Understanding Assignments
What this handout is about.
The first step in any successful college writing venture is reading the assignment. While this sounds like a simple task, it can be a tough one. This handout will help you unravel your assignment and begin to craft an effective response. Much of the following advice will involve translating typical assignment terms and practices into meaningful clues to the type of writing your instructor expects. See our short video for more tips.
Basic beginnings
Regardless of the assignment, department, or instructor, adopting these two habits will serve you well :
- Read the assignment carefully as soon as you receive it. Do not put this task off—reading the assignment at the beginning will save you time, stress, and problems later. An assignment can look pretty straightforward at first, particularly if the instructor has provided lots of information. That does not mean it will not take time and effort to complete; you may even have to learn a new skill to complete the assignment.
- Ask the instructor about anything you do not understand. Do not hesitate to approach your instructor. Instructors would prefer to set you straight before you hand the paper in. That’s also when you will find their feedback most useful.
Assignment formats
Many assignments follow a basic format. Assignments often begin with an overview of the topic, include a central verb or verbs that describe the task, and offer some additional suggestions, questions, or prompts to get you started.
An Overview of Some Kind
The instructor might set the stage with some general discussion of the subject of the assignment, introduce the topic, or remind you of something pertinent that you have discussed in class. For example:
“Throughout history, gerbils have played a key role in politics,” or “In the last few weeks of class, we have focused on the evening wear of the housefly …”
The Task of the Assignment
Pay attention; this part tells you what to do when you write the paper. Look for the key verb or verbs in the sentence. Words like analyze, summarize, or compare direct you to think about your topic in a certain way. Also pay attention to words such as how, what, when, where, and why; these words guide your attention toward specific information. (See the section in this handout titled “Key Terms” for more information.)
“Analyze the effect that gerbils had on the Russian Revolution”, or “Suggest an interpretation of housefly undergarments that differs from Darwin’s.”
Additional Material to Think about
Here you will find some questions to use as springboards as you begin to think about the topic. Instructors usually include these questions as suggestions rather than requirements. Do not feel compelled to answer every question unless the instructor asks you to do so. Pay attention to the order of the questions. Sometimes they suggest the thinking process your instructor imagines you will need to follow to begin thinking about the topic.
“You may wish to consider the differing views held by Communist gerbils vs. Monarchist gerbils, or Can there be such a thing as ‘the housefly garment industry’ or is it just a home-based craft?”
These are the instructor’s comments about writing expectations:
“Be concise”, “Write effectively”, or “Argue furiously.”
Technical Details
These instructions usually indicate format rules or guidelines.
“Your paper must be typed in Palatino font on gray paper and must not exceed 600 pages. It is due on the anniversary of Mao Tse-tung’s death.”
The assignment’s parts may not appear in exactly this order, and each part may be very long or really short. Nonetheless, being aware of this standard pattern can help you understand what your instructor wants you to do.
Interpreting the assignment
Ask yourself a few basic questions as you read and jot down the answers on the assignment sheet:
Why did your instructor ask you to do this particular task?
Who is your audience.
- What kind of evidence do you need to support your ideas?
What kind of writing style is acceptable?
- What are the absolute rules of the paper?
Try to look at the question from the point of view of the instructor. Recognize that your instructor has a reason for giving you this assignment and for giving it to you at a particular point in the semester. In every assignment, the instructor has a challenge for you. This challenge could be anything from demonstrating an ability to think clearly to demonstrating an ability to use the library. See the assignment not as a vague suggestion of what to do but as an opportunity to show that you can handle the course material as directed. Paper assignments give you more than a topic to discuss—they ask you to do something with the topic. Keep reminding yourself of that. Be careful to avoid the other extreme as well: do not read more into the assignment than what is there.
Of course, your instructor has given you an assignment so that they will be able to assess your understanding of the course material and give you an appropriate grade. But there is more to it than that. Your instructor has tried to design a learning experience of some kind. Your instructor wants you to think about something in a particular way for a particular reason. If you read the course description at the beginning of your syllabus, review the assigned readings, and consider the assignment itself, you may begin to see the plan, purpose, or approach to the subject matter that your instructor has created for you. If you still aren’t sure of the assignment’s goals, try asking the instructor. For help with this, see our handout on getting feedback .
Given your instructor’s efforts, it helps to answer the question: What is my purpose in completing this assignment? Is it to gather research from a variety of outside sources and present a coherent picture? Is it to take material I have been learning in class and apply it to a new situation? Is it to prove a point one way or another? Key words from the assignment can help you figure this out. Look for key terms in the form of active verbs that tell you what to do.
Key Terms: Finding Those Active Verbs
Here are some common key words and definitions to help you think about assignment terms:
Information words Ask you to demonstrate what you know about the subject, such as who, what, when, where, how, and why.
- define —give the subject’s meaning (according to someone or something). Sometimes you have to give more than one view on the subject’s meaning
- describe —provide details about the subject by answering question words (such as who, what, when, where, how, and why); you might also give details related to the five senses (what you see, hear, feel, taste, and smell)
- explain —give reasons why or examples of how something happened
- illustrate —give descriptive examples of the subject and show how each is connected with the subject
- summarize —briefly list the important ideas you learned about the subject
- trace —outline how something has changed or developed from an earlier time to its current form
- research —gather material from outside sources about the subject, often with the implication or requirement that you will analyze what you have found
Relation words Ask you to demonstrate how things are connected.
- compare —show how two or more things are similar (and, sometimes, different)
- contrast —show how two or more things are dissimilar
- apply—use details that you’ve been given to demonstrate how an idea, theory, or concept works in a particular situation
- cause —show how one event or series of events made something else happen
- relate —show or describe the connections between things
Interpretation words Ask you to defend ideas of your own about the subject. Do not see these words as requesting opinion alone (unless the assignment specifically says so), but as requiring opinion that is supported by concrete evidence. Remember examples, principles, definitions, or concepts from class or research and use them in your interpretation.
