The steps you need to take when preparing your assignment are:
- Read the question – you may find it helpful to rewrite the question in your own words.
- Check that you have read all parts of the question – is there different subquestions?
- Check the assessment criteria – see the marking grid.
- Write a draft structure for your assignment, with key headings and a bullet point list of all key points that you want to include in each section – in a logical order, so it reads well – as if you were presenting the information (telling the story) to your colleagues.
- Send a draft structure of the assignment to your tutor – this should be done 3 weeks before the submission deadline, otherwise you will not get feedback in time. It should not be longer than 2 pages. It should only include headings and key points in each section – not full sentences.
- For each section, think carefully about each ‘claim’ and what evidence you need to back up these claims (see Evidence based section for top tips on how to do this).
- Search the internet and module resources for evidence to support your claims
Keep a list of all references you use in the write format – you need to decide whether to use the Vancouver or Harvard format. - Next to each claim, write a sentence that summarises the evidence and the reference (name of author and year).
- Write down 2 or more points about the limitations of each piece of evidence, and a reflection of how that evidence might relate to your country.
- Repeat points 6-10 for each section.
BEFORE you submit your assignment, please check that there is:
- a word count at the beginning of the assignment.
- title, introduction and conclusion.
- an answer to every question (and sub questions).
- a source of evidence for every claim. Re-read your text and underline all claims and make sure there is evidence for each claim.
- all figures and tables have a reference.
- references for each piece of evidence – articles, websites and opinions. It should be clear in the text what are your own thoughts and what are those of another person.
- a reflection about the quality of each evidence source, and how this evidence might apply to your country.
- a list of references at the end of the assignment.
- no plagiarism – direct copying and pasting of other people’s text that you did not write. Use the Turnitin checker.
- a course cover sheet.
- a correct file name – should have the format “SURNAME” “COURSE CODE” “DATE OF SUBMISSION” e.g Dick Heller will have HellerPUEBP12a23_5_12. A resubmission will have the file nameHellerPUEBP12a23_5_12Resubmission, while a second resubmission will have the file nameHellerPUEBP12a23_5_12Resubmission2.