Define Your Assignment
Regardless of the assignment, department, or instructor, these habits will give you a good start:
- Read the assignment carefully as soon as you receive it. Do not put this task off! Reading the assignment early in the process will save you time, stress, and problems later. An assignment can seem easy at first, especially if the instructions are short. Remember that there may be something that is time sensitive that you'll need to allot for: multiple due dates, required readings, or even new skills to learn.
- Ask the instructor about anything you do not understand. Your instructors want you to succeed! If you aren't sure about a part of an assignment, don't be afraid to get more clarification. Both you and and your final grade will be happy if you understand your assignment before progressing down the wrong path.
Ask yourself a few basic questions as you read your assignment:
- When is the assignment due?
- What is the purpose of the assignment?
- Present a coherent picture using a variety of sources?
- Take materials learned in class and apply it to a new situation?
- Decide if you agree with one interpretation more than another?
- Using a specific method of analysis on your own body of evidence?
- Learning a new skill (e.g. close reading, data analysis)?
- What kind of a written assignment is it?
- Annotated Bibliography
- Cause & Effect
- Classification & Division
- Compare/Contrast
- Literary Analysis
- Persuasive/Argumentative
- Poetry Explication
- Rhetorical Analysis
- Summary
- What citation format should I use?
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago/CMOS
- Who is your primary audience for this assignment?
- What type of sources are required?
- e.g. Articles, eBooks, Government Documents
- How many sources are required?
- How long should the paper be?
- What other technical rules are listed in the assignment or syllabus?
- (e.g. title page, margins, paragraph spacing, font size, pagination, reference list)
It can also be helpful to consider the question: What is my purpose in completing this assignment? Are you...
- being asked to research from a variety of outside sources and present a coherent picture?
- to take material I have been learning in class and apply it to a new situation?
- deciding whether you agree with one interpretation more than another?
- trying out a particular method of analysis on your own body of evidence?
- learning a new skill (close reading? data analysis? recognizing the type of questions that can be asked in a particular discipline?)?
If you understand the broader goals of the assignment, you will have an easier time figuring out if you are on the right track. Key words from the assignment can help you figure this out. Look for key terms in the form of active verbs that tell you what to do. Each of these terms can mean something slightly different, depending on the context of the course and the assignment. Again, ask your instructor if you are not sure what the assignment asks you to do.
Research & citation assistance
Research assignments can be difficult to begin, especially if you are not sure how to get started. The resources below are intended to help you with the research and writing process, but there is more help available.
Book a session with a TSTC librarian to get one-on-one assistance.
Writing Guides
Citation Guides
Research assignments can be difficult to begin, especially if you are not sure how to get started. The resources below are intended to help you with the research and writing process, but there is more help available.
Book a session with a TSTC librarian to get one-on-one assistance.
Pre-Writing
- Making a Research PlanStep by step instructions on how to write a research paper from pre-planning to submission.
- Evaluating SourcesUse this list to help you better evaluate your sources as you research.
- Concept MapsAn example of a concept map. Concept maps can be a good way to get started by getting thoughts on paper quickly.
- ListingListing is best used when you need to narrow your topic. Includes examples of listing topic ideas.
- Journalists' QuestionsThe tried and true method of the 5w's and an h. Delve deep into an idea to pill interesting topic ideas.
- FreewritingNot sure where to begin? Freewriting will allow your mind to wander so you can figure out what you know most/love best about the topic.
Writing
- Steps for Writing a Research PaperAcademic writing can be a daunting task. This step-by-step tutorial can help you get started. Remember, the best instructions for how to start on a paper are found within your course outline or assignment instructions!
- Revision Process ChecklistDon't turn in your paper only half finished! Use this checklist to make sure that you are turning in your best work.
Citation
- APA 7th Edition Quick SheetCitation basics for APA 7th edition. Find sample papers and extended guides at https://tstc.libguides.com/citation.
- Chicago/CMOS Quick SheetCitation basics for Chicago/CMOS style. Find sample papers and extended guides at https://tstc.libguides.com/citation.
- MLA 8th Edition Quick SheetCitation basics for MLA 8th edition.
Are You Making a Meal Out of Research? : A Recipe for Research Success by Type: eBookISBN: 9781000865981Publication Date: 2023This workbook has been designed to help you better understand what research is, how to do it (with activities to help you think about this in the context of your own research) and where you might start looking in the vast ocean of resources out there.
College Research Papers for Dummies by Type: eBookISBN: 9781394191123Publication Date: 2023-07-12Take advantage of all the resources available to you as you write your first research paper, from your university’s library databases to your local college center’s support services Develop common research paper writing techniques, including argumentation, research questions, and thesis statements
How to Write a Scientific Paper by Type: eBookISBN: 9781386140917Publication Date: October 29, 2018You'll learn how to outline your paper from top to down, how to develop your story, and how to think about what to write before you write it. You'll also learn how to deal with many issues that writers of science commonly face, from the fear of the blank page to dealing with critical reviews.
How to Write Essays for Standardized Tests: Advice and Examples for Ap Act and Other Common High School Exam Essays by Type: eBookISBN: 9780525571919Publication Date: November 22, 2021This essential guide expertly analyzes what graders are looking for across each of these standardized high school tests and then helps you swiftly and effectively meet their requirements.
Level up Your Essays by Type: eBookISBN: 9781742245126Publication Date: 2021-04-01Written by the people who mark your essays, it will show you step-by-step how to write high-quality essays that will get you top marks.
The Only Academic Phrasebook You'll Ever Need by Type: eBookISBN: 9781386037156Publication Date: February 28, 2019A short, no-nonsense, reader-friendly bank of academic sentence templates. It was written for both graduate and undergraduate students who already know the basics of academic writing but may still struggle to express their ideas using the right words.
The Undergraduate Research Handbook by Type: eBookISBN: 9781137341495Publication Date: 2018This is a comprehensive guide to planning and producing high-quality dissertations, written assignments and project reports at undergraduate level. It supports students of all disciplines through each stage of the research process, from drafting questions and reviewing the literature through to collecting data and presenting their work. It provides practical guidance on common problems, including writer's block and managing deadlines, and contextualises this with examples of real students'experience of research.
