Assignment Writing
Assignment writing is not just about sitting in front of the computer with a big stack of books.
There are actually steps that we can follow to make writing manageable and rewarding!
Here are some steps to follow:
1. What is the lecturer really asking me to do?
 First of all, what kind of assignment is it? Is it an essay, a report or a summary?
It is important to know the kind of assignment so that you know the structure
to follow.
 Next, do you understand the question or description of the assignment?
It is important to fulfil the requirements of the assignment in order to get
satisfactory grades.
2. What do I already know and what do I need to find out?
 Before you start writing, think about what you already know about the topic of
the assignment, and then think of what you need to find out in order to
complete the assignment.
 Write down what you need to find out in form of questions – these will be
questions to guide your research in the next step.
3. What do I do to find out what I need to know to complete my assignment?
 The reading list given to you by your lecturer is a good place to start.
 Research! You will find information from a variety of sources such as books,
reports, journals, encyclopaedias and websites.

For tools and strategies in research, visit link to Research Strategies module
 And don’t forget to record details for referencing if you find information from
any sources useful. For referencing details, visit link to Academic Integrity module
4. What do I do with the information I collected?
 You will begin writing and this is called your first draft. Develop a plan to
organise the information you have and present the information in the structure
to use for your assignment. For example, if your assignment is an essay, the
structure includes an introduction, a few body paragraphs and a conclusion.
For details about different types of assignments, visit link to Different Types of
Assignments in the same module.

Remember the presentation of information should be systematic. Give
objectivity and credibility to your writing by referring to the information you
collected from researching the topic. For more details about the academic style
of writing, visit link to the Academic Style of Writing module
5. Draft, redraft and final draft for submission!
 The process of writing takes time and it often involves revisiting what you
have written more than once for different reasons. Sometimes you are not
most satisfied with the organisation and sometimes you think you need more
research for ideas to improve the content of your assignment.
 Before you submit your assignment, make sure that the language is accurate
and formal and you have done your referencing properly.