Table of contents

 Introduction………………………………………………..………… 2

 Assignment types…………………………………………..……… 3

 Steps for a good Assignment…………………………………. 3

 Using information from other sources…………………… 7

 Using APA Reference...…………………………………………. 7

 Summaries……………………………………….………………….. 8

 Avoid Plagiarism…………………………………...…………….. 8

 Formatting the assignment…………………………...……… 9

 References…………………………………………………..………. 13
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 Introduction

Assignments are very important in education. Mostly students imagine that educational
assignments are insignificant but the fact is that assignments are given to assist the students in
self-study and clear their concepts or ambiguities regarding any subject.
Being a student most of the students think that it is not our task to learn ourselves as it is
the responsibilities of the teachers to teach us. However, this fact cannot be denied that a
teacher cannot deliver every single detail to every student related to any subject. Such types of
spoon feeding can destroy the learning capabilities and academic career of a student. Spoon
feeding is just like the killing of students with kindness. College or University is those learning
areas where teachers teach and clear all concepts of a subject and expect from students to
learn or explore it more at their own. These tasks or assignments are considered as massive
unhappiness and irritation for the students as they feel studying in the university or college is
sufficient.
The actual reason behind the purpose of assignments is to improve the learning skills of
students. Because if the students use their brains it is more chances they can learn more. It is a
proven scientific fact that academic assignments enhance the creativity in students as they
learn a lot more when they practice or read something on their own. So the basic reason of
giving assignments is to provide a practice exposure and knowledge enhancement of a subject.
For example subjects like programming languages, mathematics, chemistry or physics need as
keen learning and constant practice of subject in order to get good marks and knowledge.
According to saying that “More you practice the more you get”.
Assignments give an assistant in the practice as well; it is just like an experiment to discover
the new things and experience the new outcomes. Furthermore, this practice makes students
prepared and ready for exams and tests and gives a way to solved various unseen problems
that could become in the exam.
The significance of assignments can be seen in a way that teachers or academicians ask
students to accomplished different assignment exercise and activities so the students can able
to obtain useful understanding and awareness of a subject in a great way to develop a
perspective towards the subject. Hence students should follow and write the assignments as it
is a source of learning and exploring the new things.
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 Assignment Types

Assignments will often be in the form of an essay or a report, but there are a number of

other assignment types that may have to do during studies.

Such as:

 Essays

 Reports

 Case studies

 Abstracts

 Annotated bibliographies

 Reviews

 Steps for a good Assignment

When a student is undertaking tertiary study there are often a lot of assignments and
writing to do, which can be daunting at first. The most important thing to remember is to start
and start early.

If he gives himself enough time to plan, do his research, write and revise his assignment he
won’t have to rush to meet his deadline. Once he has started, He will also have something
down on paper or on screen that he can improve on. Using the steps below will help his
assignments to become do-able, interesting and even enjoyable.

 Step 1: Plan
 Step 2: Analyze the question
 Step 3: Draft an outline
 Step 4: Find information
 Step 5: Write
 Step 6: Edit and proofread
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Step 1: Plan

Planning the assignment will help a student to get focused and keep him on track.

 Check how much his assignment is worth and what percentage of the final mark it is.
This will help him decide how much time to spend on it.
 Check the marking schedule to see what his tutor will be looking for when they mark his
work and how the marks will be assigned. This will help him know what to focus on. If
there is no marking schedule check the assignment question to see if the information is
there.
 Think about what you need to do to complete his assignment (for example, what
research, writing drafts, reference checking, reviewing and editing, etc). Break these up
into a list of tasks to do.
 Give each task a deadline, working backwards from his assignment due date.

Step 2: Analyze the question

Before a student can answer a question, he needs to know what it means. Read it slowly
and carefully, and try to understand what's expected of him.

Ask himself :

 What's the question about? What's the topic?

 What does the question mean?
 What do I have to do?

