how to start an assignment

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How to Start an Assignment

Last Updated: January 29, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Michelle Golden, PhD . Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. She received her MA in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State University in 2015. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 105,275 times.

Getting started on an assignment or homework can often times be the hardest step. Putting off the assignment can make the problem worse, reducing the time you have to complete the task and increasing stress. By learning how to get started and overcome the urge to procrastinate, you can get your assignments done on schedule and with less stress, opening up more free time.

Restructuring Your Assignment

• For example, you might research areas of a report that you find most interesting before moving on to other areas.
• If your math assignment has different types of questions, try doing those that you enjoy the most before moving on to the others.
• You might also try tackling smaller or easier tasks first so you can cross a few items off your list. Seeing that you've already made progress may help you feel motivated to continue.

• Promise yourself that you will meet your goal of working for five minutes on the assignment.
• Once you get started, you may find that you don't want to stop working. Otherwise, you can take a break and come back to the assignment, knowing you're at least five minutes closer to finishing than you were before.

• Try to set reasonable periods of time that you know you can meet. For example, you might set aside two hours on a Friday to dedicate to your assignment. If you don't have that much time all at once, try to carve out a few 20- or 30-minute blocks.
• You may or may not wish to continue working after your time limit has gone by.
• Have a realistic understanding of how fast you can write and plan your schedule accordingly.

• It can help to read the assignment as soon as you get it and then ask any questions you might have.
• If you're not sure if you understand the assignment, try rewriting it in your own words or explaining it to someone else. If you find you can't or have a lot of questions, you may need more information.
• You should have an overview of the assignment, understand the main task, and understand the technical and stylistic requirements.
• Look for important words in the instructions to understand the assignment. These words might include define, explain, compare, relate, or prove.
• Keep your audience in mind and write a paper that would best deliver information to them.

• Goals that are too big or not well defined can be difficult to start working towards.
• Smaller and well defined goals can seem easier to achieve than larger ones.
• For example, you could break a research paper down into several smaller tasks: 1) do preliminary research, 2) write an outline, 3) draft an introduction, 4) draft body paragraphs, 5) write conclusion, 6) revise. Each of these is much more do-able on its own.

Changing Your Focus

• You might want to go for a quick walk after working for a set amount of time.
• Try reading a website or book that you enjoy for a few minutes after working.
• Alternatively, try a quick burst of exercise before setting to work. Exercise releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins and can also help boost your memory. [8] X Research source

• Instead of dreading your work, focus on how good it will feel to make progress. You won't have it hanging over your head. You can actually enjoy the weekend instead of feeling guilty.
• Keeping your eye on long-term rewards can help you stay motivated to finish your assignment.

• Avoid moving your workspace constantly.
• Don't get lost on tangential research.
• Don't take constant breaks to get a snack.

• For every hour you waste procrastinating, you can limit how much television you watch that night.
• If you waste too much time procrastinating, you might deny yourself a favorite snack later on.

Community Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/solving-unsolvable-problems/201408/4-steps-stop-procrastinating
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/friendship-20/201405/the-surefire-first-step-stop-procrastinating
• ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/procrastination/
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html
• ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/understanding-assignments/
• ↑ https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/ab22ff64-3358-4387-9761-8c58878a6b84/resource/3ee38320-17e4-46f9-b24f-c95f9f345eb9/download/ipp7.pdf
• ↑ http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/how-exercise-can-help-us-learn/
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/happy-life.html

About This Article

To start an assignment, try working on the most enjoyable or easiest parts of the assignment first to get the ball rolling. Even if no part of the assignment seems enjoyable or easy, set a timer and try to make yourself work for at least 5 minutes, which is usually enough time to build momentum and overcome procrastination. You can also try breaking your assignment up into smaller, more manageable tasks and scheduling yourself regular breaks so it doesn't seem as overwhelming. To learn how to stay positive and avoid procrastination while working on your homework, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Home / Blog / 15 foolproof tips for writing a great assignment

15 foolproof tips for writing a great assignment

15th Aug 2015

Student advice

If you’re the kind of person that only has to hear the word “assignment” and immediately has flashbacks to stuffy classrooms, ticking clocks and staring a blank page for hours….DON’T PANIC.

Our 15 foolproof tips for writing a great assignment will guide you to success.

Before you start…

1. do your reading.

Your course or module will have a reading list; make sure you actually use it! Your tutors choose texts to specifically help with your assignments and modules, and you’ll gain some valuable insights into the topic that are sure to make writing your assignment easier.

Expert tip:  If you have the time, do some reading from other sources not on your list to back up your argument.

2. Check the deadline

There’s nothing worse than scheduling time to sit down and write then glancing at the calendar and realising you’ve only got a few days left. Double-checking the deadline means you’ll have no nasty surprises.

Expert tip:  There are many apps out there that can add a ‘countdown’ to your phone or tablet. Use these to keep your assignment deadline front of mind.

3. Plan your time

Finding time to write is easier said than done, but if you break your time down into manageable chunks you’ll find it’s much easier to keep on top of your workload. Try scheduling mini-deadlines along the way (e.g. aim to have the first section done by a certain day) to keep your momentum going.

Expert tip:  Be realistic about the time you have spare, and the time you’re willing to give up. If you schedule a writing session at 9 p.m. on Friday evening when you’d rather be relaxing, chances are you won’t get anything done.

4. Ask for help (if you need it)

If there’s any doubt in your mind about the question or the requirements of the assignment, ask your tutor. It’s better to start right than have to re-write in the last few days.

Expert tip:  Remember, your tutor wants you to do well. He or she will not be annoyed if you need to ask a few questions.

5. Plan your assignment structure

Before you start, it can help to create a basic assignment structure. This can be as detailed as you like but the basic structure should contain your introduction points, your key arguments and points, and your planned conclusion.

Expert tip:  Try writing out your plan on sticky notes. These will allow you to rearrange your arguments and points easily as your plan develops.

As you’re writing…

6. introduction.

You wouldn’t start a conversation without introducing yourself; your assignment is the same. Your first paragraph should introduce your key argument, add a bit of context and the key issues of the question, and then go on to explain how you plan to answer it.

Expert tip:  Some people find it easier to write their introduction after they’ve finished the rest of their assignment. Give it a try!

7. Structure your argument

As you write the body of your assignment, make sure that each point you make has some supporting evidence. Use statistics or quotes you gathered during your reading to support your argument, or even as something to argue against.

Expert tip:  If you’re using a lot of different sources, it’s easy to forget to add them to your reference list. Make things easier for yourself by writing it as you go along.

8. Conclusion

Your conclusion is your final chance to summarise your argument and leave a lasting impression with your reader. Make sure you recap the key points and arguments you made in your assignment, including supporting evidence if needed.

Expert tip:  Make sure that you don’t introduce any new ideas in your conclusion; this section is purely for summarising your previous arguments.

9. Getting over writer’s block

Struggling to write? There’s nothing more frustrating than putting aside time to write and then just staring at a blank page. Luckily, there are lots of thing to try to get you inspired : a change of scenery, putting on some music, writing another section of the essay or just taking a short break.

Expert tip:  If you find yourself unable to write, try to use your time to read ahead or re-read what you’ve already written.

10. Make sure you use your ‘essay voice’

While each university, school or each college will probably have its own style guide, you should always use a neutral and professional tone when writing an assignment. Try to avoid slang, overly-familiar phrases and definitely don’t use text-speak!

Expert tip:  If you’re not sure about a phrase or word, search for it online to see what other publications use it. If it’s in a dictionary or used by a national newspaper it’s probably OK to use in your assignment.

After you finish…

11. get a little distance.

If you’ve got time (and you should have if you managed to stick to your schedule!), put your first draft aside for a day or two before re-reading it. This will give you time to step back and read your assignment objectively, making it easier to spot mistakes and issues.

Expert tip:  If you find it easier to review on paper, print out your assignment with double-line spacing to accommodate your notes and corrections.

12. Make sure you’ve answered the question

As you’re reading through your first draft of your assignment, check that all your points are relevant to the original question. It’s easy to drift off on a tangent when you’re in mid-flow.

Expert tip:  Read each paragraph and consider it on its own merit as to whether it answers the question, and also to check that it contributes to your overall argument.

13. Don’t be afraid to cut text out

Sometimes, when you’ve struggled to reach a word count it can be hard to remove text that you’ve slaved over. But if a piece of text isn’t supporting your argument then it doesn’t have a place in your assignment.

Expert tip:  With word processing software, the ‘Track Changes’ feature allows you to edit text without losing it forever. And if you realise later that you’ve made a mistake, just reject the change.

14. Check and double-check your spelling

Nothing can give a bad impression as quickly as a spelling mistake. Errors are distracting, look unprofessional and in the worst case they can undermine your argument. If you’re unsure about the correct use of a word, look it up online or use an alternative that you’re more comfortable with.

Expert tip:  While you’re running your spell-checker, check your word count too. You’re usually allowed to deviate by 10% above or below the assignment word count, but check with your institution’s guidelines.

15. Cite your sources

References and creating a bibliography are key skills that you unfortunately have to master when writing an assignment. Check your institution’s guidelines before you start to make sure you’re including all the information you need.

Expert tip:  Some eBooks have a citation feature that automatically collates all the information you need for your bibliography.

Wondering how you can apply these skills? Download a prospectus to choose your course today!

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How to write the best college assignments.

By Lois Weldon

When it comes to writing assignments, it is difficult to find a conceptualized guide with clear and simple tips that are easy to follow. That’s exactly what this guide will provide: few simple tips on how to write great assignments, right when you need them. Some of these points will probably be familiar to you, but there is no harm in being reminded of the most important things before you start writing the assignments, which are usually determining on your credits.

The most important aspects: Outline and Introduction

Preparation is the key to success, especially when it comes to academic assignments. It is recommended to always write an outline before you start writing the actual assignment. The outline should include the main points of discussion, which will keep you focused throughout the work and will make your key points clearly defined. Outlining the assignment will save you a lot of time because it will organize your thoughts and make your literature searches much easier. The outline will also help you to create different sections and divide up the word count between them, which will make the assignment more organized.

The introduction is the next important part you should focus on. This is the part that defines the quality of your assignment in the eyes of the reader. The introduction must include a brief background on the main points of discussion, the purpose of developing such work and clear indications on how the assignment is being organized. Keep this part brief, within one or two paragraphs.

This is an example of including the above mentioned points into the introduction of an assignment that elaborates the topic of obesity reaching proportions:

Background : The twenty first century is characterized by many public health challenges, among which obesity takes a major part. The increasing prevalence of obesity is creating an alarming situation in both developed and developing regions of the world.

Structure and aim : This assignment will elaborate and discuss the specific pattern of obesity epidemic development, as well as its epidemiology. Debt, trade and globalization will also be analyzed as factors that led to escalation of the problem. Moreover, the assignment will discuss the governmental interventions that make efforts to address this issue.

Practical tips on assignment writing

Here are some practical tips that will keep your work focused and effective:

–         Critical thinking – Academic writing has to be characterized by critical thinking, not only to provide the work with the needed level, but also because it takes part in the final mark.

–         Continuity of ideas – When you get to the middle of assignment, things can get confusing. You have to make sure that the ideas are flowing continuously within and between paragraphs, so the reader will be enabled to follow the argument easily. Dividing the work in different paragraphs is very important for this purpose.

–         Usage of ‘you’ and ‘I’ – According to the academic writing standards, the assignments should be written in an impersonal language, which means that the usage of ‘you’ and ‘I’ should be avoided. The only acceptable way of building your arguments is by using opinions and evidence from authoritative sources.

–         Referencing – this part of the assignment is extremely important and it takes a big part in the final mark. Make sure to use either Vancouver or Harvard referencing systems, and use the same system in the bibliography and while citing work of other sources within the text.  

–         Usage of examples – A clear understanding on your assignment’s topic should be provided by comparing different sources and identifying their strengths and weaknesses in an objective manner. This is the part where you should show how the knowledge can be applied into practice.

–         Numbering and bullets – Instead of using numbering and bullets, the academic writing style prefers the usage of paragraphs.

–         Including figures and tables – The figures and tables are an effective way of conveying information to the reader in a clear manner, without disturbing the word count. Each figure and table should have clear headings and you should make sure to mention their sources in the bibliography.

–         Word count – the word count of your assignment mustn’t be far above or far below the required word count. The outline will provide you with help in this aspect, so make sure to plan the work in order to keep it within the boundaries.

The importance of an effective conclusion

The conclusion of your assignment is your ultimate chance to provide powerful arguments that will impress the reader. The conclusion in academic writing is usually expressed through three main parts:

–         Stating the context and aim of the assignment

–         Summarizing the main points briefly

–         Providing final comments with consideration of the future (discussing clear examples of things that can be done in order to improve the situation concerning your topic of discussion).

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Lois Weldon is writer at  Uk.bestdissertation.com . Lives happily at London with her husband and lovely daughter. Adores writing tips for students. Passionate about Star Wars and yoga.

7 comments on “How To Write The Best College Assignments”

Extremely useful tip for students wanting to score well on their assignments. I concur with the writer that writing an outline before ACTUALLY starting to write assignments is extremely important. I have observed students who start off quite well but they tend to lose focus in between which causes them to lose marks. So an outline helps them to maintain the theme focused.

Hello Great information…. write assignments

Well elabrated

Thanks for the information. This site has amazing articles. Looking forward to continuing on this site.

This article is certainly going to help student . Well written.

Really good, thanks

Practical tips on assignment writing, the’re fantastic. Thank you!

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to do homework: 15 expert tips and tricks.

Coursework/GPA

Everyone struggles with homework sometimes, but if getting your homework done has become a chronic issue for you, then you may need a little extra help. That’s why we’ve written this article all about how to do homework. Once you’re finished reading it, you’ll know how to do homework (and have tons of new ways to motivate yourself to do homework)!

We’ve broken this article down into a few major sections. You’ll find:

• A diagnostic test to help you figure out why you’re struggling with homework
• A discussion of the four major homework problems students face, along with expert tips for addressing them
• A bonus section with tips for how to do homework fast

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you .

So let’s get started!

How to Do Homework: Figure Out Your Struggles 

Sometimes it feels like everything is standing between you and getting your homework done. But the truth is, most people only have one or two major roadblocks that are keeping them from getting their homework done well and on time. 

The best way to figure out how to get motivated to do homework starts with pinpointing the issues that are affecting your ability to get your assignments done. That’s why we’ve developed a short quiz to help you identify the areas where you’re struggling. 

Take the quiz below and record your answers on your phone or on a scrap piece of paper. Keep in mind there are no wrong answers! 

1. You’ve just been assigned an essay in your English class that’s due at the end of the week. What’s the first thing you do?

A. Keep it in mind, even though you won’t start it until the day before it’s due  B. Open up your planner. You’ve got to figure out when you’ll write your paper since you have band practice, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dance recital this week, too.  C. Groan out loud. Another essay? You could barely get yourself to write the last one!  D. Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favorite artist might have just posted to Instagram...so you better check your feed right now. 

2. Your mom asked you to pick up your room before she gets home from work. You’ve just gotten home from school. You decide you’ll tackle your chores: 

A. Five minutes before your mom walks through the front door. As long as it gets done, who cares when you start?  B. As soon as you get home from your shift at the local grocery store.  C. After you give yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.  D. You won’t get it done. Between texts from your friends, trying to watch your favorite Netflix show, and playing with your dog, you just lost track of time! 

3. You’ve signed up to wash dogs at the Humane Society to help earn money for your senior class trip. You: 

A. Show up ten minutes late. You put off leaving your house until the last minute, then got stuck in unexpected traffic on the way to the shelter.  B. Have to call and cancel at the last minute. You forgot you’d already agreed to babysit your cousin and bake cupcakes for tomorrow’s bake sale.  C. Actually arrive fifteen minutes early with extra brushes and bandanas you picked up at the store. You’re passionate about animals, so you’re excited to help out! D. Show up on time, but only get three dogs washed. You couldn’t help it: you just kept getting distracted by how cute they were!

4. You have an hour of downtime, so you decide you’re going to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. You: 

A. Scroll through your social media feeds for twenty minutes before hitting play, which means you’re not able to finish the whole episode. Ugh! You really wanted to see who was sent home!  B. Watch fifteen minutes until you remember you’re supposed to pick up your sister from band practice before heading to your part-time job. No GBBO for you!  C. You finish one episode, then decide to watch another even though you’ve got SAT studying to do. It’s just more fun to watch people make scones.  D. Start the episode, but only catch bits and pieces of it because you’re reading Twitter, cleaning out your backpack, and eating a snack at the same time.

5. Your teacher asks you to stay after class because you’ve missed turning in two homework assignments in a row. When she asks you what’s wrong, you say: 

A. You planned to do your assignments during lunch, but you ran out of time. You decided it would be better to turn in nothing at all than submit unfinished work.  B. You really wanted to get the assignments done, but between your extracurriculars, family commitments, and your part-time job, your homework fell through the cracks.  C. You have a hard time psyching yourself to tackle the assignments. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to work on them once you get home.  D. You tried to do them, but you had a hard time focusing. By the time you realized you hadn’t gotten anything done, it was already time to turn them in. 

Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible). Here’s how your answers break down: 

• If your answers were mostly As, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination. 
• If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management. 
• If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation. 
• If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted. 

Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it. 

And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating. 

