How to Write Your Assignments

Some of the information is in the handbook or you could get them from the graduate office or you could easily ask your programme leader. But there are some which is not in the handbook, as I have learned as a first timer. I come from the Indian exam culture and the first time assignment of 5000 words to critically analyse an evidence based practice was quite daunting. So this is intended for those who come from a similar background. This is what University of Manchester expects of you when they request an assignment of 3000 words or more.

First glance impression

Simple things to make your essay grab the attention of the reader

• Alignment – the whole assignment needs to be aligned – justified.
• Font size – the font size is 12 or more.
• Font type – use the most common – times new roman or comic sans. You are trying to make it easier for the examiner to read. So use eye-friendly font types.
• Spacing – it should be not less than 1.5. My advice is to use double spacing between sentences. It is easier to read.
• Word count – always limit to your assignment to the word count. Usually there is a 10% waiver over or under. But I would say, keep it to the minimum requirement, because the more you say, the more the chance of mistakes.
• Spell check – print out your assignment and read it infinite times or ask someone else to read it. Give special attention to the first page. Don’t put off the reader by grammatically incorrect first sentence or incorrect syntax in the first paragraph. Also check out the use of American spellings. Use English spellings.
• Insert a course outline in front of the assignment which includes
• student number
• name of the course
• name of the course leader
• title of the assignment
• word count
• date and time of submission
• Insert page numbers – usually at the bottom right end of each page.
• Insert your student number – on each page at the top right end of each page

Now to the content of the essay

Of course, this varies with your subject. But again there are certain common attributes the lecturers look for in your essay, irrespective of your subject.

Introduction & background

• No dramatic introduction. Remember this is not English literature. Each word is counted for and assessed. Sometimes creativity will cost you your marks.
• Be straightforward and say what you have to say and what you are going to say
  • the focus of this essay is to critically discuss the findings of ……
    • here I am going to explain…..
• Use of first person – limit the use of first person in your essay.

Some examples

This paper will focus on/examine/give an account of……………………………..:
This essay critically examines/discusses…………………………………………
The purpose of this paper is to review recent research into the ……
This paper will review the research conducted on…….. ………..
This chapter reviews the literature concerning the usefulness of using ……
The aim of this paper is to determine/examine………………………………….
The aim of this study was to evaluate and validate …….

Body of the essay

• Limit the use of abbreviations. Even the common ones such as for example (i.e) limit its usage. Better to use none at all. (But it is near to impossible).
• Reference- Each sentence you write which is not yours need to be referenced accurately. Use Harvard system of referencing. Your hand book is a good guide. Endnote is a very a good soft ware and the university conducts study sessions on it. The website is www.library.manchester.ac.uk/eresources/managerefs/usingendnote/

Other articles are:

• Nothedge A. The good study guide. Milton Keynes: Open University, 1990.
  • Sackett DL, Rosenberg WM, Muir Gray JA, Haynes RB, Richardson WS. (1996) Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn’t. BMJ 312:71-2.
  • studentBMJ 2002;10:397-440 November ISSN 0966-6494
• Critiquing- the so what? Each referred sentence needs your in-depth perusal. For example, you say “…..thus we can conclude cancer effects not only the diagnosed person but also the carers and family of the diagnosed person.” This is descriptive. To go a step further and critically analyse you think ….. So what? And you write to complete the thought “… therefore resources should be available not only to the cancer patients but it should also extend to those who look after cancer patients in the community….”
• Think before, during and after you write
• Each sentence you write, think
• What can you add? Why do you add?
• Do you disagree, why do you disagree?
• What is your argument? In arguing, compare and contrast
• Do you agree? Why do you agree? – you might easily be able to provide evidence from other nursing areas. For example, I agree Lewin’s change theory is the most often used to manage change in nursing practice. There is evidence from ……….that it is has been used effectively to manage change.
• Think objective but collect data subjectively. Be a rapid reader, read voraciously. I always find it useful to store the articles in the computer in three folders- good, very good, not so good. This is just after a glimpse. After you complete your literature search, then go through the folders and read again and again.
• Synthesis – Remember the more you have evidence of synthesis the better marks you procure. Bring in other fields – sociology, psychology, etc into your articles. But remember it should be relevant. You need to be quite shrewd and tactful of how you bring in other areas and merge them to your topic. No wonder nursing is an art as well a science.

Conclusion and recommendation

Here you say what you have said. Remember no new reference, no new ideas. Say why you were not able to discuss about a topic in depth. Point out the weak points of your essay. Recommend another study which could eliminate these weaknesses. Always conclude with something positive.

Examples

• This paper has given an account of and the reasons for the widespread use of….
• This essay has argued that X is the best instrument to ……
• This assignment has explained the central importance of…….