Fine-tune your writing skills and assignments with this advice from our Writing Mentors
As we head towards the final weeks of Trimester 1, it’s peak time for completing assessments. Are you tackling your assessments with confidence or are you feeling a little unsure of where to even begin?
Here, we’ve collated some of the best tried-and-tested tips from some of Deakin’s Writing Mentors to help you create outstanding assessments!
Start early
‘First of all, don’t leave your assessment until the last minute,’ says Jolene. ‘As a general rule of thumb, I like to start my assessments at least two weeks before the due date. This gives me enough time to research, outline, draft, redraft, edit, and proofread.’
Pavani agrees: ‘Just begin writing without falling into the trap that it must be perfect from the start.
Academic writing, which is essentially in any assignment, takes time and multiple revisions, therefore give yourself some time to understand and build up your work from there.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help or clarification
‘Ask questions. Not only of yourself, but your lecturers and cohort – they are all going through the same journey as you,’ says Andrew.
Hoa says: ‘Understand the assignment requirements and marking criteria: sometimes students find the instructions not clear enough, or the scope of the assignment too big. A good understanding of what lecturers expect from you is essential though: it guides you on the right track and saves you tons of time throughout the process.’
‘Don’t be afraid to ask for help because there are no stupid questions,’ adds Samridhi.
Students should absolutely utilise all the resources at Deakin to assist them in improving on their work – that’s the sole reason our services exist.
Follow appropriate guidelines
‘Understand how academic writing is presented in your field,’ says Pavani. ‘This can assist you in improving your writing skills, by framing your ideas and critical analysis. This can be done by researching examples in literature or even asking your unit chairs for readings to help with these.’
‘I always tell students: “Deakin’s referencing guide is your best friend!’ adds Hoa.
Get in touch with a Writing Mentor today!
If you want to get personalised help from a Writing Mentor about any aspect of your assessments, attend one of our drop-in sessions hosted by a Writing Mentor!
You can opt to attend one of the daily online drop-in sessions or attend the weekly on-campus sessions at Burwood or Waurn Ponds. You don’t need an appointment, just bring your assessment and your questions. You can also get in touch via email for referencing questions and brief queries.