How to Do Homework When You’re a Procrastinator  

Merriam Webster defines “procrastinate” as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” In other words, procrastination is when you choose to do something at the last minute on a regular basis. If you’ve ever found yourself pulling an all-nighter, trying to finish an assignment between periods, or sprinting to turn in a paper minutes before a deadline, you’ve experienced the effects of procrastination. 

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re in good company. In fact, one study found that 70% to 95% of undergraduate students procrastinate when it comes to doing their homework. Unfortunately, procrastination can negatively impact your grades. Researchers have found that procrastination can lower your grade on an assignment by as much as five points ...which might not sound serious until you realize that can mean the difference between a B- and a C+. 

Procrastination can also negatively affect your health by increasing your stress levels , which can lead to other health conditions like insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even heart conditions. Getting a handle on procrastination can not only improve your grades, it can make you feel better, too! 

The big thing to understand about procrastination is that it’s not the result of laziness. Laziness is defined as being “disinclined to activity or exertion.” In other words, being lazy is all about doing nothing. But a s this Psychology Today article explains , procrastinators don’t put things off because they don’t want to work. Instead, procrastinators tend to postpone tasks they don’t want to do in favor of tasks that they perceive as either more important or more fun. Put another way, procrastinators want to do things...as long as it’s not their homework! 

3 Tips f or Conquering Procrastination 

Because putting off doing homework is a common problem, there are lots of good tactics for addressing procrastination. Keep reading for our three expert tips that will get your homework habits back on track in no time. 

#1: Create a Reward System

Like we mentioned earlier, procrastination happens when you prioritize other activities over getting your homework done. Many times, this happens because homework...well, just isn’t enjoyable. But you can add some fun back into the process by rewarding yourself for getting your work done. 

Here’s what we mean: let’s say you decide that every time you get your homework done before the day it’s due, you’ll give yourself a point. For every five points you earn, you’ll treat yourself to your favorite dessert: a chocolate cupcake! Now you have an extra (delicious!) incentive to motivate you to leave procrastination in the dust. 

If you’re not into cupcakes, don’t worry. Your reward can be anything that motivates you . Maybe it’s hanging out with your best friend or an extra ten minutes of video game time. As long as you’re choosing something that makes homework worth doing, you’ll be successful. 

#2: Have a Homework Accountability Partner 

If you’re having trouble getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time, it may be a good idea to call in reinforcements . Find a friend or classmate you can trust and explain to them that you’re trying to change your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you to make sure you’re doing your homework and check in with you once a week to see if you’re meeting your anti-procrastination goals. 

Sharing your goals can make them feel more real, and an accountability partner can help hold you responsible for your decisions. For example, let’s say you’re tempted to put off your science lab write-up until the morning before it’s due. But you know that your accountability partner is going to text you about it tomorrow...and you don’t want to fess up that you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability partner can give you the extra support and incentive you need to keep your homework habits on track. 

#3: Create Your Own Due Dates 

If you’re a life-long procrastinator, you might find that changing the habit is harder than you expected. In that case, you might try using procrastination to your advantage! If you just can’t seem to stop doing your work at the last minute, try setting your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the assignment is actually due. 

Here’s what we mean. Let’s say you have a math worksheet that’s been assigned on Tuesday and is due on Friday. In your planner, you can write down the due date as Thursday instead. You may still put off your homework assignment until the last minute...but in this case, the “last minute” is a day before the assignment’s real due date . This little hack can trick your procrastination-addicted brain into planning ahead! 

If you feel like Kevin Hart in this meme, then our tips for doing homework when you're busy are for you. 

How to Do Homework When You’re too Busy

If you’re aiming to go to a top-tier college , you’re going to have a full plate. Because college admissions is getting more competitive, it’s important that you’re maintaining your grades , studying hard for your standardized tests , and participating in extracurriculars so your application stands out. A packed schedule can get even more hectic once you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix. 

If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once, you’re not alone. Recent research has found that stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression— are a major problem for high school students . In fact, one study from the American Psychological Association found that during the school year, students’ stress levels are higher than those of the adults around them. 

For students, homework is a major contributor to their overall stress levels . Many high schoolers have multiple hours of homework every night , and figuring out how to fit it into an already-packed schedule can seem impossible. 

3 Tips for Fitting Homework Into Your Busy Schedule

While it might feel like you have literally no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to make sure you’re able to get your homework done and meet your other commitments. Here are our expert homework tips for even the busiest of students. 

#1: Make a Prioritized To-Do List 

You probably already have a to-do list to keep yourself on track. The next step is to prioritize the items on your to-do list so you can see what items need your attention right away. 

Here’s how it works: at the beginning of each day, sit down and make a list of all the items you need to get done before you go to bed. This includes your homework, but it should also take into account any practices, chores, events, or job shifts you may have. Once you get everything listed out, it’s time to prioritize them using the labels A, B, and C. Here’s what those labels mean:

• A Tasks : tasks that have to get done—like showing up at work or turning in an assignment—get an A. 
• B Tasks : these are tasks that you would like to get done by the end of the day but aren’t as time sensitive. For example, studying for a test you have next week could be a B-level task. It’s still important, but it doesn’t have to be done right away.
• C Tasks: these are tasks that aren’t very important and/or have no real consequences if you don’t get them done immediately. For instance, if you’re hoping to clean out your closet but it’s not an assigned chore from your parents, you could label that to-do item with a C.

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you visualize which items need your immediate attention, and which items you can leave for later. A prioritized to-do list ensures that you’re spending your time efficiently and effectively, which helps you make room in your schedule for homework. So even though you might really want to start making decorations for Homecoming (a B task), you’ll know that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more important. 

#2: Use a Planner With Time Labels

Your planner is probably packed with notes, events, and assignments already. (And if you’re not using a planner, it’s time to start!) But planners can do more for you than just remind you when an assignment is due. If you’re using a planner with time labels, it can help you visualize how you need to spend your day.

A planner with time labels breaks your day down into chunks, and you assign tasks to each chunk of time. For example, you can make a note of your class schedule with assignments, block out time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice. Once you know which tasks take priority, you can add them to any empty spaces in your day. 

Planning out how you spend your time not only helps you use it wisely, it can help you feel less overwhelmed, too . We’re big fans of planners that include a task list ( like this one ) or have room for notes ( like this one ). 

#3: Set Reminders on Your Phone 

If you need a little extra nudge to make sure you’re getting your homework done on time, it’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone. You don’t need a fancy app, either. You can use your alarm app to have it go off at specific times throughout the day to remind you to do your homework. This works especially well if you have a set homework time scheduled. So if you’ve decided you’re doing homework at 6:00 pm, you can set an alarm to remind you to bust out your books and get to work. 

If you use your phone as your planner, you may have the option to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events . Many calendar apps, including the one that comes with your phone, have built-in reminders that you can customize to meet your needs. So if you block off time to do your homework from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, you can set a reminder that will pop up on your phone when it’s time to get started. 

This dog isn't judging your lack of motivation...but your teacher might. Keep reading for tips to help you motivate yourself to do your homework.

How to Do Homework When You’re Unmotivated 

At first glance, it may seem like procrastination and being unmotivated are the same thing. After all, both of these issues usually result in you putting off your homework until the very last minute. 

But there’s one key difference: many procrastinators are working, they’re just prioritizing work differently. They know they’re going to start their homework...they’re just going to do it later. 

Conversely, people who are unmotivated to do homework just can’t find the willpower to tackle their assignments. Procrastinators know they’ll at least attempt the homework at the last minute, whereas people who are unmotivated struggle with convincing themselves to do it at a ll. For procrastinators, the stress comes from the inevitable time crunch. For unmotivated people, the stress comes from trying to convince themselves to do something they don’t want to do in the first place. 

Here are some common reasons students are unmotivated in doing homework : 

• Assignments are too easy, too hard, or seemingly pointless 
• Students aren’t interested in (or passionate about) the subject matter
• Students are intimidated by the work and/or feels like they don’t understand the assignment 
• Homework isn’t fun, and students would rather spend their time on things that they enjoy 

To sum it up: people who lack motivation to do their homework are more likely to not do it at all, or to spend more time worrying about doing their homework than...well, actually doing it.

3 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Do Homework

The key to getting homework done when you’re unmotivated is to figure out what does motivate you, then apply those things to homework. It sounds tricky...but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Here are our three expert tips for motivating yourself to do your homework. 

#1: Use Incremental Incentives

When you’re not motivated, it’s important to give yourself small rewards to stay focused on finishing the task at hand. The trick is to keep the incentives small and to reward yourself often. For example, maybe you’re reading a good book in your free time. For every ten minutes you spend on your homework, you get to read five pages of your book. Like we mentioned earlier, make sure you’re choosing a reward that works for you! 

So why does this technique work? Using small rewards more often allows you to experience small wins for getting your work done. Every time you make it to one of your tiny reward points, you get to celebrate your success, which gives your brain a boost of dopamine . Dopamine helps you stay motivated and also creates a feeling of satisfaction when you complete your homework !  

#2: Form a Homework Group 

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, it’s okay to turn to others for support. Creating a homework group can help with this. Bring together a group of your friends or classmates, and pick one time a week where you meet and work on homework together. You don’t have to be in the same class, or even taking the same subjects— the goal is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) your assignments. 

Another added benefit of a homework group is that you can help one another if you’re struggling to understand the material covered in your classes. This is especially helpful if your lack of motivation comes from being intimidated by your assignments. Asking your friends for help may feel less scary than talking to your teacher...and once you get a handle on the material, your homework may become less frightening, too. 

#3: Change Up Your Environment 

If you find that you’re totally unmotivated, it may help if you find a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been struggling to get your homework done at home, try spending an extra hour in the library after school instead. The change of scenery can limit your distractions and give you the energy you need to get your work done. 

If you’re stuck doing homework at home, you can still use this tip. For instance, maybe you’ve always done your homework sitting on your bed. Try relocating somewhere else, like your kitchen table, for a few weeks. You may find that setting up a new “homework spot” in your house gives you a motivational lift and helps you get your work done. 

Social media can be a huge problem when it comes to doing homework. We have advice for helping you unplug and regain focus.

How to Do Homework When You’re Easily Distracted

We live in an always-on world, and there are tons of things clamoring for our attention. From friends and family to pop culture and social media, it seems like there’s always something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do.

The 24/7 world we live in has affected our ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time. Research has shown that over the past decade, an average person’s attention span has gone from 12 seconds to eight seconds . And when we do lose focus, i t takes people a long time to get back on task . One study found that it can take as long as 23 minutes to get back to work once we’ve been distracte d. No wonder it can take hours to get your homework done! 

3 Tips to Improve Your Focus

If you have a hard time focusing when you’re doing your homework, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert tips for blocking out the noise so you can focus on getting your homework done. 

#1: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Pick a place where you’ll do your homework every day, and make it as distraction-free as possible. Try to find a location where there won’t be tons of noise, and limit your access to screens while you’re doing your homework. Put together a focus-oriented playlist (or choose one on your favorite streaming service), and put your headphones on while you work. 

You may find that other people, like your friends and family, are your biggest distraction. If that’s the case, try setting up some homework boundaries. Let them know when you’ll be working on homework every day, and ask them if they’ll help you keep a quiet environment. They’ll be happy to lend a hand! 

#2: Limit Your Access to Technology 

We know, we know...this tip isn’t fun, but it does work. For homework that doesn’t require a computer, like handouts or worksheets, it’s best to put all your technology away . Turn off your television, put your phone and laptop in your backpack, and silence notifications on any wearable tech you may be sporting. If you listen to music while you work, that’s fine...but make sure you have a playlist set up so you’re not shuffling through songs once you get started on your homework. 

If your homework requires your laptop or tablet, it can be harder to limit your access to distractions. But it’s not impossible! T here are apps you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working so that you’re not tempted to scroll through Twitter or check your Facebook feed. Silence notifications and text messages on your computer, and don’t open your email account unless you absolutely have to. And if you don’t need access to the internet to complete your assignments, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the online chatter is a great way to make sure you’re getting your homework done. 

#3: Set a Timer (the Pomodoro Technique)

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique ? It’s a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you focus!

Here’s how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, you get to take a 5 minute break. Every time you go through one of these cycles, it’s called a “pomodoro.” For every four pomodoros you complete, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

The pomodoro technique works through a combination of boundary setting and rewards. First, it gives you a finite amount of time to focus, so you know that you only have to work really hard for 25 minutes. Once you’ve done that, you’re rewarded with a short break where you can do whatever you want. Additionally, tracking how many pomodoros you complete can help you see how long you’re really working on your homework. (Once you start using our focus tips, you may find it doesn’t take as long as you thought!)

Two Bonus Tips for How to Do Homework Fast

Even if you’re doing everything right, there will be times when you just need to get your homework done as fast as possible. (Why do teachers always have projects due in the same week? The world may never know.)

The problem with speeding through homework is that it’s easy to make mistakes. While turning in an assignment is always better than not submitting anything at all, you want to make sure that you’re not compromising quality for speed. Simply put, the goal is to get your homework done quickly and still make a good grade on the assignment! 

Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments , even when you’re in a time crunch. 

#1: Do the Easy Parts First 

This is especially true if you’re working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems. As you do, make a mark beside the questions you think are “easy” to answer . 

Once you’ve finished going through the whole assignment, you can answer these questions first. Getting the easy questions out of the way as quickly as possible lets you spend more time on the trickier portions of your homework, which will maximize your assignment grade. 

(Quick note: this is also a good strategy to use on timed assignments and tests, like the SAT and the ACT !) 

#2: Pay Attention in Class 

Homework gets a lot easier when you’re actively learning the material. Teachers aren’t giving you homework because they’re mean or trying to ruin your weekend... it’s because they want you to really understand the course material. Homework is designed to reinforce what you’re already learning in class so you’ll be ready to tackle harder concepts later.

When you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes, you’re absorbing the information you’ll need to succeed on your homework assignments. (You’re stuck in class anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!) Not only will paying attention in class make your homework less confusing, it will also help it go much faster, too.

What’s Next?

If you’re looking to improve your productivity beyond homework, a good place to begin is with time management. After all, we only have so much time in a day...so it’s important to get the most out of it! To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best time management techniques that you can start using today.

You may have read this article because homework struggles have been affecting your GPA. Now that you’re on the path to homework success, it’s time to start being proactive about raising your grades. This article teaches you everything you need to know about raising your GPA so you can

Now you know how to get motivated to do homework...but what about your study habits? Studying is just as critical to getting good grades, and ultimately getting into a good college . We can teach you how to study bette r in high school. (We’ve also got tons of resources to help you study for your ACT and SAT exams , too!)

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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Understanding Assignments

What this handout is about.

The first step in any successful college writing venture is reading the assignment. While this sounds like a simple task, it can be a tough one. This handout will help you unravel your assignment and begin to craft an effective response. Much of the following advice will involve translating typical assignment terms and practices into meaningful clues to the type of writing your instructor expects. See our short video for more tips.

Basic beginnings

Regardless of the assignment, department, or instructor, adopting these two habits will serve you well :

• Read the assignment carefully as soon as you receive it. Do not put this task off—reading the assignment at the beginning will save you time, stress, and problems later. An assignment can look pretty straightforward at first, particularly if the instructor has provided lots of information. That does not mean it will not take time and effort to complete; you may even have to learn a new skill to complete the assignment.
• Ask the instructor about anything you do not understand. Do not hesitate to approach your instructor. Instructors would prefer to set you straight before you hand the paper in. That’s also when you will find their feedback most useful.

Assignment formats

Many assignments follow a basic format. Assignments often begin with an overview of the topic, include a central verb or verbs that describe the task, and offer some additional suggestions, questions, or prompts to get you started.

An Overview of Some Kind

The instructor might set the stage with some general discussion of the subject of the assignment, introduce the topic, or remind you of something pertinent that you have discussed in class. For example:

“Throughout history, gerbils have played a key role in politics,” or “In the last few weeks of class, we have focused on the evening wear of the housefly …”

The Task of the Assignment

Pay attention; this part tells you what to do when you write the paper. Look for the key verb or verbs in the sentence. Words like analyze, summarize, or compare direct you to think about your topic in a certain way. Also pay attention to words such as how, what, when, where, and why; these words guide your attention toward specific information. (See the section in this handout titled “Key Terms” for more information.)

“Analyze the effect that gerbils had on the Russian Revolution”, or “Suggest an interpretation of housefly undergarments that differs from Darwin’s.”

Additional Material to Think about

Here you will find some questions to use as springboards as you begin to think about the topic. Instructors usually include these questions as suggestions rather than requirements. Do not feel compelled to answer every question unless the instructor asks you to do so. Pay attention to the order of the questions. Sometimes they suggest the thinking process your instructor imagines you will need to follow to begin thinking about the topic.

“You may wish to consider the differing views held by Communist gerbils vs. Monarchist gerbils, or Can there be such a thing as ‘the housefly garment industry’ or is it just a home-based craft?”

These are the instructor’s comments about writing expectations:

“Be concise”, “Write effectively”, or “Argue furiously.”

Technical Details

These instructions usually indicate format rules or guidelines.

“Your paper must be typed in Palatino font on gray paper and must not exceed 600 pages. It is due on the anniversary of Mao Tse-tung’s death.”

The assignment’s parts may not appear in exactly this order, and each part may be very long or really short. Nonetheless, being aware of this standard pattern can help you understand what your instructor wants you to do.

Interpreting the assignment

Ask yourself a few basic questions as you read and jot down the answers on the assignment sheet:

Why did your instructor ask you to do this particular task?

Who is your audience.

