The first step to writing a strong college paper is understanding your assignment. This may sound simple, but it can often be more challenging than it seems. Below, you’ll find tips to help you break down your assignment and create a response that meets your instructor’s expectations. Use this guide to identify key clues and get started on the right track.

Start Strong with These Essential Habits

No matter what class or topic you're tackling, these two habits will help you succeed:

1. Read the Assignment Right Away

As soon as you receive an assignment, take the time to read it carefully. Don’t wait until the last minute. Even if it looks straightforward, there may be details you’ll need time to fully understand. Some tasks may require learning new skills or researching unfamiliar concepts. Starting early saves time, reduces stress, and helps avoid last-minute problems.

2. Ask Questions When You’re Unsure

If you don’t understand something, ask your instructor. Don’t be afraid to seek clarification, it’s better to ask early than to guess and get it wrong. Your instructor will appreciate your effort to understand the assignment, and their guidance will be most helpful before you start writing.

3. The Introduction or Overview

Assignments usually start with a brief discussion of the topic. This sets the stage by introducing the subject or reminding you of something relevant from class. Think of it as a quick summary to guide your focus.

For example:

• “Gerbils have influenced political events throughout history.”

• “In class, we explored the fascinating evening wear of houseflies.”

4. The Task or Main Instruction

This is the most important part of the assignment, it tells you exactly what to do. Look for action words like analyze, summarize, compare, or interpret. These verbs give you clues about how to approach the topic. Pay attention to words like how, what, why, and when, which guide you toward specific details.

For example:

• “Analyze the impact of gerbils on the Russian Revolution.”

• “Propose a unique interpretation of housefly undergarments that contrasts with Darwin’s theories.”

5. Additional Questions or Suggestions

Many assignments include extra prompts or questions to spark ideas. These are meant to help you brainstorm, not overwhelm you. Focus on the most relevant questions and don’t feel pressured to answer every single one—unless your instructor specifically asks you to.

For example:

• “How did the views of Communist gerbils differ from Monarchist gerbils?”

• “Is there truly a ‘housefly garment industry,’ or is it just a niche craft?”

6. Style Tips

Instructors often include comments about the writing style they expect. These tips guide you on how to present your ideas clearly and effectively. Common examples include:

• “Be concise.”

• “Write persuasively.”

• “Support your argument with evidence.”

Pay close attention to these suggestions—they’re a roadmap to crafting a paper that aligns with your instructor’s preferences.

7. Technical Requirements

This section outlines the specific formatting or submission details for your assignment. These rules might include:

• The type of font or paper to use (e.g., “Typed in Palatino font on gray paper”).

• Word or page limits (e.g., “No more than 600 pages.”).

• Due dates or unusual deadlines (e.g., “Submit on the anniversary of Mao Tse-tung’s death.”).

Ask Yourself These Key Questions

When reviewing your assignment, jot down answers to these essential questions directly on the sheet:

• Why was this task assigned? What does your instructor want you to learn or demonstrate?

• Who is your audience? Are you writing for your instructor, classmates, or a broader group?

• What evidence do you need? Does your paper require research, data, or examples to back up your ideas?

• What writing style is required? Is a formal tone necessary, or can you be more creative?

• What are the non-negotiable rules? Pay attention to formatting, length, and deadlines.

Think Like Your Instructor

Your instructor didn’t assign this task randomly. There’s a reason why this assignment is being given at this point in the course. It might be to:

• Test your ability to analyze or apply class material.

• Challenge your research skills by requiring library work or online searches.

• Encourage critical thinking or creativity within a specific topic.

Recognize that assignments are an opportunity to show you can handle the material as directed.

Focus on the Task at Hand

Assignments often ask you to do something specific with a topic, not just discuss it. For example:

• Analyze a concept.

• Compare ideas or perspectives.

• Provide evidence-based conclusions.

Understanding Why Your Instructor Gave You This Task

When your instructor assigns a task, it’s not just about giving you a grade, it’s about creating a learning experience. By understanding the purpose behind the assignment, you can approach it more effectively and produce stronger work.

Why Did Your Instructor Assign This Task?

