assignment paper design simple

Free Cover Page templates

Create impressive cover pages for your assignments and projects online in just a click. choose from hundreds of free templates and customize them with edit.org..

Create impressive cover pages in a few minutes with Edit.org, and give your projects and assignments a professional and unique touch. A well-designed title page or project front page can positively impact your professor's opinion of your homework, which can improve your final grade!

Create a personalized report cover page

After writing the whole report, dissertation, or paper, which is the hardest part, you should now create a cover page that suits the rest of the project. Part of the grade for your work depends on the first impression of the teacher who corrects it.

We know not everyone is a professional designer, and that's why Edit.org wants to help you. Having a professional title page can give the impression you've put a great deal of time and effort into your assignment, as well as the impression you take the subject very seriously. Thanks to Edit.org, everyone can become a professional designer. This way, you'll only have to worry about doing a great job on your assignment.

On the editor, you will also find free resume templates  and other educational and professional designs.

Customize an essay cover page with Edit.org

• Go to formats on the home page and choose Cover pages.
• Choose the template that best suits the project.
• You can add your images or change the template background color.
• Add your report information and change the font type and colors if needed.
• Save and download it. The cover page is ready to make your work shine!

Free editable templates for title pages

As you can see, it's simple to create cover pages for schoolwork and it won’t take much time. We recommend using the same colors on the cover as the ones you used for your essay titles to create a cohesive design. It’s also crucial to add the name and logo of the institution for which you are doing the essay. A visually attractive project is likely to be graded very well, so taking care of the small details will make your work look professional.

On Edit.org, you can also reuse all your designs and adapt them to different projects. Thanks to the users' internal memory, you can access and edit old templates anytime and anywhere.

Take a look at other options we propose on the site. Edit.org helps design flyers, business cards, and other designs useful in the workplace. The platform was created so you don't need to have previous design knowledge to achieve a spectacular cover page! Start your cover page design now.

Create online Cover Pages for printing

You can enter our free graphic editor from your phone, tablet or computer. The process is 100% online, fun and intuitive. Just click on what you want to modify. Customize your cover page quickly and easily. You don't need any design skills. No Photoshop skills. Just choose a template from this article or from the final waterfall and customize it to your liking. Writing first and last names, numbers, additional information or texts will be as easy as writing in a Word document.

Free templates for assignment cover page design

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Free Front Page Design

Free Front Page Designs For Assignments And Projects [Download MS Word Templates]

A good front  page design  is important in a project because it makes a strong first impression. A well-designed cover page or front page can create a positive initial impression on the reader and set the tone for the rest of the project. It Conveys professionalism. A professional looking cover page demonstrates to the reader that the project has been completed with care and attention to detail.

The cover page should clearly communicate the title, author(s), and date of the project, as well as any other important information that the reader needs to know.

A well-designed cover page should reflect the content and tone of the project, helping to build a connection between the reader and the project’s contents.

In short, the cover page is a crucial component of a project and can have a significant impact on how the project is perceived and received by the reader.

Front Page Design Template Samples

Benefits of using a good front page design on your project

• Establish a visual identity: A consistent and recognizable design on the cover page can help to establish a visual identity for the project and make it easier for the reader to identify it in the future.
• Differentiate the project: A unique and eye-catching cover page design can help to distinguish the project from others and make it stand out.
• Create a sense of unity: A well-designed cover page can provide a sense of unity to the entire project and reinforce the idea that all of the elements of the project are part of a cohesive whole.
• Provide context: The cover page design can provide context and information about the purpose, audience, and goals of the project, helping the reader to better understand and engage with the content.
• Improving organization: A well-designed cover page can help to organize the contents of the project and make it easier for the reader to navigate.
• Facilitating access: A clear and well-designed cover page can make it easier for the reader to access the contents of the project, and quickly find the information they are looking for.
• Enhancing accessibility: For projects that are shared electronically, a well-designed cover page can enhance accessibility for users with disabilities, such as those using screen readers.

Overall, a good cover page design is not just a cosmetic detail, but an important aspect of the project that can influence the reader’s perception and understanding of the content.

A well-designed front page can set the tone for the entire project and make it stand out from the rest. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some sample front page designs, best practices and tips to help you create a stunning front page design for your next project.

Front Page Designs Of Assignment

Front page designs for assignments [free ms word template download].

