Homework Help

Hints and tips for
writing a good assignment

Here are some guidelines that may help you put together the best assignment you can:

• Make sure you understand exactly what is expected of you. Read the assignment carefully and listen to what your teacher says. Don’t hesitate to ask questions in class or to talk to your teacher after class.
• Try to understand the purpose of the assignment. How does it relate to the goals of the course you are taking? Some assignments are designed to assess your problem solving skills; others are designed to see how well you understand the course material.
• Find out how the marks will be assigned. I.e. written and oral presentation, quality of content, etc.
• Your teacher may be willing to take a look at an early draft of your assignment before you submit it. They can tell you if you are on the right track.
• Your teacher may also have samples of well-done assignments from previous years. By looking at them, you will see what a good assignment actually looks like and what the teacher is looking for.
• Remember neatness counts! Always use your best handwriting or if you are using a computer, pay attention to your font size and formatting. Use a consistent font and font size. Bold or underline your headings and use short paragraphs.
• Label all your pictures.
• If you are using information from other sources such as books, websites, etc. DO NOT COPY. This is called plagiarism and it is illegal. You will need to re-write the information in your own words and make sure to provide references for where you got it. (See Guidelines for referencing materials).
• Always date your assignment.
• Don’t forget to put your name on it!  :-)