Sure, part of the goal is to assess your understanding of the course material, but there’s more to it. Your instructor has likely designed this assignment to:

• Encourage you to think about the subject in a specific way.

• Help you develop skills like research, critical thinking, or application of concepts.

• Guide you toward mastering the learning objectives outlined in the course syllabus.

To figure out the bigger picture, review the syllabus, the assignment instructions, and your course readings. These materials often reveal the approach your instructor wants you to take. If you’re still unclear, don’t hesitate to ask your instructor directly for clarification.

Understanding your purpose is key to delivering what your instructor expects. Consider these possibilities:

• Are you supposed to gather and organize research from multiple sources?

• Is the goal to apply class material to a new scenario or solve a problem?

• Do you need to argue a specific point or analyze a particular topic?

Active verbs in the assignment instructions, like analyze, compare, summarize, or evaluate, offer clues about what you need to do. These keywords define your purpose and guide your approach.

Key Terms: Finding Those Active Verbs

These terms ask you to demonstrate your understanding of the subject by answering questions like who, what, when, where, how, and why.

• Define: Provide the meaning of the subject. You may need to include multiple viewpoints or interpretations.

• Describe: Offer detailed answers, addressing who, what, when, where, how, and why. You might also include sensory details like what you see, hear, or feel.

• Explain: Provide reasons or examples to clarify how or why something happened.

• Illustrate: Share specific examples that connect to the subject and show its significance.

• Summarize: Briefly outline the main ideas or key points related to the subject.

• Trace: Map out how something has changed or developed over time.

• Research: Gather information from outside sources to expand on the subject, often requiring analysis of your findings.

Relation Words: Show How Ideas Are Connected

These terms ask you to explore and demonstrate relationships between concepts, events, or theories.

• Compare: Highlight similarities between two or more things. Sometimes, you may also need to note differences.

• Contrast: Focus on the differences between two or more items.

• Apply: Use details, theories, or ideas to show how they work in a specific situation.

• Cause: Explain how one event or action led to another.

• Relate: Describe the connections between ideas, events, or concepts and explain their significance.

Interpretation Words: Defend Your Ideas with Evidence

Interpretation words ask you to present and support your perspective. This isn’t just about offering opinions—it’s about backing them up with solid evidence from your research or coursework.

• Assess: Share your opinion and measure it against specific criteria or standards.

• Prove/Justify: Provide reasons or examples to demonstrate why something is true or valid.

• Evaluate/Respond: Offer your judgment, whether positive, negative, or a mix, with clear reasons and examples.

• Support: State what you believe and back it up with evidence, data, or examples.

• Synthesize: Combine two or more ideas, theories, or concepts into a unified analysis. Avoid just comparing them—focus on why they belong together and how they interact.

• Analyze: Break down a topic into its parts to understand how they contribute to the whole or why they matter.

• Argue: Take a stand on an issue and defend it with evidence while addressing opposing viewpoints.

How to Uncover the Purpose Behind Your Assignment

1. Examine Course Materials

   • What type of textbooks or resources are being used?

     • Are they focused on background information, theories, or arguments?

     • Do they prioritize research, analysis, or interpretation?

   • These choices reflect the skills and understanding your instructor wants you to develop.

2. Analyze Classroom Interactions

   • What is your instructor’s approach during lectures?

     • Do they ask for your opinions, try to prove a viewpoint, or emphasize certain keywords?

   • Often, the style of teaching aligns with what they expect in your assignments.

3. Consider the Discipline

   • Assignments often vary based on the subject area:

     • Social Sciences: Focus on research, data analysis, and evidence-based conclusions.

     • Humanities: Center on interpretation, critical thinking, and argumentation.

4. Look for Connections

   • How do lectures, readings, and assignments connect?

     • Is there a recurring theme or skill being emphasized?

   • Understanding this design helps you see the purpose of each assignment within the course structure.

Who is your audience?

Think Beyond the Instructor

• Yes, your instructor will read your paper, but they’re assessing your ability to teach the material, not their knowledge of it.

• Imagine explaining the topic to someone curious but uninformed, like a roommate.

Set the Right Tone

• The tone is the “voice” of your paper. It should be clear, confident, and appropriate for the subject.

