax rate is 3%. (This is a summary journal entry for the many individual sales transactions for the period.) e. Recorded the adjusting entry for accrued interest. 2012 f. In February, issued $10 million of 10-year bonds at face value and paid the bank loan on the March 1 due date. g. Half of the storage containers covered by refundable deposits were returned in March. The remaining containers are expected to be returned during the next six months. Required: 1. Prepare the appropriate journal entries for these transactions. 2. Prepare the current and long-term liability sections of the December 31, 2011, balance sheet. Trade accounts payable on that date were $252,000. p. 734 P 13-4 Various liabilities ? LO1 through LO4 The unadjusted trial balance of the Manufacturing Equitable at December 31, 2011, the end of its fiscal year, included the following account balances. Manufacturing?s 2011 financial statements were issued on April 1, 2012. Accounts receivable $ 92,500 Accounts payable 35,000 Bank notes payable 600,000 Mortgage note payable 1,200,000 Other information: a. The bank notes, issued August 1, 2011, are due on July 31, 2012, and pay interest at a rate of 10%, payable at maturity. b. The mortgage note is due on March 1, 2012. Interest at 9% has been paid up to December 31 (assume 9% is a realistic rate). Manufacturing intended at December 31, 2011, to refinance the note on its due date with a new 10-year mortgage note. In fact, on March 1, Manufacturing paid $250,000 in cash on the principal balance and refinanced the remaining $950,000. c. Included in the accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2011, were two subsidiary accounts that had been overpaid and had credit balances totaling $18,000. The accounts were of two major customers who were expected to order more merchandise from Manufacturing and apply the overpayments to those future purchases. d. On November 1, 2011, Manufacturing rented a portion of its factory to a tenant for $30,000 per year, payable in advance. The payment for the 12 months ended October 31, 2012, was received as required and was credited to rent revenue. Required: 1. Prepare any necessary adjusting journal entries at December 31, 2011, pertaining to each item of other information (a?d). 2. Prepare the current and long-term liability sections of the December 31, 2011, balance sheet.

Book an acceleration slot →

Question 2

1) A pharmaceutical firm is interested in the efficacy of a new drug and of a standard drug. The research division of the firm randomly selects two groups of volunteers. One group is given the new drug and the other group is given the standard drug. Data are recorded on the effects of each drug. Is the research division using dependent or independent samples? Why? 2) A random sample results in 1 = 20 with n1 = 100. The population standard deviation is ?1 = 6. Another sample was selected independently resulting in 2 = 22 with n2 = 100. The population standard deviation is ?2 = 7. Test that the population means differ using a 1% significance level. 3) First National Bank and City National Bank are competing for customers who would like to open IRAs. Thirty two weeks are randomly selected for First National Bank and another 32 weeks are randomly selected for City National Bank. The total amount deposited into IRAs is noted for each week. A summary of data (deposits in thousands of dollars) from the survey is as follows: First National 1 = 4.1, ?1 = 1.2; City National 2 = 3.5, ?2 = 0.9. Use a 98% confidence interval to estimate the difference in the mean weekly deposits into IRAs for each bank. 4) A production manager wishes to determine if there is a difference in the number of production runs produced by the night shift and the day shift. A random sample of night and day shifts is selected, and the number of production units for each shift is recorded. The following are the results of the same: ? n Day Shift 27.4 6.4 60 Night Shift 18.3 5.9 60 a) Find a 90% confidence interval on the difference in the mean number of production units for the two shifts. b) Calculate a 99% confidence interval for part a) c) Compare the length of the intervals of the two confidence intervals obtained in a) and b).

Book an acceleration slot →

Question 3

K2 Listed below are items that are commonly accounted for differently for financial reporting purposes than they are for tax purposes. Instructions For each item below, indicate whether it involves: (1) A temporary difference that will result in future deductible amounts and, therefore, will usually give rise to a deferred income tax asset. Enter number (2) A temporary difference that will result in future taxable amounts and, therefore, will usually give in block rise to a deferred income tax liability. below (3) A permanent difference. Use the appropriate number to indicate your answer for each. (a)For some assets, straight-line depreciation is used for tax purposes while double-declining balance method is used for financial reporting purposes. (b) Warranty expenses are accrued when the sale is made, but cannot be deducted until the work is actually performed. (c)The company uses the percentage of complete method to record revenue on long-term contracts for financial reporting purposes, but the completed contract method is used for tax purposes. (d) Accelerated depreciation for tax purposes, and the straight-line depreciation method is used for financial reporting purposes for some equipment. (e) A landlord collects some rents in advance. Rents received are taxable in the period when they are received. (f) Tax-exempt income. (g) An SEC fine related to financial reporting irregularities. (h) For financial reporting purposes, an estimated loss from a lawsuit is accrued. The tax return will not report a deduction until an amount is paid. (i) A liability for a guarantee is accrued for financial reporting purposes. (j) Installment sales are accounted for by the accrual method for financial reporting purposes and the installment method for tax purposes.