- assess —summarize your opinion of the subject and measure it against something
- prove, justify —give reasons or examples to demonstrate how or why something is the truth
- evaluate, respond —state your opinion of the subject as good, bad, or some combination of the two, with examples and reasons
- support —give reasons or evidence for something you believe (be sure to state clearly what it is that you believe)
- synthesize —put two or more things together that have not been put together in class or in your readings before; do not just summarize one and then the other and say that they are similar or different—you must provide a reason for putting them together that runs all the way through the paper
- analyze —determine how individual parts create or relate to the whole, figure out how something works, what it might mean, or why it is important
- argue —take a side and defend it with evidence against the other side
More Clues to Your Purpose As you read the assignment, think about what the teacher does in class:
- What kinds of textbooks or coursepack did your instructor choose for the course—ones that provide background information, explain theories or perspectives, or argue a point of view?
- In lecture, does your instructor ask your opinion, try to prove their point of view, or use keywords that show up again in the assignment?
- What kinds of assignments are typical in this discipline? Social science classes often expect more research. Humanities classes thrive on interpretation and analysis.
- How do the assignments, readings, and lectures work together in the course? Instructors spend time designing courses, sometimes even arguing with their peers about the most effective course materials. Figuring out the overall design to the course will help you understand what each assignment is meant to achieve.
Now, what about your reader? Most undergraduates think of their audience as the instructor. True, your instructor is a good person to keep in mind as you write. But for the purposes of a good paper, think of your audience as someone like your roommate: smart enough to understand a clear, logical argument, but not someone who already knows exactly what is going on in your particular paper. Remember, even if the instructor knows everything there is to know about your paper topic, they still have to read your paper and assess your understanding. In other words, teach the material to your reader.
Aiming a paper at your audience happens in two ways: you make decisions about the tone and the level of information you want to convey.
- Tone means the “voice” of your paper. Should you be chatty, formal, or objective? Usually you will find some happy medium—you do not want to alienate your reader by sounding condescending or superior, but you do not want to, um, like, totally wig on the man, you know? Eschew ostentatious erudition: some students think the way to sound academic is to use big words. Be careful—you can sound ridiculous, especially if you use the wrong big words.
- The level of information you use depends on who you think your audience is. If you imagine your audience as your instructor and they already know everything you have to say, you may find yourself leaving out key information that can cause your argument to be unconvincing and illogical. But you do not have to explain every single word or issue. If you are telling your roommate what happened on your favorite science fiction TV show last night, you do not say, “First a dark-haired white man of average height, wearing a suit and carrying a flashlight, walked into the room. Then a purple alien with fifteen arms and at least three eyes turned around. Then the man smiled slightly. In the background, you could hear a clock ticking. The room was fairly dark and had at least two windows that I saw.” You also do not say, “This guy found some aliens. The end.” Find some balance of useful details that support your main point.
You’ll find a much more detailed discussion of these concepts in our handout on audience .
The Grim Truth
With a few exceptions (including some lab and ethnography reports), you are probably being asked to make an argument. You must convince your audience. It is easy to forget this aim when you are researching and writing; as you become involved in your subject matter, you may become enmeshed in the details and focus on learning or simply telling the information you have found. You need to do more than just repeat what you have read. Your writing should have a point, and you should be able to say it in a sentence. Sometimes instructors call this sentence a “thesis” or a “claim.”
So, if your instructor tells you to write about some aspect of oral hygiene, you do not want to just list: “First, you brush your teeth with a soft brush and some peanut butter. Then, you floss with unwaxed, bologna-flavored string. Finally, gargle with bourbon.” Instead, you could say, “Of all the oral cleaning methods, sandblasting removes the most plaque. Therefore it should be recommended by the American Dental Association.” Or, “From an aesthetic perspective, moldy teeth can be quite charming. However, their joys are short-lived.”
Convincing the reader of your argument is the goal of academic writing. It doesn’t have to say “argument” anywhere in the assignment for you to need one. Look at the assignment and think about what kind of argument you could make about it instead of just seeing it as a checklist of information you have to present. For help with understanding the role of argument in academic writing, see our handout on argument .
What kind of evidence do you need?
There are many kinds of evidence, and what type of evidence will work for your assignment can depend on several factors–the discipline, the parameters of the assignment, and your instructor’s preference. Should you use statistics? Historical examples? Do you need to conduct your own experiment? Can you rely on personal experience? See our handout on evidence for suggestions on how to use evidence appropriately.
Make sure you are clear about this part of the assignment, because your use of evidence will be crucial in writing a successful paper. You are not just learning how to argue; you are learning how to argue with specific types of materials and ideas. Ask your instructor what counts as acceptable evidence. You can also ask a librarian for help. No matter what kind of evidence you use, be sure to cite it correctly—see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial .
You cannot always tell from the assignment just what sort of writing style your instructor expects. The instructor may be really laid back in class but still expect you to sound formal in writing. Or the instructor may be fairly formal in class and ask you to write a reflection paper where you need to use “I” and speak from your own experience.
Try to avoid false associations of a particular field with a style (“art historians like wacky creativity,” or “political scientists are boring and just give facts”) and look instead to the types of readings you have been given in class. No one expects you to write like Plato—just use the readings as a guide for what is standard or preferable to your instructor. When in doubt, ask your instructor about the level of formality they expect.
No matter what field you are writing for or what facts you are including, if you do not write so that your reader can understand your main idea, you have wasted your time. So make clarity your main goal. For specific help with style, see our handout on style .
Technical details about the assignment
The technical information you are given in an assignment always seems like the easy part. This section can actually give you lots of little hints about approaching the task. Find out if elements such as page length and citation format (see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial ) are negotiable. Some professors do not have strong preferences as long as you are consistent and fully answer the assignment. Some professors are very specific and will deduct big points for deviations.
Usually, the page length tells you something important: The instructor thinks the size of the paper is appropriate to the assignment’s parameters. In plain English, your instructor is telling you how many pages it should take for you to answer the question as fully as you are expected to. So if an assignment is two pages long, you cannot pad your paper with examples or reword your main idea several times. Hit your one point early, defend it with the clearest example, and finish quickly. If an assignment is ten pages long, you can be more complex in your main points and examples—and if you can only produce five pages for that assignment, you need to see someone for help—as soon as possible.
