Assignment writing

Like all large tasks, you should break essay writing down into its more manageable component parts:

• Analyse the question
• Gather material
• Make a plan
• Write up
• Check the line of the Argument and read it aloud to see if it flows
• Proof read the final draft

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This guide gives you some basic rules to follow when writing essays

1. Keep subjectivity to a minimum
2. Beware of blanket statements
3. Font size
4. Essays should be in continuous prose
5. Structure
6. Paragraphs
7. Supporting evidence from varied sources
8. Quotations
9. Speech abbreviations
10. Academic style

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This guide gives definitions to help you understand the instruction words that commonly appear in essay/assignment questions:

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This is a simple visual guide to structuring essays. It follows the standard structure of introduction, main body and conclusion with what each section should include:

• Introduction
• Paragraphs
  • Topic sentence (point)
  • Supporting statements (evidence)
  • Concluding sentence (evaluation)
• Conclusion

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Learn to effectively introduce and conclude your essays and other assignments:

• Introductions
• Effectively introduce your essay by signposting your main points
• Indicate your overall conclusion
• Conclusions
• Summarise your main points
• Anwer the question
• Use your conclusion to check your answer to the question

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This guide will help you to form and link your main body points/paragraphs using PEE structure:

• Point: Introduce the topic
• Evidence: Use evidence to support your point
• Evaluate: state the value of your point to answering the question or criteria

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More help and interactive guidance on paragraphs - this time from the BBC:

• Factsheet
• Worksheet
• Game

The BBC Skilswise - Paragraphs web site

A useful (PDF format) guide to report writing provided by the Plain English Campaign, containing information on:

• Using plain English
• How to write for your audience (those who the report is aimed at)
• Brevity
• Planning and organising reports

Go to the Plain English Campaign Guides page to find the link to the guide and other resources.

Improve your marks by improving your proofreading skills:

• Check your work before handing in
• Rest before checking
• Check from a printed draft
• Look for common errors
• How easy is your work to read? Read out loud
• Do not lose marks through silly errors

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Develop and test your proofreading on the BBC's Sklillswise site::

• Factsheet
• Worksheet
• Game

The BBC Skilswise - Proofreading web site