Student Writer Bronwyn provides some tips on how to keep on top of your course deadlines
Getting assignments on time can be tricky at the best of times, especially as they all seem so far away at the beginning of the year. If you happen to be one of these people that are able to knock out an amazing piece of work the night before it is due, then you are a lucky individual indeed and I am not jealous at all…
If, however, you are like me and need time to plan, prepare and execute your assignment then you might find these hints and tips helpful.
Firstly, know your timetable.
I don’t mean just look at your timetable at the beginning of the year to get a vague idea of what you are doing. I spend a couple of hours at the beginning of each year inputting all of the information I can gather from module handbooks and other sources into my Google Calendar.
With Google Calendar, I can set all the details I need to know in each event, colour code so I know what’s what, set reminders, invite people to the same event, and so much more.
I also love Google Calendar for its mobility, accessibility and ease of use and would encourage everyone to at least try it out, or something similar.
Below is a screen shot of how I use my Google Calendar:
Secondly, I create an assignment timetable and pin it to my wall above my desk. This gives me a constant visual reminder of what is due and when. I cross off each month which gives me an idea of how much time I have left to complete my assignment or revision.
Below is a picture of my current assignment timetable:
Lastly, I spend a couple of hours at the beginning of the year creating a rough draft of each assignment. This might seem a little excessive and unnecessary at this stage of the year, but I find it helpful for a number of reasons.
Mostly, it allows me to spend time reviewing the guidelines for each assignment, which in turn helps me to keep vigilant for key information during lectures and seminars which might help me complete my assignment.
I can then add this information into my draft, allowing me to continue focusing on lectures knowing key information is safely stored and ready to use when I need it.
Generally, I spend a few hours every other week working on each assignment adding and refining information and structure. This way I am able to build my assignment at a comfortable pace with plenty of time to make adjustments.
I can also benefit from accessing the LET services who give me guidance on how to improve my writing and assignment structure.
I hope you find these tips helpful in your MDX journey and wish you all the very best in your future assignments!