Book an acceleration slot →

Question 4

QUESTION 1) Explain why terminal values in accounting ?based valuation are significantly less than those for DCF valuation. "QUESTION 2) How can a company with a high ROE have a low PE ratio? What types of companies have i) A high PE and a low market-to-book ratio? ii) A high PE ratio and a high market-to-book ratio? iii) A low PE and a high market-to-book ratio? iv) A low PE and a low market-to-book ratio? " question 3) 1. How will the factors in Table 8.4 change if Michael Hill were to maintain a sales growth rate of 10 per cent per year from 2007 to 2016 (and all the other assumptions are kept unchanged)? 2. Recalculate the forecasts in Table 8.4 and 8.5 assuming that the ratio of net operating working capital to sales is 30 per cent and the ratio of net long-term assets to sales is 10 per cent for all the year from fiscal 2008 to facial 2016. Keep all the other assumptions unchanged. 3. Calculate Michael Hill?s cash payouts to its shareholders in the years 2007-2016 that are implicitly assumed in the projections in Table 8.4 TABLE 8.4 PRIOR YEAR 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Income statement ($000) sales 306374 343139 384316 426590 469249 513828 560072 607679 656293 705515 754901 - Net operating profit after tax 20913 24981 27728 29093 31344 33604 35853 38721 41625 44539 - Net interest expense after tax 1883 1927 1944 1843 1931 2105 2284 2467 2652 2837 = Net income 19049 23054 25785 27250 29412 31499 33569 36254 38974 41702 - preferred dividiends - - - - - - - - - - = Net income to common 19049 23054 25785 27250 29412 31499 33569 36254 38974 41702 Beginning balance sheet($000) beg. Net working capital 96079 99922 102382 112620 123319 134417 145843 157510 169324 181176 + beg.net long-ternm assets 37745 40353 42659 44579 46245 50407 54691 59066 63496 67941 = net operating assets 132805 133824 140275 145041 157199 169563 184824 200534 216577 232820 249117 net debt 56206 57513 58016 55019 57651 62840 68182 73636 79159 84700 + preference shares - - - - - - - - - - opening equity 77618 82762 87024 102179 111912 121984 132352 142941 153661 164417 equity injections needed - - - - - - - - - - = Net capital(beginning) 133824 140275 145041 157199 169563 184824 200534 216577 232820 2449117 + profit 19049 23054 25785 27250 29412 31499 33569 36254 38974 41702 Div. distributions -11332 -12083 -12706 -14918 -16339 -17810 -19323 -20869 -22435 -24005 Equity issues 2859 -2572 -6708 2075 -2599 -3001 -3321 -3657 -4665 -5783 -6681 + closing equity 77618 82762 87024 102179 111912 121984 132352 142941 153661 164417 175433 = Net capital (closing) 140275 145041 157199 169563 184824 200534 216577 232820 249117 265808 Ratio operating return on assets(%) 15.6 17.8 19.1 18.5 18.5 18.2 17.9 17.9 17.9 17.9 return on equity (%) 24.5 27.9 29.6 26.7 26.3 25.8 25.4 25.4 25.4 25.4 book value of assets growth (%) 0.8 4.8 3.4 8.4 7.9 9 8.5 8 7.5 7 book value of equity growth (%) 6.6 5.1 17.4 9.5 9 8.5 8 7.5 7 6.7 Net operating asset turnover 2.6 2.7 2.9 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 cash flow net income - change in net working capital 19049 23054 25785 27250 29412 31499 33569 36254 38974 41702 - change in net long-term assets -3843 -2460 -10238 -10699 -11099 -11425 -11667 -11813 -11853 -12139 + change in net debt -2608 -2306 -1920 -1666 -4162 -4285 -4375 -4430 -4445 -4552 = free cash flow to equity 1307 503 -2997 2632 5189 5341 5455 5523 5541 5675 13904 18792 10630 17518 19340 21131 22981 25534 28217 30686 Net operating profit after tax - change in net working capital 20931 24981 27728 29093 31344 33604 35853 38721 41625 44539 - change in net long-term assets -3834 -2460 -10238 -10699 -11099 -11425 -11667 -11813 -11853 -12139 = free cash flow to capital -2608 -2306 -1920 -1666 -4162 -4285 -4375 -4430 -4445 -4552 14480 20215 15571 16729 16083 17894 19810 22478 25328 27848 Table 8.5 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Equity Valuation Abnormal earnings 9656.79 13039.59 15254.87 14886.64 15870.86 16739.17 17554.32 18958.66 20380.56 21807.2 Abnormal ROE (%) 12.44 15.76 17.53 14.57 14.18 13.72 13.26 13.26 13.26 13.26 Free cash flows to equity 13904.23 18791.77 10630.2 17517.6 19340.12 21130.58 22980.77 25533.93 28217.28 30685.74 Asset Valuation Abnormal NOPAT 9656.79 13039.59 15254.87 14886.64 15870.86 16739.17 17554.32 18958.66 20380.56 21807.2 Abnormal operating ROA(%) 7.22 9.3 10.52 9.47 9.36 9.06 8.75 8.75 8.75 8.75 Free cash flows to capital 14480.46 20215 15570.54 16782.74 16082.82 17894.32 19810.32 22478.03 25327.98 27848.3 Discount factors Equity 0.89 0.8 0.71 0.63 0.56 0.5 0.45 0.4 0.36 0.32 Assets 0.92 0.85 0.78 0.72 0.66 0.6 0.55 0.51 0.46 0.43 Growth factors Equity 1 1.05 1.23 1.35 1.47 1.6 1.73 1.86 1.99 2.12 Assets 1 1.05 1.08 1.17 1.27 1.38 1.5 1.62 1.74 1.86,i WILL SUBMIT THIS ASSIGNMENT AT 11:00AM IN NEW ZEALAND TIME. PLEASE QIICKLY ANSWER IT, THANK U SO MUCH,Hi,we just have 10 hours to submit it. thanks,Q3) 1. How will the factors in Table 8.4 change if Michael Hill were to maintain a sales growth rate of 10 per cent per year from 2007 to 2016 (and all the other assumptions are kept unchanged)? 