Assignment writing is an arduous task that involves various components and stages of production. Here is a list of guidelines to be followed while setting off on pre-production, production and post-production of you assignment.
Research:
(i) For producing quality assignments, don’t just rely on your lecture notes. For, they might only provide you with an overview of the basic ideas, concepts and theories underlying the chosen topic of study. Make sure you make proper and efficient use of external resources to back your statements with valid references and citations.
(ii) When you jot down notes from your research, don’t merely copy the writings verbatim. Understand, interpret and analyze the texts to have better notes. This will deepen your understanding and as well as help avoid plagiarism. As a concluding remark, mark your judgement on the point proposed by the given author.
(iii)Widen your scope of research by referring to as many authors as possible. When you do this, you can observe different voices on the same issue. These voices help bring in different dimensions of thoughts to the argument. You can also compare, contrast, find similarities and group the views as per your argument.
(iv)Every time you jot down points, see to that they’re relevant and contributing to your argument. Not everything you come across in research will be useful for your assignment.
(v) Make it a point to mark the page numbers, chapter title and book name for referencing the quotes and phrases you take from the books. Plagiarism is deemed an contemptible offence in all universities.
Writing:
(i) You are not required to write everything you know about the subject. Rather, formulate an argument and arrange your points accordingly.
(ii) Assess your views carefully in order to make a valid conclusion. Hold a neutral point of view and don’t criticize any author exorbitantly.
(iii) Follow the proverbial format for assignment writing: introduction, argument and conclusion. In introduction, include the background, context and thesis statement. In argument, discuss the various points of view. Finally, in conclusion, summarize the entire argument and make a concluding comment. Use proper structure for each paragraph by having a topic sentence substantiated by supporting statements.
(iv) Provide proper valid evidence for every proposition you make. These could be culled out from your research notes. Make claims that can be substantiated.
(v) Follow a proper structure for writing. Always link your sentences and points using linking words. Also, make sure that each of the section pulls your argument together. This will ensure better flow and logic in the argument.
Referencing:
(i)There are two ways in which in-text citations can be done: Author (year of publication: page number) and (Author, year of publication: page number). The first appears in the beginning of the point and the latter at the end.
(ii)When you quote a phrase that is quoted in another author’s work, this is the format to be followed: Author - 2, cited in Name of the publication, year of publication: page number) or author (cited in name of the publication, year: page number).
(iii)Use three dots at the end of the quotation if you have lifted the entire one. You can also use square brackets to denote the small alterations or add meaning to the quotation.
(iv)If you are citing any tables or diagrams from research, you can reproduce them and cite using this format: author/ date of publication/ page number.
(v)Don’t fail to use speech marks and other relevant notations to mark the direct quotations in your argument.
