All students want to achieve the best grades they can achieve. A great way to ensure this is to constantly look for ways to improve the way you work. Although you may already have learnt a system for producing and delivering your work in school and college, the format and standard is different to that of undergraduate level. As a freshman I wish I had a clear guide to be a sounding board for my then standard model.

This blog will provide tips that all students can use across different fields of study.

Write drafts

The most important aspect when forming a draft is your structure. This allows you to have a visual plan of what you are going to write about in each paragraph. Also make sure you are:

• Reading the entire brief and writing out the key points, including the due date, objectives, and learning outcomes
• Structure questions based on the objectives you have to fulfil in the brief and use these as a guide for your research.
• Refer back to the brief guidelines when writing your assignment as this is an easy way to lose or gain marks.

Take advantage of your resources

There are so many resources at Bucks that each student is entitled to use. Here are some of the most helpful I’ve used during my studies:

• Lecturers: The majority of lecturers operate on an open-door policy, they are there to support you and point you in the right direction when you need help. This is essential and a great way to gain a basic understanding of what is required of you to pass your assignment.
• Lecturer slides: Lecturer slides are key to any assignment. Most lecture slides have reference lists and extra reading recommendations for the topic you will be covering. These are a great place to start your research, especially if the majority of your assignment is based on secondary sources data.
• Learning Development Unit (LDU): This department works to assist with the following; effective note-making strategies; research skills, evidence-based academic writing (including referencing), critical thinking, and getting the most from the feedback on your assignments. Although these seem like tasks you could easily achieve alone, they are the most common errors committed by students when writing their assignments. If you are ever in doubt always ask for a second pair of eyes on your assignment.
• Library: The library is a constant source of secondary information. You can physically take books out or read online version of the books. You are able to search for the books and their references on the E-library.

If you want any more help with assignments or have any other Bucks related queries you can chat to our current students and staff online.