Writing Assignments

3 Writing assignments

This section teaches more of the writing skills you need to do your TMAs. It looks first at understanding the question; then focuses on linking words and phrases; finally, it explores the role[->0] of paragraphs.

Before you start an assignment, it is essential to look carefully at the question. Make sure that you read it several times and that you understand what it is asking you to do. This will help you to stay focused on the question and to:

· decide what to include in the essay and what to leave out

· set out your content in a logical and coherent way.

All assignment questions have key words or phrases that indicate how and what you are expected to write.

There are two types of key words and phrases:

· ‘content words’ tell you what topics you need to focus on

· ‘process words’ tell you what you need to do with your content.

Activity 9.2

Suggested time allocation: about 30 minutes

Please look at the assignment question below and then write in the boxes below which words you think are content words and which are process words.

‘The power[->1] of supermarkets in the contemporary UK widens shopping choices[->2].’ Discuss.

Top of Form 1

Bottom of Form 1

Top of Form 2

Bottom of Form 2

Discussion

The process word in this assignment question was ‘Discuss’. In a question title, the process words tell you what to do with your material and are often expressed as imperatives: ‘Outline the argument’, ‘Assess the impact of ...’ or ‘Explain the importance of ...’

The content words in this question are ‘power of supermarkets’, ‘contemporary UK’ and ‘shopping choices’.

You might find it useful to define the meaning of these content words in this particular context. Your essay could explain, for example, what power supermarkets have, the nature of this power and how it is used to either narrow or widen shopping choices. Remember that it’s essential to show that there are a range of possible views on this subject.

It is also...