Writing for assignments and group work

1:1 support with academic writing

Academic Writing Support

Want to improve your academic writing and build confidence in your assignments?

Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow

Book a session with our Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow, Samantha Wynne Rhydderch. Samantha is a professional, published author whose role is to help you strengthen and improve your writing skills. 

This is a free, confidential service to help you improve your writing skills. Students of any discipline, at any level of study (from 1st year to postgraduate), or staff, are welcome to book a session.

Find out more about Samantha

To book, contact Samantha: samantha.wynne-rhydderch@rlfeducation.org.uk

 

Welsh-Medium Academic Writing Support

Studying through the medium of Welsh? We offer dedicated one-to-one academic support for Welsh-medium students.

Our Welsh-medium Academic Skills Tutor, Dr. Tamsin Davies, can help you develop your academic writing skills in Welsh, whether you're working on essays, reports, dissertations, presentations, or other coursework. Support is tailored to your individual needs and designed to help you succeed throughout your academic journey.

Free, friendly and confidential support is available to all students studying in Welsh.

Find out more about Tamsin

To book, contact Tamsin: ted@aber.ac.uk

Time management

University life is busy with many activities—how do you balance it all?

Succeeding in university isn't just about being good at writing essays or passing exams. To do your best, you must juggle lectures and seminars, giving presentations, doing research, finding information and resources, finishing assignments, and studying for tests and exams.

On top of that, you also may need to find time for a job, staying active, and hanging out with friends and family.

It's all about finding that balance.

The key lies in mastering time management. Effective time management can boost academic success —take a look at the following checklist to learn how:

Notetaking

The art of notetaking

Mastering the art of effective notetaking is a crucial skill to acquire during your university journey. It becomes imperative as you encounter copious amounts of new knowledge, necessitating the development of reliable methods for capturing and recalling information as needed. However, it's worth noting that notetaking is not just a mundane task; it serves as an integral part of the learning process itself, aiding in the digestion and comprehension of the information you encounter.

Taking notes has no absolute correct or incorrect approach.

Nevertheless, it is advisable to maintain concise and to-the-point notes. Attempting to transcribe every detail offers no advantage; instead, your notes should capture the key concepts and significant points you've recognised.

Notetaking app and equipment available to you at Aber

How to take effective notes

These two methods of notetaking serve different purposes.

Linear Notes

Linear notes, which most people are familiar with, involve writing information down on a page with headings and subheadings. Here are some tips to enhance the effectiveness of linear notetaking:

  • Use numerous headings for main ideas and concepts.
  • Employ subheadings to elaborate on points within those ideas.
  • Maintain one point per line.
  • Underline key terms.
  • Use numbering for organisation.
  • Use abbreviations and don't be concerned about using full sentences.
  • Leave generous space for additional details and readability.

Mind-maps

Mind-maps are a single-page format suitable for illustrating structure and organising ideas. There are several advantages to using mind-maps:

  • They keep your notes concise and on a single page, preventing rambling.
  • Main points are instantly visible.
  • They facilitate grouping points together, aiding in essay organisation.
  • They visually indicate areas that require further research.

To create a mind-map:

  • Use a full sheet of paper, at least A4 size.
  • Place the subject matter in the centre of the page.
  • Extend one branch for each main point, radiating outward.
  • Begin with small points, as you may need more space than anticipated.
  • Use connecting spokes to indicate how points are related.
  • Ensure sufficient size to accommodate additional details.
  • Include smaller branches for elaboration and examples.
  • Provide concise summaries as reminders, reserving detailed information for footnotes.
  • Label each point with its source for reference.

Importance of evaluating and fact-checking

In an information-rich society, it's vital to remember that not all information resources are equal!
 
When you are looking for information, you are a researcher. As a researcher, you must evaluate the information you find and decide whether the content is:
  • scholarly
  • correct
  • authoritative

Take a look at this LibGuide Importance of evaluating and fact checking information to find out more on how to successfully evaluate and fact-check the resources you find. 

What is my assignment (really) asking me to do?

Understanding task words is an important part of completing an assignment successfully. Task words such as describe, explain, compare, analyse, and evaluate tell you what type of answer your lecturer expects.