Tricks that don’t work
Your instructors are not fooled when you:
- spend more time on the cover page than the essay —graphics, cool binders, and cute titles are no replacement for a well-written paper.
- use huge fonts, wide margins, or extra spacing to pad the page length —these tricks are immediately obvious to the eye. Most instructors use the same word processor you do. They know what’s possible. Such tactics are especially damning when the instructor has a stack of 60 papers to grade and yours is the only one that low-flying airplane pilots could read.
- use a paper from another class that covered “sort of similar” material . Again, the instructor has a particular task for you to fulfill in the assignment that usually relates to course material and lectures. Your other paper may not cover this material, and turning in the same paper for more than one course may constitute an Honor Code violation . Ask the instructor—it can’t hurt.
- get all wacky and “creative” before you answer the question . Showing that you are able to think beyond the boundaries of a simple assignment can be good, but you must do what the assignment calls for first. Again, check with your instructor. A humorous tone can be refreshing for someone grading a stack of papers, but it will not get you a good grade if you have not fulfilled the task.
Critical reading of assignments leads to skills in other types of reading and writing. If you get good at figuring out what the real goals of assignments are, you are going to be better at understanding the goals of all of your classes and fields of study.
You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Make a Gift
How to Write an Assignment Plan for It to Work
Table of Contents
What is an Assignment Plan?
Why having a plan helps, university assignment plan template: how to step-by-step guide, the research assignment plan template.
In simple terms, an assignment plan is what helps college and university students come up with a clear outline and preparation before they start writing. Even though it may not be obligatory for reflective writing for your English class, it is necessary to have a clear assignment plan for coursework, research papers, lab reports, and assignments that relate to explanatory, argumentative, or Rogerian assignment structure tasks. The trick is to find some helpful information or do your assignment online by asking for additional help when you are stuck. Regarding preparation, some students will turn to mind maps, basic outlines, others consider taking notes when finding a good example that could be used as a reference.
The assignment writing planning for your paper should represent more than just a draft you can come up with. It also includes additional reading and taking a closer look at search results that you encounter when browsing the web. Remember that the most important is to choose your topic and narrow things down accordingly. It should be done even before you start with a draft. Unfortunately, this part is often ignored as it is considered time-consuming. Yet, it has the opposite effect. Having an assignment plan actually helps to save time.
Your assignment can be completed in 3 hours!
Has your deadline come quicker than you expected? No worries! We have what you need – a 3-hours deadline option! All features available for any other order applied, including:
- 100% original assignment
- Free formatting and reference list
- 24/7 online support
If you have ever thought about how to write an assignment for university , the chances are high that you have already worked with a plan or even had to submit one. Here are solid reasons why it helps:
- You focus on the list of helpful sources. It basically works as the annotated bibliography that you include as you write.
- An assignment plan helps to narrow down the topics that are too general. When you have a plan, it is always possible to make a proposal with a clear argumentation.
- It makes it easier to come up with a good thesis statement as you brainstorm various ideas.
- You become more focused as you research your subject and start with a draft. It helps you to understand your objectives and come up with topic sentences that can be used as you form your assignment’s structure.
- Having a draft makes it possible to present your topic to your college professor and revise things when you already have all the important thoughts written down.
- You can choose those ideas that fit best and edit things later to fit the word count.
Step 1: Preparing Your Assignment. This is where you brainstorm your preferred subject and think about what can be chosen. It means setting your purpose, looking into similar research papers, and talking to your academic advisor if you are not sure about what must be chosen.
Step 2: Researching Your Subject. Once you have chosen something that works for you, consider moving to the stage of finding good sources and collecting statistical data. It is also where you should take notes that will be helpful as you cite something or come up with strong arguments.
Step 3: Working With a Draft/Outline. Do not be afraid of this assignment planner part even though it may sound frightening. Start with a basic outline where you present an introduction, your thesis statement, research arguments (objectives), and the list of topic sentences with your literature list. Depending on your subject, it may be either for your eyes only or serve as the professionally done draft (proposal).
Step 4: Editing & Revising. This is where you should eliminate all the weak parts by editing your assignment the way you would like. It is actually what helps to work in a relaxed environment and bring things to perfection.
Step 5: Proofreading. Unlike editing, you should not change your sentences at this stage . Look for formatting, grammar, style, syntax, and spelling errors. It also helps a lot if you read it aloud.
Once again, the purpose of a good assignment plan is to help you come up with strong arguments and structure your assignment correctly as you estimate what parts must go to each relevant section.
As a rule, your assignment plan will always differ, depending on your subject and assignment type, yet the most common assignment plan example will include the following seven paragraphs:
- Project’s Name: start date, end date, completed.
- Research Objectives: up to 150-300 words. It should speak about the importance of your assignment and things you would like to achieve. Write an assignment brief as it should always be to the point.
- Ideas and Sketches. Write down the basic ideas that you have for a paper (it can be as much as you would like).
- Resources Used. The list of your sources with citation information and page numbers where applicable.
- Thesis Statement. The most important part of your work – your main argument or a moral take.
- Topic Sentences. These should represent your key arguments and appear at the start of each body paragraph in the final paper. The golden rule is to have one idea per body paragraph.
- Conclusion. This part is another important section of your assignment plan as it should talk about what you wanted to achieve and what has helped (or hasn’t) to do it.
Having a plan in advance will always help you as you already know how to start an assignment by referencing your own writing!
When you are facing the challenge of not knowing how to write a research assignment for your school or college class, there are many things that you should consider to make things work...
When you are facing the challenge of not knowing how to write a...
Bibliographies are generally not the easiest or most fun writing tasks, but they are necessary, so it’s important to get them right! Read on, to find out ‘how to make bibliography’...
Bibliographies are generally not the easiest or most fun writing...
Knowing how to avoid plagiarism in the assignment is one of those skills that many college students learn the hard way when they face high similarity plagiarism reports. It doesn't even...
Knowing how to avoid plagiarism in the assignment is one of those...
