How to...write a great assignment

write a great How to ...

assignment

Assignments

A ‘how to’ guide in completing your assignments on time and with less stress.

1. Writing your Assignment 2. What do I do well? 3. Assignment Writing Steps a. Understand the task b. Break it down c. Research d. Plan your writing e. Write your assignment f. Review and check 4. Assignment Checklist

1. Writing your Assignment

A QUICK GUIDE TO ACADEMIC WRITING

A formal and structured style of writing does not mean always using long words and complex sentences. It is a skill that will develop over your course. DO’S • Use neutral language. • Use words referring to evidence. • Use acronyms throughout, but you must write in full the first time of using i.e. National Health Service (NHS) • Demonstrate research, use supporting evidence and reference correctly. • Be aware of your punctuation and grammar. • Make sure you check your tenses and plurals throughout.

DON’TS • Don’t waffle, keep your sentences concise.

• Don’t use contractions unless necessary i.e. It’s, wasn’t, doesn’t. • Don’t use everyday words and common phrases i.e. OK, at the end of the day. • Don’t use text speech i.e. Proofread ur txt b4 you submit it. • Don’t use slang unless it is a direct quote. • Don’t use personal judgment words unless asked for in the question i.e. I think, I believe.

For help with writing skills - www.skillsyouneed.com

Write in paragraphs Text in one long run can be difficult to read. Paragraphs organise ideas into manageable chunks. A paragraph is a group of sentences that share the same idea. Writing in paragraphs with PEEL A paragraph contains one key point related to the assignment and provides evidence to support that point. The PEEL structure for paragraphs will assist you with this.

POINT Introduce and make the point (topic sentence.) EXAMPLE Support it with evidence, research, references, an example, a quote . EXPLAIN Analyse and comment on the reference/example. Explain why it works within the context of the essay question and the argument you are currently making. LINK Link this point to the next point (next aragraph) and to the essay question (main topic).

Note: You can have more than one explanation and more than one example or evidence in a paragraph.

2. What do I do well and

what do I need to improve?

Firstly, you need to find out what you do well and what you need to improve. Spend a few minutes answering the following questions:

What do your responses to these questions mean? If you answer, ‘Yes’ to a question this means you are amazing and doing the right things. Congratulate yourself and promise to keep doing it.

If you answer ‘No’ to a question this means you need to make changes and this workbook will help you make these changes.

3. Assignment Writing Steps

1. Understand the task 2. Break it down 3. Research 4. Plan 5. Write 6. Review & Check

Step 1 – Understand the assessment task

To write an assignment, you need to understand exactly what you are being asked to do. There are different types of words in the title or question. A few easy steps can help you work out all the clues in the question.

Look at this example:

Instructional/ command word

What you have to do….

Take apart an idea, concept or statement and examine and criticise its sub-parts in detail. You must be methodical and logical, looking for positives & negatives Emphasise the differences between two things. Look at the similarities and differences – a balanced (objective) answer is required, you must include both. Give details of processes, properties, events and so on. Consider the different aspects of the issue, situation problem or argument and how they interrelate or are important Like discuss , but with more focus on a judgement in the conclusion. Set out the causes of a phenomenon and/or the factors which influence its form/nature. This usually requires an understanding of processes. This is a higher-level skill than description. Provide an itemised series of parts, reasons or qualities, possibly in a table. Provide evidence for or against and demonstrate logical argument and reasoning – you often must do this for abstract or scientific subjects. Just give the main points, not the details. Suggest what may happen based on available information. Give a brief description of the logical or chronological stages of the development of a theory, process, a person’s life and so on. Often used in historical questions.

Analyse

Contrast Compare

Describe Discuss

Evaluate

Explain

List

Prove/disprove

Summarise or outline

Predict

Trace

Step 2 – Plan

Don’t leave it until the last minute! Setting time aside to write your assignment can be difficult. It’s easy to procrastinate and leave everything to the last minute, but we can guarantee that you’ll regret it! Reduce the stress by starting your assignment early so that you can take your time and allow yourself chance to proof your work.

Breaking the assignment down into small blocks can make it seem more manageable and give you a sense of momentum and early success.

