I am by no means an expert when it comes to writing assignments, however I am now approaching the end of my degree and thought I would share a few little tips that have helped me get through the past three years.
1. Use a referencing guide - Your University/College will have certain requirements when it comes to referencing and the correct format. For example, I used the Bournemouth University Guide to Citation and Referencing in the Harvard Style. By using the guide you can make sure your references are 100% up to scratch so you are sure to not loose marks. Usually these guides provide you with examples of how to cite authors in the text, from a website, from a report and how to reference them at the end of the work. It is really helpful for things such as when chapters, and contributing authors and all of those nitty gritty bits that are important to get right. When I have an approaching deadline, I always have mine either open on the computer or printed out and on my desk.
2. Split your computer screen - I found this incredibly helpful as it allowed me to see my current work in progress whist scanning documents and journals for important bits of information. In my first year I didn't use the library computers at all and always opted to work from home, however in my third year I rarely switched my laptop on as I found the computers at uni had much bigger screens so by splitting it I could create a nice work space.
3. Highlight your references - I always reference-as-I-go throughout my work as I find it makes the process a lot easier and safes you from having to remember which book you were using later on down the line. Once I have cited the author and referenced at the end of the text, I then highlight it or use green font so I can see that I'm happy with it. Any references I'm not sure about or still need to pop in I use red. It allows you to see how many references you have per section so it is easier to see where more work may need to be done. If I can't find the reference at the time I have go into the habit of writing **reference** so that it is easy for me to spot where I need to go back to later.
4. Check your referencing - when you have finished writing your assignment, ALWAYS make sure to check your references are in place and are all correct. I have found that as I chop and change the order of the assignment in the final stages, I often remove references that are no longer necessary. Before completing and handing in, I go through my work with a fine tooth comb. I look through my assignment and as I come across a citation I use "ctrl + f" to enter the authors name and check that it takes me to a corresponding reference at the end of the work.
5. Use smart searching - this is only something I found out during my final year and it really helped me during my literature search to whittle down my journal search results from 10,000+ to a manageable size. By using Boolean functions such as "AND" "NOT" "OR" you connect your seach words together to either narrow or broaden your set of results. You an also broaden your search by using things like truncation where you can put an asterix at the end of the word and it will search for different endings, for example "nurs*" will search for "nurses" "nursing".
6. The librarians are your friends - the librarians can really help you with your searches and finding the right information. Previously I have booked a 1-2-1 session with my subject librarian and she helped me determine my key words, the right search terms and the right databases to use. I have also spoken to a librarian on the uni's instant messenger and they helped me with a particularly difficult reference. Make the most of the sessions they offer and don't be afraid to ask for help.
7. Print it out - despite the majority of our hand ins going through Turn-It-In online now, I still like to print out my work and use a pencil to go through it and mark any errors. I find this really helps spot any mistakes and check that it reads smoothly.
8. Break it down - I always feel as if I am going a little OTT when I do this, but it really helps me so it's a habit I've stuck with. I always make a plan before starting my assignment and estimate the word count for each section. That way I think it helps to make sure your work is evenly weighted and gives you plenty of words towards the end to write a sufficient conclusion.
