College assignments are usually time-consuming and complex. Often, they require the student to study a given literature or topic and then develop their own responses. They must also consider a variety of factors when planning their assignments, including academic calendars and key campus events. This is why students need to plan their assignments at the beginning of the semester and establish a realistic timeline for completion.
One common type of college assignment is a journal writing assignment that requires a minimum number of entries throughout the semester. These assignments usually include questions or prompts that the instructor imagines students will use as springboards to begin thinking about the assigned topics. The order of these questions may also suggest the thinking process the instructor expects students to follow as they write.
Another type of college assignment is a research essay that requires the student to examine and analyze a particular issue or problem in society. In this type of essay, the student must be able to objectively compare and contrast information from various sources and arrive at logical judgments about the entailed issues. This kind of essay is usually required in science and social studies classes. It is also a good practice for students to become familiar with the structure and requirements of different types of essays.
Often, college assignments account for a significant percentage of term or semester grade marks. Therefore, it is important for students to carefully consider the requirements of each assignment before they embark on writing. This is a key step in producing superior work. It is also advisable to read the assignment brief multiple times to ensure that students understand the content of the assignment.
Students should pay particular attention to key words in the assignment brief, especially those that indicate what type of writing the professor is expecting (e.g., “discuss,” “analyze,” and “evaluate”). In addition, they should check the assignment rubric to see if it indicates if any aspects of the paper are non-negotiable. For instance, some instructors require a specific format for their assignments, such as page length and citation style.
A recent national study indicated that when faculty clearly explain the purpose, tasks and criteria of academic assignments, their students are more likely to succeed in those assignments than when professors don’t provide clear instructions. However, it is important for students to understand that it is not realistic to complete every assignment in the time span of a semester. Therefore, it is essential to consider the academic calendar and determine how many assignments can be reasonably spaced throughout the semester, taking into account holidays and key campus events.
Writing assignments in college are often highly significant and can account for a large percentage of the term or semester grade mark. These assignments also often require a great deal of time and effort. It is therefore important that students carefully read the assignment instructions and understand their requirements. This is especially crucial when the assignment instructions include specific verbs, such as “summarize,” “analyze,” or “evaluate.” These words can help you determine what type of writing your professor expects.
To ensure that your students perform well on these types of assignments, consider incorporating metacognitive practices into your instruction. This can help your students develop strategies for understanding and managing the complexity of academic writing. It can also help them develop better writing habits that they can apply outside of class.
It is also useful to order these assignments in a way that allows your students to build skills gradually throughout the semester. For example, assignments that require more synthesis of knowledge and skills should come later in the semester, preceded by earlier assignments that introduce component skills such as reading and researching, identifying critical questions, and writing in a discipline. For instance, the assignment for a Global Health course may start with a mapping exercise that asks students to identify their overall goals and how they might be achieved through their major courses and general education coursework.