Aim to complete one section at a time, giving yourself mini deadlines to achieve this, keeping to a plan will reduce the chances of you feeling overwhelmed by the work. • Break your study time into blocks of different lengths and set specific challenges for each block. • Break large assignments into small tasks such as “read course notes”, “find sources” etc. • Break each of these into smaller tasks e.g. make notes page 10 • Set yourself mini goals as milestones. Completion will give you a sense of achievement and in time these add up to a great achievement. • Set targets you know you can meet e.g. and hour of reading • Set realistic time allowances for each task • Set yourself a start time – stick to it

Step 3 - Research You are now ready to research your topic to find relevant and reliable information. Use reading lists you have been given by your tutors, they are to help you improve your knowledge of the subject and will help in understanding and writing your assignment. You will then need to find information to develop your understanding of the topic and to find evidence and examples for your work. Use Runshaw’s Digital Bookshelf and Library to gather information that is the most relevant and fact checked for your assignments. Using internet browsers to search can bring forward incorrect and unreliable information. You will need to note down all the books, magazines and sources. You will need this for your Bibliography and when referencing in the main body of you work. If you need help with this, please see our Referencing Guide or book a LRC 1:1. Select resources, write notes in your own words and find quotes that will help evidence your points. This will all need to be referenced correctly. It can be helpful to sort your research into an order of topics to help you be organised when writing.

Step 4 – Plan out what you are going to write Before you start writing, plan out your assignment. This will help it flow logically from one point to another. Consider topics and sub topics that will help you structure your writing. Remember the PEEL technique when writing your plan so you do not miss any steps whilst writing. Does your plan include everything you intended to cover and flow logically to a conclusion? This is the best time to reorganise positions of your topics to make it flow excellently. Does the information you have gathered answer the question set in the assignment? Check back to understanding the instruction word, the limiter etc. Step 5 - Write Now it is time to write your first draft following your plan. Use your plan to write for each part. It is not important to start at the beginning with the introduction. Start where you feel comfortable. Follow your plan and you won’t miss anything. If you know what your conclusion will be, start with this first. Get down as much information as you can without worrying about the wording being totally correct at this stage.

Once you have a first draft you can check it against your plan. Look at the wording and make sure it flows. Make changes and corrections where you need. It is useful to have a second document open to add your sources and references for your bibliography.

Step 6 – Review and check

Leave your assignment for a while then come back to edit and proofread, this will enable you to look at it with fresh eyes.

Think about the following points: • Have you answered the question you were set? Check your work against the marking scheme if you have one as well as the question. • Is the structure correct and the content logically arranged? • Have you included all relevant parts? (Title page, introduction, conclusion and bibliography) • Does your assessment read well with each section flowing smoothly on to the next? A good way to check this is to read it aloud. • Have you used your own words and acknowledged all your sources? • Check the grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Don’t just use a spell checker (it won’t pick everything up). • Check your referencing. Is it correct? • Have you included your name, student ID, the assessment details date and page number each page?

TIP: If possible, ask someone else proofread your assessment, as it can be difficult to see mistakes in your own work.

Referencing and Research 1-to-1s

Need some support?

Book a LRC Study Skills session with a member of our team. Ask at a desk or email lrc@runshaw.ac.uk

Ideas to help you start writing Even with careful planning and preparation, there are times you still just can’t seem to start when you sit down to write. Here are some ideas to help you overcome writer’s block.

Assignment Checklist

You can use this checklist to guide you through the process of completing an assignment.

1. Understand the task Have you made sure you understand what is required? Has it asked you to discuss? Compare? Contrast? Summarise? Have you picked out the key points? Underlining or highlighting them may help.

2. Break it down Have you broken it down into small blocks? Have you thought about how long it will take? Do you know when you must hand it in?

Have you drawn up a plan for completing the assignment? (Use a timetable, your diary, a term and/or time planner, a Gantt chart or a mind map etc.) Have you built in breaks, social time, time to eat, time for exercise? Aim to finish 3 days before the deadline. 3. Research Before you start writing you will need to do some research. Have you thought about where you can find information? For example: • your class notes • handouts

• the library for books & journals • the internet and online resources • other people/classmates

Don’t forget to make notes as you go.

Have you re-read the assignment brief? And checked your information for relevance?

Have you sorted your information into groups? For example: • topics & sub-topics

• strengths and weaknesses • arguments for and against.

You can use a set of sub-headings, a grid, index cards, lists or mind-maps to help you get organised.

4. Plan Have you drawn up an outline which shows the main points and sub-points? Does your outline include all the facts you intend to include and is it in a logical sequence? Does it answer the question set in the assignment? 5. Start Writing Now it’s time to start writing! Have you got the right environment to work in? Do you have everything you need – computer, books, pens, pencils, dictionary, calculator etc? Don’t forget to save your work as you go along! Make a back-up as well. 6. Review and Check Once you have finished writing leave it for a while and then proof – read and edit it. Have you: • checked spelling ? • checked punctuation ? • checked does it make sense? • checked does it have a logical structure ?

• included a conclusion ? • done your referencing ?

7. Hand it in!

Any questions?

CR-5114 Assignment Guide 240624

Please email us at lrc@runshaw.ac.uk or pop in to see us.

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