• What kind of evidence do you need to support your ideas?

What kind of writing style is acceptable?

• What are the absolute rules of the paper?

Try to look at the question from the point of view of the instructor. Recognize that your instructor has a reason for giving you this assignment and for giving it to you at a particular point in the semester. In every assignment, the instructor has a challenge for you. This challenge could be anything from demonstrating an ability to think clearly to demonstrating an ability to use the library. See the assignment not as a vague suggestion of what to do but as an opportunity to show that you can handle the course material as directed. Paper assignments give you more than a topic to discuss—they ask you to do something with the topic. Keep reminding yourself of that. Be careful to avoid the other extreme as well: do not read more into the assignment than what is there.

Of course, your instructor has given you an assignment so that he or she will be able to assess your understanding of the course material and give you an appropriate grade. But there is more to it than that. Your instructor has tried to design a learning experience of some kind. Your instructor wants you to think about something in a particular way for a particular reason. If you read the course description at the beginning of your syllabus, review the assigned readings, and consider the assignment itself, you may begin to see the plan, purpose, or approach to the subject matter that your instructor has created for you. If you still aren’t sure of the assignment’s goals, try asking the instructor. For help with this, see our handout on getting feedback .

Given your instructor’s efforts, it helps to answer the question: What is my purpose in completing this assignment? Is it to gather research from a variety of outside sources and present a coherent picture? Is it to take material I have been learning in class and apply it to a new situation? Is it to prove a point one way or another? Key words from the assignment can help you figure this out. Look for key terms in the form of active verbs that tell you what to do.

Key Terms: Finding Those Active Verbs

Here are some common key words and definitions to help you think about assignment terms:

Information words Ask you to demonstrate what you know about the subject, such as who, what, when, where, how, and why.

• define —give the subject’s meaning (according to someone or something). Sometimes you have to give more than one view on the subject’s meaning
• describe —provide details about the subject by answering question words (such as who, what, when, where, how, and why); you might also give details related to the five senses (what you see, hear, feel, taste, and smell)
• explain —give reasons why or examples of how something happened
• illustrate —give descriptive examples of the subject and show how each is connected with the subject
• summarize —briefly list the important ideas you learned about the subject
• trace —outline how something has changed or developed from an earlier time to its current form
• research —gather material from outside sources about the subject, often with the implication or requirement that you will analyze what you have found

Relation words Ask you to demonstrate how things are connected.

• compare —show how two or more things are similar (and, sometimes, different)
• contrast —show how two or more things are dissimilar
• apply—use details that you’ve been given to demonstrate how an idea, theory, or concept works in a particular situation
• cause —show how one event or series of events made something else happen
• relate —show or describe the connections between things

Interpretation words Ask you to defend ideas of your own about the subject. Do not see these words as requesting opinion alone (unless the assignment specifically says so), but as requiring opinion that is supported by concrete evidence. Remember examples, principles, definitions, or concepts from class or research and use them in your interpretation.

• assess —summarize your opinion of the subject and measure it against something
• prove, justify —give reasons or examples to demonstrate how or why something is the truth
• evaluate, respond —state your opinion of the subject as good, bad, or some combination of the two, with examples and reasons
• support —give reasons or evidence for something you believe (be sure to state clearly what it is that you believe)
• synthesize —put two or more things together that have not been put together in class or in your readings before; do not just summarize one and then the other and say that they are similar or different—you must provide a reason for putting them together that runs all the way through the paper
• analyze —determine how individual parts create or relate to the whole, figure out how something works, what it might mean, or why it is important
• argue —take a side and defend it with evidence against the other side

More Clues to Your Purpose As you read the assignment, think about what the teacher does in class:

• What kinds of textbooks or coursepack did your instructor choose for the course—ones that provide background information, explain theories or perspectives, or argue a point of view?
• In lecture, does your instructor ask your opinion, try to prove her point of view, or use keywords that show up again in the assignment?
• What kinds of assignments are typical in this discipline? Social science classes often expect more research. Humanities classes thrive on interpretation and analysis.
• How do the assignments, readings, and lectures work together in the course? Instructors spend time designing courses, sometimes even arguing with their peers about the most effective course materials. Figuring out the overall design to the course will help you understand what each assignment is meant to achieve.

Now, what about your reader? Most undergraduates think of their audience as the instructor. True, your instructor is a good person to keep in mind as you write. But for the purposes of a good paper, think of your audience as someone like your roommate: smart enough to understand a clear, logical argument, but not someone who already knows exactly what is going on in your particular paper. Remember, even if the instructor knows everything there is to know about your paper topic, he or she still has to read your paper and assess your understanding. In other words, teach the material to your reader.

Aiming a paper at your audience happens in two ways: you make decisions about the tone and the level of information you want to convey.

• Tone means the “voice” of your paper. Should you be chatty, formal, or objective? Usually you will find some happy medium—you do not want to alienate your reader by sounding condescending or superior, but you do not want to, um, like, totally wig on the man, you know? Eschew ostentatious erudition: some students think the way to sound academic is to use big words. Be careful—you can sound ridiculous, especially if you use the wrong big words.
• The level of information you use depends on who you think your audience is. If you imagine your audience as your instructor and she already knows everything you have to say, you may find yourself leaving out key information that can cause your argument to be unconvincing and illogical. But you do not have to explain every single word or issue. If you are telling your roommate what happened on your favorite science fiction TV show last night, you do not say, “First a dark-haired white man of average height, wearing a suit and carrying a flashlight, walked into the room. Then a purple alien with fifteen arms and at least three eyes turned around. Then the man smiled slightly. In the background, you could hear a clock ticking. The room was fairly dark and had at least two windows that I saw.” You also do not say, “This guy found some aliens. The end.” Find some balance of useful details that support your main point.

You’ll find a much more detailed discussion of these concepts in our handout on audience .

The Grim Truth

With a few exceptions (including some lab and ethnography reports), you are probably being asked to make an argument. You must convince your audience. It is easy to forget this aim when you are researching and writing; as you become involved in your subject matter, you may become enmeshed in the details and focus on learning or simply telling the information you have found. You need to do more than just repeat what you have read. Your writing should have a point, and you should be able to say it in a sentence. Sometimes instructors call this sentence a “thesis” or a “claim.”

So, if your instructor tells you to write about some aspect of oral hygiene, you do not want to just list: “First, you brush your teeth with a soft brush and some peanut butter. Then, you floss with unwaxed, bologna-flavored string. Finally, gargle with bourbon.” Instead, you could say, “Of all the oral cleaning methods, sandblasting removes the most plaque. Therefore it should be recommended by the American Dental Association.” Or, “From an aesthetic perspective, moldy teeth can be quite charming. However, their joys are short-lived.”

Convincing the reader of your argument is the goal of academic writing. It doesn’t have to say “argument” anywhere in the assignment for you to need one. Look at the assignment and think about what kind of argument you could make about it instead of just seeing it as a checklist of information you have to present. For help with understanding the role of argument in academic writing, see our handout on argument .

What kind of evidence do you need?

There are many kinds of evidence, and what type of evidence will work for your assignment can depend on several factors–the discipline, the parameters of the assignment, and your instructor’s preference. Should you use statistics? Historical examples? Do you need to conduct your own experiment? Can you rely on personal experience? See our handout on evidence for suggestions on how to use evidence appropriately.

Make sure you are clear about this part of the assignment, because your use of evidence will be crucial in writing a successful paper. You are not just learning how to argue; you are learning how to argue with specific types of materials and ideas. Ask your instructor what counts as acceptable evidence. You can also ask a librarian for help. No matter what kind of evidence you use, be sure to cite it correctly—see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial .

You cannot always tell from the assignment just what sort of writing style your instructor expects. The instructor may be really laid back in class but still expect you to sound formal in writing. Or the instructor may be fairly formal in class and ask you to write a reflection paper where you need to use “I” and speak from your own experience.

Try to avoid false associations of a particular field with a style (“art historians like wacky creativity,” or “political scientists are boring and just give facts”) and look instead to the types of readings you have been given in class. No one expects you to write like Plato—just use the readings as a guide for what is standard or preferable to your instructor. When in doubt, ask your instructor about the level of formality she or he expects.

No matter what field you are writing for or what facts you are including, if you do not write so that your reader can understand your main idea, you have wasted your time. So make clarity your main goal. For specific help with style, see our handout on style .

Technical details about the assignment

The technical information you are given in an assignment always seems like the easy part. This section can actually give you lots of little hints about approaching the task. Find out if elements such as page length and citation format (see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial ) are negotiable. Some professors do not have strong preferences as long as you are consistent and fully answer the assignment. Some professors are very specific and will deduct big points for deviations.

Usually, the page length tells you something important: The instructor thinks the size of the paper is appropriate to the assignment’s parameters. In plain English, your instructor is telling you how many pages it should take for you to answer the question as fully as you are expected to. So if an assignment is two pages long, you cannot pad your paper with examples or reword your main idea several times. Hit your one point early, defend it with the clearest example, and finish quickly. If an assignment is ten pages long, you can be more complex in your main points and examples—and if you can only produce five pages for that assignment, you need to see someone for help—as soon as possible.

Tricks that don’t work

Your instructors are not fooled when you:

• spend more time on the cover page than the essay —graphics, cool binders, and cute titles are no replacement for a well-written paper.
• use huge fonts, wide margins, or extra spacing to pad the page length —these tricks are immediately obvious to the eye. Most instructors use the same word processor you do. They know what’s possible. Such tactics are especially damning when the instructor has a stack of 60 papers to grade and yours is the only one that low-flying airplane pilots could read.
• use a paper from another class that covered “sort of similar” material . Again, the instructor has a particular task for you to fulfill in the assignment that usually relates to course material and lectures. Your other paper may not cover this material, and turning in the same paper for more than one course may constitute an Honor Code violation . Ask the instructor—it can’t hurt.
• get all wacky and “creative” before you answer the question . Showing that you are able to think beyond the boundaries of a simple assignment can be good, but you must do what the assignment calls for first. Again, check with your instructor. A humorous tone can be refreshing for someone grading a stack of papers, but it will not get you a good grade if you have not fulfilled the task.

Critical reading of assignments leads to skills in other types of reading and writing. If you get good at figuring out what the real goals of assignments are, you are going to be better at understanding the goals of all of your classes and fields of study.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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How to Write an Effective Assignment

At their base, all assignment prompts function a bit like a magnifying glass—they allow a student to isolate, focus on, inspect, and interact with some portion of your course material through a fixed lens of your choosing.

The Key Components of an Effective Assignment Prompt

All assignments, from ungraded formative response papers all the way up to a capstone assignment, should include the following components to ensure that students and teachers understand not only the learning objective of the assignment, but also the discrete steps which they will need to follow in order to complete it successfully:

• Preamble.  This situates the assignment within the context of the course, reminding students of what they have been working on in anticipation of the assignment and how that work has prepared them to succeed at it. 
• Justification and Purpose.  This explains why the particular type or genre of assignment you’ve chosen (e.g., lab report, policy memo, problem set, or personal reflection) is the best way for you and your students to measure how well they’ve met the learning objectives associated with this segment of the course.
• Mission.  This explains the assignment in broad brush strokes, giving students a general sense of the project you are setting before them. It often gives students guidance on the evidence or data they should be working with, as well as helping them imagine the audience their work should be aimed at.  
• Tasks.  This outlines what students are supposed to do at a more granular level: for example, how to start, where to look, how to ask for help, etc. If written well, this part of the assignment prompt ought to function as a kind of "process" rubric for students, helping them to decide for themselves whether they are completing the assignment successfully.
• Submission format.  This tells students, in appropriate detail, which stylistic conventions they should observe and how to submit their work. For example, should the assignment be a five-page paper written in APA format and saved as a .docx file? Should it be uploaded to the course website? Is it due by Tuesday at 5:00pm?

For illustrations of these five components in action, visit our gallery of annotated assignment prompts .

For advice about creative assignments (e.g. podcasts, film projects, visual and performing art projects, etc.), visit our  Guidance on Non-Traditional Forms of Assessment .

For specific advice on different genres of assignment, click below:

Response Papers

Problem sets, source analyses, final exams, concept maps, research papers, oral presentations, poster presentations.

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6 tips on how to start your assignment

Sarah Crossing

Mar 11, 2024

We all know the feeling when someone mentions the word ‘ assignment ’ and dread sweeps over you. Maybe you put it aside for now. After all, the due date is three whole weeks away.

Sound familiar?

Don’t sweat, it’s all about how you approach it. Doing an assignment is a process, these tips might help get you started and hopefully avoid last-minute stress and struggles.

1. Set realistic goals and reminders

Make goals for your study - how many days do you have, and what will you get done each day or each week? Today, will you get your plan done? Two hundred words finished? Break it down into achievable chunks. Be realistic and update your plan as you go. Things change, you might have to make room for a family dinner, holiday, or another assignment.

When’s the due date? Put it on a calendar. Put another reminder a week before that. And also a reminder the week before that. Don’t put pressure on your memory. You’ve got other things to remember. Make that date and your goals visible.  If you're prepared, it won't sneak up on you. You can always use our quick and simple free calculator tool, too.

>> Check out our free Assignment Calculator

2. Start when you're feeling fresh

Make it easier on yourself - start when you’re fresh and focused. This might be different for everyone. Some people are fresher after soccer practice or after dinner, and some prefer early mornings. Find the best time and make it regular. Recent studies suggest that it’s better to do work in short blocks (say 50 minutes), more often. This will help you stay fresh and work productively. 

3. Clarify what is required

Make sure you start by understanding the question. Break it down and circle or highlight the key words. Identify the key concepts and ideas in your topic and if you're unsure or anything, ask someone - a teacher, your parents, a friend or an expert . Knowing what is required right from the start - even reading the question out loud - will help you source the right research material, feel more confident, and form your own ideas and work.

4. Be flexible and learn as you go

Are you keeping the assignment question in mind? As you start your research and re-read texts, you might discover new things that change what you think about the answer to the question. You can’t change evidence, but you can change your point of view, or acknowledge a different perspective. 

5. Get something on paper

If you're really stuck and just can't get that first sentence out, start by writing notes and ideas down. Here are some creative tasks that might help you start:

Take notes under common headings and find themes in your notes

Brainstorm your ideas on paper around keywords in the question

Write ideas on notecards and group them into piles or columns to create your assignment structure and paragraphs

• Read the question, then read your planned responses out loud as if answering someone in front of you.

6. Get feedback

 Once you've got something written down, get feedback early and often. Log into your Studiosity account, via your institution's student portal, and upload your draft. You'll get fast feedback on your critical thinking, structure, language, spelling and grammar, and referencing, which you can apply to your work before submitting it. Getting feedback is an integral part of your learning journey, and you will see your confidence flourish, the more you receive and apply to your own work. 

Topics: Students , Homework , Study , Assignment Help

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3 Ways to Be the Man for Your Girlfriend

3 ways to fix beard patches, 5 easy ways to connect bluetooth speakers to android, how to give a baby a bath: 13 steps, 3 ways to take care of a stray cat, how to palm a basketball: 12 steps, 3 ways to react if you learn your partner is married, 3 ways to debadge your car, how to update android apps from your pc, 3 simple ways to wash an acrylic sweater, how to start an assignment: 11 steps.

Starting a new assignment can be daunting, especially if you’re not sure where to begin. In this article, we’ll outline 11 easy-to-follow steps that will help you conquer any assignment with confidence and ease.

1. Understand the requirements: Before diving into the assignment, read through the instructions carefully to make sure you understand what’s being asked of you. This includes understanding the expectations, grading criteria, and any specific guidelines provided by your instructor.

2. Break down the task: Break the assignment down into smaller, more manageable tasks to make it less overwhelming. This can also help you identify important points to focus on and gaps in your knowledge that need further research.

3. Create a timeline: Draft a realistic timeline for completing your assignment, including milestones for each part of the task. This will help ensure that you allocate enough time for research, writing, editing, and proofreading.

4. Gather your resources: Compile a list of all resources you may need to complete the assignment, such as textbooks, online articles, and other research materials. Make sure these sources are reliable and up-to-date.

5. Find a suitable work environment: Create a comfortable and distraction-free workspace to help you stay focused and productive throughout the duration of your assignment.

6. Start with what you know: Begin working on the parts of the assignment that you feel most confident about or are most familiar with. This can help build momentum and make it easier to tackle more difficult aspects of the project later on.

6. Draft an outline: Before starting to write, create a rough outline of your thoughts and ideas to serve as a roadmap for your writing process. Include main points, supporting details, and any notes or references that will help guide your work.

7. Write an introduction: The introduction should provide background information on the topic while also highlighting the purpose of your assignment. Aim for a clear and engaging opening that captures your reader’s attention.

8. Write the body paragraphs: Each paragraph should cover one major point or section of the assignment, presenting your arguments and evidence in a clear and organized manner. Remember to use proper citation techniques to avoid plagiarism.

9. Write a conclusion: Your conclusion should wrap up your argument by summarizing the main points you’ve discussed and reiterating their importance. Offer suggestions for future research or implications that may arise from your findings.

10. Edit and proofread: After completing your first draft, revise and polish your work by checking for grammatical errors, inconsistencies, and clarity of your ideas. Seek feedback from peers or your instructor to ensure that your assignment is well-prepared and ready for submission.

By following these 11 steps, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle any assignment with confidence, structure, and organization. Happy studying!