Over 1000 students entrusted Bro
We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .
Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.
22 Develop an Assignment Plan
Now that you have a clear idea of what you need to do, the next step is to break down the assignment into manageable “chunks”. The idea of completing a major research paper may seem overwhelming, but if you can divide the task into achievable steps you will be on your way to success.
Use the chart below to break your assignment into smaller steps. You will want to create steps that can be done easily in one day, and preferably in a single work period. Consider the following example breakdown for a research paper.
| Read assignment instructions and rubric | October 2 | Y |
| Review course materials and choose topic | October 3 | Y |
| Library research — find 3 peer reviewed articles and two books | October 5 | |
| Read and take notes on two articles | October 7 | |
| Read and takes notes on final article and books | October 8 | |
| Organize notes; write thesis and outline | October 9 | |
| Write body paragraph 1 | October 10 | |
| Write body paragraph 2 | October 10 | |
| Write body paragraph 3 | October 11 | |
| Write body paragraph 4 | October 11 | |
| Write conclusion | October 12 | |
| Write introduction | October 12 | |
| Self-edit content and organization (use the rubric) | October 14 | |
| Writing tutor appointment | October 15 | |
| Edit and proofread assignment | October 16 | |
| Submit final assignment | October 18 |
In the above example, the assignment is divided into smaller pieces, with a manageable amount to complete each day. It is also clear when each task has been completed. A daily work goal like “work on research paper” is not well-defined, and can seem overwhelming. This can make it easy to procrastinate. By choosing specific and achievable goals, you may become more motivated to get started, and you will be able to measure your progress each day. Remember to reward yourself for meeting your goals along the way.
Choose one of your upcoming assignments, and create a work plan modelled on the example above.
Download the assignment planner worksheet .
University 101: Study, Strategize and Succeed Copyright © 2018 by Kwantlen Polytechnic University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Share This Book
Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.
24 Create an Assignment Plan
Now that you have a clear idea of what you need to do, the next step is to break down the assignment into manageable “chunks”. The idea of completing a major research paper may seem overwhelming, but if you can divide the task into achievable steps you will be on your way to success.
Use the chart below to break your assignment into smaller steps. You will want to create steps that can be done easily in one day, and preferably in a single work period. Consider the following example breakdown for a research paper.
| Read assignment instructions and rubric | October 2 | Y |
| Review course materials and choose topic | October 3 | Y |
| Library research — find 3 peer reviewed articles and two books | October 5 | |
| Read and take notes on two articles | October 7 | |
| Read and takes notes on final article and books | October 8 | |
| Organize notes; write thesis and outline | October 9 | |
| Write body paragraph 1 | October 10 | |
| Write body paragraph 2 | October 10 | |
| Write body paragraph 3 | October 11 | |
| Write body paragraph 4 | October 11 | |
| Write conclusion | October 12 | |
| Write introduction | October 12 | |
| Self-edit content and organization (use the rubric) | October 14 | |
| Writing tutor appointment | October 15 | |
| Edit and proofread assignment | October 16 | |
| Submit final assignment | October 18 |
In the above example, the assignment is divided into smaller pieces, with a manageable amount to complete each day. It is also clear when each task has been completed. A daily work goal like “work on research paper” is not well-defined, and can seem overwhelming. This can make it easy to procrastinate. By choosing specific and achievable goals, you may become more motivated to get started, and you will be able to measure your progress each day. Remember to reward yourself for meeting your goals along the way.
Choose one of your upcoming assignments, and create a work plan modeled on the example above.
Download the assignment planner worksheet .
Learning to Learn Online Copyright © 2018 by Marti Alger, Christina Page, and Adam Vincent is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Share This Book
- Guide Framework
- Guide Navigation
- Learning & Reflection
- Time Management
- Assignment Planning
- Reading & Note-Taking
- Exam Writing & Preparation
- Group Work & Collaboration
- Motivation & Goal Setting
- Additional Resources
Study Skills & Learning Strategies: Assignment Planning
| Take Inventory of Your Assignment Planning Strategies |
| In this section, think about the strategies you use to tackle your assignments. Ask yourself how well those strategies are working and why. and a . . . skills.If you feel unsure about where to start or completing your assignments on time, having a personalized plan in place can alleviate the anxiety and provide you with a road map to tackle even the toughest tasks. |
| Complete this short survey to gain a better understanding of the steps involved in assignment planning.
|
| Personalize/Plan Your Approach | ||
| Reflect on the strategies you use to complete your assignments. Do they your learning? Explore the resource links below and strategies that you can easily and to suit your learning needs. | ||
| ADOPT | APPLY | ADAPT |
|
|
|
|
| that enhance your ability to plan and meet assignment deadlines | Strategies that extend your ability to manage your assignment load and track your progress | Strategies that improve the quality of your assignments through self-assessment and feedback |
| from Leeds University provides several tips on how to approach the planning process. can help you get started. (TrentU) provides planning strategies for different types of assignments. describes how to plan from the assignment deadline | Make a habit of using * for help with developing completion timelines and finding resources for stages of the writing process. TrentU's describes the steps in the planning process. Try using to make action plans for , , . | Use the for free 1-on-1 support and to get feedback on your organization skills and writing style. Use the feedback your receive to improve your writing process by . Try this tutorial by Algonquin College to master your ability to assignments into smaller, more manageable parts. :
|
| Your Task |
|
|
| |
Assignment Planning Steps
Need more help?
Attend a workshop
USask Assignment Planner
Be aware of Academic Integrity
Assignment Planning Templates
- Understanding Your Assignment Checklist (pdf)
- Assignment Planner (pdf)
- << Previous: Time Management
- Next: Reading & Note-Taking >>
- Library A to Z
- Follow on Facebook
- Follow on Twitter
- Follow on YouTube
- Follow on Instagram
The University of Saskatchewan's main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis.
© University of Saskatchewan Disclaimer | Privacy
- Last Updated: Jul 15, 2024 3:32 PM
- URL: https://libguides.usask.ca/StudySkillsAndLearningStrategies
Writing your assignment
The Writing your assignment resource is designed and monitored by Learning Advisers and Academic Librarians at UniSA.
