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Guide To Assignment Writing

Sometimes an assignment can seem incredibly daunting and it's easy to put off doing it until the last moment. Then, when you actually face up to it, you haven't got the time to do it justice and you need to pull an "all-nighter" just to complete the minimum requirements and you race to submit it the minute before it's due!

This is certainly not the ideal way of approaching assignments! We are going to give you some tips to make your assignment tasks more manageable and stress-free!

  1. Check out the due date. Write it on the calendar and in your diary. Calculate how many weeks you have to complete it.

  2. Read over the assignment to get the gist. Read it AGAIN to get details. Read it AGAIN to make sure you haven't missed anything.

  3. Make sure you understand exactly what you are required to produce: an oral presentation? An essay? A review? A biography? Your teacher will probably have given you an outline with the structure that you are expected to use. Find it and use it as your model.

  4. Break down the assignment into smaller and more manageable tasks. For example: research, taking notes from the materials you have borrowed from the library, outline in point form, writing drafts for intro, paragraphs and conclusion, proof-reading, final draft.

  5. Decide about how long each small task will take and write on your calendar when you will need to complete each smaller task in order to complete the entire assignment by the due date. (Remember to work around your regular commitment such as sport training, clubs, homework, and so on.)

  6. Make sure you always record where you gathered your information from so that it's easy to produce your Bibliography or Reference list.

  7. Brainstorming ideas with a friend or your parents can be very helpful. When you brainstorm your ideas, record it all on paper so you can refer to it. Group the information into relevant headings so that it is always organised and easy to access.

  8. Structure your essay in point form, like a map, so that you don't lose sight of your plan and you are less likely to go off track.

  9. break the assignment down into managable tasks... it will make your job so much easier!
    Remember to link your paragraphs together so that information flows.

  10. Use linking words such as although, however, in view of… , with respect to….. , moreover, in addition, firstly, finally, in conclusion, and so on.

  11. Use transition sentences to introduce paragraphs and to lead into the next one.

  12. Proof read your own work.

  13. Submit a draft copy to be checked by a teacher if possible and if not ask a parent or adult friend to proof read for errors and feedback.

  14. Prepare your final draft, and think about presentation (font, title, your name, paragraphs clearly identified, page numbers, etc).

  15. Ensure that your have included a bibliography or reference list. Usually your teacher will inform you what style you should use and how it should be presented.

  16. Double check everything and submit it confidently!