Once you reach high school or college, the kind of projects/papers/essays assigned to you and how you’re expected to complete those changes drastically. Academic assignments are more in depth at this level and require skilled planning and execution.
Many students have issues writing academic assignments because this is new territory for them. It is hard to know where to begin, how to go about completing the process. Daunting factors like approaching deadlines, lengthy essays and other sources of pressure make it difficult to prioritize.
Writing assignments are no longer as stressful with the multitude of online resources available to students. Technology has opened up new avenues of research and development to allow students to achieve more.
There’s no need to get panic. All the information you need about handling academic assignments can be found below. Use the following tips in a way that works with your method of study.
5 Top Tips for Writing Assignments
- Determining the type of assignment
- One of the most basic steps if you’re unsure about where to start is first to figure out what kind of academic assignment has been allotted.
- Is it an essay, a report, a literary review or a case study?
- Keep in mind that each of the above has stipulated formats and techniques of writing that students should be well-informed of before beginning.
- Familiarize yourself with each style of writing.
- Read articles online that have been written in each of those styles. If possible, find similar topics like the one you’ve been assigned or chosen.
- This will make it easier to understand methods and carry out your assignment accordingly.
- Pay attention to the guidelines given by the teacher or professors in class. This will help in evaluating the specifics of what they expect while reading your essay.
- Factors to consider
- There are many other variables to consider before beginning. Once all the facts are in place it is easier to determine a focal point from which to begin or work towards.
- Firstly, how much time is available for reading, research, writing and reviewing purposes? How do you plan on making efficient use of the time in hand?
- Secondly, is there a plan of action? Has a topic or premise been determined? What is the purpose of the assignment?
- Thirdly, what are the resources available? How much of it is useful and where can they be used?
- Fourthly, is there someone you can go to for guidance and assistance when you hit a roadblock?
- Once the answers to all of these questions have been determined, you can create a routine to follow till the deadline.
- Discipline yourself to follow this routine rigidly for the best results.
- Research
- The core aspect of an academic assignment is to have evidence and authoritative material on which to base your evaluations.
- Use all the available sources, including the internet, libraries, class notes, etc. Anything useful that can be included if incorporated skillfully.
- Primary texts are extremely important. Note down points or page numbers while reading so that references are not forgotten when it comes time to write.
- Gather material written by other authors and critics written on similar topics that are relevant to your work. This helps to establish your premise and make your work more concrete.
- Create a backup of all your material in case anything goes missing or gets damaged.
- Go through the information and remove any unnecessary bits. This will make it easier to sort through points and only use the most pertinent information.
- Highlight important facts and figures.
- Determine the flow of your assignment by marking out where you would like to use different elements.
- Structuring the assignment later will become much simpler.
- The writing process
- Writing academic assignments can be the most tiring and tasking portion unless you’ve followed the tips mentioned above
- Once you’ve analyzed the question and done the required research and reading, the next step will be to develop an argument.
- Tactfully place each point you’d like to mention in an organized sequence followed by a textual reference or quote or critical analysis by someone who has propagated similar opinions. This helps to substantiate your statements.
- Critical thinking is an extremely important aspect.
- Professors are keen to see how many of their guidelines are being followed, how well you think on your own while assessing your research acumen as well.
- Remember that an academic assignment entails more than a simple summary of a movie, story or poem.
- Create an outline to follow before beginning the assignment properly.
- The introduction should be concise and clearly state the purpose of the assignment, the background, structure and what you hope to achieve from it.
- This is the portion that grips the reading and should interest them in continuing.
- There should be a continuity of ideas while writing the body of an assignment; do not jump from one point to another.
- Ensure that there is a smooth flow of information – each point should relate to what is being said before and after it. Learn how to Segway from one topic to another without making the transition obvious or grating on the senses.
- Based on academic standards, there are no personal references made. The tone should be completely impersonal. Hence, refrain from using ‘I’ or ‘you’.
- Build your argument on the basis of other opinions and sources.
- The conclusion is as important as the introduction.
- Restate the aim of the project, brieflysummarize all the points stated in body and conclude with a few comments on the future of the topic or how it can be further evolved.
- Citing work and creating a comprehensive bibliography is extremely important. It shows the professors how much effort and work has gone into curating important facts and information.
- Develop a writing process that suits your habits. The higher the comfort level, the easier it will be to write fluidly and use time effectively.
- Take a sufficient number of breaks while writing.
- Re-energize and re-focus your mind occasionally so that there is no burnout experienced in the process.
- Editing and proofreading
- Leave all editing for a completed first draft. Do not try to edit while writing; this will only stifle the process and slow you down.
- There are many effective tools available online to make the process of editing and proofreading simple.
- Apps are available to check grammar, plagiarism and other aspects of any assignment.
- Ensure that syntax, style and language is
- Check for any spelling errors.
- It is at this stage that you can add or remove points wherever required.
- Doing this ensure that you’re sticking to the word count provided. Many students lose points for being under or above the word limit.
- A professor’s time is precious; he/she will be reading countless other essays, do not make them spend more time on yours than necessary.
- Being able to state all your points effectively within the stipulated boundaries shows discipline and ability to establish thoughts in a condensed and succinct manner.
- Give your essay to other academics to read before submitting it. They may be able to offer helpful advice for improvement on certain fronts.
- Do not overestimate or underestimate your skills. Write on the side of caution while taking calculated risks to tap into your highest potential.
Following the above-stated tips along a regular schedule reduces the pressure and makes writing a lot more enjoyable. These are the building blocks of academic writing. Focus on your end goal and the results you hope to achieve.
By doing so, you tap into thelatent potential to achieve more each time you write a new assignment. Starting is the most difficult but once you do so a rhythm develops. It is never too late to begin learning how to write academic assignments, especially if you’re hoping to pursue further studies.