• Avoid being overly casual (“like, totally wigging out”), but don’t try to impress with big words that could confuse or mislead.

• Strike a balance between professionalism and accessibility.

Balance Information Levels

• Avoid skipping essential details because you assume your audience knows them. At the same time, don’t overload your writing with irrelevant minutiae.

• Example: Instead of saying, “A man in a suit met an alien with purple skin and 15 arms,” or simply, “This guy met an alien,” describe it as, “A suited man encountered a purple alien with multiple arms, highlighting the cultural differences between their species.”

The Grim Truth

In most assignments, your goal is to make an argument. Even if it’s not explicitly stated, your instructor expects you to convince your reader of something. It’s easy to forget this while researching and writing, especially when you get caught up in gathering details or simply explaining what you’ve learned.

How to Build Your Argument

1. Avoid a Simple List of Facts

   • If you’re writing about oral hygiene, for example, don’t just describe steps like, “First, brush with a soft brush and peanut butter, then floss with bologna-flavored string, and finish by gargling with bourbon.”

   • Instead, frame your point clearly: “Among oral hygiene methods, sandblasting removes the most plaque and should be recommended by the American Dental Association.”

   • Or, “Although moldy teeth may seem charming, the benefits are short-lived.”

2. Focus on Making a Clear Point

   • Remember, academic writing isn’t just about listing information—it’s about taking a stance. Think about the argument you could make about your topic, not just the facts you have to present.

What kind of evidence do you need?

The type of evidence you need for an assignment depends on the subject, assignment details, and your instructor's preferences. You might need to use statistics, historical examples, or conduct experiments. Sometimes, personal experience is allowed.

It's important to understand what evidence is required. Ask your instructor what counts as acceptable evidence. You can also ask a librarian for help. Choosing the right evidence is key to writing a strong paper.

What kind of writing style is acceptable?

You can't always tell from the assignment what writing style your instructor expects. Even if your instructor is casual in class, they may want your writing to be formal. Or, they might ask you to write a personal reflection using "I" and focus on your own experience.

Instead of assuming a style based on the subject, look at the readings you’ve been given. They can show you the type of writing your instructor prefers. If you're unsure about how formal your writing should be, it's best to ask your instructor directly.

No matter the topic or style, always focus on making your main point clear. If your reader doesn't understand your main idea, you haven't succeeded. So, aim for clarity above all else.

Technical details about the assignment

The technical details in an assignment may seem simple, but they offer important clues about how to approach the task. First, check if things like page length and citation style can be adjusted. Some professors are flexible as long as you stay consistent and thoroughly answer the assignment. Others are very strict and will take points off for not following the rules exactly.

The page length often gives you valuable insight. It shows the instructor's expectations about how much content is needed to fully address the topic. For example, if an assignment is two pages long, focus on making one strong point with clear examples. Don’t stretch it out with unnecessary details. On the other hand, if an assignment is ten pages, you can explore more complex ideas and examples. If you can’t meet the length, it’s a good idea to get help early on.

Tricks that don’t work

• Focusing too much on the cover page – Fancy titles, graphics, and binders can’t replace a well-written paper. Instructors want to see strong content, not gimmicks.

• Padding with large fonts, wide margins, or extra spacing – These tricks are easy to spot. Instructors know the tools you’re using and will immediately notice if you try to stretch the length this way.

• Reusing a paper from another class – Even if the topics are somewhat related, the assignment is meant to test your understanding of the current course material. Reusing old work can even violate the Honor Code.

• Getting too creative before answering the main question – Creativity can be great, but first, you must address the assignment’s main task. Being humorous or overly creative won’t help if you miss the key points.

Final Thoughts

Understanding your assignment’s goals and following the instructions carefully is key to writing a successful paper. Focus on clarity, stick to the required format, and always ensure your evidence supports your main argument.

Avoid common tricks that may seem like shortcuts, as they often lead to poor results. Instead, approach the task with a clear strategy, use relevant materials, and stay true to the expectations set by your instructor.

By doing so, you’ll not only earn better grades but also develop skills that will benefit your academic journey in the long run.