So you've just been handed your assignment and you don't know where to start?
Before you begin looking for information you should:
Following these steps will help you get ready to start your search for information.
Remember: If you are unsure of anything you should contact your teacher as they will be the one marking your work!
New Students often find the start of study challenging, Learning time management and planning skills will enhance your study skills and benefit you in your future career.
A process of organizing and planning how to divide your time between different activities, working smarter not harder
STRATEGIES TO ASSIST WITH STUDY
Mind Mapping - A creative thinking tool that is used to brainstorm ideas when preparing for assignments, reports, presentations and exams
Smartdraw is a free mind mapping tool you can use to brainstorm and visually connect ideas and concepts.
To start your search you need to determine the main parts of your assignment question.
Assignment questions contain instructional words, keywords and limiting words. These form the structure of your assignment.
Instruction words tell you how to approach the topic or subject, and clarify what focus your research should take.
Keywords are single words or phrases which define the subject or main ideas of the question. To identify the keywords of your question:
Limiting words determine where to start and stop and set limits to your topic.They may identify specific time periods or geographic areas, eg. Australia or 20th century.
Note: you will use the keywords and limiting words when conducting your search
Before moving onto the next tutorials, ensure you understand the following:
What exactly are you required to do? | Read the assignment task & the assignment marking criteria sheet carefully |
What type of assignment is it? | Is it an essay, report or oral presentation? |
When is it due? |
Plan and allocate time for researching information, writing the draft assignment, checking and editing the finished assignment.
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How long should the assignment be? |
How many words or approximate number of pages? Remember to talk to your teacher if there is any confusion. |