Pipeline Series
Financial Accounting Principles: The Bridge Between Principles and Intermediate I
A preparer-focused text that bridges the gap between an introductory accounting principles course and Intermediate I — shifting students from a user’s perspective to a preparer’s perspective, with the Seaside Marina practice set as a capstone project.
Course design
From user to preparer
In an accounting principles course, students learn financial accounting from a conceptual, user’s perspective. This text picks up where that leaves off — approaching financial accounting from a preparer’s perspective. Adjusting entries are covered in depth, followed by the worksheet and end-of-period procedures. The course ends on the asset side of the balance sheet with property, plant, and equipment.
The Seaside Marina Practice Set — a comprehensive manual practice set that has been computerized for grading — is included in Chapter 5. In the authors’ view, students never truly understand the articulation between the balance sheet and income statement without working through a manual practice set.
Interactivity
Students are actively engaged through questions, tutorials, and exercises at every stage — only the chapter reading and lecture are passive.
Redundancy
Each topic is covered in the reading comprehension quiz, exercises, lecture, and practice quiz — reinforcing understanding through structured repetition.
Preparer’s perspective
A deliberate shift from conceptual understanding to hands-on preparation — building the technical skills needed for Intermediate I and beyond.
Proctored assessment
Modular tests draw from 300–400 question databases. Final exams are proctored and can cover the last four chapters or the entire course.
Course content
9 chapters plus the Seaside Marina practice set
The course moves from the accounting model and cycle through adjusting entries, merchandising, and the asset side of the balance sheet. Chapter 5 includes the Seaside Marina practice set — a computerized manual practice that gives students comprehensive end-to-end exposure to the accounting cycle.
Chapters 1–5
1The accounting model
2Using the accounting model to determine net income
3Using the accounting model to complete the accounting cycle
4Adjusting entries
4AMore on adjusting entries
4BThe work sheet and end of period procedures
5Accounting for merchandising businesses
5AAccounting systems and special journals
5BSeaside Marina practice set
Chapters 6–9
6Cash and internal control
7Accounts receivable and notes receivable
8Inventories
9Fixed assets
Pedagogy
How students learn with Ivy Software
Each chapter follows the same six-step process, combining passive intake with active engagement at every stage. The Seaside Marina practice set adds a comprehensive hands-on project that ties the full accounting cycle together.
01
Read the chapter
Students read the chapter text — one of only two passive moments in the entire experience (the other being the lecture).
02
Key concepts
Students review the distilled essence of each chapter before moving into active assessment.
03
Reading comprehension quiz
10–15 interactive questions with lengthy explanatory responses that reinforce the chapter’s key points.
04
Interactive exercises
Multiple exercises per chapter, often including tutorial screens that walk students through complex topics step by step.
05
Practice quiz
A second round of 10–15 interactive questions, further cementing comprehension before assessment.
06
Self-assessment & proctored exams
10-question self-assessment, then modular tests from a 300–400 question bank, and a proctored final exam.