What is an example of a working paper?

Asked by: Myrtle Wilderman  |  Last update: August 25, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (74 votes)

An example of a working paper is an auditor's worksheet detailing revenue calculations, interview notes with management, and copies of invoices to support the final audit opinion, or an academic paper like the U.S. Census Bureau's "Kids to School and Moms to Work: New York City's Universal Pre-K Expansion and Mother's Employment," a preliminary research document shared for feedback. Essentially, it's any internal document (audit, research, tax prep) that shows the process, analysis, and evidence leading to a conclusion, distinct from final reports or source documents like invoices.

How to write a working paper?

For the Working Paper itself, remember your position paper and the position of your country on the topic. In the preambulatory clauses, you will refer to past resolutions and decisions and state the problems you want to tackle in your Working Paper. Then in the operative clauses, say how you want to solve the issues.

What is a working paper in MUN example?

A MUN working paper is commonly a precursor to a Draft Resolution. It is a place to put the first draft of the ideas that you hope to guide to the resolution through lobbying, negotiation and compromise.

What makes a good working paper?

Some characteristics of a good working paper

It should fully state the year/period end (eg 31 October 20X9), so that the working paper is not confused with documentation belonging to a different year/period. It should state the full extent of the test (ie how many items were tested and how this number was determined).

What are the types of working papers?

While there are many different types of working papers, three of the most common are interview summaries (which are written notes from interviews conducted by the auditor), worksheets (which summarize specific audit tests for a sample of transactions), and reperformance documents (copies of financial statements with ...

The basics of a working paper

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What is another name for a working paper?

A working paper is a draft or an early version of a piece of writing, usually one that either has been or will be submitted for publication. Working papers submitted for publication can also be called prepublication or preprint versions, or by the term gray literature.

What is the difference between a paper and a working paper?

A working paper or discussion paper is a “work in progress”, a paper you're still working on. It's a preliminary, nearly finished, unpublished version of your research project that's not yet ready to be presented at a conference nor to get published in a journal.

How to publish a working paper?

Find out what support you can get.

  1. Write a cover letter. Introduce your work in a 1-page letter, explaining the research you did, and why it's relevant.
  2. Submit your manuscript. Go to the journal homepage to start the process. ...
  3. Technical check. ...
  4. Editor and peer review. ...
  5. Final decision. ...
  6. Payment. ...
  7. Publish.

How to write resolution paper MUN?

MUN Resolution Format

  1. A concise and evocative title (or number)
  2. A list of Signatories.
  3. The name of the committee or the General Assembly.
  4. A set of PREAMBULATORY CLAUSES punctuated by semicolons (;)
  5. An address to the Member states or voting parties.
  6. A set of OPERATIVE CLAUSES punctuated by commas (,)

Who prepares working papers?

The auditor should prepare and maintain working papers, the form and content of which should be designed to meet the circumstances of a particular engagement.

What is the main purpose of working papers?

A working paper is a document that serves two primary purposes. In employment contexts, it refers to a certificate required in some states for minors to obtain work legally. In accounting, working papers are the detailed records maintained by auditors during an audit.

Is a white paper a working paper?

A white paper (working paper) or full report is a technical paper that combines expert knowledge and research into a document that argues for a specific solution or recommendation. The white paper allows the reader to understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision.

What type of document is a working paper?

A working paper is a document, still in the process of preparation, which has been publicly circulated in order to encourage debate and discussion. Reseach papers are an example of working papers.

How do I refer to a working paper?

Working paper

  1. Author or organisation.
  2. Year of publication (in round brackets).
  3. Title of report (in italics).
  4. Working paper series and/or number (if available).
  5. Place of publication: publisher (if available).

What are the three types of research papers?

Types of research papers

  • Analytical research paper.
  • Argumentative or persuasive paper.
  • Definition paper.
  • Compare and contrast paper.
  • Cause and effect paper.
  • Interpretative paper.
  • Experimental research paper.
  • Survey research paper.

What are the essentials of a good working paper?

Essentials of a Good Audit Working Paper

  • Name of the Company: Specifies the entity being audited.
  • Subject Matter: Defines the scope of the audit (payable, revenue, etc.).
  • Person in Charge: Lists the lead auditor for accountability.
  • Date: Records when the audit took place.

What are working papers and why are they required?

The working papers are the property of the accounting firm conducting the audit. These papers are formally referred to as audit documentation or sometimes as the audit file. The documents serve as proof of audit procedures performed, evidence obtained and the conclusion or opinion the auditor reached.

What are the 5 C's of audit?

The 5 Cs of audit (Criteria, Condition, Cause, Consequence, Corrective Action) are a framework for structuring clear, actionable audit findings, explaining what should be (Criteria), what is found (Condition), why it happened (Cause), what the impact is (Consequence/Effect), and how to fix it (Corrective Action/Recommendation) to drive organizational improvement and compliance.

What are the 7 E's of auditing?

The 7 E's in operational auditing are Effectiveness, Efficiency, Economy, Excellence, Ethics, Equity, and Ecology, forming a comprehensive framework for internal auditors to assess an organization's success beyond mere compliance, focusing on goal achievement, resource optimization, quality, moral conduct, fair treatment, and environmental impact to add significant value.

What is the difference between a working paper and a publication?

Working Papers are not yet published in a scholarly journal and have not undergone peer review. It is much faster to share a working paper and is very common to use in Economics Research.