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4 Key Points for Effective Assignment Writing

Methodology

By Christina Desouza

Writing an effective assignment is more of an art than a science. It demands critical thinking, thorough research, organized planning, and polished execution. As a professional academic writer with over four years of experience, I've honed these skills and discovered proven strategies for creating standout assignments.

In this article, I will delve into the four key steps of assignment writing, offering detailed advice and actionable tips to help students master this craft.

1.    Start With Research

In-depth research is the cornerstone of any high-quality assignment. It allows you to gain a profound understanding of your topic and equip yourself with relevant data, compelling arguments, and unique insights.

Here's how to do it right:

●       Diversify Your Sources

Don't limit yourself to the first page of Google results. Make use of academic databases like JSTOR , Google Scholar , PubMed , or your school's online library. These resources house a plethora of scholarly articles, research papers, and academic books that can provide you with valuable information.

●       Verify Information

Remember, not all information is created equal. Cross-check facts and data from multiple reliable sources to ensure accuracy. Look for consensus among experts on contentious issues.

●       Stay Organized

Keep track of your resources as you go. Tools like Zotero or Mendeley can help you organize your references and generate citations in various formats. This will save you from scrambling to find sources when you're wrapping up your assignment.

1.    Prepare Assignment Structure

Creating a well-planned structure for your assignment is akin to drawing a roadmap. It helps you stay on track and ensures that your ideas flow logically. Here's what to consider:

●       Develop an Outline

The basic structure of an assignment includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should present the topic and establish the purpose of your assignment. The body should delve into the topic in detail, backed by your research. The conclusion should summarize your findings or arguments without introducing new ideas.

●       Use Subheadings

Subheadings make your assignment easier to read and follow. They allow you to break down complex ideas into manageable sections. As a rule of thumb, each paragraph should cover one idea or argument.

●       Allocate Word Count

Assignments often come with word limits. Allocate word count for each section of your assignment based on its importance to avoid overwriting or underwriting any part.

1.    Start Assignment Writing

Writing your assignment is where your research and planning come to fruition. You now have a robust foundation to build upon, and it's time to craft a compelling narrative.

Here's how to accomplish this:

●       Write a Gripping Introduction

Your introduction is the gateway to your assignment. Make it captivating. Start with a hook—a surprising fact, an interesting quote, or a thought-provoking question—to grab your readers' attention. Provide an overview of what your assignment is about and the purpose it serves. A well-crafted introduction sets the tone for the rest of the assignment and motivates your readers to delve deeper into your work.

●       Develop a Comprehensive Body

The body of your assignment is where you delve into the details. Develop your arguments, present your data, and discuss your findings. Use clear and concise language. Avoid jargon unless necessary. Each paragraph should cover one idea or argument to maintain readability.

●       Craft a Convincing Conclusion

Your conclusion is your final chance to leave an impression on your reader. Summarize your key findings or arguments without introducing new ideas. Reinforce the purpose of your assignment and provide a clear answer to the question or problem you addressed in the introduction. A strong conclusion leaves your readers with a sense of closure and a full understanding of your topic.

●       Write Clearly

Use straightforward sentences and avoid jargon. Your goal is to communicate, not to confuse. Tools like Hemingway Editor can help ensure your writing is clear and concise.

●       Use Paraphrasingtool.ai

Paraphrasingtool.ai is an AI-powered tool that can enhance your assignment writing. It reformulates your sentences while preserving their meaning. It not only helps you avoid plagiarism but also enhances the readability of your work.

●       Cite Your Sources

Citations are a critical part of assignment writing. They acknowledge the work of others you've built upon and demonstrate the depth of your research. Always include in-text citations and a bibliography at the end. This not only maintains academic integrity but also gives your readers resources to delve deeper into the topic if they wish.

1.    Review and Proofread The Assignment

Reviewing and proofreading are the final but critical steps in assignment writing. They ensure your assignment is free from errors and that your ideas are coherently presented. Here's how to do it effectively:

●       Take a Break

After you finish writing, take a break before you start proofreading. Fresh eyes are more likely to spot mistakes and inconsistencies.

●       Read Aloud

Reading your work aloud can help you identify awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, and typos. You're more likely to catch errors when you hear them, as it requires a different type of processing than reading silently.

●       Use Proofreading Tools

Digital tools like Grammarly can be your second pair of eyes, helping you spot grammatical errors, typos, and even issues with sentence structure. However, don't rely solely on these tools—make sure to manually review your work as well.

Effective assignment writing is a skill that takes practice to master. It requires meticulous research, organized planning, clear writing, and careful proofreading. The steps and tips outlined in this article are by no means exhaustive, but they provide a solid framework to start from.

Remember, there is always room for improvement. Don't be disheartened by initial challenges. Each assignment is an opportunity to learn, grow, and sharpen your writing skills. So, be persistent, stay curious, and keep refining your craft. With time and practice, you will find yourself writing assignments that are not just excellent, but truly outstanding.

How To Write A Solid Assignment Introduction

By: Derek Jansen | December 2017

I’ll kick off this post by making a bold assertion:

The introduction chapter of your assignment is the single most important section in your entire assignment.

Yip. Not the analysis chapter. Not the recommendations chapter. The introduction chapter. Yip, that short 200/300/400-word chapter that so many students rush through to get to the meatier chapters.  Why do I say this? There are a few reasons:

It creates the first impression.

Apart from the executive summary (which some assignments don’t have), the introduction creates the very first impression on your marker. It sets the tone in terms of the quality of the assignment.

It introduces your industry.

You might have decades of experience in your industry – but your marker won’t. This means that the simplest concepts can be misunderstood (and thereby cost you marks) if not explained right at the beginning of your assignment. A good introduction lays the foundation so that the marker can understand your upcoming arguments.

It defines and justifies your topic.

The introduction, if developed correctly, clearly outlines what the assignment will be about (and what it won’t) and why that’s important (i.e. a justification). In other words, it makes it clear what the focus of the assignment will be about, and why that is worth investigating. This clarity and justification of the topic are essential to earning good marks and keeping you focused on the purpose of the assignment.

It clarifies your approach.

Beyond the what and why, a good introduction also briefly explains how you’ll approach the research, both from a theoretical and practical perspective. This lays a clear roadmap both for the marker and for yourself. For the marker, this improves the readability and digestibility of the document (which is essential for earning marks). And for you, this big-picture view of the approach keeps you from digressing into a useless analysis.

In short, a good introduction lays a solid foundation and a clear direction for the rest of your assignment. Hopefully, you’re convinced…

The 5 essential ingredients.

In this post, I’ll outline the key components of a strong introduction chapter/section. But first, I want to discuss the structure.

Some assignment briefs will provide a proposed structure which combines the introduction and analysis chapters. I always encourage my clients to split this up into two chapters, as it provides a clearer, more logical structure. You’ll see why once I discuss the core components.

#1 – The Four Ws

A logical starting point is to assume the marker knows nothing about your business . Make sure you cover the basics:

• Who – what is the name of the business? If its multiple words, you should take the opportunity to introduce an acronym here. Then, stick to the acronym throughout the rest of the assignment. It’s also good practice to provide a list of acronyms in the appendix.
• What – explain what the business does, in simple English. Avoid industry jargon and explain the basic operating model of the business.
• Where – explain where the business operates from and where its customers operate. If you have multiple offices and serve multiple markets, a visual representation can save you some words.
• When – mention the age of the business, and how many staff it employs. You can also note the ownership structure (private company, listed entity, JV, etc).

If you’re only going to focus on one country/branch/department, make mention of this now. Also, be sure to justify why you’re focusing on that (for example, due to limited access to data).

If done right, you will have now painted a very clear (but concise) picture of the organisation for the marker. The next step is to discuss the context that the business operates in.

#2 – A brief discussion of the context.

Now that you’ve introduced the business, you need to move towards identifying the key issue(s) that will form the focus of the assignment. To do this, you need to lay a context, which will then lead to the issue(s). This will vary between assignments, and could be something like:

• The entry of new competitors resulting in reduced market share (STR, SM)
• A merger leading to a culture clash and poor performance (MP)
• A corporate scandal resulting in reputation damage (R&R)
• Changing regulation leading to the opening of a new potential country market (IB)

In other words, you need to present a (brief) story of how the key issue(s) or opportunity has arisen – X has lead to Y, which caused Z.

#3 – Identification of the key issue and research question(s).

With the context set, you need to clearly state what the key issue(s) or opportunity is, and why this is worth investigating (for example, due to the financial impact if left unresolved). This is pretty straightforward, but it is a critical step often missed by students, and results in the marker questioning the quality of the entire assignment.

With the key issue identified, its time to lay out your research question(s). In other words, state in question format, what question(s) your assignment will seek to answer.

For example:

• “What has changed in Organisation X’s competitive context, and how should it best respond to ensure sustainable competitive advantage?”
• “Should Organisation X internationalise to Country Y?”
• “What segments exist within Industry X and which segment should Organisation Y target?”
• “Which digital business model should Organisation X adopt?”

By stating your research question(s) up front, you are providing a very clear, focused direction for your assignment, thereby reducing your risk of getting distracted by the shiny objects that will invariably pop up along the way. You are stating clearly what you will and won’t focus on, and ring-fencing the assignment to a manageable breadth. This is critically important for earning marks, as it allows you to go deep into a highly relevant set of theories and develop meaningful insights, rather than superficially fluttering with numerous less-relevant ones.

What’s critically important is that you achieve alignment between the context, the issue(s) and the research question(s). They should all flow in a logical fashion, as shown below. 

If you achieve this alignment, you have a rock-solid foundation for your assignment, and your marker will be crystal clear regarding your direction, and why you chose that direction.

#4 – A brief outline of your theoretical approach.

Now that you’ve made it clear what your assignment is aiming to achieve (i.e. what research question(s) it wants to answer), it is very good practice to briefly mention:

• How you will approach the analysis.
• What key theory you will draw on.

In other words, you should give the marker an indication of how you approached the analysis, and on what theoretical basis. For example:

“The report begins by briefly looking at the organisation’s broader strategy, as well as values using Schwartz’s model (1994). It then reviews stakeholders using Mitchell et al.’s framework (1997) and identifies a key group with which reputation needs to be managed to achieve strategic alignment. It then analyses antecedents, reputation, and outcomes of the said group using Money et al.’s (2012) RELATE framework. This is followed by proposed strategic actions.”

As you can see, this excerpt clearly outlines how the analysis was approached, and what key theory was used in the relevant sections. This gives the marker a big-picture view of the assignment, which aids the digestibility of the document.

#5 – A brief outline of your fieldwork.

Now that you’ve communicated the approach, structure and underpinning theory, it’s best practice to make a quick mention of your fieldwork. Yes, you’re typically supposed to collect some primary data (for example, undertake some semi-structured interviews or a survey), as well as secondary data (for example, review industry reports, company data, etc), for your assignments – especially in Stage 2 and 3 of the program. 

In this final section, you should very briefly outline what you did in this respect so that the marker can rest assured that your assignment is not an opinion piece. A quality assignment draws on multiple data sources to make well-informed, data-backed arguments. Show that you’ve done this, and be sure to refer the reader to the appendices for evidence of this work (for example, interview transcripts, survey results, etc.).

Lastly, make mention of your relationship with the business, and your broad responsibilities. Remember to keep this in third-person language. For example:

“The author is employed as the [INSERT YOUR TITLE] and is responsible for X, Y and Z.”

Let’s recap.

In this article, I’ve hopefully convinced you of the critical importance of writing a strong introduction chapter. I’ve also presented 5 essential ingredients that you should bake into your intro in every assignment. By incorporating these ingredients (ideally, in this order), you will set the foundation for a strong assignment.

To recap the 5 essentials:

• A (plain language) explanation of the organisation.
• A brief discussion of the context.
• Identification of the key issue and research question(s).
• A brief outline of your theoretical approach.
• A brief outline of your fieldwork and your professional position.

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Informative and easy to apply advice…tx D

You’re welcome, Rishen 🙂

It is a very useful and understandable explanation of writing a research paper. Thank you so much for the sharing free such a useful example.

Yours sincerely Tara

This is really good, thank you.

Thanks for the feedback, Paul. Best of luck with your Henley MBA.

Very useful guide for the MBA. You mention that it’s good practice to use a range of sources to support arguments. If an assignment task isn’t that strategic (e.g. reviewing a process for a particular team within the business), can the assignment be supported purely by ‘fieldwork’ and models/theory? Thank you.

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Our Experts Tell How to Start an Assignment

As most students will agree, knowing how to start an assignment is already half of the challenge solved because it helps to set the scene for writing and create an outline. No matter what type of essay may be requested, it has to achieve three primary goals: to catch the reader’s attention, introduce research topic, provide strong thesis. Most assignments encountered through academic life will always include specific structure, yet once student understands the importance of each academic writing element separately, essay structure will any longer seem challenging. Still, before drafting an outline, students should start with selection of a good topic, which will help decide on a type of an essay, sources, length, and argumentation style. If creating an assignment is hard for you, then buy assignment service in a few clicks. 

How to Start Work On Your Assignment

Before learning how to write an introduction for an assignment , it’s crucial to conduct a  preliminary topic research with the analysis of available sources. When an average college student wonders how to write an assignment fast and without hassle, they often forget about completing a plan where all key ideas and counter arguments should be written down. Coming up with a good outline helps keep within academic structure, format, and word count. 

• Select Relevant & Unique Topic – always start by looking through several ideas. Even if there is already a topic specified, it is still possible to extend it by focusing on a particular detail. Main argumentation in each assignment should relate to the thesis, which is placed at the end of an introductory paragraph. Many university professors recommend choosing a theme based on thesis a student already has in mind. 
• Conduct Preliminary Research – once there is a particular idea that sounds right, it’s high time to explore the subject by turning to related research works and journals. If there is a lack of available information, think about changing the topic or focusing on what can be used as a reliable source. If there is an idea that is not common knowledge or a personal opinion, it must be supported with a reliable reference. 

• Choose Peer-reviewed Sources – this is where most students get stuck as they try to meet initial instructions and find sufficient peer-reviewed materials. If there are online sources, social media, video blogs or slideshows, it should be crucial to consult with your professor to ensure that such list is acceptable. An example of unacceptable reference for most educational institutions is Wikipedia. 

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• Read Grading Rubric Instructions – Take time to read through the scoring rubric once again. Make sure to pay attention to numbers and pages, if there are any. It is often the case when students find only one example when indeed several examples were requested. The same is with English literature tasks that may ask for  allegories, metaphors, alterations, among other literary devices. Missing even one of them may result in the final grade being decreased, therefore, remember to check instructions twice! 
• Create Future Paper Outline – when students ask for help, sending messages like “ write my assignment ” or “Help me, I’m stuck with my homework!”, the most frequent assignment part they miss is starting with a proper outline. Even if no outline is required by the instructor, its importance should not be underestimated. When creating an outline you should think about topic sentences for each body paragraph , list of sources, explore contrary opinions, and learn important formatting rules. 

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How to Structure Assignment Introduction

Writing a good introduction is just as important as completing a strong appendix in an essay , meaning that most readers always focus on the beginning and end of a paper with all supplementary information. But there is no universal introduction for assignment that would work for all academic essays, there are obligatory elements that will be met in almost every paper structure. When composing your paper introduction, think over the hook sentence . This is usually the claim that catches reader’s attention by providing unusual fact, making an interesting statement, showing statistical data or starting an essay with controversial information. The choices depend on required type. 

Next step is transition information with brief topic introduction , which should tell readers about why chosen subject is important and relevant. Another goal of this part is to help an audience make a logical transition towards the thesis, which acts as an argumentative conclusion of an assignment introduction paragraph. 

Final part is thesis statement . It’s the heart of each essay paper, representing main argument or a strong claim. Conclusion sentence supports assignment’s thesis , briefly explaining research purpose in your own words . 

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Get Inspired by Our Introduction Examples

Here are a couple of samples that may help you to start an assignment

Example of Introduction for Assignment for Contrast and Compare Essay: 

“Two Voices” 

As a person moves through Belgian countryside, it’s easy to notice major differences between Flanders and Wallonia. What strikes traveller’s eye is not only architecture, costumes or different language, but the pace of daily life. The Dutch-speaking people instantly impress strangers with their accuracy and directness, while French-speaking population leads a laid-back style of life where everything happens in due time with no fuss or hurry. These differences have a long history and important reasons that lie in religious upbringing of each region. As most Belgians agree, it is the same country, only two different voices that express their thoughts differently. Comparing both cultures, it’s hard to believe that they belong to virtually the same legislation and the rules, despite the language and traditions being different. Built upon contrasts and an endless list of cultural differences, Belgium is an example of peaceful co-existence in turbulent times. 

Assignment Introduction Example for Argumentative Essay: 

“Social Media Promotes Teen Depression”  

Social media help connect people from all over the world, provides important platform for delivery of urgent news, assists in emergency situations or political protests, yet there are also darker sides. One of them is depression caused by  excessive social media use, cyberbullying, and emotional burden of keeping personal image popular. Even though there are counter opinions claiming that social media is a key to popularity and high self-esteem, it’s only based upon mass following and virtual isolation. An inner side of popularity forces modern teenagers seek to constant support in faceless followers, causing burnouts and anxiety. From the other side, there are those who could not become popular on social platforms like Facebook or Instagram. Aiming for success, falsely defined by others, such people lose their individuality. A temporary arena for popularity, social media influences depression, keeping teenager permanently attached to what is considered popular.  