To help him understand the question, try rewriting it using his own words using the
format below:

‘This assignment is about ______________________ I have to___________________ ’

When he is analyzing the question:

 Look for words that tell him what to do (instructional words). For example, analyze,
compare, contrast, etc.
 Check the meaning of the words used.
 Look for topic words, which tell him what he has to write about.
 Look for restricting words, which limit the topic and make it more specific.

He can also check for additional information about the assignment and what’s expected of
him in the course materials or on his course page or forums.
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Tip: When he find something about the assignment on a course page or in a forum save a
copy of it. If he saves all the information that he has gathered about the assignment in one file
he will have all the information in one place when he start writing.

Step 3: Draft an outline

Drafting an outline will give him a structure to follow when it comes to writing his
assignment. The type of assignment he is doing will give him a broad structure, but he should
also check the question and marking schedule, as they will help him understand how the
lecturer expects the topic to be structured, what must be included, and which sections are
worth the most marks.

From there he can create his outline, using headings and gaps for the information that he
has to fill in.

Step 4: Find information

Before a student start writing, he need to research his topic and find relevant and reliable
information. He will find some in his course materials and recommended readings, but he can
also try:

 His local public library.

 Talking to experts.
 Online sources.

Once he has found his information’s, the next step will be to evaluate it to ensure it is right
for his assignment.

Step 5: Write

Once a student have found the information that he need it’s time to bring it altogether and
write down his assignment.

Write the first draft

 Using his outline and fill in the gaps, writing his main points for each section.
 Write freely, getting as much down as he can without worrying about the wording being
100% right.
 He may find it easiest to start with the conclusion so that he knows which direction his
writing is heading, or the background.
 The introduction is often the hardest to write, so leave that till last.
 Don’t spend too much time trying to make this draft perfect as it will change!
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Fine tune
 A student should revise his first draft, and check that it makes sense and includes
everything it needs to.
 Fine tune the wording, and make sure his writing flows well.
 Making sure that he is keeping different copies of his drafts as he may want to go back
to them.
 Leave the writing for a day, read it, and fine tune again.
 Compile his bibliography or reference list.

Step 6: Edit and proofread

Once when a student have written his assignment, he can improve it by editing and
proofreading, but before he do take a break. Even a short break helps him to get some distance
from his work so that he can check his assignment with a fresh eye.

Look at the big picture

 Had he answered the question that he was set? Check his assignment against the
marking schedule as well as the question.
 Is the structure correct?
 Had he included all relevant parts? For example, the title page, introduction, conclusion,
reference list?
 Is the content logically arranged?
 Does his assignment read well, with each section flowing smoothly on to the next? A
good way to check this is to read it aloud.
 Had he used his own words and acknowledged all his sources?
 Is his assignment well presented?

Check the details

 Had he used academic English (if required)?
 Check the grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Don’t just use a spell checker (it won’t
pick everything up).
 Check his referencing – has he acknowledged all work that isn't his own? Is his APA
referencing correct?
 Are his pages numbered?
 Had he included his name, student ID, the assignment details and the date on each
page?

Tip: If possible, ask a friend or family member to proofread his assignment, as it can be
difficult to see mistakes in his own work.
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 Using information from other sources

Assignment writing often involves incorporating information from published sources into a
student’s own work to support his ideas.

There are three main ways to do this:

 Quotes – Where use someone else’s exact words.

 Paraphrasing – When include ideas from a source in own words without changing the
original meaning.
 Summarizing – Which involves putting the main ideas from a source into own words.

Quotes

Quotations can be used for:

 Definitions or part of a definition.

 Principle, laws or regulations.
 Including information that's very important, well expressed or difficult to paraphrase
without changing the meaning.

When using a quotation in your assignment:

 Make sure it is necessary. As a general rule, try not use more than one direct quote per
500 words.
 Place the quote inside quotation marks ('...' or "...") to show you're using someone else's
words.
 Acknowledge the source in the body of the assignment (an in-text reference or citation)
and in the reference list. The Open Polytechnic uses the APA referencing system.

