Contents:
1. Understanding what is being asked of you
2. Researching your topic
3. Structuring your assignment
4. Editing and proofreading
5. 10 Top Tips for nailing written assignments
1. Understanding What Is Being Asked of You
As the old saying goes: “Measure twice, cut once.” Spending time to understand what is being asked is essential for a strong start. Carefully examine the assignment question and identify the key requirements. Are you being asked to explore or discuss a topic? Is it reflective, descriptive, or analytical? Clarifying the purpose of the assignment will help you approach it effectively.
Ask yourself:
1. What are the task words? Do I need to explain, compare, discuss, or
critically evaluate/examine? For example, discuss means to consider and interpret a topic, whereas examine refers to inspecting something in detail – its significance, implications, benefits, etc.
2. What are the content words? These are the words that indicate what the topic is about.
3. What are the limiting words? These help narrow your focus, preventing you from wasting time researching irrelevant areas.
Example:
Effective management of anxiety in dental practice is essential to providing successful dental care. Discuss the role of the dental nurse in managing anxiety in young patients.
Here, young can be both a limiting and a content word.
Beware of word count, format, and deadlines
Next, check how much work is required so you can plan your time and research efficiently. Ensure you know what referencing style is needed and familiarise yourself with it. You may wish to use a reference manager if you have more than a few sources to keep your references organised – especially useful for academic assignments.
Consider setting milestone deadlines to stay on track, especially for longer assignments.
Referencing Tools and Resources:
- Cite Them Right (online)
- Reference managers (e.g., Zotero, Mendeley)
2. Researching Your Topic
Now that you understand the task, it’s time to gather information. Many students underestimate this stage and start writing prematurely, only to get stuck when their ideas run out or their arguments lack evidence.
Brainstorming and Mind Mapping
Both are great strategies to boost creativity.
- Brainstorming helps you recall what you already know about a topic and generates ideas to organise later.
- Mind mapping helps you organise your ideas visually around a central topic, breaking down complex subjects into subtopics and showing connections. This is especially helpful if you’re struggling with the subject matter. Seeing the information laid out like a tree or spiderweb can help you make sense of the topic and aid your learning.
Use credible sources such as academic journals, books, and official guidelines or websites of recognised organisations.
For example, if writing about cross-infection, you could consult:
1. A general textbook to familiarise yourself with the topic
2. Specialised resources like the Department of Health (NHS England) or the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP)
3. Research articles from websites like PubMed
Planning Before You Write
Note down your findings and continue updating your mind map if it’s helpful. Remember, not all the information you find will be relevant. Organise your research based on how it can be used in the introduction, body paragraphs, or conclusion.
3. Structuring Your Written Assignment
Introduction (10–15%)
The introduction provides background to your topic. Offer some general information about the issue, its significance, and outline what your assignment will cover.
Example:
If your assignment topic is “Managing dental anxiety: How dental nurses support nervous patients”, your introduction could include statistics about anxiety in dentistry, its impact, and the role of dental nurses in improving patient experience.
You might also begin with an interesting fact, question, or quote, so long as it’s relevant and supported by research.
Body Paragraphs (70–80%)
Each paragraph should focus on a single idea. Think of the structure as “links in a chain” – each paragraph should logically follow from the last. Even if they cover different aspects, they should remain connected to the central argument. Use connecting words like however, subsequently, consequently, or on the other hand to maintain a smooth flow.
Use the PEEL structure for paragraphs:
- Point – A clear sentence introducing the paragraph’s main idea
- Evidence – Support with facts, statistics, or research findings
- Explanation – Analyse how the evidence supports your point. Be critical –why is it important? What are the implications? Are there alternative perspectives?
- Link – Connect to the next paragraph or back to the main topic
Aim for 3–5 paragraphs, each addressing a different aspect of the topic.
Diagrams
If using diagrams to support your content, make sure that they:
- Are large and clear
- Are drawn in pencil (if hand-drawn)
- Have titles and labels
- Are referenced in your text, e.g. “Table 1 highlights…”
Conclusion (10–15%)
Do not introduce new information here. Instead, summarise your findings concisely. Optionally, you may end with a recommendation, implication, or a call to action.
4. Editing and Proofreading
This step is often overlooked but essential. Even the best arguments can be lost in a sea of grammatical or punctuation errors. Ask a friend or family member to read through your work and see if it flows. We all have blind spots in our writing – getting an external opinion can be invaluable.
Alternatively, use tools such as Read Aloud (on Microsoft Word) or software like
Grammarly to help you spot mistakes.
10 Top Tips for Nailing Written Assignments:
1. Brainstorm and mind map ideas
2. Plan before starting to write
3. Use a clear essay structure: introduction, body, and conclusion
4. Use clear, simple language – walk before you run, especially in academic writing
5. Focus on one idea per paragraph
6. Ensure your paragraphs follow a logical sequence
7. Use connecting words to link ideas
8. Be critical – support your ideas with credible research
9. Reference all information to avoid plagiarism
10. Stick to the indicated word count
We have also generated a handy Essay Template Guide Table to summarise this blog, and for you to utilise when essay planning. The guide can be found here: Essay template guide table
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