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• Knowledge Base

The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples

An academic essay is a focused piece of writing that develops an idea or argument using evidence, analysis, and interpretation.

There are many types of essays you might write as a student. The content and length of an essay depends on your level, subject of study, and course requirements. However, most essays at university level are argumentative — they aim to persuade the reader of a particular position or perspective on a topic.

The essay writing process consists of three main stages:

• Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.
• Writing : Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
• Revision:  Check your essay on the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.

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Table of contents

Essay writing process, preparation for writing an essay, writing the introduction, writing the main body, writing the conclusion, essay checklist, lecture slides, frequently asked questions about writing an essay.

The writing process of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the type of essay .

For example, if you’ve been assigned a five-paragraph expository essay for a high school class, you’ll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level argumentative essay , on the other hand, you’ll need to spend more time researching your topic and developing an original argument before you start writing.

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Before you start writing, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you’re going to say it. There are a few key steps you can follow to make sure you’re prepared:

• Understand your assignment: What is the goal of this essay? What is the length and deadline of the assignment? Is there anything you need to clarify with your teacher or professor?
• Define a topic: If you’re allowed to choose your own topic , try to pick something that you already know a bit about and that will hold your interest.
• Do your research: Read  primary and secondary sources and take notes to help you work out your position and angle on the topic. You’ll use these as evidence for your points.
• Come up with a thesis:  The thesis is the central point or argument that you want to make. A clear thesis is essential for a focused essay—you should keep referring back to it as you write.
• Create an outline: Map out the rough structure of your essay in an outline . This makes it easier to start writing and keeps you on track as you go.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you want to discuss, in what order, and what evidence you’ll use, you’re ready to start writing.

The introduction sets the tone for your essay. It should grab the reader’s interest and inform them of what to expect. The introduction generally comprises 10–20% of the text.

1. Hook your reader

The first sentence of the introduction should pique your reader’s interest and curiosity. This sentence is sometimes called the hook. It might be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement emphasizing the relevance of the topic.

Let’s say we’re writing an essay about the development of Braille (the raised-dot reading and writing system used by visually impaired people). Our hook can make a strong statement about the topic:

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

2. Provide background on your topic

Next, it’s important to give context that will help your reader understand your argument. This might involve providing background information, giving an overview of important academic work or debates on the topic, and explaining difficult terms. Don’t provide too much detail in the introduction—you can elaborate in the body of your essay.

3. Present the thesis statement

Next, you should formulate your thesis statement— the central argument you’re going to make. The thesis statement provides focus and signals your position on the topic. It is usually one or two sentences long. The thesis statement for our essay on Braille could look like this:

As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness.

4. Map the structure

In longer essays, you can end the introduction by briefly describing what will be covered in each part of the essay. This guides the reader through your structure and gives a preview of how your argument will develop.

The invention of Braille marked a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

Write your essay introduction

The body of your essay is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. Its purpose is to present, interpret, and analyze the information and sources you have gathered to support your argument.

Length of the body text

The length of the body depends on the type of essay. On average, the body comprises 60–80% of your essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of 6,000 words, the body could take up 8–10 pages.

Paragraph structure

To give your essay a clear structure , it is important to organize it into paragraphs . Each paragraph should be centered around one main point or idea.

That idea is introduced in a  topic sentence . The topic sentence should generally lead on from the previous paragraph and introduce the point to be made in this paragraph. Transition words can be used to create clear connections between sentences.

After the topic sentence, present evidence such as data, examples, or quotes from relevant sources. Be sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how it helps develop your overall argument.

Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture, communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent on sighted people for information and education.

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The conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It should generally take up no more than 10–15% of the text . A strong essay conclusion :

• Returns to your thesis
• Ties together your main points
• Shows why your argument matters

A great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence that leaves the reader with a strong final impression.

What not to include in a conclusion

To make your essay’s conclusion as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid. The most common mistakes are:

• Including new arguments or evidence
• Undermining your arguments (e.g. “This is just one approach of many”)
• Using concluding phrases like “To sum up…” or “In conclusion…”

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

Write your essay conclusion

Checklist: Essay

My essay follows the requirements of the assignment (topic and length ).

My introduction sparks the reader’s interest and provides any necessary background information on the topic.

My introduction contains a thesis statement that states the focus and position of the essay.

I use paragraphs to structure the essay.

I use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.

Each paragraph has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement.

I make clear transitions between paragraphs and ideas.

My conclusion doesn’t just repeat my points, but draws connections between arguments.

I don’t introduce new arguments or evidence in the conclusion.

I have given an in-text citation for every quote or piece of information I got from another source.

I have included a reference page at the end of my essay, listing full details of all my sources.

My citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required citation style .

My essay has an interesting and informative title.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (e.g. font, page numbers, line spacing).

Your essay meets all the most important requirements. Our editors can give it a final check to help you submit with confidence.

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An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

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How to Write an Assignment – 10 Tips for Pro-Level Writing

Published by Ellie Cross at January 26th, 2023 , Revised On October 11, 2023

Writing an assignment is not a simple task. It requires extensive research, critical thinking and strategic planning. However, it is an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the subject matter and to develop your analytical skills.

When you’re given an assignment, your first thought “ how to write an assignment ” or “what do I need to write?” But before you begin writing, consider the following things.

How to Start an Assignment?

There are many ways to start an assignment , but here is a list of some of the most common methods.

Write an introduction – This is where you introduce yourself and your topic. It should be about a paragraph long and should include your assignment topic. 

Provide background information – The next step after writing an introduction is providing background information to support your assignment. This can include definitions, examples and anecdotes.

Make an argument – Now that you have provided background information, it is time to make your argument! First, you need to explain why you believe what you believe and why others should agree with you (or not).

What is the Assignment Format?

The assignment format is a standardised way of writing out assignments. The assignment format aims to ensure that all students have a clear understanding of what the assignment entails and the expectations of their work.

The assignment format may vary depending on the type of assignment and the purpose for which it is being written.

Assignment Guidelines Example

The assignment format is based on the number of pages or words you have written. the assignment should be double-spaced, with 1-inch margins and a 12-point font size. the first page should include a title page, abstract, table of contents (with page numbers), introduction, conclusion, main body paragraphs and any references used in your paper., hire an expert writer.

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Dissertation blogs: Dissertation writing guidelines , How to write dissertation introduction , Abbreviation list in dissertation .

Assignment Writing Tips

Assignments are a big part of your studies, but they can also be one of the most stressful aspects. If you’re not sure how to write an assignment that gets a good grade, here are some assignment-writing tips prepared through evaluating multiple professional  assignment writing services  available online.

Planning the Assignment

Before you start working on an assignment, it’s important to plan it out. Ask yourself these questions:

How much time do I have?

What resources are available? (e.g., library , internet, friends)

What type of assignment is it? (e.g., essay , report)

What am I being asked to do? (e.g., compare/contrast two novels)

Once you know what you need to do and how long you have to do it, you can start planning your work more effectively.

 You Can’t Write an Assignment Without Knowing What you’re Supposed to do .

The first step is to find out what you’re supposed to write about and how long you have to do it. Find out from your lecturer, the course notes, the textbook, your friends, the internet, or whatever. Then write down what you need to know about the topic so you don’t forget anything.

 Know your Audience

This is good advice for any writer, but it’s especially important when writing an assignment. Because if you don’t know who will be reading it, how do you know whether they’ll understand it?

Get Started as soon as Possible

Many students find it difficult to start writing assignments because they are unsure exactly what they should write about. This can lead to procrastination and missed deadlines.

Use a Planning Sheet Before Starting an Assignment

This helps you organise your thoughts and make sure that everything is in place before you start writing up your final product.

Read it Carefully

Read through the assignment instructions carefully to know exactly what is required of you. Then, ensure you understand all the requirements before beginning work on any aspect of the assignment. 

Ask Questions if Necessary.

Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand or ambiguities in the instructions provided by your tutor or professor.

Write Clearly

Use short sentences and paragraphs. Avoid passive voice (except in case of official documents like reports); avoid long sentences with multiple clauses if possible; use personal pronouns (“I”, “we”, etc.) instead of the third person (“he”, “she”, etc.) when referring to yourself; use action verbs rather than adjectives; avoid using too many adjectives or adverbs in one sentence or paragraph (too many modifiers will make your writing unclear). It’s best to stick to one adjective per noun or verb phrase (“The blue car” vs “The small blue car”).

Check for Spelling Mistakes and Grammar Errors.

Use spelling, grammar, and punctuation checkers before submitting your assignment. It will not only make your answers easier to read, but it will also help prove that you’ve done your research properly.

Pay Attention to the Structure.

 Always pay attention to structure: introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion, etc. 

Be Organised and Use the Heading.

Use headings, subheadings, and bullets where appropriate (but don’t overdo them). This makes it easier for them to follow along with your ideas without missing any important details or losing interest.

Use Simple Language

Use simple language that everyone can understand. Avoid jargon or technical terms whenever possible. Don’t use slang or informal expressions that are not suitable for academic papers or formal writing style in general (e.g., “I think” vs “In my opinion”). 

Check your Sources

Make sure the information you use is from reliable sources (such as books, journals and websites). It’s also important to acknowledge all of the people whose ideas or research you used in your assignment.

Set yourself a Deadline

Set yourself a deadline for when your assignment must be completed by, and stick to it! If your professor gives no deadline, consider setting one yourself – even if it’s just one day before.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to write an assignment.

To write an assignment, start by understanding the task, researching, outlining, drafting, and revising. Use credible sources, follow guidelines, and proofread for clarity and correctness.

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Academic writing skills guide: structuring your assignment.

• Key Features of Academic Writing
• The Writing Process
• Understanding Assignments
• Brainstorming Techniques
• Planning Your Assignments
• Thesis Statements
• Writing Drafts
• Structuring Your Assignment
• How to Deal With Writer's Block
• Using Paragraphs
• Conclusions
• Introductions
• Revising & Editing
• Proofreading
• Grammar & Punctuation
• Reporting Verbs
• Signposting, Transitions & Linking Words/Phrases
• Using Lecturers' Feedback

Keep referring back to the question and assignment brief and make sure that your structure matches what you have been asked to do and check to see if you have appropriate and sufficient evidence to support all of your points. Plans can be structured/restructured at any time during the writing process.

Once you have decided on your key point(s), draw a line through any points that no longer seem to fit. This will mean you are eliminating some ideas and potentially letting go of one or two points that you wanted to make. However, this process is all about improving the relevance and coherence of your writing. Writing involves making choices, including the tough choice to sideline ideas that, however promising, do not fit into your main discussion.

Eventually, you will have a structure that is detailed enough for you to start writing. You will know which ideas go into each section and, ideally, each paragraph and in what order. You will also know which evidence for those ideas from your notes you will be using for each section and paragraph.

Once you have a map/framework of the proposed structure, this forms the skeleton of your assignment and if you have invested enough time and effort into researching and brainstorming your ideas beforehand, it should make it easier to flesh it out. Ultimately, you are aiming for a final draft where you can sum up each paragraph in a couple of words as each paragraph focuses on one main point or idea.

Communications from the Library:  Please note all communications from the library, concerning renewal of books, overdue books and reservations will be sent to your NCI student email account.

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How to Write An Assignment Introduction Like A Pro

Assignments become a crucial part of students’ academic lives as they have to encounter writing assignments daily. Writing an assignment in itself is a big and tough task, but most students face problems in writing an introduction for such assignments. 

An introduction has to be precise and complete to give a brief about your assignment, and there is a fixed word limit for writing an introduction of an assignment. That is why the most searched question about the assignment is 

How To Write An Assignment Introduction!

Table of Contents

If you want to make sure that your assignment’s introduction is eye-catching and précis, then follow the following guidelines on how to write an introduction for an assignment.

What is the Assignment Introduction?

The introduction gives an outline of the whole paper. It is the presentation of key ideas and also the purpose of your work. The introduction tells the readers about what you are going to tell in the assignment. An introduction has its own grading rules as it is counted distinctly from the body.

Significance of Writing Assignment Introduction

First, we need to understand the significance of writing a good introduction to an assignment. So you must have heard that the first impression is the last impression, and an introduction of your assignment works as a first impression for your assignment. 

Thus, if you wish to attract your examiner’s attention or your readers, you should write a good introduction for your assignment. Moreover, the important role of the introduction is to give an overview of the assignment, which helps the reader determine whether they want to read it.

Hence, before writing an assignment, it is very important to understand how to write an introduction of an assignment .

Strategies: How to write an assignment introduction

• A good introduction to the assignment manifests the following strategies –
• It must show the main objective and purpose of the assignment.
• The importance of assignment.
• The purview of the assignment’s study that is what it includes.
• A brief description of the assignment’s content and its organization.

Characteristics of Good Introduction

Before knowing how to write an assignment introduction, the most crucial thing is to know the characteristics of a good introduction. Because then only you can write a good introduction. So following are the essential characteristics of a good introduction-

• A good introduction is written precisely and clearly so that everyone can understand it. In short, there must not be any language errors.
• It must be written while remembering that it should be attention-grabbing so that it can grab the attention of its readers.
• A good introduction always shows the purpose of the study and what the study is about.
• A Good Assignment should be grammatical error free and plagiarism free. It will be a wise decision to take help from AI Content Detector tool like Content at Scale’s AI detector.
• Best Guide on How to Write a Case Study Assignment?
• Useful Guide on How to Submit Assignment on Google Classroom
• Handy Tips on How to Write an Assignment From Scratch

Elements: How to Write Introduction For Assignment

1.   background.

The first thing you have to write in an introduction is a brief background of the study. You have to give an overview of your assignment, what your assignment is about, its impact, and its area of study.

2.   Context in brief

You have to include a gist of the context of your assignment. It helps the readers to get information about the scope of the study in the assignment.

3.   Your Contention

You have to write your stance on the question involved in the statement. It should be limited to one statement. It will help the readers understand your stance on such points and that the assignment is based on such points.

4.   Main points of study

You will write one line on the main points of your study as it will help the readers circumscribe the assignment’s limits.

5.   Definition of the Topic

The most important step in how to write an introduction for an assignment is to write a definition of the topic of the assignment very briefly. So that readers can understand the title of the study at once.

6.   Why are you writing on this topic only

It is always suggested that you write in the introduction of an assignment why you are writing on this topic only.

7.   Outline

Write briefly about the outline or structure of the assignment so that readers can read accordingly, and also it will help you to define the scope of the assignment in short.

However, students often look for how to write assignment pdf. So, below we provide the assignment introduction pdf.

How To Write An Introduction Of An Assignment Pdf

Download this PDF of how to write an introduction on an assignment:

How Long Should An Assignment Introduction Be?

It is true that students find this question while looking for an answer on the assignment’s introduction page. Let’s state that while writing an assignment, the introduction section should not be too long. Furthermore, the context should not be more than a few pages long.

Keep your assignment’s introduction simple and readable. Replace difficult words with simpler ones to fix readability issues (if any). To save time and effort, online paraphrasing tools such as Editpad or Paraphraser can be used to paraphrase text in a simple way.

If you are writing a 2000-word assignment, the introduction should be 200-250 words long.

But if you are writing a 3000-word assignment, the introduction should be 350-400 words long.

Guidelines/Tips On How To Write An Assignment Introduction

• Always start your assignment’s introduction with a broad idea about the topic of the assignment. After giving a broader picture of the study, you have to narrow down the discussion and write the main object of the study.
• Don’t forget to state the significance of your assignment in brief. It is the prominent part of the introduction.
• You have to smartly write about the tasks you are dealing with in the assignment in brief.
• Make sure you use easy and understandable language so that readers don’t find it difficult to understand the introduction; otherwise, they will not read the other parts of the assignment as well.
• Double-check and proofread your assignment introduction to ensure it is free from spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes.

These guidelines are very important in writing a good introduction to your assignment. If you want to be well-versed in writing an assignment introduction, it is mandatory first to be acquainted with these tips and guidelines.

Assignment Introduction Example

For more clarity, you can see the following assignment example;

Is There Any Other Way To Write Or Get An Effective Assignment Introduction?

Yes, there is! 

It has been seen that there are several writers who are confused when it comes to the assignment’s introduction writing. And it is true that they struggle to summarise the broad issue and write an introduction without conducting sufficient research. However, because the subject experts or online assignments help provide experts who are well-versed in the field, they easily write the introduction in minutes.

• The majority of students do not properly understand the English language. The experts who work in the writing industry have years of experience in writing assignments. That is why they always make sure to write an engaging introduction that also seems professional.
• Furthermore, the requirements of the writer are always given priority by the professionals. After that, they write a professional article that will, without a doubt, engage the reader.
• The expert not only helps the student in preparing the assignment’s introduction. They offer their support in completing the entire home task and guarantee that they will get an A+ grade.
• Besides that, the professionals’ support is available 24/7/365/366 days. So you won’t have to worry about coming up with a solution for your writing task.

What Makes A Good Introduction?

As you already know that, the rules are always subject to change, and our perspectives may be different. However, the academic standards for writing an introduction are quite clear. When creating a great introduction for an assignment, you have to make sure some of the points that are given below:

• Motivates the audience.
• Introduces your thesis statement.
• Defines the topic you’re talking about.
• Emphasizes the significance of your topic.
• Highlights the main points you want to discuss.
• Provides your reasoning for approaching your topic.
• Gives a high-level overview of your methodology.
• Provides statistical information and the purpose of your methodology.

Note: Remember that even creative writing tasks require an inspiring introduction that discusses your purpose for writing.