Creative Front Page Design For Assignment [Free MS Word Template Download]

MORE ASSIGNMENT TEMPLATES

Tips for Stunning Front Page Design Of Assignment

While it’s important to keep the front page design simple, that doesn’t mean it can’t be creative. You can still add a touch of personality to your design while making sure it’s organized and professional.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Use a unique font or color scheme
• Incorporate illustrations or graphics related to your project topic
• Experiment with different layout options

Science Project Front Page Design [Free MS Word Template Download]

When it comes to designing the front page for a science project, the design should reflect the topic and make the project stand out. You can include images or graphics related to the topic, and use a font that is easy to read.

Front Page Design For Physics Project

Front Page Design For Chemistry Project

Front Page Design Tips For Chemistry Project

To design a cover page for a Chemistry project, you could try the following design concept:

• Use a light blue or green gradient to represent the chemical elements in a test tube.
• Use a bold sans-serif font, such as Arial or Verdana, to write the title of the project in white or yellow. Make the title the focal point of the page.
• Use a smaller sans-serif font, also in white or yellow, to write a brief description of the project, such as “An investigation into the properties of chemical reactions.”
• Use a smaller sans-serif font in black to write your name, class, and date of submission, positioned in the bottom right or left corner of the page.
• Add the logo of your school or university in the top right or left corner of the page.
• Include a relevant image or illustration of a chemical reaction, periodic table, or other scientific concept to reinforce the subject of Chemistry.
• Consider adding a simple white border around the entire page to give it structure and definition.
• This design concept incorporates elements of the subject of Chemistry, while also keeping it simple, clean, and professional.

Front Page Design For Biology Project

Front Page Design Tips For Biology Project

For a biology project cover page, you can consider incorporating the following elements:

• Title: A descriptive and concise title that accurately reflects the content of the project.
• Author(s): The name(s) of the person(s) who completed the project, usually in a prominent position on the page.
• Date: The date the project was completed, which is typically included in the header or footer of the page.
• School or organization: The name of the school, institution, or organization that the project was completed for, if applicable.
• Relevant images or graphics: Images or graphics related to the biology topic being studied, such as diagrams, charts, or photos of specimens.
• Project description: A brief summary or description of the project, including the purpose, methodology, and key findings.
• Aesthetics: A clean and professional design with a color palette that reflects the biology topic being studied. For example, green and blue might be appropriate for an aquatic biology project, while warm oranges and yellows might be appropriate for a botany project.

It’s important to note that the specific requirements for a biology project cover page can vary based on the guidelines provided by the teacher or institution. However, these elements can serve as a starting point for creating a visually appealing and effective design for a biology project cover page.

Border Front Page Design For Project [Free MS Word Template Download]

Adding a border to your front page design can help make it look more polished and professional. You can choose a border that reflects the topic of your project, or use a simple border in a neutral color.

Front Page Design For English Project [Free MS Word Template Download]

Front Page Design Tips For English Project

To design a cover page for an English project, you can consider the following steps:

• Choose a theme that aligns with the project topic and make it visually appealing.
• Add a title that clearly represents the project, it should be big and legible.
• Add your name, class, and date in a clear and concise manner.
• If required, include the name of your instructor and school/university.
• Add any relevant graphics, images, or logos that reinforce the theme of your project.
• Make sure to use a font that is easy to read and aesthetically pleasing.
• Consider adding a border or design element that ties everything together.

Note: The design should be professional and align with any guidelines provided by the instructor.

School Project Front Page Design

Floral Front Page Design For School Project

Whether or not it’s a good idea to use a floral front page design for a school project depends on the context of the project and the guidelines provided by the teacher or instructor. If the project is related to a subject such as art, design, or gardening, then a floral design may be appropriate. However, if the project is focused on a more technical or scientific subject, a more straightforward design may be more suitable. It’s important to consider the purpose and audience of the project and to ensure that the design effectively communicates the information you want to convey.

Cute Front Page Design For Project

Simple Front Page Designs For Project

Front Page Designs For Math Project

Front Page Designs For Music Project

Handmade Front Page Design For Project

Tips to make your handmade front page designs more appealing  .

A handmade cover page design can add a personal touch to your assignment and make it stand out. Here are some elements you could consider incorporating into your design:

• Hand-drawn illustrations or graphics: Use hand-drawn illustrations or graphics that are relevant to the subject matter of the assignment.
• Handwritten typography: Incorporate hand-written typography into your design to add a personal touch. Consider using a calligraphy pen or brush to create unique, hand-lettered text.
• Collage: Create a collage using different materials, such as paper, fabric, or photographs, to create a unique and visually interesting cover page design.
• Watercolor: Use watercolor to create a painted cover page design. Consider using colors that are consistent with the subject matter of the assignment.

