54 Understanding the Assignment
Robin Jeffrey; Jenn Kepka; and Melissa Elston
Learning Objectives
- Understand expectations for writing essays in an academic setting.
- Identify the unique requirements for assignments depending on discipline and instructor.
Assignment analysis and drafting
We need to complete one more step in the analysis before we get down to writing the paper itself. However, before we move to this, it’s important to consider whether a paper is what’s being required.
Some faculty may ask for composition that happens not only in writing. Look for prompts that allow for different types of response, like a video, or a slideshow, a collage, or a podcast. This is sometimes referred to as multimodal composition, and you can find more information about how to analyze and respond to these assignments in Chapter 4.
Analyzing the requirements of the assignment
One of the first questions instructors usually get about an assignment is, “How long does it have to be?”, followed swiftly by, “When is it due?” These are important considerations in any assignment, but they shouldn’t define what you write about — until you’ve fully analyzed your assignment.
Once we understand the topic, have a question to answer, and know who we’re writing to and why, it’s time to figure out how much we can say. This is defined both by length requirements and time constraints.
These can take a little unpacking, too.
Considering required length
Some papers will require a set length, say three to five pages or 1,000 words. Almost all word processors will count words, lines, and pages for you. Watch the language of these requirements carefully. Here are some questions to ask about an instructor’s required length:
- For page limits, are the pages single- or double-spaced? (If not, check; most college papers will be double-spaced, but some writing classes, such as business classes, will require different formats).
- Is there a required font size? (If not, assume 12-point font will be used).
- Does the page limit include reference pages? For instance, if I write a three-page paper but have a one-page list of sources, does the instructor consider this a four-page paper or a three-page paper? (Usually, source pages do NOT count into page limits or word counts).
- Does the assignment require any tables, charts, or illustrations, and will they count into the overall length? (Don’t assume that they do!)
- If a paper has only one limit, is it a minimum, maximum, or strict limit? For example, if you’re asked to write a four-page paper, does that mean you have to write AT LEAST four pages, AT MOST four pages, or EXACTLY four pages? It will make a big difference!
Once you’ve figured out how many pages you need, look at the other requirements for the paper. Some papers will ask you to use a specific model for formatting. Sometimes, these will be provided by the instructor. At other times, you’ll be expected to understand how to use a formatting style like MLA (Modern Language As