On the other hand, writing an introduction is relatively easy. Some important things must be clear, including:

• Your topic’s importance.
• The goal of your paper.
• An element of explanation.
• A powerful opening hook sentence.
• Include a link to your thesis statement.

Quick recap

To write an engaging assignment introduction, remember to:

• Make their introduction interesting, 
• outline the reasons, 
• make the audience curious about your assignment, 
• and keep the audience guessing.

Experts warn that rephrasing the assignment question or telling everything in the opening like a story synopsis is not a good idea. You must stick to your tutor’s specified word limit for the assignment introduction and write it with a clear, focused approach.

Since the time assignments have become a crucial part of our studies and grades, and the need to learn the concept and structure of assignments has arisen. 

An introduction is the important part of the assignment to grab readers’ attention and tell in brief about the background and information of the assignment. Thus it is very important to learn how to write assignment introductions. The introduction of an assignment should be eye-catching and alluring to capture the audience and make them read the whole assignment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. what are the 3 parts of an introduction paragraph.

Following are the three parts of an introduction:  1. Parts of an introduction 2. The opening statement 3. The supporting sentences 4. The introductory topic sentence.

Q2. What are the key elements of an introduction?

The introduction must have the following responsibilities: 1. Get the audience’s attention 2. Introduce the topic 3. Explain its relevance to the audience 4. State a thesis or purpose 5. Outline the main points.

Q3. How to write introduction for assignment?

A good introduction shows the reader that the essay will provide a relevant answer to the assignment question. As a result, the introduction should link back to the question. That is done by writing a paragraph that deals with all the key content mentioned in the assignment question.

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10 tips for writing assignments.

• Clarify the task. Don't let questions about the task encourage procrastination.
• Do the research early. Collecting and absorbing the material will help you meditate on what you will write, even if you don't get to work on the writing immediately.
• Leave a strong paper trail. Frequently, the lack of good note taking doesn't register until you are in the throes of the final preparation of your project, when deadlines loom, and materials are difficult to recover. This is because one often reads and discards materials as not being relevant during the research process, only to discover later, during the writing process, that they are.
• Brainstorm, make notes, jot down ideas as they occur, and begin by writing the stuff you do know. Most writing will be complex and you can't do all of the stages--brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, proofreading--in one fell swoop. Breaking the process into smaller steps makes it more manageable, and lets you make progress even when you don't have large chunks of time to devote to writing.
• Get feedback. It's difficult to anticipate the gaps, confusion, and potential misinterpretations that complex writing can generate. You need to have at least one outside reader to help you.
• Allow time for revising and editing. Once the ideas are drafted, you'll usually find that you need to go back and re-read, re-search, re-organize, and re-think what you have said.
• Make the organization apparent. Use paragraphs, subheadings, and spatial divisions (layout) to indicate clearly changes in subject matter, focus, and depth. Sometimes this is a good time to prepare an outline, to make sure that your organization makes sense.
• Write the introduction last. A good introduction must point forward to what the writing contains. It is a promise to the reader, and should be accurate. The best introductions will be prepared after you know what you will say and how you will say it.
• Check for accuracy. Research-based writing is often complex and it is easy to overlook a mistake made while drafting. Check your sources, read carefully through your quotations, citations, and documentation.
• Proofread carefully. This is often a step left out in the crunch to finish by a deadline, and yet, it is often little mistakes (typos, errors of punctuation and grammar) which communicate to your reader a sense of carelessness or inability to write.
• Forgive yourself for what is not perfect. We never stop learning how to write. No draft is ever perfect, but the deadline requires that you do your best and then send it out into the world of the reader.

Created by Susan Wyche

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8 Step-By-Step Guide On How To Start An Assignment

Students get many types of assignments in college and university. And they have to complete it on time. But for many students, writing an effective assignment can be challenging. 

The reason behind this is they don’t have enough resources, lack knowledge and some students don’t know how to write it.

If students have a better understanding of how to get started with academic assignments, then they can complete their assignments within the given deadline. 

And if you don’t know how to start an assignment, then don’t worry! In this blog, I have provided the best steps to write an effective assignment. So, let’s get started. 

Importance Of Assignments In Students Academic Life

Table of Contents

• At the time of their academic career, students have to complete various assignments. Students are required to complete these assignments within short deadlines. That’s why the majority of the students many times ask the same question: how to start an assignment? 
• There is no doubt in it; human growth is dependent on the use of the brain. Thus, if students do both hard & smart work, it will increase their scope of knowledge. Academic writings may become very useful for students to learn new facts. And improve their writing skills. So we can say that assignment writing is very helpful for improving students’ abilities. 
• If you want to excel in any work, then regular practice is required for you. No doubt, continuous practice is necessary to improve one’s skills to complete a particular task efficiently. Thus, assignment or homework writing plays an important role in students’ entire academic careers. 

Step-By-Step Guidance On How To Start An Assignment

As we already discussed, students have to complete various assignments during their academic life. But sometimes, students seem confused about the Steps of assignment writing. Even some students don’t even know how to start an assignment introduction. If you are also one of the students, then don’t worry. Here we have mentioned Step-by-step guidance on how to start an assignment:-

Understand The Assignment Question Clearly

Before start writing your assignment, you should understand the question of your assignment because If you have a better understanding of the question, then you can quickly answer it in your assignment. If the assignment question is complex, then break it down. 

To make it easy, you can use the circle to highlight the key points. Still, suppose you have any confusion regarding the assignment question. In such a situation, you should concern with your teacher only after clarifying what is required for your assignment and start working on your assignment.

Gather Resources

This is one of the most important steps for you because without relevant information you can’t write a good assignment and you can also get low marks from your professor. So gather the best and most relevant information for your assignment. And it’s also important to start writing an assignment by identifying the types of sources that will be useful for your topic when gathering resources for an assignment.   

Here are some common types of sources:

• Scholarly articles
• Government documents
• News articles

Create An Plan

After gathering relevant resources, you should follow this step. In this step, you should create a plan or outline for an assignment because it will help you organize your thoughts and ideas. Make ensure that your assignments are well-structured, clear, and focused. 

Here is an example of a basic outline for an assignment on the topic of “ MARKETING STRATEGIES for a Small Business ”:

Set A Schedule

Setting a schedule for writing an assignment is important to step because it helps us to stay organized and on track. So, set a schedule for your assignment. And if you don’t know how to make it, then here are some tips to create an effective schedule:

• Set deadlines
• Prioritize the tasks based on their importance
• Create a calendar or a to-do list
• Must take regular breaks to avoid burnout
• Keep track of your progress by regularly checking off tasks on y our to-do list

Creating a schedule is a great way to keep yourself organized and focused while working on an assignment, and it can help you meet deadlines and submit quality work.

Make sure to start writing with a fresh mind

To write a perfect assignment, you need to be focused and fresh-minded. It might be different from person to person. Someone can feel fresher after playing football or after practicing volleyball. Some people can feel fresher in the early morning, on the other hand, some people can prefer late night. So always make sure to start writing a new assignment when you feel fresh-minded and focused. 

According to some recent studies, if humans take some break within a longtail task. So you should choose the right time for writing and make it continuous. Then they can complete it more effectively and efficiently.

Be flexible during your entire assignment writing

Are you continuously observing the question of your assignment in your mind? when you start researching your assignment topic and read up your texts. Then maybe you discover some new things that might change your perspective about the answer to that question. It is noteworthy that students can’t change the relevant evidence, but they can change their perspective or endorse a different point of view. 

Get something on paper

Suppose you don’t know how to start an assignment. Don’t worry, as you can begin writing your work with some notes. Here are vital steps of assignment writing that may help you to start:-

• Make some notes with typical headings and also create themes in your notes.
• Based on your assignment question, brainstorm your critical ideas before you start writing.
• Make sure to write down every idea on paper. Also, group your ideas into different columns to create paragraphs and structure of your assignment.
• Read out the complete question asked in your assignment. After that, read all the responses that you planned. Here suppose as if you are answering somebody in front of you.

Proofreading and Editing

Once you complete writing your assignment, make sure to proofread your work. At the time of proofreading, if you find any grammatical or any other mistake, then you should immediately correct it. The primary purpose of proofreading and editing is to make an impressive assignment without any errors.

What Makes A Great Assignment?

Usually, teachers assign many types of writing assignments to students. At the same time, most teachers give some specific instructions regarding a particular assignment. For making an effective and impressive assignment, it is required for a student to fulfill all the requirements provided by their teachers regarding that assignment. Along with this, there are many vital points that you should consider while writing an appointment:-

• Make sure to complete the entire assignment according to the instruction provided by your professors.
• Always try to keep your assignment short and informative.
• Avoid using complicated words and significant subjects.
• Make sure to include authentic information in your academic assignment.
• Don’t use too much extraordinary material in your assignment, but make sure to provide sufficient information.

We have already provided an ultimate guide on how to start an assignment. We have also discussed the importance of assignments in a student’s academic life. Thus, we hope that our article will be beneficial for you. And it will also clear all your doubts regarding how to start an assignment. Still, if you are facing any problems with your academic writings, don’t worry. 

We are offering the best assignment help UK to students at a very affordable price. We have a team of experts who all have years of experience in the assignment writing industry. Thousands of students have already used our assignment writing service UK , and all are completely satisfied with your services.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a good introduction.

A good introduction includes an overview of your topic. It should consist of all the points that you are going to discuss in your blog or article. The main aims of your introduction are to:

• Attract your visitor’s attention.
• Give a proper background of your writing.
• Present your purpose of the article.

A good introduction always starts with a hook. That hook should catch the eyes of the audience and should be relatable.

What should an assignment include?

A good assignment requires in-depth research on the topic. If you collect all the relevant and authentic information about the assignment topic. And present all the facts related to your topic in the assignment. Nothing can stop you from making a successful assignment. Mentioned below are some common structural elements required for an assignment:-

• Cover page of your assignment
• Main content page
• Introduction Section
• Main body part
• Conclusion 
• Related references

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How Do You Write An Introduction to An Assignment? (With Examples of Assignment Introduction)

Whether you’re in school or college, you can’t avoid academic writing. It’s essential to write assignments to complete your course and graduate from it successfully. As a student, you must have discussed your assignments and academic writing projects with your friends, seniors, and mentors. Most assignments aim to gauge students’ knowledge about the subject and how well they express themselves while solving a problem or presenting their ideas and opinions. 

Writing an assignment introduction paves the way of how a reader or a teacher perceives an entire assignment and can be considered a face of an assignment. Our assignment help experts are here to offer you the best tips on how to write an assignment introduction.

How to introduce an assignment?

As they say – well begun is half done. Our assignment writers agree and believe in this adage. Countless times, you must have skipped a video because you didn’t find its first 5 seconds interesting or catchy enough to hold your attention. Or you must have chosen to watch a movie because you liked its trailer. Similarly, an introduction is a bait for your readers to read your assignment, report, essay, or dissertation with interest. It’s the first impression you will cast on your professors.

GoAssignmentHelp assignment assistance experts who handle hundreds of ‘ do my assignment ’ requests every month share that most students find it difficult to write an introductory paragraph that is clear and concise. Here, we will simplify the process of writing an introduction for the given assignment for you.

A good introduction to an assignment example is always one that gives a clear idea to the readers about what your assignment topic is or what are you going to talk about in the rest of the copy. An old trick is to talk about general ideas about the topic and narrow down your discussion to the specific problem or aspect of the topic you are going to discuss.

An introduction is a guide to your assignment. It should include:

• Some background about the assignment topic, and
• An outline of opinions and arguments you are going to present.

An assignment introduction example or two can perhaps give you a better idea of what needs to be done.

Contact our experts for a powerful introduction to your assignment!

Different Elements of the Introduction of an Assignment

Before we delve into introduction assignment examples, you must understand elements that constitute a good introduction to an assignment:

• Importance of an assignment topic or the purpose of essay writing or dissertation writing,
• Keywords from the essay topic or assignment question to show how well you have understood the writing task,
• What is the proper definition of the assignment topic or the key terms it contains – and what can readers expect from the written piece,
• Student’s reason for writing on the topic. You may get some hints on it from what your teacher mentions on the assignment list or what he/she shares in the class about it,
• A quick bird-eye’s view of your approach on the assignment topic,
• Key points of your discussion that you will elaborate in the body of the paper,
• Quick discussion on previous studies, articles, news, or other works on the topic, and
• What are some of the limitations of the topic?

You don’t have to include everything in an introduction – just enough to make your reader or teacher curious about the topic. The following example of introduction for assignment starts with a central issue, goes on to add some background, and then, presents the argument the assignment writer elaborated further in the essay. It ends with a smooth transition statement meant to transport the reader to the next part of the essay.

How to write an introduction for a report?

When you are stuck with how to start a writing assignment, writing an introduction can solve most of your problems. Different types of assignments have different types of introductory paragraphs. The student introduction assignment example mentioned above is suitable for an essay. Now, we will see an example of an assignment introduction for a report.

Note that this kind of assignment introduction contains:

• A Background: A quick mention of previous studies and articles on the topic gives your teachers a perspective on what is already known about the topic, key issues that need to be addressed, and what you are going to discuss in your report.
• An Objective or a Thesis Statement: A hypothesis or a thesis statement is based on earlier findings and previous works on the topic. It provides a structure to your report. Check how the assignment writing service expert has mentioned the purpose of the study and a quick outline of the entailing discussion in one statement – right after the background.
• Importance of the Study: If you’ve not already highlighted the importance of the study yet, you may include a few more lines to mention the gaps in the topic research and how your paper is going to bridge those gaps.

Consult our assignment writers for fresh ideas and introduction samples for any type of assignment!

How to write an introduction for a thesis or a dissertation?

Most students come across a dissertation or a thesis writing task in their Master’s or Ph.D. degree course. A few need to write a dissertation in their Bachelor’s degree programs. But since they are new to dissertation writing, they wonder how to write an introduction for an assignment that is much longer than a normal essay writing task they have encountered yet. The truth is that writing an introduction for a dissertation is not much different from writing an introduction for an essay or a report (depending on the nature of your dissertation topic).

You can use the points mentioned above to learn how to write a good assignment introduction longer than a paragraph. The ideal length for a dissertation introduction is 5-7% of the total length of your research paper. Most Master’s dissertations are around 15,000 to 50,000 words long – depending on the subject area. Hence, their introductions can have anywhere between 750 and 2,500 words.

We provide affordable writing services for students who find it difficult to paraphrase their ideas succinctly in an introduction. Besides the general introduction, we also help students write an introduction for each chapter, which will help you include more references throughout your research paper. It will also help research paper writers to remind their readers of the purpose of the dissertation again and to retain their interest.

You must also read :  Tips and Examples of The Conclusion Section of Assignments

Tips of Top-Rated Experts on How to Start an Assignment

Our essay writers advise students on how to write a good introduction for an assignment all the time. Besides what’s mentioned above, they also advise students to:

• make their introduction eye-catching,
• build up curiosity,
• outline the arguments, and
• maintain suspense.

Experts warn that merely stating the assignment question in other words or trying to state everything in the introduction like a summary of a story is not a good idea at all. You must follow the word limit suggested by your instructor for the assignment introduction and maintain a sharp, focused approach while penning the intro.

Need help with how to start an assignment introduction?

Introduction matters! Whether it’s a superstar or an assignment, the introduction is a key to his/its popularity. GoAssignmentHelp is a leading online assignment help service that brings you the best and most experienced assignment writers from the major cities of Canada, such as Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Winnipeg, and more. You can seek help from them for writing the best introduction for your homework , essays , dissertations , thesis , and research papers .

Looking for an assignment introduction sample? Ask our experts!

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How to Start an Assignment

How to start an assignment is a lot easier and simple when you know the process. All college assignments are expected to achieve three goals: attract the reader’s attention, introduce the research topic, and present a strong arguable thesis. However, to get this right, start with an assignment plan that captures the steps to be taken, ideas to be included, and the counterarguments for your thesis.

At this stage, you frame the essay topic and figure out how to start an assignment introduction that is strong and eloquent enough to attract the reader. Next, create an outline of the body paragraphs and follow this structure to research your content the same way  assignment writers  would do.

Your preliminaries should look somehow like this:

• Choice of a topic - create the perfect topic that reflects the theme and thesis from the question to start an assignment introduction.
• Initial research - based on the selected topic, conduct initial research through journals and research papers to crystalize your thesis.
• Credible sources - Your assignment must be supported by credible peer-reviewed sources and reliable references to pass the grading threshold. Alternatively, you can  order assignment online  if there is a scarcity of sources for your research.
• Understand grading instructions – read and reread the assignment’s scoring rubric to ensure you do not miss the minutest of details when writing your paper.
• Create an outline – a proper outline is your guide when you start writing and ensures you do not miss important points, including good introduction examples and formatting rules.

You can easily put together your assignment project using these preliminary guides to set the topic and research criteria. In the initial research, you can review any example of introduction for assignment you think can work for your essay and use it to build yours. More critically, the outline you create becomes your writing template and guides you through the whole process.

What Is Assignment Introduction?

You may come up with great and well-researched content for your thesis backed by sound arguments and references but still fail. This will leave you puzzled, wondering what you may have done wrong and  how to write an assignment . It is simple – you may have inadvertently locked the door to the body of your paper by writing a poor example of introduction for assignment. Remember the three goals mentioned above? Your introduction must attract the reader’s attention and introduce the topic in a captivating way to encourage further reading and invite critical analysis.

