How to Write a Good Assignment
Writing assignments at university is no walk in the park. You need careful planning in order to ensure that you meet all the guidelines while also keeping the quality of the paper in mind. Assignments are meant to assess whether you have the ability to apply critical thinking skills to evaluate and assess a particular topic and do it justice. Additionally, you’ll be judged on your writing ability. Your professors will check whether you can create a flawless assignment that meets the standards expected by every university.
This blog is meant for those students who wish to improve their assignment quality, but can’t figure out how to approach the task. It covers the fundamentals of how to make an assignment stand out from the crowd. A quick glance will help you figure out how to analyze the assignment topic, come up with unique ideas, craft the perfect thesis statement, structure the assignment, use proper referencing styles, include logical arguments, and polish your assignment to perfection. So buckle up and prepare to learn how to do an assignment justice.
Assignment Analysis
Before you learn how to write assignment papers, you must first analyze the requirements properly. After all, if you miss certain key points, all your effort might be in vain. So, one of the first steps of assignment writing example is to review topic words, task words and limiting words in the assignment topic. Let’s check out what each of these means in more detail.
| Parts in an Assignment Question | |
| Topic Phrases/Words | Helps to identify the concepts or ideas you should research |
| Task Phrases/Words | Guides you on the approach you should take to write the assignment |
| Limiting Phrases/Words | Allows you to identify the parameters of the assignment |
What are Topic Words?
These are certain key words in the topic that hint at what you have to focus on when you compose an assignment for university. For example, let’s consider the following topic – “The Role of Education in Preventing Domestic Abuse.” Here, the key words are ‘education’ and ‘preventing domestic abuse.’ They give you a better idea regarding the main points that you should be highlighting in your assignment.
What are Task Words?
These are specific words or phrases in the assignment topic that give you directions on how to go about composing and structuring your paper. Let’s check out a helpful list below:
| Task Phrases/Words | Meaning |
| Analyze | Students must consider all aspects of the topic, such as its strengths and weaknesses, limitations, etc. and focus on how everything connects together. For example: Analyze the role of factories in increasing water pollution. |
| Comment On | Such questions require students to state their personal opinions regarding the topic and back their views using supporting evidence. For example: Comment on the dangers of climate change. |
| Compare and Contrast | Students must highlight the similarities and differences between two or more subjects, ideas, arguments, etc., while striking a balance between the two. For example: Compare and contrast the top social media platforms Instagram and X. |
| Critically Evaluate | A crucial evaluation of a topic means that students have to present an objective overview of the topic while presenting strong evidence to back up the claims. For example: Critically evaluate the consequences of feminism on women’s empowerment in the workplace. |
| Describe | When students are asked to describe something, they are not required to present their personal opinions regarding the matter. Instead, the main focus is to improve the knowledge of the reader by compiling the important points. For example: Describe the process of crafting a research paper. |
| Discuss | When students come across this word, they must evaluate the topic from all angles. In other words, the focus should be boosting knowledge regarding the issue while highlighting various discussion points, arguments, and perspectives. For example: Discuss the potential dangers of AI technology. |
| Evaluate | Students required to evaluate a certain topic must cover its pros and cons. The main idea is to come to a judgment based on the evidence provided. For example: Evaluate the importance of editing and proofreading a content before publication. |
What are Limiting Words?
These words or phrases define or limit the scope of the research. They allow students to identify the relevant information needed to write their assignments. For example, in the topic – “Discuss the effects of online learning on K-12 students in Central Asia.” In this topic, the student is limited by ‘online learning,’ ‘K-12 students,’ and ‘Central Asia.’ If students want to write a good assignment, they must focus on these specific qualifiers when conducting research.
Additionally, students have to assess their criteria sheet. This sheet contains a set of assignment guidelines that you must follow to the T. Consider this a checklist that you can use to write the perfect assignment. Some of the major details included in this section are –
- Deadline
- Word Count
- Formatting details
- Referencing style
As long as you ensure that your assignment ticks off every criterion from this checklist, you won’t have to look for academic writing assistance at the last minute to finish your task by the deadline.
Brainstorming Ideas
Once you have reviewed the assignment writing guideline, it’s time to get into the brainstorm session. If you haven’t been assigned a topic already, then it’s your responsibility to come up with some unique ideas that you can write.