Part of writing an assignment is creating a plan, and in some courses, you may be tasked with creating a plan as part of your assignment. A plan should build on your original brainstorming session and be informed by your research. A good place to start is the marking criteria. Use the marking criteria, in conjunction with the assessment instructions, to help you with establishing your plan.
As you are searching, develop the argument you are going to present as early as you can. In this way, you will be more targeted in trying to find information that will assist you with presenting this argument. Check that your argument, and your topic paragraphs, fit with the assessment details and the marking criteria before moving forward. Keep in mind, the plan is a fluid document that may change as you explore your topic further.
What should an essay plan include?
- This is the argument your essay is going to make in response to the assignment question.
- The main points are going to provide the supporting evidence in answer to the assignment question. Each main point will form one of the body paragraphs.
- For example, an introduction, body and conclusion
- Put in your own words the evidence you have sourced and place this under the relevant main point. Ensure you provide an in-text citation with your notes
Note: Although this video focuses on essay planning, a similar process can be applied to other assignment types. Watch the Report writing and/or Reflective writing videos to help you consider the structure and content of these types of writing when planning for your assignment.
Here we provide you with a number of example essay plans. Choose the style that suits you best when creating your own. If you are set an assignment task that asks for an essay plan, be sure to check the assignment requirements before creating one.
- Sample Essay Plan - Simple (pdf)
- Sample Essay Plan - Linear, structured (pdf)
- Sample Essay Plan - Mind Map (pdf)
As you review this sample essay plan, hover over the underlined text for more information.
Note: In some browsers you may need to click on the highlighted text to read the extra information.
Advice for Senior Students
Planning and tackling a research assignment.
You’ve probably had the experience of several assignments across different subjects being due in the same week. Here’s how to plan your time to meet all deadlines without rushing to the finish line.
Undertaking individual research is a key feature in many school subject areas. Having a systematic approach to this research can help to make the best use of your time. Most schools provide students with a study planner or homework diary to help with dates and organisation.
The following seven-point guide provides a format to follow when planning your assignment work. Breaking the research task into manageable steps is the starting point. You can then allocate a certain amount of time for each step, so that you are on track to meet submission deadlines.
1. Define the task
Read through the task details several times so that you understand exactly what the question or requirements are asking you to do. It seems logical, but precisely understanding the task will make sure you are focused on the end product. Ensure you are also familiar with assessment criteria provided.
2. Locate information
Undertake some preliminary research and reading to gain an overview of the topic and to see what sources are available for you to use. Remember to consider utilising your school library’s resources in addition to your own online research.
3. Select resources
Draw upon the information sources you decide are most useful and reliable. Over time, you’ll find that you hone your skills in locating and evaluating resources.
4. Organise notes
Take notes as you extract information from each of your sources. Organise this information as you go. Having a good set of notes will make the actual writing process much easier and quicker.
5. Present the ideas
Plan out the main points you want to make in your assignment and then decide how you want to express and convey them. Write your submission in a clear and succinct fashion. Keep referring to the task requirements and the assessment criteria to make sure you’re covering the essential points.
6. Evaluate your work
Once you’ve written the final word in your assignment, don’t be tempted to submit it immediately. Build in some time to carefully check over everything. Proof-read it to rectify any basic errors. Reading work back aloud to yourself can be an effective way to do this. Again, check it against the task instructions and criteria.
7. Submission
If you’ve planned your time efficiently, aim to submit your assignment ahead of the deadline to make an allowance for any last-minute problems. It’s a great feeling to finally submit an assignment you have been working on over an extended period. It’s an even better feeling if you are happy that you’ve done your best to address the requirements of the task.
ABOUT CLUEY LEARNING
Dr Selina Samuels
Education expert.
BA(Hons), LLB, PhD, MEd
Cluey Newsletter
Our expert tips. Your inbox.
Follow us on Facebook
Cluey Learning
Explore the Cluey Blog
- School & Education News
- Study & Exam Tips
- Study and research support
- Academic skills
Plan your writing
Interpret your assignment.
Planning how you approach your writing will make sure that you understand the task, can manage your time, and present a researched, structured and focused assignment.
Before you start writing, you need to understand what type of writing you are required to produce. For example, you might be asked to produce a report, an essay, an annotated bibliography or a literature review. This will shape how you will prepare, research and write your assignment. Take time to understand the conventions of each type of assignment and what is expected of you.
Understand instructional words
Instructional verbs in the assignment task will indicate how to plan your approach. Choose the instructional words that you have been given below to reveal what they mean.
Instructional verbs
Examine an issue in close detail and break it into its constituent parts. Look in depth at each part, consider the evidence, and show you understand the relationship between them.
Decide on the importance or usefulness of something and give reasons and evidence for your decision.
Identify similarities and differences between two or more things, problems or arguments. Draw a conclusion about which (if either) you think is preferable or more convincing.
Outline the meaning of a word, concept or theory as it is used in your discipline. In some cases it may be necessary or desirable to examine different possible, or often used, definitions.
Present factual information about something, using appropriate evidence to support your description.
Examine the arguments and the evidence to support them. Consider different sides of the issue and weigh up the implications of each argument.
Make an appraisal of the worth of something, an argument or a set of beliefs, in the light of its validity or value. This does involve making your own judgements, but they must be supported by an evidenced argument and justification.
Explain or clarify something using evidence, diagrams, figures, or case studies.
Provide adequate reasons for a decision or a conclusion by supporting it with sufficient evidence and argument; answer the main objections that are likely to be made to it.
Summarise the main features or the general principles of a subject, topic or theory.
Provide a thorough examination of a topic. You may be asked to draw your own conclusions.
To what extent
Explore and present the argument(s) for a particular topic and state the degree to which you agree with them.
Accordion 1
Sample accordion 1
Adapted from: Greetham, B. 2018. How to write better essays . 4th ed. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Scope and focus
Look at the assignment task to identify whether there is a specific aspect of the topic that you are being asked to focus on. For example:
- Is the topic or question limited to a certain time period, region, or group of people?