Assignment introduction provides a transition for the reader to shift attention from what they were doing to wholly immerse themselves in your paper. A captivating introduction becomes a hook that pulls in the reader and holds their attention long enough to allow for the appreciation of the content.

First impressions matter, and in writing, these impressions are formed by a concise, engaging, and error-free assignment introduction designed to get the instructor’s attention. Your introduction is also a navigation tool that provides an outline of the rest of the document at a glance and confirms your fidelity to the grading rubric instructions.

Good introduction examples contain a thesis that asserts the main argument, a sneak preview of the content to be used, and the structure of the essay for easy reading. Start an assignment introduction with a dramatic but intellectual opening that stirs curiosity and invites your audience (instructor) to deeper engagement.

Pay special attention to how you write your introduction, as this will either build or kill your assignment, and understanding its critical role in essays will guarantee success. You can ace that assignment by exploring multiple examples of perfect introductions that can help you write an excellent one for your paper.

How To Structure Assignment Introduction

It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the basic elements necessary as you start writing an introduction for assignment. By outlining these elements, it becomes easier to create the structure of your assignment introduction and ensures that all key points are captured. Here are some key elements that form a perfect assignment introduction:

• The prominence of the assignment topic
• A definition of the assignment topic, keywords, and a summary of the paper content
• Reasons for writing on the assignment topic
• How do you plan to approach the assignment question/topic?
• Key points you intend to discuss further in the body after the assignment introduction
• A brief review of past studies and related research works on the topic to further confirm your understanding of the subject
• Brief mention of some of the limitations the topic may have

The above points give a general assignment structure and how you use these depends on the type of essay you are writing. In different circumstances and individual courses, you may not need to include all the listed points when considering how to start an assignment. You could start with a general but catchy point on the topic, follow up with a brief overview of pertinent issues involved while carefully using keywords from the topic to cement your understanding.

The typical assignment structure has five basic pillars that help to prop up a perfect assignment introduction, and these include;

• Introduce the topic with a brief but detailed overview
• State your aim or focus illustrating the theme of your discussion.
• Scope limitation indicating the extent of your discussion.
• Structure of paper outlining the flow of content.
• Thesis statement to form the background for your argument.

The structure provides a broad plan detailing the information you intend to use and the order in which your argument will flow. A good structure is an ultimate organizer in writing that ensures every vital point is placed in the right places and sequentially so, to sustain the central theme. A good example of introduction for assignment must be chronological in its structure, giving the background, previous works, methods used, argument/results, conclusions, proposals for further research.

Writing Style For Assignment Introduction

Academic writing styles vary and are specific to individual disciplines and subjects, although some basic elements run across the spectrum. The central point is that academic papers are written in a certain way using unique formats and language that peers in a specific field can relate to collectively. It may not be possible to have a single nuanced writing style in any example of introduction for assignment but in a broad sense, observe these basics;

• Formal introduction for assignment
• Be objective
• Use tentative language
• Be precise and concise
• Be impersonal, and use inclusive terms

Assignments will count heavily in your grading for graduation and must be approached seriously while observing the rubric instructions and common writing protocols. Start an assignment introduction formally and avoid casual language borrowed from the street unless used in parenthesis.

In short, avoid the use of colloquialisms in your writing style and adopt full sentence structure with fragmentation and word contractions to give your essay a formal presentation. Remember, the field of study you are in is training you to think and express yourself in a certain way acceptable to that community, and you start the practice in your writing style.

Develop a critical approach to your writing style as you advance from undergraduate to doctoral assignments. Write objectively and advance your arguments neutrally while citing both complementary and contrary works by earlier research works to have a balanced assignment introduction.

To avoid the danger of rigidity and possible ridicule, academic work envisages further or future engagement and strives to be open-minded, allowing for possible counterarguments through the use of tentative language. Adopt words such as may, likely, possibly, seems, probably, or could to leave room for contrary arguments that could enhance or correct yours without harm to your reputation.

Do not lose your argument in a forest of words that render your introduction for assignment boring and unattractive to your audience (examiner). Strive to be precise and concise, using as few words as possible with a less elaborate presentation at the expense of key points.

Equally important, ensure that you write in an impartial style that does not include you in the discourse using first-person phrases like "I", "me", "my", or "us". However, if writing an assignment on personal experiences, the use of a personal style is permitted.

Steps To Writing An Effective Assignment Introduction

Here is a summary of key steps you can adopt before you start an assignment introduction,

• Contemplate the question to develop your thesis that will be included in the assignment introduction
• Define the scope of your topic through the first sentence of the introduction and set the context of your thesis
• Write a draft introduction but refine it last after body and conclusion. It is best to make your argument and conclusion first and then write a more relevant and matching introduction that captures the writing’s ethos
• Demonstrate confidence and a good grasp of the subject you are discussing by use of declarative expressions
• List your source material and references to aid in the research of good introduction examples
• Delve into the writing

It is a good idea to spend more time planning your assignment as this makes it easy when you finally start writing.

Avoid These Types Of Assignment Introduction

• Restated question introduction . Do not restate the assignment question without balancing it with a strong argument, or it will kill your audience’s attention.
• General introduction.  Avoid using sweeping statements that barely touch on the essence of the topic. Such generalized statements also fail to resonate with the thesis and do not lay a good background for the reader to form an opinion.
• Place holder introduction . Typical characteristics of this lazy introduction include vague sentences and repetitive phrases that convey no meaning and indicate shallow research or none at all. Place holder introduction serves only one purpose – to fill up space when you have no idea how to start an assignment.

Written by Frank Dehoyos

Publish Date: Mar 21, 2022

Frank Dehoyos

Related posts, essay referencing guide, how long does it take to write different types of assignments, criminology dissertation ideas, please, login.

Minor League notes: Where the top 50 MLB prospects are opening the season

The minor-league regular season officially kicked off last Friday, when the Triple-A level opened its season. The rest of the full-season leagues start this Friday. Before the season, The Athletic ’s prospects expert Keith Law ranked the top 100 prospects in baseball . Let’s take a look at where the top 50 prospects opened their seasons.

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1. Jackson Holliday , SS/2B, Baltimore Orioles — Triple-A Norfolk Tide

Baseball’s top prospect had a terrific spring (.311/.354/.600), but the Orioles elected to start the 20-year-old in Triple A so he could gain more experience against upper-level pitching and continue his transition defensively to second base. Naturally, Holliday homered in his first at-bat of the season. Expect him to make his major-league debut before June 1.

JACKSON HOLLIDAY HOMERS IN HIS 1ST AT-BAT OF THE YEAR! @Orioles | @OsPlayerDev pic.twitter.com/iCFE37qo6r — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 29, 2024

2. Jackson Chourio , OF, Milwaukee Brewers — MLB

Unlike the Orioles, the Brewers aren’t waiting to promote their top prospect, who hit .328 this spring. The 20-year-old signed a long-term extension with the Brewers this offseason and they hope he will be the face of their franchise for years to come.

3. Ethan Salas , C, San Diego Padres — High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps

Salas made his pro debut on May 30, 2023, as a 16-year-old and reached Double A by the end of the summer at the tender age of 17. He’ll start 2024 in High A, where he’ll still be the youngest player in the league. Despite those aggressive assignments, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Salas spend most — if not all — of the 2024 season in the Midwest League.

4. Jordan Lawlar , SS, Arizona Diamondbacks — Injured list

Lawlar was set to start the season in Triple A but instead will be on the IL after undergoing surgery on his right thumb to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament. The injury will keep Lawlar out at least two months, so he’s now more of a midseason option for the Diamondbacks should starting shortstop Geraldo Perdomo struggle at the plate.

5. Junior Caminero, 3B/IF, Tampa Bay Rays — Triple-A Durham Bulls (Injured list)

Caminero made his MLB debut last season but he begins   the 2024 campaign in Triple A . The 20-year-old infielder skipped over Triple A last year when the Rays promoted him to the big leagues due to a spate of injuries on their major-league roster. Now — once a mild quad injury heals — he’ll get a chance to test himself against Triple-A pitching before rejoining the Rays.

6. Wyatt Langford , OF, Texas Rangers — MLB

Langford, the No. 4 pick in last year’s draft, went from Rookie ball to Triple A in his pro debut last season and completed the climb this year, as he made the Rangers’ Opening Day roster . The power-hitting outfielder is a favorite for the AL Rookie of the Year award.

. @langford_wyatt : Triple Threat. pic.twitter.com/53p8SdjNX7 — Texas Rangers (@Rangers) March 31, 2024

7. Dylan Crews , OF, Washington Nationals — Double-A Harrisburg Senators

Crews will begin his 2024 season where he ended 2023, with Double-A Harrisburg. Although the No. 2 pick from the 2023 draft isn’t starting in Triple A, his time in the minor leagues figures to be relatively short after an accomplished collegiate career. He could skip over Triple A entirely on his way to Washington.

Scouting Mackenzie Gore, James Wood and others in the Nationals' Futures Game

8. Marcelo Mayer , SS, Boston Red Sox — Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Injuries wrecked Mayer’s 2023 season, but expectations are still sky-high for Boston’s top prospect. He hit only .190 in 43 games with Portland last season but figures to do much better this year now that he’s healthy, and he may not be at the Double-A level for long.

9. Evan Carter , OF, Texas Rangers — MLB

The Rangers might have a historically good rookie outfield with Langford and Carter both expected to get regular playing time. Carter came into camp a shoo-in for an MLB spot after a debut late last year that included an impressive showing in the postseason.

10. Paul Skenes , RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates — Triple-A Indianapolis Indians

Last year’s top draft pick threw only 6 2/3 innings in his pro debut last season, but he may not need many more minor-league innings before he makes his Pirates debut. He impressed in limited outings this spring and starts the season in Triple A. Odds are decent he makes his MLB debut before his 22nd birthday (May 29).

🔥🔥🔥🔥 4 strikeouts in 2 perfect innings for @Pirates ' Paul Skenes in his @indyindians debut Fastball velos: 99.7 100.0 100.4 100.8 99.2 100.5 99.3 99.4 100.3 100.3 100.5 pic.twitter.com/wueJnD7Myd — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 30, 2024

11. Kyle Harrison , LHP, San Francisco Giants — MLB

Harrison was penciled into the Giants’ rotation at the beginning of the offseason after he made seven starts for the team in 2023. The Giants may have to monitor Harrison’s workload this season — he’s never thrown more than 113 innings in a full season — but he’s expected to be a key piece of their rotation this year and for years to come.

12. Jeferson Quero , C, Milwaukee Brewers — Triple-A Nashville Sounds (Injured list)

Quero, the No. 2 catching prospect in baseball according to Law, earned a Triple-A spot after posting a .779 OPS with 16 homers in Double A last year. Unfortunately the 21-year-old left his first game early with a subluxed right (throwing) shoulder after diving back into first base on a pickoff attempt.

13. Brayan Rocchio , SS, Cleveland Guardians — MLB

Rocchio got 81 at-bats with the Guardians last season, but this year they’re planning to give him the bulk of the playing time at shortstop. On Opening Day, Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt noted Rocchio had been a leader for the team’s infield during spring training. “Really excited for Brayan’s year,” he said.

14. Max Clark , OF, Detroit Tigers — Low-A Lakeland Flying Tigers

The No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft will return to the Florida State League after finishing his pro debut season at that level. He hit only .154 in 11 games at the level but walked 12 times.

15. Walker Jenkins , OF, Minnesota Twins — Low-A Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Like Clark, Jenkins, 19, will return to the level at which he finished in his pro debut. Jenkins’ 2023 numbers in Low A were eye-popping, as he hit .392 with a .446 OPS in 12 games.

16. Masyn Winn , SS, St. Louis Cardinals — MLB

The Cardinals brought in veteran Brandon Crawford this spring but were clear that Crawford was signed to back up Winn, who should get the bulk of the innings at short after he had 122 at-bats for St. Louis last season.

17. Noelvi Marte , 3B/SS, Cincinnati Reds — Restricted List

Marte was expected to be the Reds’ starting third baseman but he landed on the restricted list this spring after violating MLB’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs . It’s an 80-game suspension and Marte wouldn’t be eligible for the postseason should the Reds make it.

18. Pete Crow-Armstrong , OF, Chicago Cubs — Triple-A Iowa Cubs

Crow-Armstrong began the spring with a shot to be the Cubs’ everyday center fielder after playing 13 games with them last September, but when the Cubs re-signed Cody Bellinger , Crow-Armstrong’s path to regular at-bats disappeared. He’ll get those ABs in Triple A to start the year but should return to the Cubs at some point this season.

19. James Wood , OF, Washington Nationals — Triple-A Rochester Red Wings

Wood was one of the stars of Nationals spring training and his MLB arrival seems imminent. The 6-foot-6 slugger is massively talented, but he will need to show he can increase his contact rate against advanced pitching (he struck out 173 times in 129 games last season) before he gets the call to DC.

James Wood starting off hot 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6y6RTzbceO — Rochester Red Wings (@RocRedWings) March 30, 2024

20. Samuel Basallo , C, Baltimore Orioles — Double-A Bowie BaySox

The Orioles’ No. 2 prospect was slowed this spring as he recovered from a stress fracture in his right (throwing) elbow. He’ll be limited to DHing for the first few weeks of the season but will start the year on the active Double-A Bowie roster.

21. Jasson Domínguez , OF, New York Yankees — 60-day IL

Domínguez captured everyone’s attention with an electric MLB debut last season but it was cut short after eight games by an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. The switch-hitting center fielder is aiming for a mid-season return.

22. Roman Anthony , OF, Boston Red Sox — Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Anthony reached Double A last September as a 19-year-old. He will return there to start this season and doesn’t turn 20 until May 13.

23. Jackson Merrill, OF/SS, San Diego Padres — MLB

Merrill made his MLB debut this season as the Padres’ starting center fielder in the Korea Series. A converted shortstop, Merrill has proved a quick study in center.

24. Termarr Johnson , 2B, Pittsburgh Pirates — High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers

Johnson got 30 games with Greensboro last season and will return to High A looking to make more contact while maintaining his outstanding on-base percentage (.422 OBP but 120 strikeouts last season). He won’t turn 20 until June 11.

25. Josue De Paula , OF, Los Angeles Dodgers — Low-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

De Paula is just 18 and played only 74 games for Rancho last season, so the Dodgers aren’t in a hurry to rush him. That said, a promotion to High A before midseason would not be surprising.

26. Matt Shaw , IF, Chicago Cubs — Double-A Tennessee Smokies

Shaw sizzled in his 38-game pro debut last season, rising three levels and reaching Double A for a 15-game stint. He’ll begin the year there, as well, but another multi-level jump is likely in store for him this season.

27. Coby Mayo, 3B/1B, Baltimore Orioles — Triple-A Norfolk Tides

Like Holliday, Mayo has the misfortune of being blocked in a talented — and young — Orioles infield. That said, the corner infielder was the Orioles’ most prolific minor-league power hitter last season and he had a .560 slugging percentage in 23 spring games. He’s likely to debut with the Orioles sometime this season.

28. Kevin Alcántara , OF, Chicago Cubs — Double-A Tennessee Smokies

Alcántara is another member of a star-studded Smokies Opening Day roster. He has reached double-digits in homers and stolen bases in each of the past two seasons.

29. Jackson Jobe , RHP, Detroit Tigers — Double-A Erie SeaWolves

Jobe threw only 64 innings last season but was electric, posting a 2.81 ERA and an 84:6 K:BB. Few pitchers this spring had more helium than Jobe, who will look to eclipse the 100-inning threshold for the first time in his pro career.

For Tigers prospect Jackson Jobe, a 2024 debut could be within reach

30. Jett Williams , SS, New York Mets — Double-A Binghamton RumblePonies

Williams lived up to his name with 45 steals in his first full pro season. He also reached double-digits in home runs. Williams got a six-game cameo at Double A last season and will begin the year back at that level.

31. Brooks Lee , SS/3B, Minnesota Twins — Injured list

Lee was set to start the year in Triple A, but a lower back injury will keep him out for at least three weeks. It’s unfortunate timing for Lee, who likely won’t be an option while Royce Lewis is on the IL for Minnesota with a quad strain. Austin Martin got the call to replace Lewis last week.

32. Ceddanne Rafaela , OF/IF, Boston Red Sox — MLB

Rafaela won the Red Sox center-field job in camp, based in part on his outstanding defensive abilities. He can also play some infield and he took some reps this spring at second base, where the Red Sox have been dealing with injuries, but Rafaela is expected to get the bulk of his playing time in center.

33. River Ryan, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers — 60-day IL

Ryan missed the Cactus League with right shoulder fatigue and will begin this season on the Triple-A Oklahoma City 60-day injured list. He made two starts in Triple A at the end of last season after posting a 3.33 ERA in 97 1/3 innings in Double A.

34. Andrew Painter , RHP, Philadelphia Phillies — 60-day IL

Painter missed all of last season with an elbow injury and eventually had Tommy John surgery. He is not expected to pitch competitively this season but will be only 21 next spring training, when he could make the Phillies roster.

35. Dylan Lesko , RHP, San Diego Padres — High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps

Lesko made 12 starts last season in his return from Tommy John surgery and is expected to pitch without restrictions in 2024. He’ll begin the year on a star-studded roster that also includes Salas.

36. Colt Keith , 2B/3B, Detroit Tigers — MLB

Like Chourio, Keith signed a long-term extension before reaching the majors. That debut came last week, as he made the Tigers’ roster out of camp. He’s transitioned from third base to second base, where he’s expected to get everyday playing time with the Tigers.

