A few tips for students with long assignments to hand in for marks

Hi all,<br><br>So I am an Irish secondary school history teacher. We have just returned to school after an 8 week period of remote learning, and been given a boatload of work to mark.<br><br>I am sharing those tips below. I hope you find them helpful.<br><br>1. **Use paragraphs** - If I get 5 pages of unbroken text dropped on my desk without even so much as a line break between topics, it's not going to be enjoyable to read. Split your answers up with paragraphs.<br>2. **The date is the first thing on the page** - Put the date in the top corner of the page, with your topic underneath it. This allows me to quickly identify the assignment, and focus on marking it rather than trying to figure out what you've submitted.<br>3. **Make sure your name is on it** - Please, for the love of God, make sure you write your name on the assignment. It is so frustrating and a waste of time to spend 10 minutes trying to find out who it belongs to.<br>4. **Use headings** - If you have been given a specific breakdown of how to structure your answers (e.g. topic sentence, 3-5 supporting facts, link sentence), use headings and underlining to separate each section. This allows me to quickly scan the page and see what you have written.<br>5. **Bullet points are okay** - If you have been told to name 5 examples of causes of a war, or 3 examples of a leader's achievements, it is perfectly fine to use bullet points. They are a great way to present information in a clear format.<br>6. **Fonts, text size and colour, and pictures are not necessary** - I have no problem with someone adding in a few illustrations or photographs, but please make sure they are relevant to the topic. Otherwise, they just waste time and ink.<br>7. **Cover pages are unnecessary** - I would rather have you spend your time on the assignment than on a cover page with the assignment details and illustrations. I know what you are submitting, and I don't really need to spend time looking at something that won't be marked anyway.<br>8. **Presentation is key** - Make sure the pages are in the correct order. Staple them together if you can. If you have a graph or diagram, make sure it is attached properly to the page. Finally, proof read your work. Make sure it is legible and all present and correct.<br>9. **Handwritten assignments** - Try write neatly, or at least consistently. I have no problem with people who struggle with handwriting, but make an effort to try and write neatly.<br>10. **Work with a partner if you're really struggling** - I have no problem with students working in pairs to complete an assignment, especially if you are really struggling. My only caveat is that you **MUST** each write your own answers, and not just copy each other's work. You can brainstorm ideas together, but I expect everyone to write their own answers. <br>11. **Finally, proof read your work** - Finally, read through your work before submitting it. Make sure it is all present and correct, and that you have answered the question properly. If you are in doubt, ask your teacher. They will be happy to help.<br><br>That's it. If you follow these 11 tips, you will be well on your way to getting a good mark in my class.<br><br>Thanks for reading.<br><br>Edit - removed the word "short" from point 10<br><br>Edit 2 - I am not trying to sound like a grumpy old man. I am trying to help you, the students, produce good assignments, and achieve good marks. I know a lot of these tips are common sense. Unfortunately, common sense is not always so common, and the recent assignments have been a bit of a struggle.