Assignment Structure

• Separate assignments into skills such as abstracts, research logs, literature reviews, and oral presentations that are sequenced progressively over a semester timeline to lead up to a final research project. For an assignment with sequential due dates, see this example from the Dean’s Book Course at Commonwealth College. For more information about how to sequence writing assignments, see scaffolding section of the Junior-Year Writing site.
• Ask groups of students to research one topic from different perspectives. Have each develop an individual research log, which can then be shared with the other students. Working in groups sharing information is one of the key competencies of all academic and professional as well as citizenship contexts. Encourage groups to meet in the Library Learning Commons.
• Require students to put together several distinct components such as literature reviews and data analyses in researching and writing a paper. For a user-friendly guide to teaching research skills, see Research Tools from the Office of Research Literacy at Commonwealth College.
• Assign due dates for drafts of assignments. Collect drafts for teacher feedback and/or for peer feedback. Assigning drafts helps ensure students don’t write at the last minute and also provides an opportunity for students to revise in response to another’s assessment of their work. Finally, require these earlier drafts be turned in with the final draft; students are less likely to “make up” an entirely new draft to cover up plagiarism than to write the paper themselves.