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Assignment – Types, Examples and Writing Guide

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Assignments are an essential part of academic learning, designed to help students develop skills, reinforce knowledge, and demonstrate their understanding of course material. They come in various forms, each serving a unique purpose in enhancing critical thinking, research abilities, and problem-solving skills. This guide explores the different types of assignments, provides examples, and offers a step-by-step writing guide to help you complete your assignments effectively.

What is an Assignment?

An assignment is a task given to students as part of their coursework to assess and develop their understanding of a particular topic or skill. Assignments can range from simple essays to complex research papers, and their objectives vary depending on the academic level, course, and subject.

Types of Assignments

Example : Write an argumentative essay on the impact of social media on mental health.
Example : Conduct a study on the effects of climate change on biodiversity and present your findings in a research paper.
Example : Analyze a company facing a decline in market share and suggest strategies to regain its competitive advantage.
Example : Write a lab report on an experiment testing the pH levels of different soil samples.
Example : Reflect on your experience in a group project, discussing what you learned and the challenges you faced.
Example : Create an annotated bibliography on recent studies about renewable energy technologies.
Example : Prepare a presentation on the history and future of artificial intelligence.
Example : Solve a set of calculus problems related to limits and derivatives.

Writing Guide for an Assignment

Completing an assignment effectively requires careful planning, research, and clear writing. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Step 1: Understand the Assignment Requirements

Read the Instructions Carefully : Review the guidelines, including formatting, word count, and citation style. Ensure you understand the objective and expectations.
Identify the Purpose : Determine whether the assignment requires you to argue, analyze, describe, or reflect.
Clarify the Question : Make sure you understand the question or prompt. If unclear, ask your instructor for clarification.

Step 2: Conduct Research and Gather Information

Search for Reliable Sources : Use academic databases, books, and credible websites to gather information. Take notes and organize your sources.
Evaluate Sources : Ensure the sources you use are credible, recent, and relevant to the assignment topic.
Create an Outline : Plan the structure of your assignment. An outline will help you organize your thoughts and stay on track.

Step 3: Write a Strong Introduction

Introduce the Topic : Provide background information to set the context.
State the Purpose : Clearly state the purpose of the assignment or your main argument.
Present the Thesis Statement : In assignments like essays or research papers, include a thesis statement that summarizes your main point.

Step 4: Develop the Main Body

Follow the Outline : Organize the main points logically, with each paragraph focusing on one idea.
Use Evidence : Support your arguments or analysis with data, examples, or quotes from reliable sources.
Analyze and Interpret : Go beyond description—explain the significance of your points and how they contribute to the overall argument or purpose.

Step 5: Write a Conclusion

Summarize Key Points : Recap the main ideas discussed in the assignment.
Restate the Thesis : Reiterate the main argument or purpose of the assignment.
End with a Thought-Provoking Statement : Leave the reader with a final thought or recommendation, if applicable.

Step 6: Edit and Proofread

Check for Clarity and Coherence : Ensure each paragraph flows logically and supports the main argument.
Correct Grammar and Spelling Errors : Proofread for typos, grammatical mistakes, and punctuation errors.
Verify Formatting : Confirm that the assignment meets formatting guidelines and that citations follow the required style (e.g., APA, MLA).

Step 7: Cite Sources and Create a Bibliography

Use In-Text Citations : Properly cite all sources used within the text.
Compile a Bibliography or Reference List : List all sources used in the assignment in the specified format (e.g., APA, MLA).
Check for Plagiarism : Ensure that all borrowed information is correctly cited to avoid unintentional plagiarism.

Examples of Assignments by Academic Discipline

1. English Literature

Assignment : Analyze the use of symbolism in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Objective : Interpret literary symbols and their impact on the story’s themes.

2. Psychology

Assignment : Write a case study on a client presenting symptoms of anxiety disorder.
Objective : Apply theoretical knowledge to assess symptoms, causes, and treatment options.

3. Business

Assignment : Develop a marketing plan for a new product in the technology industry.
Objective : Demonstrate understanding of market research, strategy, and consumer behavior.
Assignment : Conduct a lab experiment on photosynthesis and report your findings.
Objective : Document experimental procedures, observations, and conclusions.
Assignment : Discuss the causes and consequences of World War II.
Objective : Analyze historical events and their impacts on global relations.

Tips for Successfully Completing Assignments

Start Early : Begin working on your assignment well before the deadline to allow time for thorough research and revision.
Follow the Rubric : Review any grading rubrics provided to understand how your work will be evaluated.
Stay Organized : Keep your notes, sources, and drafts well-organized, making it easier to reference and edit your work.
Use Clear and Concise Language : Avoid jargon and complex language unless necessary; aim for clarity and precision.
Seek Feedback : If possible, get feedback from peers or instructors to improve your work before submission.