- Are you being asked to consider a particular angle (for example, political, social, economic aspects of the topic)?
If the assignment task does not include information about the scope or limitations of the topic, you should choose these yourself. Think about what key issues have been covered in your module and whether you could use any of these to produce a focused answer to the question.
If something in the assignment brief is unclear, check with your module leader as soon as possible before starting to plan your answer.
Watch this short video on how to plan and get started with your assignment.
Define your purpose and reader
The next step before writing is to clearly define the purpose of the writing and the audience.
Most formal academic writing at university is set by, and written for, an academic tutor or assessor. There should be clear criteria against which they will mark your work. Your tutor may ask you to write for different audiences such as a lay audience or your peers, so make sure you know who your intended audience is before you start writing.
Once you have a clear idea of what is required for your assignment, you can start to plan what you are going to write.
Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts
Understanding Writing Assignments
Welcome to the Purdue OWL
This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.
Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.
How to Decipher the Paper Assignment
Many instructors write their assignment prompts differently. By following a few steps, you can better understand the requirements for the assignment. The best way, as always, is to ask the instructor about anything confusing.
- Read the prompt the entire way through once. This gives you an overall view of what is going on.
- Underline or circle the portions that you absolutely must know. This information may include due date, research (source) requirements, page length, and format (MLA, APA, CMS).
- Underline or circle important phrases. You should know your instructor at least a little by now - what phrases do they use in class? Does he repeatedly say a specific word? If these are in the prompt, you know the instructor wants you to use them in the assignment.
- Think about how you will address the prompt. The prompt contains clues on how to write the assignment. Your instructor will often describe the ideas they want discussed either in questions, in bullet points, or in the text of the prompt. Think about each of these sentences and number them so that you can write a paragraph or section of your essay on that portion if necessary.
- Rank ideas in descending order, from most important to least important. Instructors may include more questions or talking points than you can cover in your assignment, so rank them in the order you think is more important. One area of the prompt may be more interesting to you than another.
- Ask your instructor questions if you have any.
After you are finished with these steps, ask yourself the following:
- What is the purpose of this assignment? Is my purpose to provide information without forming an argument, to construct an argument based on research, or analyze a poem and discuss its imagery?
- Who is my audience? Is my instructor my only audience? Who else might read this? Will it be posted online? What are my readers' needs and expectations?
- What resources do I need to begin work? Do I need to conduct literature (hermeneutic or historical) research, or do I need to review important literature on the topic and then conduct empirical research, such as a survey or an observation? How many sources are required?
- Who - beyond my instructor - can I contact to help me if I have questions? Do you have a writing lab or student service center that offers tutorials in writing?
(Notes on prompts made in blue )
Poster or Song Analysis: Poster or Song? Poster!
Goals : To systematically consider the rhetorical choices made in either a poster or a song. She says that all the time.
Things to Consider: ah- talking points
- how the poster addresses its audience and is affected by context I'll do this first - 1.
- general layout, use of color, contours of light and shade, etc.
- use of contrast, alignment, repetition, and proximity C.A.R.P. They say that, too. I'll do this third - 3.
- the point of view the viewer is invited to take, poses of figures in the poster, etc. any text that may be present
- possible cultural ramifications or social issues that have bearing I'll cover this second - 2.
- ethical implications
- how the poster affects us emotionally, or what mood it evokes
- the poster's implicit argument and its effectiveness said that was important in class, so I'll discuss this last - 4.
- how the song addresses its audience
- lyrics: how they rhyme, repeat, what they say
- use of music, tempo, different instruments
- possible cultural ramifications or social issues that have bearing
- emotional effects
- the implicit argument and its effectiveness
These thinking points are not a step-by-step guideline on how to write your paper; instead, they are various means through which you can approach the subject. I do expect to see at least a few of them addressed, and there are other aspects that may be pertinent to your choice that have not been included in these lists. You will want to find a central idea and base your argument around that. Additionally, you must include a copy of the poster or song that you are working with. Really important!
I will be your audience. This is a formal paper, and you should use academic conventions throughout.
Length: 4 pages Format: Typed, double-spaced, 10-12 point Times New Roman, 1 inch margins I need to remember the format stuff. I messed this up last time =(
Academic Argument Essay
5-7 pages, Times New Roman 12 pt. font, 1 inch margins.
Minimum of five cited sources: 3 must be from academic journals or books
- Design Plan due: Thurs. 10/19
- Rough Draft due: Monday 10/30
- Final Draft due: Thurs. 11/9
Remember this! I missed the deadline last time
The design plan is simply a statement of purpose, as described on pages 40-41 of the book, and an outline. The outline may be formal, as we discussed in class, or a printout of an Open Mind project. It must be a minimum of 1 page typed information, plus 1 page outline.
This project is an expansion of your opinion editorial. While you should avoid repeating any of your exact phrases from Project 2, you may reuse some of the same ideas. Your topic should be similar. You must use research to support your position, and you must also demonstrate a fairly thorough knowledge of any opposing position(s). 2 things to do - my position and the opposite.
Your essay should begin with an introduction that encapsulates your topic and indicates 1 the general trajectory of your argument. You need to have a discernable thesis that appears early in your paper. Your conclusion should restate the thesis in different words, 2 and then draw some additional meaningful analysis out of the developments of your argument. Think of this as a "so what" factor. What are some implications for the future, relating to your topic? What does all this (what you have argued) mean for society, or for the section of it to which your argument pertains? A good conclusion moves outside the topic in the paper and deals with a larger issue.
You should spend at least one paragraph acknowledging and describing the opposing position in a manner that is respectful and honestly representative of the opposition’s 3 views. The counterargument does not need to occur in a certain area, but generally begins or ends your argument. Asserting and attempting to prove each aspect of your argument’s structure should comprise the majority of your paper. Ask yourself what your argument assumes and what must be proven in order to validate your claims. Then go step-by-step, paragraph-by-paragraph, addressing each facet of your position. Most important part!
