Starting a new qualification can be an exciting time: new experiences, the prospect of acquiring knowledge and developing your skills. However, it does come with its own challenges, and coursework is one of them.
Even with the best preparation, tackling an assignment can be daunting, especially if it’s been some time since you last undertook any traditional learning. Sitting in front of a blank page, staring at a question, can feel very intimidating!
To help, we’ve put together a list of important things to remember when you’re writing your assignment. Hopefully, taking these tips into consideration will help you get a good mark – and more importantly, make sure you get all you can from studying with CLTI. After all, the most valuable result of all is understanding the course material and gaining information and skills which will help you in the future.
Before you get the assignment
1. Read around your subject – don’t just restrict yourself to the course manual.
While the course manual will provide all the direct information you need to answer the assignment, finding and reading information from different sources will help you put your new learning in context. Your understanding will develop, and so will your skills in referencing, collecting, collating and evaluating sources – all of which will be very helpful when you come to write your assignment!
2. If you read something interesting, keep a note of where you found it.
Whenever you read something interesting on your subject –quotes, case studies, news articles – make sure that you keep a note of what it was and where you found it. Include a link if it’s online, or a book title etc., so you can easily find it again. This will have the bonus effect of making referencing simpler when you’re writing future assignments, since you’ll already have all the details to hand.
When you get the assignment
3. Make sure you understand the question.
Read it carefully, and pay attention to the wording! This is key to forming your answer. For example, if the question asks you to ‘explain’ then you should craft your answer accordingly, and make sure that you do ‘explain’ – as opposed to a question that asks you to ‘describe’, ‘examine’, or ‘consider’. Making sure your answer fits the language of the question is crucial to ensure that your answer contains sufficient depth and detail of analysis and evaluation of the topic being discussed.
4. Plan out your answer before you start writing.
Break down the question section-by-section and work out the outline of what you want to write, noting the key points you want to cover and in what order you want to cover them. You can do this however you prefer to work, but why not try making a notes page, or using sticky notes, or index cards?
While you’re writing
5. Keep an eye on your word count – and use it carefully!
The word count can be very useful to give an indication of the level of detail needed in your answer. However, don’t try to rush to meet it, or get caught up in showing off your knowledge; you can end up wasting valuable words on waffle, when they would be better used covering topics more relevant to the question.
6. Think about how best to present your writing to make it more professional and easier to understand.
Try using headings and subheadings, which will help you focus on what you want to cover in each section, as well as making your work more accessible for the marker. You might even be able to use the structure of the question as headings – for example, if it specifies several topics to discuss, why not make each into a separate heading?
7. Case studies can be a great way to illustrate your point.
However, if you’re including anything from an outside source, make sure that you reference your sources properly. Plagiarism is never acceptable and CLTI take it very seriously. There is a Referencing Guide available on the online learning platform for you to read before you start work on your assignment.
8. Give yourself the time and space to do your best work.
We’ve all known someone who leaves their work to the last possible minute – but just like with your day-to-day work, leaving assignments to the last second will not help you do your best work, nor give you a positive learning experience. Set yourself a schedule for writing your assignment (building in some contingency) and try your best to stick to it. Similarly, trying to work in a loud, messy environment might not be helpful: if you’re struggling to focus, try finding a dedicated space which is tidy, comfortable and free from distractions. If you aren’t able to make one at home, your local library might be able to help!
After you’ve finished writing
9. Aim to finish a few days before the deadline.
Once you’ve finished, put your assignment away for a day or two before you have a final check and proof read your work. Looking at it with fresh eyes will make it much easier to notice any spelling and grammar mistakes, and you may even find clearer ways of getting your point across. If you have someone else who can look over it for you, that’s even better.
10. Upload your work to the learning platform with plenty of time to spare.
Last minute technical issues before your deadline are a stressful note on which to finish an assignment! Avoid the headache altogether by making sure you have plenty of time to deal with any unexpected technical hiccups.
And don’t forget to make time to celebrate your achievement – you’re one step closer to your next qualification, after all!
Following these tips will give you a firmer footing and more confidence in tackling your next assignment. Don’t forget to use the resources available on our learning platform for further help.