Understanding Your First Assignment

The number of assignments you will receive in a semester often surprises students. For some students, figuring out how to manage assignments is a new experience. For others who have had assignments in the past, the amount of work needed to complete assignments at the college level is what is unexpected. Most of the assignments you will receive will take longer than one session of study to complete. You will likely need to work on your assignment over several days or weeks. In this section, we will provide you with advice on how to understand the requirements of your assignment, and how to manage and track the tasks you will need to complete. We will provide you with some time management tips and an assignment tracker to try.

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When you first get a writing assignment, pay attention first to keywords for how to approach the writing. These will also suggest how you may structure and develop your paper.

Assignment Terms

Look for terms like these in the assignment: Summarize. To restate in your own words the main point or points of another’s work. Define. To describe, explore, or characterize a keyword, idea, or phenomenon.

Classify. To group individual items by their shared characteristics, separate from other groups of items.

Compare/contrast. To explore significant likenesses and differences between two or more subjects.

Analyze. To break something, a phenomenon, or an idea into its parts and explain how those parts fit or work together.

Argue. To state a claim and support it with reasons and evidence. Synthesize. To pull together varied pieces or ideas from two or more sources.

Assignment Questions

Sometimes the keywords listed don’t actually appear in the written assignment, but they are usually implied by the questions given in the assignment. What, why and how are common question words that require a certain kind of response. Look back at the keywords listed and think about which approaches relate to what, why, and how questions.

What questions usually prompt the writing of summaries, definitions, classifications, and sometimes compare-and-contrast essays.

Why and how questions typically prompt analysis, argument, and synthesis essays.

Successful academic writing starts with recognizing what the professor is requesting, or what you are required to do. So pay close attention to the assignment. Sometimes the essential information about an assignment is conveyed through class discussions, however, so be sure to listen for the keywords that will help you understand what the professor expects. If you feel the assignment does not give you a sense of direction, seek clarification. Ask questions that will lead to helpful answers.

Outlines and Marking Schemes

Some professors will include an outline of different sections that they expect to see in your paper along with marks for each section. It is important to ensure you cover each section with sufficient detail to provide material to achieve the marks.

Pay attention to the areas with the most marks and devote more space in your paper to those areas. If your discussion section is worth 20 marks and your conclusion is worth 5 marks, the amount of space for your conclusion should be much less.

Breaking Down Large Assignments

How to breakdown assignments into tasks

Breaking down a large writing assignment into manageable tasks can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and make the writing process more manageable.

Here are some steps you can take to break down a large writing assignment into manageable tasks:

Understand the assignment: Read the assignment instructions carefully, and make sure you understand what is required. If you do not understand what you need to do, ask your professor as soon as possible.
Create a task list: What are the smaller tasks you need to do to complete this assignment? Smaller tasks are activities like conducting research at the library or setting up group meetings for a group project.
Create a timeline: Create a timeline that includes all the tasks that need to be completed. Consider how much time you will need to complete that task and when you will work on it. Set due dates for each task.
Brainstorm ideas: Before you start writing, brainstorm ideas for the assignment. Think about the main points you want to cover, any research you need to do, and any supporting evidence you might need.
Create an outline: Once you have a list of ideas, create an outline for your assignment. An outline can help you organize your thoughts and make sure you cover all the necessary points.
Schedule time for research: Do your research before you begin writing. As you find sources, gather the information you will need to create a reference and take notes about essential information the source will provide and where this information fits in with your outline.
Schedule time for revision: Plan to review your work before you submit. This can include checking your work against the assignment instructions or rubric, making changes to the content, and proofreading.

Here is an example of this process:

Key Takeaway from video

Breaking down a large or medium-sized assignment into smaller pieces can help reduce stress, ensure completion of all parts of the assignment, and allow you to get other important tasks done too.

Using an Assignment Tracker

Algonquin College provided a video to walk students through the process. This process and form can also be used to create a study plan to prepare for a test.

Time Management Considerations

person wearing the watch

Time management is the practice of organizing and prioritizing one’s activities and tasks effectively in order to maximize productivity and achieve one’s goals. For college students, time management involves creating a plan for allocating their time efficiently and balancing academic responsibilities with social activities, work, and personal obligations. It requires identifying tasks and goals, setting realistic deadlines, and using tools such as schedules, to-do lists, and reminders to stay on track. Effective time management helps students to reduce stress, increase productivity, and achieve academic success while still enjoying a balanced lifestyle.

Students often face challenges related to time management when faced with a large assignment. These challenges include:

Procrastination: Students tend to put off starting a large writing assignment until the last minute, leaving themselves with insufficient time to complete the assignment.
Lack of Planning: Many students do not adequately plan their time for the writing process, which can result in poor time management and a lower quality of work.
Perfectionism: Students may spend too much time trying to perfect every aspect of their writing, which can lead to time wastage and increased stress.

To overcome these challenges, here are some time management tips:

Break the Task into Smaller Parts: Instead of attempting to complete the entire assignment in one sitting, break it down into smaller, more manageable parts, and set specific deadlines for each.
Create a Schedule: Create a schedule for the writing process and stick to it. This will help you stay on track and ensure that you have enough time to complete the assignment.
Avoid Distractions: Avoid any distractions that can lead to time wastage, such as social media, television, and video games.
Set Priorities: Set priorities for your writing tasks, focusing on the most critical aspects of the assignment first.
Use Writing Tools: Utilize writing tools such as spell check, grammar check, and citation generators to save time and reduce the need for extensive revisions.
Take Breaks: Taking regular breaks can help you stay focused and prevent burnout, ensuring that you produce your best work.