Finally, pay attention to readability . Just because this is a research paper does not mean that it has to be boring. Use examples and allow your opinion to show through word choice and tone. Proofread before you turn in the paper. Your audience is generally the academic community and specifically me, as a representative of that community. Ok, They want this to be easy to read, to contain examples I find, and they want it to be grammatically correct. I can visit the tutoring center if I get stuck, or I can email the OWL Email Tutors short questions if I have any more problems.
How to Write a Plan for Your Assignment
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” ― Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln’s wise words ring true for all walks of life and none more so than university assignments. Assignments are a key part of the university. Students who learn how to plan an assignment early on in their university career will find their assignments less daunting, easier to write and crucially, more highly graded. Below are some key tips on how you can successfully plan a great assignment.
Read the Question!
This might seem obvious, but not fully understanding the question is a surprisingly common (and totally avoidable) stumbling block for students. Make sure you understand exactly what is being asked of you and if you aren’t 100% sure, seek clarification from your peers or your tutor. Try breaking the question down to ensure you cover everything asked.
Reading widely is absolutely key for a successful assignment. It will be obvious to any marker if the student has not read key texts. By limiting your reading, you immediately limit your essay. You don’t have to read every article or textbook before writing your assignment plan, you may well discover some along the way. The footnotes and bibliographies of the earlier articles and textbooks you do read are a great source of further reading.
When you do your reading, it is essential that you make notes.
Top tip: when making notes on an article or book always include the full reference with your notes – this will save you time and stress when you come to your footnotes and bibliography.
Create a Skeleton Plan
A good early technique when creating an assignment plan is to begin with a skeleton of what your final essay may contain. This needn’t be greatly detailed and you may add or drop things from it as you progress with your research and the essay itself, but starting with a basic outline helps to give you early direction and focuses your reading.
Draft, then Redraft
An assignment draft is essential, it gives you the opportunity to see your thoughts and ideas on the page and see if they link together in the way you envisage. Once you have written your first assignment draft, take a break, and then come back with a fresh pair of eyes. This is key for spotting any errors and inconsistencies in the essay. Your second assignment draft should iron out these inconsistencies, make the assignment a coherent whole and leave you with minor refinements before deadline day.
Find what Works for You
While all of the above are solid techniques for assignment planning, every student is different. Some people like doing mind maps, some bullet points; others just jump straight into the writing. It may take some time to discover what works best for you when writing assignments, so don’t be afraid to experiment!
A good assignment plan equals a good assignment. Remember Uncle Abe’s advice; don’t just start hacking at that assignment, give yourself the tools to do the job properly and efficiently.
You may also like
NCI LIBRARY
Academic writing skills guide: structuring your assignment.
- Key Features of Academic Writing
- The Writing Process
- Understanding Assignments
- Brainstorming Techniques
- Planning Your Assignments
- Thesis Statements
- Writing Drafts
- Structuring Your Assignment
- How to Deal With Writer's Block
- Using Paragraphs
- Conclusions
- Introductions
- Revising & Editing
- Proofreading
- Grammar & Punctuation
- Reporting Verbs
- Signposting, Transitions & Linking Words/Phrases
- Using Lecturers' Feedback
|
Organising and structuring your assignment can be as important as the content itself as it helps you present your arguments in a logical way. A good, logical structure to your assignment is key to ensuring your lecturer can follow your argument, making it easier to read and understand. You should take them on a journey to your conclusion, so that they can see how your case builds up through your assignment. An effective structure not only improves the flow of your writing but also demonstrates that you thought about and planned your work before you started writing. This is important as it is obvious to any lecturer if you have not planned your work before you start. Not only does this demonstrate poor thinking, it makes your work harder to understand, which will inevitably harm your grades. If you work on the structure before you write your first draft, you will not have to do so much reorganisation and rewriting when it is completed. Time spent organising the structure of the main body of your assignment is valuable as it gives you the chance to link paragraphs together into a logical sequence. It will also make the writing process easier as adopting a structured approach helps you break down each part of the process into manageable chunks. |
| Planning the structure of an assignment is important and will help you to feel more in control of your writing as it begins to take shape. Good planning is key for a well-structured assignment – you should not launch into writing with no idea of what you are going to write. Think carefully about how to structure your assignment before you start to write. Having a well-structured plan will help you considerably in producing a cohesive assignment and will also allow you to write your assignment in stages since it will clearly map out the direction you should proceed in. Before you begin writing, check the structure to make sure it matches the assignment requirements and repeat these checks as you draft and redraft your assignments. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Keep referring back to the question and assignment brief and make sure that your structure matches what you have been asked to do and check to see if you have appropriate and sufficient evidence to support all of your points. Plans can be structured/restructured at any time during the writing process. Once you have decided on your key point(s), draw a line through any points that no longer seem to fit. This will mean you are eliminating some ideas and potentially letting go of one or two points that you wanted to make. However, this process is all about improving the relevance and coherence of your writing. Writing involves making choices, including the tough choice to sideline ideas that, however promising, do not fit into your main discussion. Eventually, you will have a structure that is detailed enough for you to start writing. You will know which ideas go into each section and, ideally, each paragraph and in what order. You will also know which evidence for those ideas from your notes you will be using for each section and paragraph. Once you have a map/framework of the proposed structure, this forms the skeleton of your assignment and if you have invested enough time and effort into researching and brainstorming your ideas beforehand, it should make it easier to flesh it out. Ultimately, you are aiming for a final draft where you can sum up each paragraph in a couple of words as each paragraph focuses on one main point or idea.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
An assignment can look pretty straightforward at first, particularly if the instructor has provided lots of information. That does not mean it will not take time and effort to complete; you may even have to learn a new skill to complete the assignment. Ask the instructor about anything you do not understand.
The Research Assignment Plan Template. As a rule, your assignment plan will always differ, depending on your subject and assignment type, yet the most common assignment plan example will include the following seven paragraphs: Project's Name: start date, end date, completed. Research Objectives: up to 150-300 words. It should speak about the ...
22 Develop an Assignment Plan. 22. Develop an Assignment Plan. Now that you have a clear idea of what you need to do, the next step is to break down the assignment into manageable "chunks". The idea of completing a major research paper may seem overwhelming, but if you can divide the task into achievable steps you will be on your way to ...
