Your teacher/tutor will provide information about how to approach each assignment task and the referencing requirements for each task. Ask them any questions you have before the due date. Read your assignment task sheet thoroughly, and check the marking rubric. This will inform you of the benchmarks you need to reach.
If you need help with academic writing, contact TAFE's learning support or upload your work to Studiosity to get feedback.
Writing an assignment requires plenty of time. Preparing an assignment schedule can help decide on the timeline of the writing process. You should also allocate some time for writing drafts and making changes.
Use the assignment calculator in the writing resources tab to help allocate your time. There are other helpful resources for time management while studying.
Before writing your assignment, consider the following points:
- What are the arguments and/or issues for discussion? Map out the arguments or issues to be discussed in your assignment using a mind map (Link to mind map software is in the writing resources tab)
- Consider the writing style of the assignment - is it persuasive or reporting facts and observations?
- Order ideas to allow your argument/responses to develop logically.
- Use one idea per paragraph. Each idea contributes to the overall point you are trying to make.
- Allow an approximate number of words for each idea as well as the introduction and conclusion.
- Your conclusion summarises the points made throughout the assignment.
- A dictionary or thesaurus will help you to find academic words.
- Keep checking your assignment against your mind map to ensure that you are answering the question.
Aim for 3 drafts of your writing.
First draft: Focus on getting your main ideas and information down.
Once you have sorted your ideas into a logical sequence, you can start on the first draft of your assignment. There are lots of resources in the writing tab that can help you with academic writing.
Editing your first draft: When you have finished writing, don't worry too much about spelling and punctuation at this point. Now's the time to take a good hard look at your first draft.
Second draft: Take a cold hard look at your first draft and edit it for content, structure, style, evidence and referencing.
Proofreading your second draft: Now check for misspellings, mistakes in grammar and punctuation
Third draft: This is the proof reading stage when you check carefully for errors in grammar, punctuation and spelling. This is the final refinement of your writing.
Have you covered everything required for your assignment?
To help you work this out use this checklist as a guide:
Introduction
Body (paragraphs)
Conclusion
Style
Use of sources
Academic Writing |