Assignments are valuable learning tools that enable students to apply, analyze, and communicate knowledge. Whether writing an essay, conducting research, or presenting findings, understanding the type of assignment, following a structured writing guide, and implementing effective research and writing techniques can help ensure academic success. By approaching assignments systematically, students can improve their critical thinking, writing skills, and overall academic performance.

Greetham, B. (2018). How to Write Better Essays . Macmillan International Higher Education.
Murray, R. (2011). How to Write a Thesis . McGraw-Hill Education.
Cottrell, S. (2019). The Study Skills Handbook (5th ed.). Bloomsbury Publishing.
Bailey, S. (2017). Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students . Routledge.
Northedge, A. (2005). The Good Study Guide . Open University Press.

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Writing Across the Curriculum

Sample assignments.

This page provides two downloadable documents: a set of Low Stakes writing assignments, and guidelines for High Stakes writing assignments. The documents are available in .docx copies to allow for revision and customization. You’re welcome to take what you need, please keep the Augsburg logo intact (other downloadable logos are available here ).

Click HERE to download a full set of sample Low Stakes assignment prompts.

Click HERE to download a set of sample High Stakes assignment guidelines.

You can learn more about the benefits of differentiating between low and high stakes assignments in Peter Elbow’s (1997) essay, “High stakes and low stakes in assigning and responding to writing” from Writing to Learn: Strategies for Assigning and Responding to Writing across the Discipline: New Directions for Teaching and Learning.

LOW STAKES WRITING

low stakes writing is:.

Free writing in response to a simple prompt
A simple, informal way to integrate writing in the classroom
“Low effort, high impact”
Easy to incorporate at the beginning or end of class
Low-stress, and typically involves little to no grading

Low stakes writing helps:

Describe, apply, and retain information
Explore and personalize ideas
Focus thoughts and questions
Demonstrate the value of writing as a part of the learning process
Informally engage each student in the classroom
Improve high-stakes writing
Efficiently assess student learning

A brief sample of low stakes prompts:

What do you already know about this topic that can guide your learning?
What have you learned from similar assignments that can help you succeed on this one?
Summarize today’s lecture in one sentence.
What do you feel like you learned today, and what lingering question do you have?
Write an email to a friend who has been absent for a week and explain what they’ve missed. Aim to be comprehensive rather than writing a list.

HIGH STAKES WRITING

High stakes writing assignments:.

Correspond to writing conventions in the discipline/genre
Are typically formal and academic in style
Develop over time through drafting and sequencing/scaffolding
Require conducting effective research
Depend on effective, close reading
Synthesize complex information
Are more sophisticated in thought and prose

Basic Guidelines

Regard writing as a process rather than a product
Clearly connect the assignment to course learning objectives
Provide students with a clear assignment prompt detailing expectations
Provide students with a rationale for those expectations
Articulate the audience for the writer (Experts? A publication? You?)
Use assignment sequencing/scaffolding (suggestions below and here )
Include opportunities for feedback and related revision
Provide effective feedback on drafts (suggestions here and here )
Review suggested rubric options here
Weight the assignment accordingly, usually assigning significant value in the overall course grading system
Assign value (i.e. a grade or other form of credit) to reading assignments

High stakes writing helps to:

Familiarize students with disciplinarity and writing in a genre
Describe, apply, and retain complex disciplinary information
Develop more advanced writing, thinking, learning, and process skills
Develop self-assessment and revision skills
Focus on developing depth rather than breadth
Improve higher order learning/thinking
Thoroughly assess student learning and content mastery
Teach students to handle competing information and develop thesis
Make use of in-class peer review activities to help crowd-source feedback
Provide examples of previous work from students (with their permission) along with the original assignment description
Focus on minimal comments in the margins and identify 1-3 strategies for improvement at the end of a draft
Identify common strengths/weaknesses of the class and discuss those with the class as a whole
Identify successful examples of student work in class for discussion
Cover common mistakes in the original assignment description or when discussing the assignment, use low-stakes writing to reiterate the points
If you don’t have time to teach a writing topic, such as citation style, link students to effective guides

Key high stakes writing resources:

These writing guides are written for a student audience, they overview conventions of writing and conducting research in various academic disciplines across both the Sciences and Humanities.
Search topically through hundreds of undergraduate and graduate courses by discipline or topic and access course syllabi, readings, and assignment documents.
This webpage provides guides to some of the best online resources for helping instructors incorporate writing curriculum into their classrooms. Links address topics such as developing learning objectives, designing assignments, approaches to assessment, writing instruction handouts, and tutorials on references and citation.

