Understanding an assignment

Usually the wording of an assignment will suggest its purpose. You might be expected to do one of the following:

• summarize information from textbooks, lectures, or research
• analyze ideas and concepts
• take a position on a topic and defend it with evidence
• synthesize (combine ideas from) several sources and create an original argument

Many assignments will ask a how or why question. Such a question cannot be answered using only facts; you will need to take a position. For example, the question “What are the survival rates for leukemia patients?” can be answered by reporting facts. The question “Why are the survival rates for leukemia patients in one state lower than in a neighboring state?” must be answered with both facts and interpretation.

If a list of prompts appears in the assignment, be careful — instructors rarely expect you to answer all of the questions in order. Look instead for topics, themes, or ideas that will help you ask your own questions.

When an assignment asks you to discuss, analyze, agree or disagree, or consider a topic, your instructor will often expect you to answer a how or why question. For example, “Discuss the effects of the No Child Left Behind Act on special education programs” is another way of saying “How has the No Child Left Behind Act affected special education programs?” Similarly, the assignment “Consider the recent rise of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnoses” is asking you to answer the question “Why are diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder rising?”

When you are asked to write in a specific discipline, pay attention to the expectations and features of the writing in that discipline . Look closely at the key terms and specialized vocabulary of the assignment and the kinds of evidence and citation style your instructor expects.

Go to related page: Understanding the assignment