By incorporating these elements, you can create a handmade cover page design that is both personal and professional. Keep in mind that a handmade design may take longer to create than a digital design, so be sure to allow enough time to complete it.

What are the best tools to create a beautiful Front Page Design for a project ?

There are many tools you can use to create a beautiful front page design for a project, including:

Here’s How You Can Create a Beautiful Front Page Design in MS Word:

• Choose a page size and orientation that suits your design. Go to Page Layout > Page Setup.
• Select a theme or color scheme. Go to Design > Colors.
• Add a header or footer for branding. Go to Insert > Header & Footer.
• Insert a title text box and customize its font, size, and color. Go to Insert > Text Box.
• Add an image to the background. Go to Insert > Picture.
• Add other design elements such as shapes, lines, or text boxes to create visual interest. Go to Insert > Shapes.
• Align and arrange elements as desired. Go to Home > Align.
• Apply styles to text, such as bold or italic, to make the page look more polished. Go to Home > Styles.
• Preview the page to check its appearance. Go to View > Print Layout.
• Save the document as a template to use as a starting point for future projects. Go to File > Save As > Word Template.

A good looking front page design for a school or assignment project or a science project is important because it reflects the attention and effort put into the project, and can impact the grade or evaluation received. A well-designed front page can also effectively convey the topic and purpose of the project, making it easier for the teacher or evaluator to understand and appreciate the content. A visually appealing and organized design can also make the project stand out, showing initiative and creativity, and can help the student effectively communicate their ideas and findings. In science projects, a clear and effective front page design can also help emphasize the significance and potential impact of the research. Ultimately, a good looking front page design can enhance the overall presentation and impact of the project.

What is the downloaded file format?

.doc (MS Word file extension)

How to edit the downloaded template?

Open it in MS Word and make changes according to your need.

What is the size of the template?

It is A4 size template.

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How To Make A Cover Page For An Assignment? An Ultimate Guide

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Level Up Your Assignment Game!

What if you made a shiny assignment but forgot to make the cover page? Remember that first impression in 'The Devil Wears Prada'? Well, your cover page deserves a standing ovation, not a silent groan from your teacher. But don't worry! Here's an ultimate guide on how to make a cover page for an assignment that will transform your cover page from 'blah' to 'wow' in no time!

What is a Cover Page in an Assignment?

The cover page, your essay's first impression, sets the stage for professionalism. It's where your name, course details, and due date greet your instructor. Though not always obligatory, its polished presentation can earn you favour. Following a good format often leads to higher scores, making it a smart academic move.

Why is a Cover Page Important?

As students, we all know the adage - you never get a second chance to make a first impression. That's where the cover page comes in - it's the gatekeeper to your assignment, and trust us, you don't want to drop the ball here. Mess it up, and your professor might write you off before they even start reading. But nail it? Well, that's like hitting a home run before you've even stepped up to the plate. 

If you are thinking about how to make a cover page for an assignment, a well-formatted, error-free cover page is the key to unlocking your instructor's curiosity. Following the institution's template is just the cherry on top, showing you're a team player who respects the rules of the game. 

How to Make a Cover Page for an Assignment?

When it comes to assignments, the cover page is our chance to grab the professor's attention right off the bat. Why settle for a drab intro when you can learn all about how to design the front page of an assignment? Let's dive into the essential elements of the cover page.

1. Running Header

A running header goes on top of cover pages, separate from the main text. It's often used for APA style. Keep it short, 50 characters max, all uppercase.

Next is the title, explaining your work's content. Write it in the title case, capitalising most words. Avoid abbreviations and aim for 15-20 words. Centre the fully written title on the cover page.

3. Institution/ University Name

Your university or institution name belongs on the cover page, too. Different from the title, it shows readers where you're from and did the research. For reports or presentations, include your workplace or school.

4. Student’s Name and ID

Clearly state the author(s) name(s) and id(s) on the cover page. Include affiliations for multiple authors. For group projects, list all students' names and universities before the title. This ensures proper author credit.

Including the date on your cover page tells readers when you finished the work. Use the exact publication date. This also helps for future reference if someone needs to find work within a certain timeframe.

6. Instructor’s Information

Providing your instructor's details, such as name, designation, and department, shows you completed the work for their specific class. It ensures the assignment reaches the right person and department, avoiding any confusion.

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How to Make A Front Page of an Assignment: APA Format

The APA (American Psychological Association) format heavily emphasises the cover page details. To know how to make a cover page for an assignment in an APA format, follow these specific guidelines.