Click HERE to download a more detailed set of sample High Stakes assignment guidelines.

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Resources for Teachers: Creating Writing Assignments

This page contains four specific areas:

Creating Effective Assignments

Checking the assignment, sequencing writing assignments, selecting an effective writing assignment format.

Research has shown that the more detailed a writing assignment is, the better the student papers are in response to that assignment. Instructors can often help students write more effective papers by giving students written instructions about that assignment. Explicit descriptions of assignments on the syllabus or on an “assignment sheet” tend to produce the best results. These instructions might make explicit the process or steps necessary to complete the assignment. Assignment sheets should detail:

the kind of writing expected
the scope of acceptable subject matter
the length requirements
formatting requirements
documentation format
the amount and type of research expected (if any)
the writer’s role
deadlines for the first draft and its revision

Providing questions or needed data in the assignment helps students get started. For instance, some questions can suggest a mode of organization to the students. Other questions might suggest a procedure to follow. The questions posed should require that students assert a thesis.

The following areas should help you create effective writing assignments.

Examining your goals for the assignment

How exactly does this assignment fit with the objectives of your course?
Should this assignment relate only to the class and the texts for the class, or should it also relate to the world beyond the classroom?
What do you want the students to learn or experience from this writing assignment?
Should this assignment be an individual or a collaborative effort?
What do you want students to show you in this assignment? To demonstrate mastery of concepts or texts? To demonstrate logical and critical thinking? To develop an original idea? To learn and demonstrate the procedures, practices, and tools of your field of study?

Defining the writing task

Is the assignment sequenced so that students: (1) write a draft, (2) receive feedback (from you, fellow students, or staff members at the Writing and Communication Center), and (3) then revise it? Such a procedure has been proven to accomplish at least two goals: it improves the student’s writing and it discourages plagiarism.
Does the assignment include so many sub-questions that students will be confused about the major issue they should examine? Can you give more guidance about what the paper’s main focus should be? Can you reduce the number of sub-questions?
What is the purpose of the assignment (e.g., review knowledge already learned, find additional information, synthesize research, examine a new hypothesis)? Making the purpose(s) of the assignment explicit helps students write the kind of paper you want.
What is the required form (e.g., expository essay, lab report, memo, business report)?
What mode is required for the assignment (e.g., description, narration, analysis, persuasion, a combination of two or more of these)?

Defining the audience for the paper

Can you define a hypothetical audience to help students determine which concepts to define and explain? When students write only to the instructor, they may assume that little, if anything, requires explanation. Defining the whole class as the intended audience will clarify this issue for students.
What is the probable attitude of the intended readers toward the topic itself? Toward the student writer’s thesis? Toward the student writer?
What is the probable educational and economic background of the intended readers?

Defining the writer’s role

Can you make explicit what persona you wish the students to assume? For example, a very effective role for student writers is that of a “professional in training” who uses the assumptions, the perspective, and the conceptual tools of the discipline.

Defining your evaluative criteria

1. If possible, explain the relative weight in grading assigned to the quality of writing and the assignment’s content:

depth of coverage
organization
critical thinking
original thinking
use of research
logical demonstration
appropriate mode of structure and analysis (e.g., comparison, argument)
correct use of sources
grammar and mechanics
professional tone
correct use of course-specific concepts and terms.

Here’s a checklist for writing assignments:

Have you used explicit command words in your instructions (e.g., “compare and contrast” and “explain” are more explicit than “explore” or “consider”)? The more explicit the command words, the better chance the students will write the type of paper you wish.
Does the assignment suggest a topic, thesis, and format? Should it?
Have you told students the kind of audience they are addressing — the level of knowledge they can assume the readers have and your particular preferences (e.g., “avoid slang, use the first-person sparingly”)?
If the assignment has several stages of completion, have you made the various deadlines clear? Is your policy on due dates clear?
Have you presented the assignment in a manageable form? For instance, a 5-page assignment sheet for a 1-page paper may overwhelm students. Similarly, a 1-sentence assignment for a 25-page paper may offer insufficient guidance.

There are several benefits of sequencing writing assignments:

Sequencing provides a sense of coherence for the course.
This approach helps students see progress and purpose in their work rather than seeing the writing assignments as separate exercises.
It encourages complexity through sustained attention, revision, and consideration of multiple perspectives.
If you have only one large paper due near the end of the course, you might create a sequence of smaller assignments leading up to and providing a foundation for that larger paper (e.g., proposal of the topic, an annotated bibliography, a progress report, a summary of the paper’s key argument, a first draft of the paper itself). This approach allows you to give students guidance and also discourages plagiarism.
It mirrors the approach to written work in many professions.

