Understanding your assignment brief

1. Read your assignment brief in detail to make sure you understand all the parts.

• Always check your task instructions carefully. If there are some parts that are not clear, ask your peers, your tutor, or seek help from the Learner Development Team studyskills@abertay.ac.uk 

2. Identify the type of assignment you are being asked to write. 
Your task instructions might explain the structure, formatting or type of assignment. Again, if you have any doubts, ask your tutor.

• An essay - should convince your reader
• A report - provides information or solutions
• A Reflection - shows connections between your learning, experiences, and the subject you are studying
• A Presentation - demonstrates how you can communicate your research
• A Poster – provides a visual way of communicating information 

3. Examine the assignment title (or question) carefully to pick out the content words and phrases which tell you what you should do.

• Instruction words tell you how to approach the content
• Subject matter words tell you specifically what you should be writing about 
• Limiting words may narrow or alter the focus of your answer 

4. Note the due date

• Construct a time management plan so that you know where you are going 
• Start the process early to get ahead.  

An important part of your initial planning is to make sure you understand exactly what the assignment question is asking. This includes the subject matter, but also the way in which you are required to write. Different questions may ask you to discuss, critically evaluate, analyse etc., and these instruction words are a key part of the question, and should be understood before you do anything (reading, note-taking or writing). 

Source: Rowntree, D. (1998) Learn How to Study: A realistic approach. Time Warner paperbacks. Fourth Edition. 

Some essay and report questions may have a narrow focus…. 

Example 1: To what extent can it be argued that Theory X and Theory Y influence managers’ motivational style?  

The above example indicates exactly which theories to focus on, and which aspects of their influence to explore. However, it does not dictate which way you have to argue. You are still free to choose your own standpoint (based on reasons and evidence) as to whether each theory may or may not influence managers’ motivational management style.   

…. while others may be quite broad.  

Example 2: Evaluate the effect of Covid-19 pandemic on job and skills demand in the UK public health sector  

The second example is much broader: it doesn’t specify which jobs or skills should be analysed. However, even if the essay question is broad, your answer should have a clear and specific focus; therefore, YOU need to choose an area of the topic to concentrate on. If answering the second of the two questions above, you would not need to write about all jobs and skills in the UK public health sector, or all areas of public health. It is normally better to write a lot about a little, rather than a little about a lot. 

• Choose one or two key aspects of the topic to focus your argument around.  
• Focus on a few examples rather than trying to cover everything that falls under that topic.  
• Decide on a standpoint you want to argue (this applies to specific questions too) 
• Make sure your introduction explains your chosen focus, aim and argument 

Look at this example of an assignment question which has been ‘unpicked’ to show: 

• Instruction words - which tell you to do something 
• Subject matter words – the main topic areas or themes outlined by the question 
• Limiting words – which provide boundaries or constraints for your assignment  

Describe and explain the upsurge of interest in environmental issues since the 1960s and discuss its impact on British Politics  

Now use this worksheet designed by Nottingham Trent University here to unpick your own Abertay assignment question. Then follow the steps towards making some notes outlining what you intend to include in your essay or report.  

• Before you start an essay or assignment, it is important to consider the task or question that you have been set.  
• Ask yourself whether it is a broad or narrow question, and if it is broad, which aspect of it do you intend to focus on?  
• Break down your question into its parts and make notes on each.  
• Consider how you will need to write; what limiting factors there are; what subjects you will need to read about.  
• Develop these notes into the first stages of your assignment plan.  
• If you are unclear as to what is expected of you, check with your tutor or try discussing the assignment with your peers.