Introduction Preparing assignments
Don't be daunted by the prospect of your assignment. There is no single correct way to plan how to write your assignment. However, there are some common principles and if you work your way through these pages, you'll be on the right track.
Try to plan ahead and allow plenty of time to read the assignment booklet. It might take longer than you expect to finish your first assignment but, like all study skills, it’ll get easier with practice.
This year I was so busy at work, I just had time to do enough to pass the module.
Start by thinking about how much effort you can put into writing your assignment. Not all students can 'ace' every assignment, sometimes just doing enough is fine. So, first, decide what you want to achieve and what is realistic for you to achieve and perhaps discuss this with your tutor.
Organise a rough schedule for your work over the whole module and block out some time for completing assignments. Identify potential contingency plans such as finding the assignments you could drop or do quickly if you had to.
Read the module assessment guide on your module website to find out what flexibility exists, for example some modules allow substitution or offer a choice of questions. The assessment guide will also tell you what elements are involved for example:
- interactive computer-marked-assignments (iCMA)
- speaking assignment.
- an exam or end-of-module assessment (EMA)
You should read the assessment strategy text for your module carefully (available from the module section of StudentHome) as it tells you what you need to do to pass your module. On most modules, you can estimate your module results by using the assessment calculator at any stage prior to the release of module results. If you have any queries, contact your Student Support Team or email Assessment Processing.
Talk to others
If you have a tutor or study adviser, discuss any concerns about the assignment with them. Many modules have online forums relating to assignments and discussion around relevant subjects is common. So have a look at these before you tackle an assignment but do be wary of discussing your intended approach in too much detail.
