Assignment Preparation (Guidelines and Important Tips)

December 30, 2021

Student's Assignment Preparation

Written By: Rana Asif Shahzad Ali

Assessment is a necessary part of the teaching and learning process, helping us measure whether our students have really learned what we want them to learn. While exams and quizzes are certainly favorite and useful methods of assessment, out of class assignments (written or otherwise) can offer similar insights into our students' learning.

The majority of students fail since they go directly to writing the assignment without some proper preparation for the writing process. As a rule, this is always a recipe for failure in the academic world. Don’t expect such bad results? Then, take into consideration our following tips at each writing stage.

The steps below will help you plan, research, write and review your assignment.

The most important thing is to start and start early. If you give yourself enough time to plan, research, write and revise your work you won't have to rush. Once you've started, you’ll also have something that you can improve on.

Step 1 – Understand the assignment task

Before you start your assignment make sure you analyses the assignment task or question and understand what you have been asked to do. This will help you focus your research. Also check what type of assignment you are doing. Is it an essay or a report? This will help you focus your research and know how to structure your assignment.

Step 2 – Do your research

Next, research your topic and find relevant and reliable information. You will find some in your course materials and recommended readings, but you can also try:

the Open Polytechnic Library
online sources
Talking to experts.

Step 3 – Plan

Planning how you will answer your assignment task or question will help you focus and make writing your assignment easier. You will have a structure to follow, and can make sure you answer the assignment task correctly.

Step 4 – Write

It will then be time to start writing.

First draft

Write your first draft following your plan. Fill in the gaps, writing your main points for each section.
Write freely. Get as much down as you can without worrying about the wording being 100 per cent right.
You may find it easiest to start with the conclusion, so you know the direction your writing is heading.
Leave the introduction until last.

Don’t spend too much time trying to make this draft perfect as it will change!

Fine tune

Revise your draft, and check that it makes sense and includes everything it needs to.
Fine tune the wording, and make sure your writing flows well.
Keep different copies of your drafts as you may want to go back to them.
Compile your bibliography or reference list.

Step 5 – Review
Once you're happy, take a break. Get some distance from your work so you can check your assignment with a fresh eye. Then edit and proofread.

Look at the big picture

Have you answered the question you were set? Check your work against the marking schedule as well as the question.
Is the structure correct? Is the content logically arranged?
Have you included all relevant parts? For example, the title page, introduction, conclusion, reference list?
Does your assignment 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?
Is your assignment well presented?

Check the details

Have you used academic English (if needed)?
Check the grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Don’t just use a spell checker (it won’t pick everything up).
Check your referencing. Is your APA referencing correct?
Are your pages numbered?
Have you included your name, student ID, the assignment details and the date on each page?

Tip – If possible, ask a friend or family member to proofread your assignment, as it can be difficult to see mistakes in your own work.

Once you’re happy, submit your assignment.

Special Instructions for Assignment File/Document/Envelope

If your assignment is in MS Word format, then must follow these formatting requirements:

Conform the Assignment
· Be typed,
· Double spaced,
· Using Times New Roman/Calibri font (size 12), with
· One-inch margins on all sides;
· Citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format.

Assignment document must include
· A cover page containing the title of the assignment,
· The student’s name,
· The professor’s name,
· The course title, and
· The date.

Note: The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.