Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.
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Assignments. You have your question -
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but where to begin?
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Why not just start writing?
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Probably not the best option.
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How about this?
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Start by understanding the task.
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Now, a task
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has two main parts:
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there is of course
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the question itself,
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and then we have the details.
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Let's look at these.
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What do we mean by 'the details'?
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Firstly, what kind of assignment
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is it?
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An essay,
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a report,
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a short-answer assignment,
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or maybe something else?
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Secondly
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- this is an important one -
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when do you need to submit?
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Thirdly, how will it be marked?
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Find out if there's
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a marking guide
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or a list of assessment criteria.
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And fourthly, is there
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a word limit?
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Knowing these four things
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can help you plan
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how much time you need to spend
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on the assignment.
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And then, we have
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the all-important question itself.
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Let's imagine you're studying literature.
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Questions have key words.
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We have 'process words',
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also called 'instruction words'.
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These tell you what you need to do.
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And 'content words and phrases',
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these tell you the topics
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to be focused on.
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Here are some common process words:
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'Compare' means
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show similarities and differences between things.
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Perhaps show which is preferable.
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'Contrast' means to look
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for differences between two things.
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'Evaluate' or 'criticise'
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means to make a judgement
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about something, based on evidence,
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not based on personal opinion.
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'Define' means to give
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exact meaning, or meanings,
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of a word, phrase or theory.
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'Discuss' means to explore an issue,
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giving both sides and
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looking at any related issues.
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'To explain' means to give
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details about something,
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and the reasons behind it.
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And to 'justify'
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means to give reasons and evidence
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supporting a point of view.
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So, take time to really understand
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what the question is asking.
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Decide what subjects you
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need to look up,
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and organise what you need to do.
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We also have a
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separate video on using
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sources in assignments.
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Ah - now all you
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need to do is the hard work.
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We're sure you'll ace it!
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