Before you start writing, look carefully at the task words in the question and make sure your response matches the required style. This will help you stay focused on the question and ensure you meet the assessment criteria.

Take a look at the list of task words to check you're on the right track before you begin your assignment:

What is my assignment (really) asking me to do? - infographic (PDF)

 

Infographics: How to write...

This section provides a useful and concise starting point when you receive your assignment. It includes a series of infographics to help you get started quickly. You can also print the guides and refer to them while planning and completing your work.

The format and rules of your academic work will be based on your department or subject. Check your department's assignment guidelines or instructions/module handbook for further guidance when writing your assignment. 

Academic poster

Business report

Essay

Notetaking

Presentation

Scientific report

Group work that works

  • Not sure about group work?
  • Finding group work challenging?
  • Unsure about collaborating with classmates you don't know?
  • Want to become a more confident group member?

Don't worry, you're not alone in having these thoughts and concerns about group work.

The course below will help you build confidence, communicate effectively, and make group work a positive experience.

You'll learn practical strategies for communication, collaboration, and managing group projects, helping you make the most of shared learning experiences and achieve successful outcomes together.

The resource is designed as a course to work through, with each section building your understanding of the principles and practices of successful group work, or you can explore the sections that are most relevant to your needs.

 

 

Writing essays

Understanding how essays work is the first step towards becoming a more confident and effective academic writer. 

The resource below is designed as a course to work through, with each section building your understanding of the essay-writing process or you can explore the sections that are most relevant to your needs. You will explore everything from interpreting the question and developing an argument to using evidence effectively and refining your academic style.

This course will help you develop an appreciation of the key stages involved in planning, structuring, and writing a successful academic essay.                

Writing an essay                                                                                          

 

Writing business reports

Understanding how business reports work is the first step towards becoming a more confident and effective professional writer. 

The resource below is designed as a course to work through, with each section building your understanding of the report-writing process, although you can also explore the sections most relevant to your needs.

The course will help you develop an appreciation of the key stages involved in planning, structuring, and producing a successful business report.

 

Writing a business report

 

Writing scientific reports

    Understanding how scientific reports work is the first step towards becoming a more confident and effective scientific writer.

    The resource below is designed as a course to work through, with each section building your understanding of the scientific report-writing process, or you can explore the sections that are most relevant to your needs. You will examine everything from presenting a research aim and describing methods to analysing results, discussing findings, and communicating evidence clearly and accurately.

    This course will help you develop an appreciation of the key stages involved in planning, structuring, and writing a successful scientific report.

     

    Writing a scientific report

     

    Planning and delivering presentations

    Understanding how presentations work is the first step towards becoming a more confident and effective communicator.

    The resource below is designed as a course to work through, with each section building your understanding of the presentation process, or you can explore the sections that are most relevant to your needs. You will explore everything from analysing your audience and planning your message to designing effective slides, delivering with confidence, and responding to questions.

    This course will help you develop an appreciation of the key stages involved in planning, designing, and delivering a successful academic presentation.

     

    Creating and Delivering Presentations

     

     

    Designing an effective academic poster

      Understanding how academic posters work is the first step towards becoming a more confident and effective academic communicator.

      The resource below is designed as a course to work through, with each section building your understanding of the poster design and development process, or you can explore the sections that are most relevant to your needs. You will explore everything from identifying your key message and organising content to creating an effective visual layout, presenting data clearly, and engaging your audience.

      This course will help you develop an appreciation of the key stages involved in planning, designing, and creating a successful academic poster.

       

      Writing an academic poster

       

      Developing your academic writing skills

      Skills workshops

      Browse and book your place on our range of skills workshops: 

      Need to know more...

      Library Resources

      Resources to support understanding and production of academic writing. For all students, in all degree programmes.

      Ask the Elephant: at-a-glance guide to academic writing

      Ask the Elephant is a new online resource developed by the UK’s leading charity for writers, the Royal Literary Fund (RLF). This new website is primarily aimed at university students and provides them with an accessible and creative new format that gives targeted responses to their questions about how to improve their academic writing alongside actual examples. Quick, clear answers to the most common concerns are bolstered by additional detail and links to other material for students who want to explore further.