Top tips to writing your assignment

It doesn't need to be a daunting task

Whether you’re a new or returning student, writing your first larger piece of work for the semester can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be. 

With planning, structure and the removal of distractions, you can produce a strong, clear and organised essay or piece of work. 

Our Academic Achievement team is giving their top tips to all students when writing an assignment:

1. Print the question or task out and put it somewhere visible. 

Doing this not only keeps you focused on the task at hand but allows you to take in your assignment task. 

2. Review lectures and note down key relevant points. 

Before you put pen to paper, you need to refresh and review what you already know. Look through lecture notes, making sure you’ve understood the relevant points and clarify any doubts with your lecturers before you start writing. 

3. Use these key relevant points to find useful readings 

You can't write an assignment from lecture slides alone. The university’s library system has thousands of books and journals available in both print and digital format. 

4. Use your module reading list as your starting point and then, if necessary, move onto Discover. 

Each module will have supplied you with a module reading list, make sure to familiarise yourself with these and determine which ones are relevant for your assignment. 

5. Read before you plan and plan before you write. 

This is important. Make sure you’ve completed your reading before you start to write. Then create a plan, this can be an outline of the assignment broken down into introductions, body paragraphs and a conclusion. By mapping these out, you’ll have broken your assignment down into smaller tasks, that are achievable. 

6. Don’t procrastinate 

Once you’ve set aside the time to complete your assignment, remove all distractions. This includes limited tech distractions and finding a quiet work space. Then break down your assignment, creating shorter tasks and mini deadlines that will help you work in short, focused bursts. Make sure to reward yourself yourself with a break when you complete certain tasks, this will help keep you motivated. 

7. Get support from Academic Achievement 

If you’re struggling with your assignment, don’t know where to start, need help with a plan or want to discuss your ideas, the Academic Achievement team is here to help.  

They offer classes, drop-ins, appointments and have a range of self-study resources too. Find out more or book here.