2. Recalculate the forecasts in Table 8.4 and 8.5 assuming that the ratio of net operating working capital to sales is 30 per cent and the ratio of net long-term assets to sales is 10 per cent for all the year from fiscal 2008 to facial 2016. Keep all the other assumptions unchanged. 3. Calculate Michael Hill?s cash payouts to its shareholders in the years 2007-2016 that are implicitly assumed in the projections in Table 8.4,TABLE 8.4 PRIOR YEAR 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Income statement ($000) sales 306374 343139 384316 426590 469249 513828 560072 607679 656293 705515 754901 - Net operating profit after tax 20913 24981 27728 29093 31344 33604 35853 38721 41625 44539 - Net interest expense after tax 1883 1927 1944 1843 1931 2105 2284 2467 2652 2837 = Net income 19049 23054 25785 27250 29412 31499 33569 36254 38974 41702 - preferred dividiends - - - - - - - - - - = Net income to common 19049 23054 25785 27250 29412 31499 33569 36254 38974 41702 Beginning balance sheet($000) beg. Net working capital 96079 99922 102382 112620 123319 134417 145843 157510 169324 181176 + beg.net long-ternm assets 37745 40353 42659 44579 46245 50407 54691 59066 63496 67941 = net operating assets 132805 133824 140275 145041 157199 169563 184824 200534 216577 232820 249117 net debt 56206 57513 58016 55019 57651 62840 68182 73636 79159 84700 + preference shares - - - - - - - - - - opening equity 77618 82762 87024 102179 111912 121984 132352 142941 153661 164417 equity injections needed - - - - - - - - - - = Net capital(beginning) 133824 140275 145041 157199 169563 184824 200534 216577 232820 2449117 + profit 19049 23054 25785 27250 29412 31499 33569 36254 38974 41702 Div. distributions -11332 -12083 -12706 -14918 -16339 -17810 -19323 -20869 -22435 -24005 Equity issues 2859 -2572 -6708 2075 -2599 -3001 -3321 -3657 -4665 -5783 -6681 + closing equity 77618 82762 87024 102179 111912 121984 132352 142941 153661 164417 175433 = Net capital (closing) 140275 145041 157199 169563 184824 200534 216577 232820 249117 265808 Ratio operating return on assets(%) 15.6 17.8 19.1 18.5 18.5 18.2 17.9 17.9 17.9 17.9 return on equity (%) 24.5 27.9 29.6 26.7 26.3 25.8 25.4 25.4 25.4 25.4 book value of assets growth (%) 0.8 4.8 3.4 8.4 7.9 9 8.5 8 7.5 7 book value of equity growth (%) 6.6 5.1 17.4 9.5 9 8.5 8 7.5 7 6.7 Net operating asset turnover 2.6 2.7 2.9 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 cash flow net income - change in net working capital 19049 23054 25785 27250 29412 31499 33569 36254 38974 41702 - change in net long-term assets -3843 -2460 -10238 -10699 -11099 -11425 -11667 -11813 -11853 -12139 + change in net debt -2608 -2306 -1920 -1666 -4162 -4285 -4375 -4430 -4445 -4552 = free cash flow to equity 1307 503 -2997 2632 5189 5341 5455 5523 5541 5675 13904 18792 10630 17518 19340 21131 22981 25534 28217 30686 Net operating profit after tax - change in net working capital 20931 24981 27728 29093 31344 33604 35853 38721 41625 44539 - change in net long-term assets -3834 -2460 -10238 -10699 -11099 -11425 -11667 -11813 -11853 -12139 = free cash flow to capital -2608 -2306 -1920 -1666 -4162 -4285 -4375 -4430 -4445 -4552 14480 20215 15571 16729 16083 17894 19810 22478 25328 27848 TABLE 8.5 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Equity Valuation Abnormal earnings 9656.79 13039.59 15254.87 14886.64 15870.86 16739.17 17554.32 18958.66 20380.56 21807.2 Abnormal ROE (%) 12.44 15.76 17.53 14.57 14.18 13.72 13.26 13.26 13.26 13.26 Free cash flows to equity 13904.23 18791.77 10630.2 17517.6 19340.12 21130.58 22980.77 25533.93 28217.28 30685.74 Asset Valuation Abnormal NOPAT 9656.79 13039.59 15254.87 14886.64 15870.86 16739.17 17554.32 18958.66 20380.56 21807.2 Abnormal operating ROA(%) 7.22 9.3 10.52 9.47 9.36 9.06 8.75 8.75 8.75 8.75 Free cash flows to capital 14480.46 20215 15570.54 16782.74 16082.82 17894.32 19810.32 22478.03 25327.98 27848.3 Discount factors Equity 0.89 0.8 0.71 0.63 0.56 0.5 0.45 0.4 0.36 0.32 Assets 0.92 0.85 0.78 0.72 0.66 0.6 0.55 0.51 0.46 0.43 Growth factors Equity 1 1.05 1.23 1.35 1.47 1.6 1.73 1.86 1.99 2.12 Assets 1 1.05 1.08 1.17 1.27 1.38 1.5 1.62 1.74 1.86,CAN YOU SEND THE FINISHED QUESTIONS NOW? I HAVE 2 HOURS TO SUBMIT IT,please denied my assignment?and return my money? thank u,please denied my assignment, and return my $150

