Top Tips for Assignment Writing
Over the last few weeks one topic keeps cropping up from all the students that I deal with; how do I write (x) assignment? What are the tips, tricks and techniques that you use (d), in most cases I share what I can about techniques but sometimes I just don’t have time. So instead I thought I would write a blog covering the topic, but to make it even better I want to invite all my academic friends to share their tips too.
So this is how it will work, I will leave this blog up for a week, post your top tips in the comments, then next week I will write a blog with all your submissions crediting you and linking to your websites.
Thanks for dropping by
Peace
Matt
Advice to students:
1) Start writing
2) Does it make sense and start answering the question?
3) If not go to step 1
4) If you’re at step 3 for the second time print off what you’ve done and take it to your tutor as they’ll be a lot more inclined to assist if they can see you’ve taken steps to start.
Gathering your content is key. Lots of people take way too many notes from lectures and research, ending up with a mass of content they don’t need and can’t effectively use.
Learn to take concise notes that allow you to get through content quickly yet still retaining full understanding.
1) Sort out sections of information (paragraphs) in to topics and subtopics.
2) For each subtopics take note of details that help you answer the questions what, where, why, how, when and who.
3) Don’t rewrite sentences or paragraphs, thats just gathering of information and not developing an understanding. In order to write an effective assignment you need to have a good understanding of the content you’re writing about. If you don’t ig will just appear that you’ve rewritten a load of stuff from different sources
Posted on Behalf of Clare Buckley from Facebook
My advice would be:
Read assignment, don’t scan read.
List what you need to do
Read the module specification. Pay close attention to module objectives
Use your list & Create action plan about what your going to do, how your going to do it
If your required to write a report, create headers and sub-headers, giving you structure
My advice is to write down lots of your own ideas on the subject before doing any research. I managed to write 2000 of that alone before I started to add quotes and evidence. Then make the relevant research for each paragraph or chapter or even just a bit of history to get it into your mind set. I managed to then fit my research around my own words, so I knew I wasn’t just copying what I’d read, with no risk of fraud! Make sure all sources are referenced properly (really don’t want to be called a cheat!) and enjoy it. I think there’s no point getting bored of the subject if you haven’t even written half of it. Another tip I would say is to highlight quotes or information in different colours to mark different areas of research. This is especially relevant for creative people, all to do with the right side of the brain (I think), colour coding will help you access the right information at the right time when writing.
a great website: http://www.deadlinedue.com/
This will help with Harvard Referencing, in case you struggle with things like websites. This can be difficult to pick up some journals, I have now found out, but if accessing journals online, you usually have all of the relevant information, all you need to do is set it out in the same way as this website does.
Answer the question! (rather than display the information you have!) and think about how to present the answer (rather than “dump” it on the page!)
back to business basics – your lecturer is your “customer” as the marker – so how can you show your wares/knowledge off to best advantage!
think about structuring your answer and write from an authorative voice – it is your answer to the question – so defend and explain – but conclude and answer it!
the key starting point is always to define your terms, set out your stall and make your case – you are answering the question set, using the knowledge you have, which has informed your answer!
Posted on Behalf of Lorrain Warren via Twitter
My top tip is RTFM – Read the flipping Manual – it sounds harsh, but it’s a real doozie as a marks-getter.
There is very little else to add to the infinite websites dedicated to ‘How to write an assignment’. So here are a few general rules to follow which may help you make a better attempt at your work:
1: Hot chocolate should be your new best friend when doing lengthy stints at assignment work or exams. Sit back and lie back,watch some TV, listen to music or catch up on the dreaded facebook, and enjoy your hot chocolate. The warming sensations and ‘feel good’ endorphins are proven to increase memory and logic capability by over 20%, but effects usually take around an hour to kick in, so get the kettle boiling early!
2: We all know its easier to learn things if they are fun or actually important to what we will be doing in life (unfortunately this is rarely the case) so why not make it the case. Imagine your being quizzed on the subject by your partners judgemental parents! Now you dont want to look like a fool in front of them do you!
3: Email limits! Email is such a life consuming thing! allow yourself some time for email but competely ban it for the hour or so work you want to get done uninterrupted. Reward yourself by doing this with something fun.
4. drink large amounts of water, this will stop you from making the classic excuse of ‘im too hungry to study’ believe it or not but blotation=concentration!
Hopefully these little tricks can make attempting your work a little less stressful.
Definately trying out that hot chocolate idea!!!!
Thanks guys, great to see some students taking part, expect my video on this later in the week!