1. Page Number Placement: Start by placing the page number in the upper-right corner, always as 1, aligning it with the one-inch margin. This will be part of your running head, a feature in APA format, but for student papers, it's just the page number.

2. Title Placement: Move down three or four lines (double-spaced) from the top and centre of your paper's title. Make it bold and use proper capitalization rules for titles.

3. Author's Name: After the title, leave an empty line, then write your name. Keep it simple without any special formatting. If there are multiple authors, separate their names with commas and use "and" before the last author's name.

4. Department and School: Below your name, write your department or division, followed by your school's name, separated by a comma.

5. Course Information: Directly below your school's name, include the course name along with its numeric code.

6. Instructor's Name: Under the course information, write your instructor's full name, including any titles like 'Dr.'

7. Date: Finally, on the last line, write the date. Spell out the month for clarity.

How to Create a Cover Page for an Assignment: MLA Format

In MLA (Modern Language Association) style, you usually don't need a cover page; instead, you list essential details at the start of the first page. If you are wondering how to make an assignment front page in MLA style, here are the instructions.

1. Student’s Name: Begin with the first student’s name on the top-left corner of the page, double-spaced.

2. Additional Authors: If there are more authors, list each on a separate line following the first student’s name.

3. Instructor’s Name: Below the last author’s name, including the instructor’s title, like “Professor Willow,” on a new line.

4. Course Details: Write the course name along with its numeric code on the next line.

5. Date : Following the course details, write the date in full, avoiding abbreviations for months. You can use either day-month-year or month-day-year format.

6. Title of the Paper : Centre the title four or five lines below the date, maintaining double spacing. Remember to capitalise the title according to standard rules, avoiding bold or italics.

How to Design Cover Page for Assignment: CMS Format

CMS (Chicago Manual of Style), a citation method for acknowledging sources in academic papers, grants ownership rights to authors, preventing plagiarism and aiding readers in locating sources. However, mastering one style isn't sufficient due to varying rules.

1. Margins: Leave one-inch margins on all sides of your cover page to give it a neat look and provide space for your text.

2. Font: Stick to Times or Times New Roman font in 12 pt size for a professional appearance that's easy to read.

3. Spacing: Double-space the text on your cover page to make it clear and readable.

4. Text Alignment: Align your text to the left to create a clean, organised appearance, avoiding fully justified text.

5. Indentation: Start paragraphs, block quotes, and bibliography entries with a 1/2" indent for a structured layout.

6. Page Numbers: Number your pages in the top right corner, excluding the cover page. Include your last name to avoid confusion if pages get mixed up.

7. Two-Sided Printing: Confirm with your teacher if you can print on both sides of the paper for eco-friendly printing.

8. Title: Centre the title of your paper halfway down the page for prominence and clarity.

9. Name: Centre your name under the title to identify yourself as the author.

10. Teacher's Information: Write your teacher's name, course title, and date at the bottom, centred in three lines.

11. Font Consistency: Maintain consistency by using Times or Times New Roman font in 12 pt size for the cover page. Avoid using bold, underline, or decorative fonts.

12. Page Numbering and Count: Exclude the cover page from page numbering and total page count. It's not necessary to add a page number to the cover page.

Tips and Tricks to How to Make a Good Cover Page for an Assignment? 

Now that you have understood how to make a cover page for an assignment, it is also necessary to understand the basic tips and tricks before you start writing one. To make a great cover page, follow the steps outlined in the guide.

1. Correct Information

The main tip for knowing how to design a cover page for an assignment is to ensure that the cover page includes accurate details such as your name, assignment title, course name, date, and any other required information to avoid confusion and errors.

2. Formatting

Use consistent formatting throughout the cover page, including font style, size, and spacing, to present a polished and organised appearance that aligns with academic standards.

3. Relevance

If you’re wondering how to write thea front page of an assignment, then include relevant details that provide context. This would help the reader understand the purpose and scope of your work. 

4. Clarity and Conciseness

Keep the content of the cover page clear and concise, using simple language and avoiding unnecessary information to communicate your message effectively.

5. Professional Tone

Maintain a professional tone on the cover page by using formal language and addressing the recipient respectfully, reflecting your commitment to the assignment and your academic integrity.

6. Proofreading

Carefully proofread the cover page for any grammatical errors, typos, or inconsistencies to ensure it reflects your attention to detail and presents a polished final product.

A well-crafted cover page can make your assignment shine like a diamond in the rough. Follow these tips for how to write the front page of an assignment, and you'll impress your professor right off the bat. Don't drop the ball on this crucial first impression; knock their socks off with an A+ cover page material!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do cover pages for an assignment have pictures, what is the difference between a cover letter and a cover page for an assignment, how long should a cover letter for an assignment be, is a 2-page cover letter for an assignment too much, what is the difference between the front page and the cover page.

