Planning is the key to writing a good assignment. Taking the time to plan your assignment will make it easier to understand what you are doing, ensure you are doing everything you are being asked to do, and help you achieve the task quicker. This guide introduces you to a range of planning examples.
There are two main things to think about when planning.
Create a structure for your assignment. Your assignment sheet can help you do this.
We recommend using a writing frame (there is an example on this page) or a graphic organiser
When you know what you need to do, create a time plan. We recommend using a time planner
These plans might change as you move through the process and learn more. That's ok. If that happens, simply adjust your plan as needed.
For tips on planning your time, visit our Time Management guide
It's important to think about all tasks involved in the assignment writing process, and how long those tasks might take you.
Ask yourself, how much time do I need to complete all of the tasks? This will be different for everyone. You might need more time for researching, while someone else might need more time for writing.
When you know what you need to do, create a time plan. We recommend using a time planner.
Check out this video to learn how to plan your time around the tasks you need to complete. Then download the planning template below to help you plan your time from start to finish.
State Library Victoria includes several different templates to help you with different parts of your assignment planning and writing.
How to write an essay plan (7 simple steps) by Helpful Professor
A writing frame allows you to organise your tasks or ideas into sections and put your ideas into a logical order.
Do you remember the assignment brief from the previous page? Below we show you how you can organise the tasks into sections.
Written Assignment (Summative) - Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Aotearoa New Zealand
Due date: 12 October
Word count: 1200 (+/-10%)
| Section | Content | Words | References |
| Introduction |
This essay will:
|
120 | None |
| Body |
Three main paragraphs that:
|
300 300
300 |
2
3 3 |
| Conclusion |
Summarise your key findings, and the things learnt from researching and writing the assignment
|
120 | None |
| References |
Include all the sources used in the assignment. Check out the APA Referencing Guide that was created by Whitireia and WelTec's Library Team. |
Some students like to add an extra column to their writing frame so they can write what they learn straight into their plan.
Take a moment - It's your turn to plan your assignment.
Image citation: Possessed Photography. (2019, September 8). Rerouting [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/0La7MwJhSyo