This document provides guidance on writing assignments, including: 1. It explains why assignment writing is important for developing skills like critical thinking, written communication, and time management that are valuable for education and employment. 2. It outlines things students should understand before writing an assignment, like the task, question, preparation required, and instructions. It also defines common "command words" and their meanings. 3. It provides tips for getting started on an assignment, like making a plan and list, writing a rough draft, and conducting research. It stresses the importance of acknowledging sources to avoid plagiarism.

1. Business, IT and Engineering Division
Learning to Learn
Assignments
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2. Contents Page
Why assignment work is important 3
Knowing what is expected 3
Command words and their meanings 4
Getting started 6
Writing your assignment and expressing your ideas 6
Acknowledging or referencing sources 6
Before handing in your assignment 6
Using feedback 6
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3. Writing Assignments: Essay Style
Why is assignment writing important? Because it:
 Illustrates to you and your tutor how well you have understood a given topic
 Helps you calrify your ideas
 Develops critical thinking
 Is one fo the key skills in your education (written communication) develops
employability skills (time management, information gatherings, logical thinking and
planning)
 Provides the opportunity for feedback on your progress
 Will count towards your qualification grade
Knowing what is expected
1. Understand the task: be clear about what you have to do before you begin,
regarding the length, the content and the format of the assigment. Check with your
tutor if you are unsure
2. Understand the question: it is essential that you spend some time looking carefully
at the question in order to understand what you have to do. This process should help
you decide what is relevant – otherwise you waste your time. You could adopt the
TFI principle:
 Topic: what the question is generally about
 Focus: what specific aspect you have to concentrate on
 Instruction: what you are required to do
Here are some examples:
Question Topic Focus Instruction
Explain different Different types of Sources and Explain
types of business business purposes
communications, communications
their sources and
purposes
Evaluate the Appropriatness of Strategic decisions Evaluate
appropriateness of business information
business information
used to make
strategic decisions
Analyse the legal, Legal, ethical and The use of business Analyse
ethical and operational issues information
operational issues in
relation to the use of
business information
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4. 3. Understand the prepartion: notes in class and hand-outs are not usually enough.
You need to show evidence of further research
4. Understand the instruction: it may seem obvious but ANSWER THE QUESTION.
It is amazing how many students do not read the questions carefully and understand
what is being asked of them
Command words and meanings
To obtain a pass grade
To achieve a pass you must demonstrate the you understand the important facts relating to
a topic and you can state these clearly and concisely
Command Words for a Meaning
pass
Create Make, invent or construct an item
Describe give a clear, straightforward description that includes all the
main points and link these together logically
Define clearly explain what a particular term means and give an
example, if appropriate, to show what you mean
Explain...how/why Set out in detail the meaning of something, with reasons. It is
often helpful to give an example of what you mean. Start with
a topic and then give the ‘how’ and ‘why’
Identify Distinguish and state the main features or basic facts relating
to a topic
Interpret Define or explain the meaning of something
Illustrate Give examples to show what you mean
List Provide the information required in a list rather than in
continuous writing
Outline Write a clear description that includes all the main points but
avoid going into too much detail
Plan Work out and explain how you would carry out a task or
activity
Select (and present) Identify relevant information to support an argument you are
information making and communicate this in an appropriate way
State Write a clear and full account
Undertake Carry out a specific activity
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5. To obtain a merit grade
To obtain a merit you must prove that you can apply your knowledge in a specific way
Command words for a merit Meaning
Analyse Indentify separate factors, say how they relate to each
other and know how each one relates to the topic
Classify Sort out your information into appropriate categories
before presenting or explaining it
Compare and contrast Identify the main factors that apply in two or more
situations and explain the similarities and differences
or advantages and disadvantages
Demonstrate Provide several relevant examples or appropriate
evidence which support the arguments you are
making.
Discuss Provide a thoughtful and logical argument to support
the case you are making
Explain (in detail) Provide details and give reasons and/or evidence to
clearly support the argument you are making
Implement Put into practice or operation. You may also have to
interpret or justify the effect or result
Interpret Understand and explain the effect or result
Justify Give appropriate reasons to support your opinion or
views and show how you arrived at these conclusions
Relate/report Give a full account, with reasons
Research Carry out a full investigation
Specify Provide full details and descriptions of selected items
or activities
To obtain a distinction grade
To obtain a distinction you must prove that you can make a reasoned judgement based on
appropriate evidence
Command Words for Meaning
Distinction
Analyse Identify the key factors, show how they are linked and explain
the importance and relevance of each
Assess Give careful consideration to all the factors or events that
apply and identify which are the most important and relevant,
with reasons
Evaluate Review the information and then bring it together to form a
conclusion. Give evidence to support each of your views or
statements
Summarise Identify/review the main, relevant factors and/or arguments so
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6. that these are explained in a clear and concise manner
Getting started
1. Make a plan: ask yourself:
 What are the main ideas or issues to be covered?
 How will I cover them?
 What examples/references will be useful?
 What conclusions will be reached
2. Make a list: by writing down ideas as they occur to you. This will help you decide
what other research may be needed
3. Write a rough draft: then you can look for more ideas
4. Read first and then make a list or plan: it is easier to do this and then you will
know what additional information you need
Writing your assignment and expressing your ideas clearly
Writing is not easy but it is only by practising a skill that we become better at it. Motivation is
the key. If your preparation has been done properly, the writing is relatively easy providing
you have a good command of the English Language.
In today’s word-processed worls, things can be changed, added, deleted etc very easlily but
do remember to save frequently and make a back up.
Acknowledging or referencing the sources
This needs to be done carefully to avoid plagiarism. The general rule is that ALL quotations
must be referenced with the page number of the works from which they are taken.
Keep a careful note as you go along, including page numbers
Before handing in an assignment
1. Check for meaning:
 Does it make sense?
 How would another reader react ot it?
 Is it for someone who has knowledge of the subject?
2. Check for spelling: a computer spell-check is a start but is not complete. You must
check it for yourself since spell-checkers do not see everything.
3. Check the grammar:
 incomplete sentences
 sentences that are too long
4. Check the punctuation:
 Are there full stops where there should be?
 Question marks after questions?
Using feedback
Feedback from tutors, written or oral, is valuable when considering your next piece of work.
Always follow the advice you are given:
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7.  Do I need to think about the style, punctuation, grammar, spleeing?
 Do I link the paragraphs and ideas well enough
 Was it all relevant?
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