Writing and assignments

When asked to write an essay or a report you are being asked to engage in an active learning process, one which also produces a product (the essay or report) that is then used to assess your progress on a course.

The PROCESS is the big learning opportunity. That is, when you are asked to write you are being asked:

• to think (about all the different parts of the question: what do they mean? Who should you read?)
• to revise (your course)
• to research (elements of the question – taking the course work further)
• to synthesise (conflicting arguments and evidence)
• to understand (through writing) 
• to communicate (your ideas and your thoughts about all your reading – to your reader)

Start writing!

✏ The big tip here is to start writing BEFORE you fully understand. To write to get ideas – and not wait to have ideas before you write…

✏ Explore writing as a learning process – be happy to have a go, to make mistakes and to gradually get better at it

✏ If we wanted to get better at cooking, driving or playing a musical instrument we would know that we would need to practise – a lot – in order to do so.  Approach academic writing in the same way-  practise, practise, practise!

✏ Speed write paragraphs: once you have an assignment plan – sit down and use the paragraph questions to prompt your paragraph writing. 

✏ Use the first rough drafts to help you choose more material to read. Plug those gaps.

✏ Do not aim for perfection: write something, anything… then change it.

✏ Practise writing: do not just write for assessment – get into the habit of writing something every week, every day.

Reflective writing is evidence of reflective thinking and is more personal than other kinds of academic writing. It is a way to process your experience and turn it into learning. It integrates theory and practice. This means that you will read about, evaluate, and apply theories (as well as other evidence from scholarly research) to your practice. Reflective writing is less formal and tends to be written in the first person. 

In an academic context, reflective writing usually involves:

• Looking back at something (often an event, but it could also be an idea or object).
• Analysing the event or idea (thinking in depth and trying to explain, often with reference to a model or theory from your subject).
• Thinking carefully about what the event or idea means for you and your ongoing progress as a learner or practising professional.
• Linking your experience to theories, research and evidence.

To prepare for an assignment that requires reflective writing, keep a reflective learning journal. This will help you to record your experiences and observations at the time and reflect on them later when you come to start your writing. 

At London Met Uni, the Disabilities and Dyslexia Service (DDS) have some great factsheets covering using technology for checking and editing your work.