The concept of sequencing writing assignments also allows for a wide range of options in creating the assignment. It is often beneficial to have students submit the components suggested below to your course’s STELLAR web site.

Use the writing process itself. In its simplest form, “sequencing an assignment” can mean establishing some sort of “official” check of the prewriting and drafting steps in the writing process. This step guarantees that students will not write the whole paper in one sitting and also gives students more time to let their ideas develop. This check might be something as informal as having students work on their prewriting or draft for a few minutes at the end of class. Or it might be something more formal such as collecting the prewriting and giving a few suggestions and comments.

Have students submit drafts. You might ask students to submit a first draft in order to receive your quick responses to its content, or have them submit written questions about the content and scope of their projects after they have completed their first draft.

Establish small groups. Set up small writing groups of three-five students from the class. Allow them to meet for a few minutes in class or have them arrange a meeting outside of class to comment constructively on each other’s drafts. The students do not need to be writing on the same topic.

Require consultations. Have students consult with someone in the Writing and Communication Center about their prewriting and/or drafts. The Center has yellow forms that we can give to students to inform you that such a visit was made.

Explore a subject in increasingly complex ways. A series of reading and writing assignments may be linked by the same subject matter or topic. Students encounter new perspectives and competing ideas with each new reading, and thus must evaluate and balance various views and adopt a position that considers the various points of view.

Change modes of discourse. In this approach, students’ assignments move from less complex to more complex modes of discourse (e.g., from expressive to analytic to argumentative; or from lab report to position paper to research article).

Change audiences. In this approach, students create drafts for different audiences, moving from personal to public (e.g., from self-reflection to an audience of peers to an audience of specialists). Each change would require different tasks and more extensive knowledge.

Change perspective through time. In this approach, students might write a statement of their understanding of a subject or issue at the beginning of a course and then return at the end of the semester to write an analysis of that original stance in the light of the experiences and knowledge gained in the course.

Use a natural sequence. A different approach to sequencing is to create a series of assignments culminating in a final writing project. In scientific and technical writing, for example, students could write a proposal requesting approval of a particular topic. The next assignment might be a progress report (or a series of progress reports), and the final assignment could be the report or document itself. For humanities and social science courses, students might write a proposal requesting approval of a particular topic, then hand in an annotated bibliography, and then a draft, and then the final version of the paper.

Have students submit sections. A variation of the previous approach is to have students submit various sections of their final document throughout the semester (e.g., their bibliography, review of the literature, methods section).

In addition to the standard essay and report formats, several other formats exist that might give students a different slant on the course material or allow them to use slightly different writing skills. Here are some suggestions:

Journals. Journals have become a popular format in recent years for courses that require some writing. In-class journal entries can spark discussions and reveal gaps in students’ understanding of the material. Having students write an in-class entry summarizing the material covered that day can aid the learning process and also reveal concepts that require more elaboration. Out-of-class entries involve short summaries or analyses of texts, or are a testing ground for ideas for student papers and reports. Although journals may seem to add a huge burden for instructors to correct, in fact many instructors either spot-check journals (looking at a few particular key entries) or grade them based on the number of entries completed. Journals are usually not graded for their prose style. STELLAR forums work well for out-of-class entries.

Letters. Students can define and defend a position on an issue in a letter written to someone in authority. They can also explain a concept or a process to someone in need of that particular information. They can write a letter to a friend explaining their concerns about an upcoming paper assignment or explaining their ideas for an upcoming paper assignment. If you wish to add a creative element to the writing assignment, you might have students adopt the persona of an important person discussed in your course (e.g., an historical figure) and write a letter explaining his/her actions, process, or theory to an interested person (e.g., “pretend that you are John Wilkes Booth and write a letter to the Congress justifying your assassination of Abraham Lincoln,” or “pretend you are Henry VIII writing to Thomas More explaining your break from the Catholic Church”).

Editorials . Students can define and defend a position on a controversial issue in the format of an editorial for the campus or local newspaper or for a national journal.

Cases . Students might create a case study particular to the course’s subject matter.

Position Papers . Students can define and defend a position, perhaps as a preliminary step in the creation of a formal research paper or essay.

Imitation of a Text . Students can create a new document “in the style of” a particular writer (e.g., “Create a government document the way Woody Allen might write it” or “Write your own ‘Modest Proposal’ about a modern issue”).

Instruction Manuals . Students write a step-by-step explanation of a process.

Dialogues . Students create a dialogue between two major figures studied in which they not only reveal those people’s theories or thoughts but also explore areas of possible disagreement (e.g., “Write a dialogue between Claude Monet and Jackson Pollock about the nature and uses of art”).

Collaborative projects . Students work together to create such works as reports, questions, and critiques.