Clarifying Your Assignment
It is important to know what your teacher expects of you before you begin to research or write. There are a few strategies you can use to help clarify what your teacher means.
1. Come to school every day and pay attention. There is no substitute for this.
2. Listen when your teacher explains the assignment. Ask questions--chances are if someone smart like you doesn't quite understand, other students won't either. Your questions will help them, too! Ask your questions right away. Don't start your essay unless you are clear on what your teacher is asking for. You don't want to waste your time or have to redo anything.
3. Circle all the verbs (analyze, appraise, predict, compose, construct, create). Read the verbs to yourself.
4. Rewrite the assignment in your own words.
5. Figure out what the technical guidelines are. The prompt should tell you when the assignment is due, how to format your paper, which font size to use, how to cite sources. Follow these guidelines to get an A!
1. Come to school every day and pay attention. There is no substitute for this.
2. Listen when your teacher explains the assignment. Ask questions--chances are if someone smart like you doesn't quite understand, other students won't either. Your questions will help them, too! Ask your questions right away. Don't start your essay unless you are clear on what your teacher is asking for. You don't want to waste your time or have to redo anything.
3. Circle all the verbs (analyze, appraise, predict, compose, construct, create). Read the verbs to yourself.
4. Rewrite the assignment in your own words.
5. Figure out what the technical guidelines are. The prompt should tell you when the assignment is due, how to format your paper, which font size to use, how to cite sources. Follow these guidelines to get an A!