I've Just Been Handed an Assignment...Now What?? !!!
1. Be clear on the task.
It seems obvious but to get your assignment started you need to be clear on exactly what the assignment is. Read the outline and marking criteria early and give yourself time to wrap your head around the task at hand. Ask your teachers questions if something on the notification sheet puzzles you.
2. Gather important information.
If your assignment is making you feel overwhelmed, it helps to highlight, highlight and highlight some more. By pinpointing the important information for your assignment, you can refine your focus and stop feeling overwhelmed by the scope of it. Highlight that marking criteria sheet, key words and even learning objectives. Once you narrow down your direction you can be on your way.
3. Map it out.
Brainstorm and create a mind map of your ideas, how they link together and how they relate back to the assignment. You could also create a checklist of the areas of the assignment you wish to cover. Tackling the task in this manner can help open up your mind and give you a framework that you can build on.
4. Chip away at it, bit by bit.
Go through the assignment task step-by-step. Try to organise the work you need to do into bite-sized chunks, like one section or paragraph at a time. This will make your assignment more manageable and give you small items to concentrate on, rather than trying to focus on the whole thing at once.
5. Keep things fresh.
When you’ve got a big task ahead of you it’s normal to bunker down at your desk - don't forget your normal study breaks. You need a good night's sleep, healthy food and drinks, and regular breaks to do your best work. Use a timer to factor in study breaks.
Here's How the College Library Can Help with Your Assignment...