MLB's No. 21 prospect Colt Keith seals a series sweep for the @tigers with a glove flick. pic.twitter.com/qdO8BYsVTI — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 31, 2024

37. Colt Emerson, SS/2B, Seattle Mariners — Low-A Modesto Nuts

The Mariners’ 2023 top pick got 16 games with the Nuts last season and hit .302 in 63 at-bats. He’ll start this year back in the California League with a strong chance to reach High A by midseason.

38. Carson Williams , SS, Tampa Bay Rays — Double-A Montgomery Biscuits

Williams got a taste of both Double A and Triple A last season, but spent the bulk of the year in High A. He’ll get some time in Double A before moving up but could still be in the big leagues by the end of the year.

39. Jared Jones , RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates — MLB

Jones is part of a rising core of Pirates pitching prospects the organization is counting on to lead their staff for the next decade. He’s the first of the group to debut, as he made the Pirates’ Opening Day rotation and struck out 10 in his first start.

He really did that. Jared Jones is the 31st pitcher since 1900 to record 10+ strikeouts in his Major League debut. pic.twitter.com/a8NFLNFkz5 — Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 31, 2024

40. Sebastian Walcott , 3B, Texas Rangers — High-A Hickory Crawdads

Walcott, 18, spent most of last season in Rookie ball, but he did get a four-game cameo in High A at the end of the year. He’ll return to that level to start the season and is likely to be one of the youngest — if not the youngest — players in the Sally League.

41. Druw Jones , OF, Arizona Diamondbacks — Low-A Visalia Rawhide

It’s been an uphill battle for Jones to stay healthy since Arizona made him the second overall pick in the 2021 draft. He’s played just 41 games total in two-plus years, 29 of them coming last year in Visalia, where he will begin his 2024 season.

42. Colson Montgomery, SS, Chicago White Sox — Triple-A Charlotte Knights

After starting last year on the IL, Montgomery begins this season healthy and in Triple A for the first time. A strong first half could land him in the majors by midseason on a rebuilding White Sox squad.

43. Justin Crawford , OF, Philadelphia Phillies — High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws

Crawford, the Phillies’ 2022 first-round pick, was outstanding in his full-season debut, hitting .332 with a .392 OBP and 47 stolen bases. He returns to Jersey Shore, where he finished last season, but may not still be there when the summer homes start to fill.

44. Tyler Black , 3B, Milwaukee Brewers — Triple-A Nashville Sounds

Black will start the season knocking on the door of the big leagues after a 2023 campaign that finished in Triple A with a 34-game stint in which he had a .942 OPS. He hit .242 in 33 at-bats in big-league camp this spring.

45. Luisangel Acuña , SS, New York Mets — Triple-A Syracuse Mets

We are inching closer to having the Acuña brothers battle it out in the NL East. Acquired from the Rangers last July for Justin Verlander , the younger Acuña struggled in Double A after the trade but the Mets are ready to challenge the 22-year-old shortstop, who has at least 40 stolen bases in each of his three full minor-league seasons.

46. Cole Young , SS, Seattle Mariners — Double-A Arkansas Travelers

The talented shortstop had a .399 OBP between two A-ball levels in 2023. He reaches Double A well before his 21st birthday (July 29).

47. Emmanuel Rodriguez , OF, Minnesota Twins — Double-A Wichita Wind Surge

The electric Rodriguez posted a .400 OBP in High A as a 20-year-old last season. He’ll bring power, speed and patience to Double-A Wichita to start the year.

48. Bubba Chandler , RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates — Double-A Altoona Curve

Chandler began his career as a two-way player, but his path to the big leagues will come on the mound. Last season was his first as a full-time pitcher and he made 25 starts, posting a 4.54 ERA with 128 strikeouts in 111 innings. He got one start in Double A to end last season and will pick up where he left off this year.

49. Cade Horton , RHP, Chicago Cubs — Double-A Tennessee Smokies

Horton finished his pro debut season with six starts in Double A, and he begins 2024 back at that level. He may not be there for long, however, as he allowed just four earned runs in 27 innings for the Smokies last season.

50. Cam Collier , 3B, Cincinnati Reds — High-A Dayton Dragons

Collier had a somewhat quiet first full pro season with Low-A Dayton last year, but after a strong spring training, he’s moving up to High A to begin his age-19 season.

Other notable assignments

• Max Muncy , ranked as the A’s top prospect by Law, begins his age-21 season in Triple A following a solid second half of 2023 in Double A, when the shortstop posted an .833 OPS for Midland.

• Royals top prospect Blake Mitchell began this season at the Low-A level with the Columbia Fireflies. Mitchell was drafted out of high school last season and played 13 games in the Arizona Rookie League.

• Right-hander Chase Dollander , Law’s No. 75 prospect and the 2023 No. 9 pick, makes his pro debut for the Rockies in High A, skipping over both Rookie ball and Low A.

• Right-hander Noble Meyer (No. 92) begins the year with the Low-A Jupiter Hammerheads. He was the Marlins’ top pick last season (No. 10 pick).

• Reds shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo (No. 78) will likely miss the season after having surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder.

• Giants left-hander Carson Whisenhunt ( just missed list ) finished last season on the IL but began his 2024 season in Triple A by retiring nine of the 10 batters he faced, striking out six, in three scoreless innings.

Preseason top prospect coverage

Top 100 MLB prospects 2024: Keith Law’s rankings, with Jackson Holliday at No. 1

The 10 MLB prospects who just missed Keith Law’s top 100 ranking: Abel, Jones and more

MLB 2024 farm system rankings: Keith Law ranks all 30 teams, Orioles are new No. 1

A list of every MLB team's top 20 prospects for 2024 by division

Bigger, faster, better: Explaining MLB's unprecedented wave of young stars

(Top photo of Holliday: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)

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Melissa Lockard is a senior editor and writer for The Athletic. She edits MLB content and focuses her writing on MLB prospects and draft coverage, with a particular focus on the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants. Before joining The Athletic, she covered baseball for a variety of outlets, including Scout.com, 2080baseball.com and FoxSports. She is the founder of OaklandClubhouse.com. Follow Melissa on Twitter @ melissalockard

• Using Common Features for HCM

Examples of Effective Sequencing

Some date-effective objects, such as assignments, create a physical record for each update on one day. Physical records with the same effective start date have effective sequence numbers. This topic provides examples of effective sequencing in assignment histories.

Changing the Assignment Working Hours

You create an assignment for a worker. Later the same day, you update the assignment working hours. This change isn't a correction, but an update. The assignment history is as shown in this table.

Changing the Assignment Manager

You update a worker's assignment twice on 14 November, 2022. You change the:

Assignment manager from S. Taylor to J. Miles.

Assignment manager from J. Miles to M. Scott and the grade from C14 to C15.

Effective sequencing doesn't apply to assignment manager and work measures. Because effective sequencing applies to grades but not assignment managers, the assignment history is as shown in this table after you make both updates.

Changes to assignment managers and work measures are corrections rather than updates. Only the last change made on any day remains in the object history. The change of manager to M. Scott overwrites the first change from S. Taylor to J. Miles.

© Ron Holman / Visalia Times-Delta / USA

Revealing the Assignments of the Diamondbacks Top Prospects in 2024

Find out where the organization's top prospects will play at the start of the 2024 season!

• Author: Michael McDermott

In this story:

Saturday night marked Opening Day for the Diamondbacks affiliates in Low-A, High-A, and Double-A. The organization's Triple-A affiliate, the Reno Aces, have already completed five games so far and are 2-3. With the full minor league season under way, here are the assignments for the organization's Top 30 prospects entering the 2024 season.

MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks

RHP Bryce Jarvis (No. 12), INF Blaze Alexander (No. 25)

Both Jarvis and Alexander made the D-backs Opening Day roster , the former as a long man and the other as a reserve infielder. Jarvis has already appeared in two games this season, pitching to a 4.50 ERA in four innings. Alexander has played in mostly a platoon role, with all four starts coming against lefties, with a .417/.500/.667 slash in 14 career plate appearances.

Upon making the Opening Day roster, both Jarvis and Alexander will be removed from the next prospect list update.

Triple-A: Reno Aces

INF Jordan Lawlar (No. 1), RHP Slade Cecconi (No. 4), OF Jorge Barrosa (No. 16), LHP Blake Walston (No. 18), RHP Cristian Mena (No. 21), RHP Justin Martinez (No. 26)

Three of these prospects will be in Reno's rotation for much of the season. Cecconi's long term role with the organization is a bit unclear, based on comments from manager Torey Lovullo. In February, he referenced Cecconi's stuff beginning to fall off around the 65 pitch mark and when the right-hander was optioned to Reno Lovullo did not commit to the idea of him starting. Barrosa saw brief MLB action this season, hitting .200 with a double and an RBI in three games against the New York Yankees.

Walston will be in his second year with Reno. He struggled with walks and command for much of the 2023 season, then turned in another poor outing in his first start of the year. He'll need to show more progress this year in order to earn an opportunity to pitch in MLB. Mena might be the biggest sleeper amongst all the pitching prospects in the organization. It's quite possible a year from now he could be the top pitching prospect, depending on if the velocity gains he made this spring last throughout the year. Combined with swing-and-miss secondary stuff, Mena is the one guy to keep a close eye on in 2024.

Justin Martinez still awaits his chance for another big league opportunity. The big right-hander averages 100+ MPH on a 4-seamer and sinker. The 4-seamer is a relatively straight pitch in terms of action. However what elevates his profile is an above-average slider and a splitter that's at least plus-plus and pushing 80 grades. The splitter is his go-to pitch for swings and misses, although the slider is also good at missing bats as well.

Lawlar was expected to be the everyday shortstop in Reno until a thumb injury from picking up a baseball in defensive drills. He's now recovering from surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right thumb and will be out until June.

Double-A: Amarillo Sod Poodles

LHP Yu-Min Lin (No. 5), RHP Dylan Ray (No. 9), 1B Ivan Melendez (No. 10), OF A.J. Vukovich (No. 15), C J.J. D'Orazio (No. 22), RHP Yilber Diaz (No. 26)

Lin is a smaller left-hander listed at 5'11" 160, with a wide arsenal of pitches to throw at hitters. His sinker sits 89-92 MPH to go with a plus changeup and two usable breaking balls. Dylan Ray will begin the year on the 60-day injured list, with a transaction date of March 22nd, with no update as to what the injury is.

Melendez and Vukovich both bring impressive power ceilings, but questions about their ability to hit. Melendez will need to cut his strikeout rate from 34% to stay a prospect, while increasing the walk rate and number of balls put into play. Vukovich has made a somewhat successful transition from third base to the outfield, increasing his chances of sticking on a major league roster. He'll need to be more consistent with the bat to get promoted to Reno.

J.J. D'Orazio profiles as your quintessential backup catcher who has enough of everything to stick at the position. He's a bat-first type of catcher who really struggled in his first stint in Amarillo after lighting the Northwest League on fire to start last season.

Yilber Diaz is a power arm that has issues consistently commanding the ball. His profile screams reliever with the possibility of developing three "plus" pitches. His fastball sits 95-98 MPH with carry, a big sharp curveball, and a slider that's made significant progress and become a swing-and-miss pitch in its own right. He's a guy who could make an impact as early as this season should the team convert him to a reliever for good.

High-A: Hillsboro Hops

INF Tommy Troy (No. 3), INF Gino Groover (No. 8), OF Jack Hurley (No. 13), RHP Ricardo Yan, C Christian Cerda (No. 27)

2023 draftees Tommy Troy, Gino Groover, and Jack Hurley will begin their first full season with Hillsboro after ending the last season there. Troy and Groover are expected to fly through the system to get to the major leagues. Hurley is a tooled up outfielder that struggled with swing-and-miss facing pro pitching.

Yan is a righty with a lower arm slot and the classic sinker/slider profile that comes with it. He profiles as a bullpen arm that matches up primarily against right-handed batters, who he held to a .153/.272/.197 slash against.

Cerda has a higher ceiling than D'Orazio offensively due to better raw power and a more disciplined batting eye. He has all the physical tools necessary to not only stick, but be a potential low-end starter behind the plate.

Low-A: Visalia Rawhide

OF Druw Jones (No. 2), INF Jansel Luis (No. 6), 3B Ruben Santana (No. 11), INF Cristofer Torin (No. 14), RHP Landon Sims (No. 22), LHP Caden Grice (No. 30)

Druw Jones will repeat the level he struggled to start 2023. He'll have a lot to prove this year. The young infield trio of Luis, Santana, and Torin will get their first taste of full season baseball after playing in Visalia down the stretch last season. Landon Sims and Caden Grice are two guys who could rocket up the system based on how they perform this season. Sims feels he's close to back two years removed from Tommy John surgery and learning a cutter as a third pitch. Grice will focus on the mound, although no indication has been given if the former two-way star at Clemson will be allowed to hit in the pros.

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Penguins' Jansen Harkins: Going to AHL for conditioning

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Harkins (hand) will join AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a conditioning assignment, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports.

Harkins has missed 15 games since breaking his hand in a fight against the Capitals on March 7. He has four assists in 43 NHL appearances this season. Harkins should return to a fourth-line role following his conditioning assignment.

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Delegates for RNC have their hotel assignments, marking 'major milestone' for planning of convention

As Milwaukee prepares to host the 2024 Republican National Convention, a major milestone has been reached --sleeping arrangements.

Delegates from 50 states and six territories were informed last week of their hotel assignments, businesses participating in a virtual information session on Thursday were told.

"The starting gun just fired," said Reince Priebus, chairman of MKE 2024 Host Committee.

Delegations can now start making plans to indulge in Wisconsin bars, restaurants, hospitality, entertainment and other businesses, he said.

"You're going to have about 50,000 – I'd call it full-time guests – people who are staying here," said Priebus, who served as chairman of the Wisconsin delegation in previous conventions.

"If you think about it, if you're chairman of one delegation... we're not just going to the Fiserv Forum at night and going to the show that you watch on TV and going back to the hotel," he said.

"What I had to do as chairman of one delegation is I had to build out my entire week's activities."

No details of hotel assignments provided

Participants in Thursday's session were not told which delegation is staying at which hotel. The convention is scheduled for July 15-18 in Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum.  

Priebus said delegates will now start planning meals, activities and social gatherings for each day during the convention.

"Imagine you got 56 of these delegations and each of them have their own set of things that they need to do," Priebus said.

Anne Hathaway, chairwoman of Committee On Arrangements for the Republican National Committee, said the committee is working the delegations to make the experience smooth "and spur additional visits."

"There's not a one-size-fits-all," Hathaway said. "We look at the hotels, we look at the community and we try to make sure that we fit the pieces together so that each state and territory can deliver a first class, a very special week for their delegations."

Hathaway said having the hotel designations settled at this point is "a huge milestone for us. It wasn't done in 2016 until May."

"We are at least four weeks ahead of schedule," Hathaway said. "Things will start to come together and contracts will begin to be signed."

Committee looking at sites for 'unique events'

Hathaway added the committee has made 179 connections for "unique events." The committee has toured 121 venues and completed 354 site tours.

Milwaukee-area businesses hoping to capitalize on the convention submitted questions in advance to be answered by Hathaway and Priebus. 

"Our team has connected our hotel partners with the delegation points of contacts, so we're solidifying what their plans are for that week," Hathaway said. "As I mentioned, there's no 'one model.' Every state and territory does it differently."

More: With RNC security plans still in the works, Milwaukee boat companies uneasy about potential lost business

Nearly 1,000 area businesses have signed up for the MKE 2024 Host Committee’s vendor directory.  

With the convention three months away, businesses have been anxious to receive more direction on how to handle the influx of visitors to the area . 

Businesses have long had the convention marked on their calendars since it was announced last year.  

Traffic to and from the convention is expected to be congested, and the committee expects to use roughly 400 extra buses and shuttles to ferry delegates and other visitors around the area.  

The RNC has tasked Transportation Management Services to source as many local and regional transportation companies as possible for the event. So far, the RNC said it has one third of the buses from Wisconsin companies.  

Security zone details will come during the summer

Security around Fiserv Forum is going to be tight during the convention with some surrounding businesses likely to be within the security zone . 

Hathaway said there is no timeline for the specific details of the security zone.

"I'll be candid, I don't think it will be as timely as you all would like it because this is a situation where we're not going to tell the bad guys and give them enough time to figure out how to be disruptors," Hathaway said, adding that specific details may be released "close to the end of June, maybe early July."

Hathaway said the committee is working with Milwaukee Police Department, the mayor's office, and Secret Service to make the convention secure.

Hathaway said the Secret Service will reach out to businesses located within the security perimeter.

"They usually go door-to-door to meet one-on-one with different businesses in order to work through a plan with each (business) to be able to maintain their business operating and ensure that we limit the disruption as much as possible," Hathaway said.

The Secret Service also plans to host briefings for businesses.

Hathaway said the briefings "are really, really important for those that might be affected."

"There's going to be a lot of questions with regards to coming and going, with regard to parking," Hathaway said. "And the Secret Service will be happy to answer them and try to make things as clear as possible during those briefings."

On road closures in downtown Milwaukee, Priebus said "there will be some disruption, for sure."

"The goal is to be as least disruptive as possible and also as safe as possible. It's a national security special event, Secret Service takes over control," Priebus said. "There's positives and negatives to all of this as far as where you sit inside, outside (the perimeter) and all the people that are coming and going."