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• Designing Essay Assignments

by Gordon Harvey

Students often do their best and hardest thinking, and feel the greatest sense of mastery and growth, in their writing. Courses and assignments should be planned with this in mind. Three principles are paramount:

1. Name what you want and imagine students doing it

However free students are to range and explore in a paper, the general kind of paper you’re inviting has common components, operations, and criteria of success, and you should make these explicit. Having satisfied yourself, as you should, that what you’re asking is doable, with dignity, by writers just learning the material, try to anticipate in your prompt or discussions of the assignment the following queries:

• What is the purpose of this? How am I going beyond what we have done, or applying it in a new area, or practicing a key academic skill or kind of work?
• To what audience should I imagine myself writing?
• What is the main task or tasks, in a nutshell? What does that key word (e.g., analyze, significance of, critique, explore, interesting, support) really mean in this context or this field?
• What will be most challenging in this and what qualities will most distinguish a good paper? Where should I put my energy? (Lists of possible questions for students to answer in a paper are often not sufficiently prioritized to be helpful.)
• What misconceptions might I have about what I’m to do? (How is this like or unlike other papers I may have written?) Are there too-easy approaches I might take or likely pitfalls? An ambitious goal or standard that I might think I’m expected to meet but am not?
• What form will evidence take in my paper (e.g., block quotations? paraphrase? graphs or charts?) How should I cite it? Should I use/cite material from lecture or section?
• Are there some broad options for structure, emphasis, or approach that I’ll likely be choosing among?
• How should I get started on this? What would be a helpful (or unhelpful) way to take notes, gather data, discover a question or idea? Should I do research? 

2. Take time in class to prepare students to succeed at the paper

Resist the impulse to think of class meetings as time for “content” and of writing as work done outside class. Your students won’t have mastered the art of paper writing (if such a mastery is possible) and won’t know the particular disciplinary expectations or moves relevant to the material at hand. Take time in class to show them: 

• discuss the assignment in class when you give it, so students can see that you take it seriously, so they can ask questions about it, so they can have it in mind during subsequent class discussions;
• introduce the analytic vocabulary of your assignment into class discussions, and take opportunities to note relevant moves made in discussion or good paper topics that arise;
• have students practice key tasks in class discussions, or in informal writing they do in before or after discussions;
• show examples of writing that illustrates components and criteria of the assignment and that inspires (class readings can sometimes serve as illustrations of a writing principle; so can short excerpts of writing—e.g., a sampling of introductions; and so can bad writing—e.g., a list of problematic thesis statements);
• the topics of originality and plagiarism (what the temptations might be, how to avoid risks) should at some point be addressed directly. 

3. Build in process

Ideas develop over time, in a process of posing and revising and getting feedback and revising some more. Assignments should allow for this process in the following ways:

• smaller assignments should prepare for larger ones later;
• students should do some thinking and writing before they write a draft and get a response to it (even if only a response to a proposal or thesis statement sent by email, or described in class);
• for larger papers, students should write and get response (using the skills vocabulary of the assignment) to a draft—at least an “oral draft” (condensed for delivery to the class);
• if possible, meet with students individually about their writing: nothing inspires them more than feeling that you care about their work and development;
• let students reflect on their own writing, in brief cover letters attached to drafts and revisions (these may also ask students to perform certain checks on what they have written, before submitting);
• have clear and firm policies about late work that nonetheless allow for exception if students talk to you in advance.
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Teaching Commons > Teaching Guides > Assignment Design

Assignment Design

Here's a short list of some general assignment design strategies that apply to a wide variety of disciplines.

A number of strategies for deterring plagiarism are discussed, including asking your students to write about current topics relevant to your course and staging essay assignments throughout the quarter.

​Integrative learning occurs when students make connections among ideas and experiences in order to transfer learning to new contexts.​

Paper and report design and layout templates

Pen perfect looking papers and reports every time when you start your assignment with a customizable design and layout template. whether you want your paper to pop off the page or you need your report to represent your data in the best light, you'll find the right template for your next paper..

Perfect your papers and reports with customizable templates

Your papers and reports will look as professional and well put together as they sound when you compose them using customizable Word templates . Whether you're writing a research paper for your university course or putting together a high priority presentation , designer-created templates are here to help you get started. First impressions are important, even for papers, and layout can make or break someone's interest in your content. Don't risk it by freestyling, start with a tried-and-true template. Remember, though: Papers and reports don't have to be boring. Professional can still pop. Tweak your favorite layout template to match your unique aesthetic for a grade A package.

