Writing a first assignment could feel surprisingly daunting if the instructions are long and complex or filled with jargon. Far too many students start researching simply because they assume writing will be the hardest part of a job, but if you fail to understand the question when you are starting you will almost certainly have much more significant problems with the final submission failing to actually answer what was asked. Taking time to ascertain precisely what your lecturer needs from an essay should always be your first step before searching for resources and identifying how to write my assignment.

Forcing yourself to take a few moments to study instructions can alleviate the temptation of finding generic assignment assistance from someone on the internet because you have failed to work out how to tackle the essay. The instructions usually contain useful clues regarding why an assignment has been set, how in-depth it should be, the way it should be structured, what kind of evidence required, and the factors that will ultimately influence your score. Once you have become accustomed to reading these clues you will find the entire process much less frustrating.

Why it is vital to understand your instructions
An assignment brief is not merely a description of what you are expected to submit, but an outline or map showing you how to complete the task. It shows your tutor what he wishes to see proven and will often implicitly outline how the task will be graded.

To be a student who had taken the time to read the instructions before starting research rather than finding information then trying to mold it so that it fitted with the question put your pupil on a far stronger footing.

An error in interpreting one instruction can have a negative impact on the entirety of an assignment help: An instruction to “critically evaluate” a theory would demand an answer on different parameters to a purely descriptive answer of what the theory is.

Similarly, there are stark contrasts between requirements to complete an assignment asking for 2,000 words of academic study with relevant practical examples compared to an essay asking for two hundred words on the topic with reflective thought. Reading these differences prior to writing ensures work is put where it needs to be.

First read through the assignment brief
The most obvious and most common failing among students is to just read the main question contained within the assignment briefly and ignore everything else, however while a question must be answered, it is essential to acknowledge the instructions as well.

Submission requirements, formatting regulations, learning outcomes, assessment criteria and information on suggested reading materials etc can all contribute to your final grade, so make sure you read the instructions all the way through before making any decisions on how you will tackle it and avoid merely reading them through once without making a genuine understanding as to what is expected.

Do not start high-lighting random pieces of text, instead gain an overview of the essay and then begin considering how you will address the task by asking yourself what it is, why you are doing it, what you need to portray and what constraints exist in terms of limits to your response.

Identify the central question you must address
Once you have fully studied the entire assignment briefly, closely examine the main question, as this sets the goal of your assignment.

Rewording this question in your own words is an invaluable step; for instance, an assignment questioning “Evaluate the impact of social media marketing upon consumer behaviour” has been misunderstood if the student uses the entirety of their essay simply to explain what social media marketing is instead of answering the question by considering evidence and weighing up strengths against limitations, and by reaching a conclusion.

This thought process can save a great deal of time research work which may be largely irrelevant.

Focus on command words

Assignment questions will often contain a command word which dictates exactly how the answer to that section or the whole essay, should be presented; such things as “describe”, “explain”, “compare”, “analyse”, “evaluate” and “critically assess” are not interchangeable words. 

“Describe” requires mere presentation of facts where as “analyse” requires breaking down concepts and examining relationships, “compare” entails identifying similarities and differences where as “evaluate” involves reaching a considered judgement through examination of evidence.

Note the word used and consider what type of answer it requires so you don’t submit an essay consisting purely of descriptions when your tutor wants evaluative comments.

Consider the parameters of the assignment
Some questions will naturally suggest parameters but others require closer examination to interpret precisely what the tutor is seeking.

An question which requires you to “analyze the effects of artificial intelligence upon recruitment” may well be restricted by an timeframe or a geographical location or industry, for example, that limits your analysis to a particular area of concern, as otherwise you could easily be lost in the subject and never actually answer the question.

Examine all parameters and do not add unnecessary material to your essay which is irrelevant; for example if an essay question explicitly demands a focus on a specific time frame, it is no use writing up about developments in artificial intelligence that occurred prior to it in order to reach required word count.

Concluding thoughts

Being able to identify the demands of the entire assignment before your writer begins writing is a huge part of academic skills as, most essay writing is not down to the knowledge an individual has of an topic, but rather to their ability to understand a task, work out what the question is asking for and researching with a clear aim in mind with a constantly kept check on what your essay needs to do to achieve high marks. 

The assignment brief sets out an framework for how the assignment should be written; the command words explain the level of cognitive ability required, and the marking criteria indicate which parts of the question should receive the most focus while the submission guidelines will demonstrate the expected way the evidence must be presented. 

Therefore ensure that you spend time considering the questions asked before committing your writing to paper so that unnecessary revision work can be avoided with no questions regarding lecturer expectation.