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Writing & Communication : Starting the Assignment
Starting the Assignment: sub-module 1 of 2 of planning your writing
Understanding what is being asked in an assignment is the first step in planning what to write and how to do it. If Google Maps says turn left and you turn right, you may not arrive at your destination. Following directions carefully is very important in writing and the consequences for going in the wrong direction can be serious.
This module will cover the first steps for planning your assignment & tips for brainstorming. Along with helpful information about the beginning stages of planning an academic essay.
Planning Your Assignment: First Steps
Understanding the Assignment
Understanding what is being asked in an assignment is the first step in planning your academic essay. If Google Maps says turn left and you turn right, you may not arrive at your destination. Following directions carefully is very important in academic essay writing and the consequences for going in the wrong direction can be serious.
Understanding Key Terms
There are many key terms in an assignment questions that can often confuse students. Having a good understanding of the meaning of each term can help determine how you should approach your written assignment.
Definition - Write an essay or answer about a particular topic.
Tip - Give a brief summary of the character(s) or idea(s) that you will be mentioning in your paper. You can do this by defining key terms or by using quick anecdotes from the piece.
Definition - Describe any similarities, differences, or associations between two or more subjects.
Tip - Do not simply summarize the story or article in your paper. You must go beyond surface ideas and dig deep for further meaning.
Definition - Provide concrete evidence as to why something is true or false.
Tip - This term directs you to show, not tell readers why something is true or false. The important thing here is how well you can support your position on a topic, not what the actual position is.
Definition - Provide an explanation on a specific subject or object.
Tip - Imagine that your readers have no background information on your topic. Consider the point of view of the reader when you write, so that your description can be clear and concise.
Definition - This term asks for your opinion on a particular subject.
Tip - Remember, your opinion is valid only when you are able to justify and support it with solid evidence. Be sure to look at both sides of an argument, and counter the opposing arguments.
Definition - This term asks for your position on a particular subject.
Tip - Do not simply critique something independent of its relationship to other parts. Instead, you should relate this idea or object to other parts of the text and explain how it helps you understand the overall meaning of the text.
Brainstorming Techniques
Once you understand what your assignment is asking you to do, you can begin to come up with ideas of how to accomplish it. Brainstorming is a process of creative thinking that is used to generate ideas and/or solutions to a problem.
Watch this video or read the text below to learn how to brainstorm and generate ideas for any written assignment.
- Define your topic. Be sure you understand your assignment. What have you been asked to write about and why? These questions will help you focus on the purpose of your writing.
- Understand your audience. Who are your potential readers? Think about the type of information they will be looking for and what will interest them.
- Become familiar with the topic. What do you already know? What are your immediate ideas and reactions to this topic? Make a note of your thoughts.
- Determine what you need to find out. What areas are you still unfamiliar with? Create a list so your research is focused; this will also break the process down into smaller steps so that it’s less time consuming.
- Try to select a topic based on personal interest. Researching and writing your assignment will be more enjoyable if you choose to write about something you are interested in.
- Plan your objective. What is the goal of your writing? If you are presenting research, choose a topic that you have great interest in and one that you can find sufficient information about. If you are arguing a point, choose a side you can strongly defend.
- Talk about your writing. Telling someone about the topic of your writing allows you to hear your ideas and prompts you to clarify your points. Feedback from your listener can also help you refine your ideas.
- Share your writing. Working with others often results in more good ideas than working on your own. If you are working on a group assignment, start by writing your ideas on a piece of paper, then pass the paper to each of your group members so that they can write their ideas down.
Planning Tips
- Read the assignment carefully. Pay special attention to key or ‘command’ words like 'Compare', 'Evaluate', or 'Discuss'.
- Understand the instructions.Make sure you know what the key terms in your assignment mean before you start writing.
- Highlight key terms.Refer to the terms to help you generate ideas and start to put your thoughts in order.
- Access help when in doubt.Discuss the assignment with your instructor if you have doubts about assignment instructions. Writing tutors can also be good resources.