Understanding Assignments

What this handout is about.

The first step in any successful college writing venture is reading the assignment. While this sounds like a simple task, it can be a tough one. This handout will help you unravel your assignment and begin to craft an effective response. Much of the following advice will involve translating typical assignment terms and practices into meaningful clues to the type of writing your instructor expects. See our short video for more tips.

Basic beginnings

Regardless of the assignment, department, or instructor, adopting these two habits will serve you well :

• Read the assignment carefully as soon as you receive it. Do not put this task off—reading the assignment at the beginning will save you time, stress, and problems later. An assignment can look pretty straightforward at first, particularly if the instructor has provided lots of information. That does not mean it will not take time and effort to complete; you may even have to learn a new skill to complete the assignment.
• Ask the instructor about anything you do not understand. Do not hesitate to approach your instructor. Instructors would prefer to set you straight before you hand the paper in. That’s also when you will find their feedback most useful.

Assignment formats

Many assignments follow a basic format. Assignments often begin with an overview of the topic, include a central verb or verbs that describe the task, and offer some additional suggestions, questions, or prompts to get you started.

An Overview of Some Kind

The instructor might set the stage with some general discussion of the subject of the assignment, introduce the topic, or remind you of something pertinent that you have discussed in class. For example:

“Throughout history, gerbils have played a key role in politics,” or “In the last few weeks of class, we have focused on the evening wear of the housefly …”

The Task of the Assignment

Pay attention; this part tells you what to do when you write the paper. Look for the key verb or verbs in the sentence. Words like analyze, summarize, or compare direct you to think about your topic in a certain way. Also pay attention to words such as how, what, when, where, and why; these words guide your attention toward specific information. (See the section in this handout titled “Key Terms” for more information.)

“Analyze the effect that gerbils had on the Russian Revolution”, or “Suggest an interpretation of housefly undergarments that differs from Darwin’s.”

Additional Material to Think about

Here you will find some questions to use as springboards as you begin to think about the topic. Instructors usually include these questions as suggestions rather than requirements. Do not feel compelled to answer every question unless the instructor asks you to do so. Pay attention to the order of the questions. Sometimes they suggest the thinking process your instructor imagines you will need to follow to begin thinking about the topic.

“You may wish to consider the differing views held by Communist gerbils vs. Monarchist gerbils, or Can there be such a thing as ‘the housefly garment industry’ or is it just a home-based craft?”

These are the instructor’s comments about writing expectations:

“Be concise”, “Write effectively”, or “Argue furiously.”

Technical Details

These instructions usually indicate format rules or guidelines.

“Your paper must be typed in Palatino font on gray paper and must not exceed 600 pages. It is due on the anniversary of Mao Tse-tung’s death.”

The assignment’s parts may not appear in exactly this order, and each part may be very long or really short. Nonetheless, being aware of this standard pattern can help you understand what your instructor wants you to do.

Interpreting the assignment

Ask yourself a few basic questions as you read and jot down the answers on the assignment sheet:

Why did your instructor ask you to do this particular task?

Who is your audience.

• What kind of evidence do you need to support your ideas?

What kind of writing style is acceptable?

• What are the absolute rules of the paper?

Try to look at the question from the point of view of the instructor. Recognize that your instructor has a reason for giving you this assignment and for giving it to you at a particular point in the semester. In every assignment, the instructor has a challenge for you. This challenge could be anything from demonstrating an ability to think clearly to demonstrating an ability to use the library. See the assignment not as a vague suggestion of what to do but as an opportunity to show that you can handle the course material as directed. Paper assignments give you more than a topic to discuss—they ask you to do something with the topic. Keep reminding yourself of that. Be careful to avoid the other extreme as well: do not read more into the assignment than what is there.

Of course, your instructor has given you an assignment so that he or she will be able to assess your understanding of the course material and give you an appropriate grade. But there is more to it than that. Your instructor has tried to design a learning experience of some kind. Your instructor wants you to think about something in a particular way for a particular reason. If you read the course description at the beginning of your syllabus, review the assigned readings, and consider the assignment itself, you may begin to see the plan, purpose, or approach to the subject matter that your instructor has created for you. If you still aren’t sure of the assignment’s goals, try asking the instructor. For help with this, see our handout on getting feedback .

Given your instructor’s efforts, it helps to answer the question: What is my purpose in completing this assignment? Is it to gather research from a variety of outside sources and present a coherent picture? Is it to take material I have been learning in class and apply it to a new situation? Is it to prove a point one way or another? Key words from the assignment can help you figure this out. Look for key terms in the form of active verbs that tell you what to do.

