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Step 1: Understanding the Assignment

Did you know that many students lose points on their assignments by not following directions? This worksheet will help you understand as much as possible about your assignment and your intended audience so you can write your paper more effectively. Use additional paper if needed.

1. Read the assignment aloud to yourself slowly. Pay particular attention to the tasks you are required to complete and look for details. This may seem strange at first, but try it anyway.
2. Underline, highlight, or number each instruction or detail in the prompt.

   Example (abbreviated prompt):

   Write a persuasive¹ essay that analyzes the theme² of the story. Include a strong thesis³. Show how the author uses two literary devices^4,5 to illustrate the theme. Use a minimum of three outside sources⁶.

3. Now make a to-do list of all the tasks. Jot down notes next to each instruction or detail to help you think through what you need to consider.

   Example:

   • Must be persuasive — What makes a literary analysis persuasive?
   • Analyze the theme — What do I think the theme is? What are alternative themes? Which possible theme is most compelling?
   • Include a strong thesis — What should a thesis look like for this type of paper? What evidence will persuade my audience?
   • First literary device:
   • Second literary device:
   • First outside source:
   • Second outside source:
   • Third outside source:
4. Write down any terms you do not know. Look them up in your textbook, class notes, or a dictionary and write the definition beside each term. The Writing Center handout “Terms to Know in English 1301” may also be helpful.
   • Term 1:
   • Term 2:
   • Term 3:
   • Term 4:
5. Are there any requirements not explicitly stated in the prompt but still necessary to complete the assignment? Write them here.

   Example: correct spelling, good sentence structure, a strong conclusion.

6. What is the purpose of this essay? Are you supposed to state your opinion (argument), persuade your audience, or simply share facts (informative)? If you are unsure, ask your instructor. Writing the wrong type of paper can result in a lower grade.
7. Who is your audience for this paper besides your instructor? Are you writing for a general college-educated audience, classmates, an organization, or people who disagree with you? What has your instructor said about audience?
8. What characteristics does this audience have? Put yourself in your readers’ shoes. What do they believe? What do they already know about your topic?
9. What does your audience not know about your topic? What will you need to explain?
10. Why should your readers care about this topic? How will you make your essay interesting and relevant to them?
11. What kinds of information will your readers respond to? What kinds of evidence will they find convincing? Make a list and use it to guide your research.