Guidelines for Successful Assignments
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Rights Reserved © last updated 06/09/05
Assignments are necessary
to improve writing skills and show that you have understanding of
research to enable you to demonstrate evidence based
practice.
Thoroughly
read the assignment guidelines, this will give you clues to what
the assessors are looking for when they mark your essay. Click
here for
a list of keywords that will help you structure
your essay.
Ask tutors
for advice. They are there to help you and they do actually want you
to pass. Remember to keep in touch with them throughout the assignment.
Try and set
yourself a study timetable and make a start as soon as you can. Go
to the library when you first get your assignments or you might never
get a chance to read those essential books.
Read extensively around the
subject and remember literature searching takes a lot of time. Write down all the articles you
have read in your bibliography so you don't forget its name if you return
it. Cut and paste references in your
bibliography and transfer to the reference list as you write
them in your assignment.
Before you start
actually writing your essay make an essay plan. Make headings and write
notes underneath saying what you plan to include.
Start your essay with an
introduction of your intentions include a summary of what you plan to write
also give a rational for choosing the content if you were given a choice.
This is a good place to include a sentence or two on protecting the patients
identity.
Remember simple things like
page numbers and contents pages.
The main
body is where you
develop the ideas you mentioned in your essay plan. Send your essay to
your tutor at regular intervals to make sure your on the right track. Write
notes on your plan as ideas come to you so you don't forget. Use suitable
language that enhances your essay.
In your conclusion tie up all
the points you have made throughout the main
body of the essay. Then make
recommendations of how you can use what you have learned in your future
practice as a registered nurse.
Before you submit it read it
over first to make sure there are no silly little mistakes and make sure
you get somebody to proof read it for you too. Often you do not spot these
mistakes yourself until somebody else points it out.
To sort your reference list into alphabetical order, highlight text, click on tables from the menu followed by
sort and then paragraph and it it does it for you. This works on microsoft word.