Writing Assignments for Common Ideas
No matter how much you brainstorm, you might struggle to come up with ideas that are completely new. In that case, you can fall back upon the standard options. But that doesn’t mean your assignments have to meet the same fate. You can write something that focuses on a unique perspective. Take ideas from your personal experience and relate them to the assignment topic. Such additions will help your paper stand out.
Tips to Come Up with Unique Ideas
If you don’t want to go down the path travelled by every student, here are some tips to come up with something unique –
- Review reliable references to check for research gaps
- Consult a professional tutor
- Follow a strong paper trail to identify research opportunities
Since choosing a good topic is one of the first steps to write an assignment, you can’t afford to slack off as you brainstorm. If the creative juices in your brain are on a break, seek professional help with assignment topics.
Choosing Tone And Style
Before you begin the writing process, you must figure out how to make an assignment contain the ‘academic tone.’ Otherwise, your paper won’t contain the levity it needs to be taken seriously. Compare a written assignment to any popular blog post on the Internet. You’ll notice major differences between the two tones. Let’s compare them.
| Academic Tone | Non-Academic Tone |
| Uses formal tone | Uses informal tone |
| Avoids using a first-person perspective | Can include a first-person perspective |
| Presents unbiased arguments | The argument can be biased |
| Uses evidence and relevant research materials to support points in a narrative tone | Uses sarcasm, humor, and puns to captivate the reader |
| Relies on words that are specific to that particular subject | Relies on slang and colloquial terms |
That’s not where it ends. Now that you’ve covered the tone, it’s time to move on to the various styles of a professional assignment.
Expository Style of Writing Assignments
The expository rules of writing assignment papers are quite simple. All you have to do is provide some facts and information on the topic to provide a complete picture. This includes conducting in-depth research in order to gather additional information that might not be well-known. The reader doesn’t need to know your personal opinions regarding it.
Consider this a basic introduction to the topic. So, don’t assume that the reader has prior knowledge. Provide a thesis statement that lets the reader figure out which direction the paper is headed, add a detailed explanatory body paragraph, and write a good conclusion that wraps the topic up neatly.
Persuasive Style of Writing Assignments
The persuasive method of writing is also popularly known as the argumentative type. The primary focus of these styles is to persuade the reader that your argument holds more authority than the opposing view. This academic writing style doesn’t take on a stance of neutrality. You have to apply logical reasoning to convince the reader of your opinion. That’s why every argument that you include in the paper has to be supported by a strong paper trail.
In order to write a good assignment that beats the biased accusations, research into opposing views as well. When you debunk opposing ideas, the reader will be convinced that you consider all aspects before writing the assignments.
Analytical Style of Writing Assignments
Most writing tasks in university are analytical in nature. It’s quite similar to the expository method, but in this case, you have to categorize the information you gather into particular categories. You might be required to assess the similarities and dissimilarities between two arguments, assess the way certain ideas relate to each other, or describe the relationship between two topics.
Each paragraph of the main body of the paper should begin with a topic sentence that clearly states what the section will cover. Focus on the key components of the issue, and make sure to re-read the entire paper to ensure you’ve added a supporting argument for every point discussed in the task.
If you want to learn how to make an assignment memorable, try to master the academic tone and writing styles as quickly as possible. A great method is to review sample assignments from professionals before you start writing your task. These samples should give you a clearer picture of the stylistic choices and tone details that every top university in the USA expects from each student.
Constructing Your Thesis Statement
When you begin to write an academic assignment, you have to keep the reader in your mind. They should not have any doubt regarding the direction that the task will take at any point while reading the assignment. That’s why every good assignment contains a thesis statement.
The primary objective of this statement is to establish the writer’s view of the topic. It also informs the reader about the ideas that will be explored in the assignment. The thesis statement directly relates to the topic and uses precise language to establish the conclusion that the reader will reach at the end of the task.
Consider these two examples to figure out how to write the perfect thesis statement for your assignment:
Example 1: All schools should adopt uniforms.
Example 2: Schools should adopt uniforms to promote inclusivity, reduce incidents of bullying, and lower parents’ clothing expenditure.