Page 31: The Assignment Process

 Page 31: The assignment process ...

It cannot be shied away from that at times, writing assignments can be very tricky! Personally, I find it much more challenging than placement and although I throughly enjoy the research and learning about the topics, I do not find it the same with the self pressure and stress of writing them. For every different module, and every different assignment there is a plethora of variation. Not just in terms of content, but style too. This year alone I have completed individual presentations, group presentation, your 'traditional' essay and a research paper. Each specific assignment type has its essential needs and requirements, but today I have decided to share a few general tips that are crucial in any assignment. 

My general top assignment tips:

1. Start early

You can never start early enough! Wow - I personally find that time just catches up with me. I tend to find myself always taking longer to do thrurra research and reading than I initially think, so starting early allows a stress free writing process with no time contrasts or pressure. It also allows the assignments title to mould upon reflection after finishing and multiple levels of proof reading. I always set myself a target to finish the assignment the week before it is due to ensure time for these vital steps!

2. Produce a high detailed plan

Your plan allows flow and makes the writing process so much smoother! Having a high detailed plan, where you have already picked themes, the relating references and wider reading around ensures an easier process when putting the assignment together. It also allows you to fully consider all points and arguments that you will inevitably change all the time over the process of planning into writing. 

3. Be reflective

In particular regard to my teaching assignments so far, it is always essential to reflect and relate to practice. In addition to being reflective and drawing on your own personal practice, it is key to be reflective on the literature you are using, as well as reflecting on your own work during the editing process. From those two sentences, it is clear how vital reflection is to shaping a well rounded piece of academia. 

4. Proof read

If you cannot recite your introduction by the end, you have not proof read enough! Joking aside, this is a pivotal and real turning point in the quality of you work from ensuring clarity and excellent SPAG application. As well as proof reading and be harsh on yourself, always ask a family member or friend to proof read for it too. Preferable someone who may not comprehensive understand or be familiar on the topic, as this will allow them to question any content that is uncertain and not clear enough to the reader. I would also suggest leaving periods of time between reads to allow words or themes not to blend. 

5. Use wider reading throughly

Reading is what allows and stems the production of any academic piece. Wider reading throughly around the topic allows you to be able to produce a much more comprehensive account for the topic of your assignment. This does not just include the direct references you use, but for most of work, I additionally read around other supporting books and articles for the same amount that is directly referenced. I would then produce notes on my new knowledge and used these when producing my high detailed plan.

6. Reference fully

Every university has different referencing polices. My particular has their own adaption on Harvard referencing. It is vital that your referencing is accurate and correct to ensure you are not accidental plagiarising in your piece. Therefore, I find it the most useful to always have my referencing guide up when writing to refer back to every individual reference I make. With all the commas, full stops and italics, it is easy to be confused. Having this guide always handy to refer back to is essential in being accurate and correct. My last tip in terms of referencing is create yourself a bank. From my very first assignment to now, I have created a bank of references so I have a place to return to when approaches a similar topic again or wanting to read around.

7. Be Critical!

My last, but can be argued my most important tip is to be critical! This is definitely a learning curve from year 1 of my training, where due to not being critical enough, and using accurate and well supported counter arguments, I was unable to reach some top band matrix points. This year, I always ensure for every theme I make, I provide a critical reflection of an opposing argument. Personally, I do one per theme rather than topic, as if I am opposing each specific point, I do not want to waste my limited word count on other topics. I find it much more beneficial to study and explore one topic in more depth through multiple lenses/viewpoints, An example in my most recent assignment, I was exploring the work of Skinner, and his theory of overt conditioning and emphasis on reinforcement, and opposed his arguments with Chomsky's belief that we are born with knowledge and cannot learn such as a result of a stimulus in an environment (Skinner's Proposal). 

In addition to these general musts for any academic writing/ presentation you must always refer back to key documents for you specific brief such as the assignment matrix, where then I highly recommend breaking down each key objective in depth to ensure you have successfully attacked all points and demonstrated your knowledge and understadning to the best of your ability.

Taking a step away from teaching this week, and exploring university requirements more, I have throughly enjoyed sharing my tips and my 'must do's' regarding my academics. This wider reading supporting assignments and really delving into key educational topics and theory, really supports your wider professional development and allows you to link this theory to practice to support your day to day teaching. As always, I will end today's page with a quote summing up the importance of criticality, which is my number one tip!

"It is better to debate a questions without settling it than to settle a question without debating it." - Joseph Joubert

- Miss Yeoman