Check your module handbook on Canvas. What exactly have you been asked to do? Contact your module tutor with any questions or comments as early as you can so that you can gain clarification about the assessment. 

Look at the 'Learning Outcomes' for the assignment. 

Consider if you could benefit from searching for any synonyms. This could help you to broaden your search terms and ensure you are not excluding useful sources as they do not have the same key words as your assignment question. 

This may help you to broaden your literature search and expand the topics you read about before deciding on the focus of the assignment. 

See the link to a Library guide on producing a successful literature search for more information:

Academic writing is writing that you undertake at university in order to advance an argument. To do this it is important to state your position, use evidence and be clear throughout.  

It is important that your academic writing is relevant to the question set. 

When you receive an assignment title, break it down. 

• What are the key words in the question or statement? 
• Which words indicate the scope of the topic and what you are being asked to do?
• What do you need to do? Critically analyse or discuss.

These factors will influence your planning and reading material to inform assignment content. Why not highlight the sections in different colours?

1. When assessing your assignment question highlight the words relating to format and structure to enable understanding of what you are being asked to produce. For example, for a report you may be asked to include headings, an essay would be written in continuous prose or if asked to write a reflection you may be asked to write in the first person, "I think..." rather than "the evidence may suggest..." which is written in the third person. 
2. Highlight the core themes in your brief, including specific limitations or strategies you should cover in order to answer the question. 
3. Highlight any optional themes in the brief that will influence your research.
4. Highlight any critical tasks, these will influence your approach to the assignment. In this case an analytical approach is needed so you would need to provide alternative viewpoints to identify strengths and limitations to evidence your points. 

Test yourself by identifying definitions for the correct command words in the quiz below.

Look at the document below to explore critical evaluation and expectations in academic writing. 

Try playing the academic writing games below to test your knowledge on academic writing skills. 

Look at the university Generic Assessment Criteria below to develop your understanding of general university writing expectations. 

Watch the media clip to further develop your understanding and awareness of how this information can be used to enhance your responses.

Understanding Generic Assessment Criteria