Study Tools
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Key Terms in Written Assignments Opens in a new windowUse this tip sheet as a reference to help you understand the key terms in your written assignments.
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Brainstorming Tips Opens in a new windowUse this tip sheet to improve your brainstorming.
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Key Terms and Structures - Opens in a new windowUse this tip sheet to think about how you will structure your writing.
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Assignment Planner (Seneca Polytechnic) Opens in a new windowUse this assignment calculator to break down your assignment or project into manageable steps.
Planning your Essay: First Steps
Planning your Essay
Academic Writing is the main form of writing required in post-secondary education. It involves understanding the key components of how to write an essay, formulate an argument or main idea, conduct academic research, integrate sources, and write effectively.
Before you begin to write your essay, it is important to do some planning to set yourself up for success. As the saying goes, “Well begun is half done.” This is because a good plan gives you direction and structure for your writing.
- Understand the instructions.Make sure you know what key terms in the assignment mean before you start writing. For example, ‘discuss’ is different from ‘critique.’
- Identify a point.Try to identify a point that you want to make with your ideas.
- Ask and answer ‘why?’Your reader make be asking why when you are writing, so make sure you are also thinking of “why” you are making this point or giving this piece of information.
- Organize your ideas.Create an organizer that captures your ideas in a form that works for you, whether it is a sequential planner or a graphic organizer.
- Have the research to support your thesis.Remember, a thesis statement that you cannot support will fall like a stone. You need strong points to help it from falling.
Creating a Thesis Statement
Watch this video or read the text below to learn how to write an effective thesis statement.
Click on the boxes below to read about thesis statements.
A thesis statement focuses your ideas into one or two sentences. Its purpose is to tell your audience what point or claim you will prove in your essay. In an essay, a thesis statement is most often found at the end of the introductory paragraph. In this way, the thesis statement creates more of an impact on the audience.
All thesis statements should have the following characteristics in common:
- It should narrow the subject to a single, central idea.
- It should claim something specific and significant about your subject.
- It should be an idea that you can support with evidence, rather than a fact.
- It should convey your purpose and reason for writing.
- It can provide an outline of the points that you will be discussing in your essay. This will let the reader know what to expect, and it will help keep your argument focused.
When you are writing an essay you should construct your thesis statement around the question provided by your professor. If your professor has not given you a particular question, you should construct your thesis statement around your own viewpoint.
Make sure the topic is not too broad or general (e.g. choosing ‘the media’ as a topic is too broad; whereas focusing on One3 aspect of the media, such as television, is better). Your thesis statement should focus on a specific aspect of this topic. Make sure that your thesis statement clearly expresses your position or viewpoint on the topic. Think of an idea or viewpoint that you can easily defend with examples and evidence.
Also, be sure to keep in mind the type of essay you are writing (e.g. comparison/contrast, cause/effect, etc.) There are different ways you can formulate your thesis depending on whether you have to write about fiction or non-fiction.
Non-Fiction —Five paragraph essay
When you are writing a five paragraph essay, it is important to include three main points (One3 from each body paragraph).
Example: “Many people immigrate to Canada to escape oppression, avoid poor living conditions, and learn the English language.”
The main points that you are covering are:
- People immigrate to escape oppression.
- People immigrate to avoid poor living conditions.
- People immigrate to learn the English language.
Fiction—Short story
When you are writing an essay on a short story, your thesis tends to be more specific and usually relates directly either to the question that you have been given, the short story, or both.
- e.g. Question: Show how John is unable to escape a life of crime by referring to specific examples in the short story.
- Thesis: “John is unable to escape a life of crime because of his abusive father, circle of friends, and drug problems.”
You can use the thesis statement checklist opens in new window to make sure your thesis statement is an effective thesis statement.
Essay Tools
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Creating an Effective Thesis Statement: Checklist - Opens in a new windowUse this checklist to ensure that you are writing a clear and effective thesis statement.
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Thesis Statement: Tip Sheet Opens in a new windowUse this tip sheet for help writing thesis statements.