 Using APA Reference

Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is when a student rewrite what someone said or wrote in his own words,
without changing the original meaning.

When he paraphrase it is important to:

 Change the structure of the text you are using.

 Change the words.
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Tips for paraphrasing:

 Ensure that he understand the meaning of the text he is paraphrasing.

 Take note of any specialized words that carry the main meaning or may be subject
specific. He will need to include them otherwise he may change the meaning.
 Note keywords that can be changed, without changing the meaning.
 Write down the main ideas and concepts in your own words. Don’t include entire
sentences. Doing this without looking at the text will help you to write in your own
words.
 Check your work against the original to ensure you have the meaning right.

It is also important to specify where you got your information.

 Summaries

Summarizing is when a student includes the main ideas from a text in his own words.
Summaries give a broad overview, so are much shorter than the original text. Like quotes and
paraphrasing they must be attributed to the original author.

He can also combine information and ideas from a number of different sources and
rewriting them in his own words. This is known as synthesizing.

When paraphrasing, summarising or synthesizing original texts, he should ensure

that:

 To retain the original meaning.

 His version isn’t too similar to the original text (otherwise he may be guilty of
plagiarism).

 Avoid Plagiarism

Plagiarism is when someone copy another’s work and present it as his own, either
unintentionally or deliberately. This applies, for example, if you copy from another student, an
article, a book, or an online resource.

Plagiarism, or copying someone else’s work, is cheating. By stealing someone else’s work
and passing it off as his own, he can lose academic integrity and the respect of others. It is also
unfair to other students who have worked hard to express their own ideas or produce original
work.
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Any final piece of work that a student submits must be his own independent work. This is
particularly important when working in study groups or having discussions with other students
on assessments.

Plagiarism could be:

 Copying the work of another student

 Copying from textbooks, the Web and other work without correct citation
 Failing to acknowledge sources including own work, used for other purposes.

 Formatting the assignment

Formatting the assignment may include marks for things such as formatting and layout,
word count, APA referencing, writing style, grammar and spelling.

Before starting the assignment:

 Check the learning materials, the course page, emails from the lecturer or the
assignment question for how it should be presented.
 Read the instructions carefully, and make sure to understand them and follow them
exactly.
 If a student is not clear about what’s required email of his lecturer. He could phone but
it’s better to have a record of the answer.

Some lecturers assume that students will know how to present work of the required
standard or quality and don’t give specific instructions. If this is the case, follow the general
guidelines below.

General guidelines for electronic submissions

File format
 Most assignments need should be written using MS Word.
 Assignments can be submitted one of the following file formats: .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx or
.rtf.
 Do not submit html files, web pages, CAD files, Visio (.vsd), PowerPoint (.ppt), PDF s
(.pdf) or zip files unless these are specifically required for the course.

If not sure about the file format required contact the lecturer.
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Fonts
 Use a clear, readable, sans serif font such as Verdana, Calibri, Tahoma or Arial, and be
consistent and use the same font throughout.
 Use black text on a white background. Avoid colored backgrounds or text in a color
other than black unless have special permission to use them.
 Use 11 or 12 point for the body of the assignment.

Spacing
 Use 1.5 or double spacing and fairly wide margins. This leaves room for the marker’s
comments.
 Leave a blank line between paragraphs.
 If the questions are short, leave a blank line between each question. If they are long,
start each question on a new page.
 Left-justify your work (also known as left-aligned). Block-justified (flush left and right)
might look tidy, but it’s harder to read as it can result in gaps between words.

Headings
 Use bold for headings. Not underlining or italics.
 Essays do not usually require subheadings; reports usually do.

Title page

Most assignments require a title page, which should include the following:

 The title and number of the assignment

 The course number and name
 The due date
 Student’s full name and student number.