Book an acceleration slot →

Question 5

The following information is available regarding the total manufacturing overhead of Bursa Mfg. Co. for a recent four-month period: Machine-Hours Manufacturing Overhead Jan. 5,800 $ 300,000 Feb. 3,200 224,000 Mar. 4,900 263,800 Apr. 2,800 190,000 a-1 Use the high-low method to determine the variable element of manufacturing overhead costs per machine-hour. (Round your answer to 2 decimal places. Omit the "$" sign in your response.) Manufacturing overhead cost $ per machine hour a-2 Use the high-low method to determine the fixed element of monthly overhead cost. Hint: Due to the algorithmic nature of this problem, you must use the 'high' figures to obtain the correct answer. If we were using unrounded numbers on a standard problem, the fixed element could be obtained by using either the 'high' or the 'low' figures. (Round your intermediate calculations to 2 decimal places. Omit the "$" sign in your response.) Fixed element of manufacturing overhead $ b. Bursa expects machine-hours in May to equal 5,300. Use the cost relationships determined in part a to forecast May's manufacturing overhead costs. (Round your intermediate calculations to 2 decimal places. Omit the "$" sign in your response.) Estimated manufacturing overhead $ c. Suppose Bursa had used the cost relationships determined in part a to estimate the total manufacturing overhead expected for the months of February and March. By what amounts would Bursa have over- or underestimated these costs? (Negative amounts should be indicated by a minus sign. Round your intermediate calculations to 2 decimal places. Omit the "$" sign in your response.) Amount over (under) estimated February $ March $