Key Terms: Finding Those Active Verbs

Here are some common key words and definitions to help you think about assignment terms:

Information words Ask you to demonstrate what you know about the subject, such as who, what, when, where, how, and why.

• define —give the subject’s meaning (according to someone or something). Sometimes you have to give more than one view on the subject’s meaning
• describe —provide details about the subject by answering question words (such as who, what, when, where, how, and why); you might also give details related to the five senses (what you see, hear, feel, taste, and smell)
• explain —give reasons why or examples of how something happened
• illustrate —give descriptive examples of the subject and show how each is connected with the subject
• summarize —briefly list the important ideas you learned about the subject
• trace —outline how something has changed or developed from an earlier time to its current form
• research —gather material from outside sources about the subject, often with the implication or requirement that you will analyze what you have found

Relation words Ask you to demonstrate how things are connected.

• compare —show how two or more things are similar (and, sometimes, different)
• contrast —show how two or more things are dissimilar
• apply—use details that you’ve been given to demonstrate how an idea, theory, or concept works in a particular situation
• cause —show how one event or series of events made something else happen
• relate —show or describe the connections between things

Interpretation words Ask you to defend ideas of your own about the subject. Do not see these words as requesting opinion alone (unless the assignment specifically says so), but as requiring opinion that is supported by concrete evidence. Remember examples, principles, definitions, or concepts from class or research and use them in your interpretation.

• assess —summarize your opinion of the subject and measure it against something
• prove, justify —give reasons or examples to demonstrate how or why something is the truth
• evaluate, respond —state your opinion of the subject as good, bad, or some combination of the two, with examples and reasons
• support —give reasons or evidence for something you believe (be sure to state clearly what it is that you believe)
• synthesize —put two or more things together that have not been put together in class or in your readings before; do not just summarize one and then the other and say that they are similar or different—you must provide a reason for putting them together that runs all the way through the paper
• analyze —determine how individual parts create or relate to the whole, figure out how something works, what it might mean, or why it is important
• argue —take a side and defend it with evidence against the other side

More Clues to Your Purpose As you read the assignment, think about what the teacher does in class:

• What kinds of textbooks or coursepack did your instructor choose for the course—ones that provide background information, explain theories or perspectives, or argue a point of view?
• In lecture, does your instructor ask your opinion, try to prove her point of view, or use keywords that show up again in the assignment?
• What kinds of assignments are typical in this discipline? Social science classes often expect more research. Humanities classes thrive on interpretation and analysis.
• How do the assignments, readings, and lectures work together in the course? Instructors spend time designing courses, sometimes even arguing with their peers about the most effective course materials. Figuring out the overall design to the course will help you understand what each assignment is meant to achieve.

Now, what about your reader? Most undergraduates think of their audience as the instructor. True, your instructor is a good person to keep in mind as you write. But for the purposes of a good paper, think of your audience as someone like your roommate: smart enough to understand a clear, logical argument, but not someone who already knows exactly what is going on in your particular paper. Remember, even if the instructor knows everything there is to know about your paper topic, he or she still has to read your paper and assess your understanding. In other words, teach the material to your reader.

Aiming a paper at your audience happens in two ways: you make decisions about the tone and the level of information you want to convey.

• Tone means the “voice” of your paper. Should you be chatty, formal, or objective? Usually you will find some happy medium—you do not want to alienate your reader by sounding condescending or superior, but you do not want to, um, like, totally wig on the man, you know? Eschew ostentatious erudition: some students think the way to sound academic is to use big words. Be careful—you can sound ridiculous, especially if you use the wrong big words.
• The level of information you use depends on who you think your audience is. If you imagine your audience as your instructor and she already knows everything you have to say, you may find yourself leaving out key information that can cause your argument to be unconvincing and illogical. But you do not have to explain every single word or issue. If you are telling your roommate what happened on your favorite science fiction TV show last night, you do not say, “First a dark-haired white man of average height, wearing a suit and carrying a flashlight, walked into the room. Then a purple alien with fifteen arms and at least three eyes turned around. Then the man smiled slightly. In the background, you could hear a clock ticking. The room was fairly dark and had at least two windows that I saw.” You also do not say, “This guy found some aliens. The end.” Find some balance of useful details that support your main point.

You’ll find a much more detailed discussion of these concepts in our handout on audience .