Introduction to 'Planning and preparing to write assignments'. This handbook on preparing to write assignments is designed to help you develop your strategies for planning. Hopefully, it will help you to get the most out of your experience of writing at University and provide encouragement for managing this type of assessment.
24. Create an Assignment Plan. Now that you have a clear idea of what you need to do, the next step is to break down the assignment into manageable "chunks". The idea of completing a major research paper may seem overwhelming, but if you can divide the task into achievable steps you will be on your way to success.
Using an Assignment Planner describes how to plan backwards from the assignment deadline. Make a habit of using *USask's Assignment Planner for help with developing completion timelines and finding resources for stages of the writing process. TrentU's 10 Steps to Complete Your Assignments describes the steps in the planning process.
This template is designed to assist you with the collection and organisation of information into your notes and to plan the structure of your work before you start writing your first draft. The Assignment Planning - Guidelines has four stages: Stage #1 - Collecting Information. Use the collecting information sheets to insert paraphrases from ...
Create a plan for your assignment. Part of writing an assignment is creating a plan, and in some courses, you may be tasked with creating a plan as part of your assignment. A plan should build on your original brainstorming session and be informed by your research. A good place to start is the marking criteria.
The following seven-point guide provides a format to follow when planning your assignment work. Breaking the research task into manageable steps is the starting point. You can then allocate a certain amount of time for each step, so that you are on track to meet submission deadlines. 1. Define the task. Read through the task details several ...
Interpret your assignment. Create a plan. Planning how you approach your writing will make sure that you understand the task, can manage your time, and present a researched, structured and focused assignment. Before you start writing, you need to understand what type of writing you are required to produce. For example, you might be asked to ...
Many instructors write their assignment prompts differently. By following a few steps, you can better understand the requirements for the assignment. The best way, as always, is to ask the instructor about anything confusing. Read the prompt the entire way through once. This gives you an overall view of what is going on.
Create a Skeleton Plan. A good early technique when creating an assignment plan is to begin with a skeleton of what your final essay may contain. This needn't be greatly detailed and you may add or drop things from it as you progress with your research and the essay itself, but starting with a basic outline helps to give you early direction ...
It should give you a step-by-step overview of the assignment. Convert your initial plan into an outline plan listing: the main themes; the focus point of each paragraph ; supporting information and sources you will refer to; your own analysis of the information from your sources; Reorder your plan until you are satisfied that you have a logical ...
ha. you need to work on. 3. Start your research. Identify rele. ant information resources. Start researchi. g your assignment subject. Stay focused on what you need t. know for your assignment. Keep a list of s. ar. hes y. u have conducted.4. Read. When you have started your research, it is also time to start r.
These guides help you understand what an assignment asks you to do. They clarify what reading and writing critically means in an academic context. Here you can also find guidance on how to reference and avoid plagiarism. The section on argument, voice and structure is useful to express and support your ideas. Advice is also available on how to ...
A lesson plan is a teacher's daily guide for what students need to learn, how it will be taught, and how learning will be measured. Lesson plans help teachers be more effective in the classroom by providing a detailed outline to follow each class period. This ensures every bit of class time is spent teaching new concepts and having meaningful ...
nment. Some people find it easiest to write the introduction first, whereas others leave it until. the end. Neither approach is right or wrong, so write the assignment in whichever order feels best. for you. The introduction might be up to around 10% of the word count (e.g. up to 200 words for a 2000 word ass.
A simple project plan includes these elements: Project name, brief summary, and objective. Project players or team members who will drive the project, along with their roles and responsibilities. Key outcomes and due dates. Project elements, ideally divided into must-have, nice-to-have and not-in-scope categories.
Assignment meaning is the tasks given to students by their teachers and tutors to complete in a defined time. They can also be referred to as the work given to someone as a part of learning. Assignments can be in the form of written, practical, art or fieldwork, or even online. Their purpose is to ensure that students understand the subject ...
Assignment. Definition: Assignment is a task given to students by a teacher or professor, usually as a means of assessing their understanding and application of course material. ... Non-profit organizations: Assignments can be used in non-profit organizations to develop fundraising strategies, to plan events, and to conduct research. Volunteers ...
In the context of an assignment, however, discussion entails fulfilling a defined and organized task: to construct an argument that considers and responds to an ample range of materials. To "discuss," in assignment language, means to make a broad argument about a set of arguments you have studied. In the case above, you can do this by
Assigned seats. Southwest is ending its open seating policy, in which customers find a cabin seat on a first-come, first-serve basis. When the changes go into effect next year, customers will ...
Lesson Plan. A lesson plan is a teacher's guide for facilitating a lesson. It typically includes the goal (what students need to learn), how the goal will be achieved (the method of delivery and procedure) and a way to measure how well the goal was reached (usually via homework assignments or testing). This plan is a teacher's objectives ...
Related to Assignment Plan. IP Assignment Agreement has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2 (a) (iii). Assignment / job means the work to be performed by the Consultant pursuant to the Contract. Assignment Agreement means an Assignment and Assumption Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E, with such amendments or modifications as may ...
The Mets designated Porter for assignment to clear space on the 40-man roster for relief pitcher Huascar Brazobán.. The Arizona native has also played for Triple-A Omaha and Triple-A Sacramento ...
Here's what it could mean for you. Will Donald Trump cut taxes on tips? The minimum cash wage for tipped employees in New Jersey is $5.26 per hour , with employers able to claim a tip credit up ...
Southwest is under pressure to drum up revenue from an oversupplied U.S. market and an activist investor.
Trump himself repeatedly promised during his 2016 election campaign to "terminate" Obamacare and replace it with an unspecified superior plan, but failed to achieve his goal as president.
Ethiopia plans to float its currency, the birr, as part of ongoing macroeconomic reforms, according to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
A few weeks after promising to eliminate taxes on tips, former President Donald Trump has unveiled a second proposal for targeted tax relief. The beneficiaries this time would be senior citizens ...