This information should be centered, starting approximately one third of the way down the page.

Numbering
 Number all pages except the title page.
 Tables and figures must be numbered and clearly labeled. Table captions are placed
above the table, while captions for a figure go below the figure.
 Don't number the items in a reference list.

Headers and footers

Insert a header or footer on each page (except the title page).

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It should contain:

 Name (last name, first name/s)

 Student number
 The course number
 The assignment number
 The page number.

Word count

Include a word count (the number of words in your assignment) at the end of the
assignment, before the references and appendices. His assignment should not more than 10%
under or over the prescribed word count. Remember that the title/title page, reference list and
appendices are not included in the word count. Some assessments have word limits.

Reference list

The reference list comes at the end of the assignment, and should start on a new page
labeled 'References'.

Appendices

Appendices are used for information that:

 Is too long to include in the body of the assignment, or

 Supplements or complements the information that being provide.

Start each appendix (if applicable) on a new page. If there's just one appendix label it
‘Appendix’ without a number, but if there are more than one label them Appendix A, Appendix
B, etc. In the main text of your assignment, refer to the Appendix by the label, e.g. Appendix A.

Tops and bottoms of pages

Check the top and bottom of your pages to ensure they avoid:

 Widows - single lines of text at the top of a page

 Orphans - first lines of paragraphs at the bottom of a page
 Tombstones - headings or subheadings alone at the bottom of a page
 Split lists – lists that are divided between two pages (if possible).
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General guidelines for hard copies

Most of the guidelines above also apply to hard copies (printed or hand-written documents).
There are also a few additional things to note.

Handwritten submissions

Some courses allow handwritten answers, but make sure you check with your
lecturer to make sure this is acceptable. When submitting a handwritten assignment:

 Print or write on white A4 paper on one side only, using a blue or black pen.
 Write legibly – if a marker can’t read what have written, the answer might as well be
wrong.
 If a student makes a mistake, use correction fluid or draw a neat line through the
mistake.
 If there are too many mistakes and the work looks messy, rewrite it.
 Use a ruler for tables and graphs.
 Underline headings.

Stapling the assignment

 Staple multi-page assignments in the top left corner only.
 Don’t put the assignment in a plastic folder.
 Attach an 'Assessment Return Sheet' (coversheet) to assignment.

Before a student submits his assignment, he should print it out and check it one last time.
It’s often easier to spot errors in print than on screen.

Once he is happy, He can submit his assignment.

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References

 Introduction. Retrieved from Paperworn (November,2019)

Link → https://www.paperown.com/blog/purpose-of-assignment-students-life/

 Assignment types. Retrieved from Open Polytechnic (November,2019)

Link → https://www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/current-students/study-tips-and-

techniques/assignments/types-of-assignments/

 Steps for a good Assignment. Retrieved from Open Polytechnic (November,2019)

Link → https://www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/current-students/study-tips-and-

techniques/assignments/step-by-step-guide-to-assignment-writing/

 Using information from other sources. Retrieved from Open Polytechnic (November,2019)

Link → https://www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/current-students/study-tips-and-

techniques/assignments/using-information-from-other-sources/

 Using APA Reference. Retrieved from Open Polytechnic (November,2019)

Link → https://www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/current-students/study-tips-and-techniques/apa-

referencing-and-avoiding-plagiarism/

 Summaries. Retrieved from Open Polytechnic (November,2019)

Link → https://www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/current-students/study-tips-and-

techniques/assignments/using-information-from-other-sources/

 Avoid Plagiarism. Retrieved from Open Polytechnic (November,2019)

Link → https://www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/current-students/study-tips-and-techniques/apa-

referencing-and-avoiding-plagiarism/how-to-avoid-plagiarism/

 Formatting the assignment. Retrieved from Open Polytechnic (November,2019)

Link → https://www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/current-students/study-tips-and-

techniques/assignments/formatting-and-presenting-your-assignments/