The Grim Truth

With a few exceptions (including some lab and ethnography reports), you are probably being asked to make an argument. You must convince your audience. It is easy to forget this aim when you are researching and writing; as you become involved in your subject matter, you may become enmeshed in the details and focus on learning or simply telling the information you have found. You need to do more than just repeat what you have read. Your writing should have a point, and you should be able to say it in a sentence. Sometimes instructors call this sentence a “thesis” or a “claim.”

So, if your instructor tells you to write about some aspect of oral hygiene, you do not want to just list: “First, you brush your teeth with a soft brush and some peanut butter. Then, you floss with unwaxed, bologna-flavored string. Finally, gargle with bourbon.” Instead, you could say, “Of all the oral cleaning methods, sandblasting removes the most plaque. Therefore it should be recommended by the American Dental Association.” Or, “From an aesthetic perspective, moldy teeth can be quite charming. However, their joys are short-lived.”

Convincing the reader of your argument is the goal of academic writing. It doesn’t have to say “argument” anywhere in the assignment for you to need one. Look at the assignment and think about what kind of argument you could make about it instead of just seeing it as a checklist of information you have to present. For help with understanding the role of argument in academic writing, see our handout on argument .

What kind of evidence do you need?

There are many kinds of evidence, and what type of evidence will work for your assignment can depend on several factors–the discipline, the parameters of the assignment, and your instructor’s preference. Should you use statistics? Historical examples? Do you need to conduct your own experiment? Can you rely on personal experience? See our handout on evidence for suggestions on how to use evidence appropriately.

Make sure you are clear about this part of the assignment, because your use of evidence will be crucial in writing a successful paper. You are not just learning how to argue; you are learning how to argue with specific types of materials and ideas. Ask your instructor what counts as acceptable evidence. You can also ask a librarian for help. No matter what kind of evidence you use, be sure to cite it correctly—see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial .

You cannot always tell from the assignment just what sort of writing style your instructor expects. The instructor may be really laid back in class but still expect you to sound formal in writing. Or the instructor may be fairly formal in class and ask you to write a reflection paper where you need to use “I” and speak from your own experience.

Try to avoid false associations of a particular field with a style (“art historians like wacky creativity,” or “political scientists are boring and just give facts”) and look instead to the types of readings you have been given in class. No one expects you to write like Plato—just use the readings as a guide for what is standard or preferable to your instructor. When in doubt, ask your instructor about the level of formality she or he expects.

No matter what field you are writing for or what facts you are including, if you do not write so that your reader can understand your main idea, you have wasted your time. So make clarity your main goal. For specific help with style, see our handout on style .

Technical details about the assignment

The technical information you are given in an assignment always seems like the easy part. This section can actually give you lots of little hints about approaching the task. Find out if elements such as page length and citation format (see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial ) are negotiable. Some professors do not have strong preferences as long as you are consistent and fully answer the assignment. Some professors are very specific and will deduct big points for deviations.

Usually, the page length tells you something important: The instructor thinks the size of the paper is appropriate to the assignment’s parameters. In plain English, your instructor is telling you how many pages it should take for you to answer the question as fully as you are expected to. So if an assignment is two pages long, you cannot pad your paper with examples or reword your main idea several times. Hit your one point early, defend it with the clearest example, and finish quickly. If an assignment is ten pages long, you can be more complex in your main points and examples—and if you can only produce five pages for that assignment, you need to see someone for help—as soon as possible.

Tricks that don’t work

Your instructors are not fooled when you:

• spend more time on the cover page than the essay —graphics, cool binders, and cute titles are no replacement for a well-written paper.
• use huge fonts, wide margins, or extra spacing to pad the page length —these tricks are immediately obvious to the eye. Most instructors use the same word processor you do. They know what’s possible. Such tactics are especially damning when the instructor has a stack of 60 papers to grade and yours is the only one that low-flying airplane pilots could read.
• use a paper from another class that covered “sort of similar” material . Again, the instructor has a particular task for you to fulfill in the assignment that usually relates to course material and lectures. Your other paper may not cover this material, and turning in the same paper for more than one course may constitute an Honor Code violation . Ask the instructor—it can’t hurt.
• get all wacky and “creative” before you answer the question . Showing that you are able to think beyond the boundaries of a simple assignment can be good, but you must do what the assignment calls for first. Again, check with your instructor. A humorous tone can be refreshing for someone grading a stack of papers, but it will not get you a good grade if you have not fulfilled the task.

Critical reading of assignments leads to skills in other types of reading and writing. If you get good at figuring out what the real goals of assignments are, you are going to be better at understanding the goals of all of your classes and fields of study.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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