50 For Instructors: Understanding the Assignment

Note for Instructors: There are three activities within this chapter: an independent assignment sheet response, a group activity, and a discussion post activity. These were designed to work for each major assignment sheet given out.

Assignment Sheet Breakdown and Group Conversation:

In-Class Activity Description: 

Independent: 

Re-Read your Assignment Prompt.

Then, take about 5 minutes and free write how would you describe or explain this assignment in your own words (what are some key components that you picked up on)? Think about how you would plan out your work for the assignment, how you will research, how you would assure you meet requirements, and so on.

After that take another few minutes and note all the action verbs provided in the prompt. You can highlight, underline, and/or put a star next to them. Whatever you want! Then answer: What do you think those verbs are asking you to do? See if you can explain each verb you find in your own words.

Finally, take note of the following assignment information:

• Assignment length. What is the minimum/maximum required? No length provided? Make an educated guess based on the assignment genre and ask for clarification from your instructor.
• Due date(s). When is this essay due? What are the minor due dates that you can see to make note of (when is your introduction due, when is the peer review, for example)? If only one due date is provided, establish “soft deadlines” for smaller sections of the assignment to help keep you from procrastinating.
• Deliverable(s). What submission requirements have the instructor provided? Were you told to use a specific file type (.pdf or .doc)? How are you to submit your work? In person? In your online classroom? Do you need to follow a style guide (MLA, APA)? If specifics weren’t provided, make an educated guess based on the assignment genre, ask your instructor for clarification, and/or visit your school’s Writing Center to discuss conventions for this assignment type.
• Grading. Were any materials, such as a grading rubric, provided to help you understand how you’ll be graded? How much will this assignment impact your course grade? If multiple deliverables are required, how much is each worth?
• Resources. In addition to the assignment instructions, what other resources has the instructor provided? In-class writing activities related to the assignment? Slide decks? Writing prompts? Formatting guides?

Small 3-Person Group Activity:

Have one person in the group read their response to how they would describe or explain this assignment in their own words. Then compare that answer with others in the group:

• What was similar?
• What was different?
• Were you uncertain of anything that your group member(s) could help clarify?

Have a second, different person in the group discuss all the action verbs provided in the prompt and discuss what they think those verbs are asking of them. Then compare those answers with others in the group:

• What was similar?
• What was different?
• Were you uncertain of anything that your group member(s) could help clarify?

Finally have the third person in the group discuss their response to the assignment information list. Then compare those answers with others in the group.

• What was similar?
• What was different?
• Were you uncertain of anything that your group member(s) could help clarify?

Grading/Assessment 

Students can be assessed on participation/labor-based guidelines.  You can have them upload their responses via Canvas (it can be their handwritten in-class notes, they can type them up in class or reflect upon them later, or you can have them turn in their work at the end of class). You can grade it as complete/incomplete. You can give it a letter/percentage/point grade depending on your own class grading structure/weights.

General Assignment Response Discussion Post: 

Discussion Prompt: 

Here is where I just want you to basically put the [Insert Assignment Name] Assignment in your own words. Answer each question in your response:

• How would you describe or explain this assignment in your own words (what are some key components that you picked up on, what is the central goal that you will be trying to achieve, why genre are you writing in)?
• How do you feel about it? Excited, nervous, indifferent (all totally fine by the way)!
• What questions do you have if any?

*Note: If you choose to type your response, you can write your post in paragraph form or you may list your thoughts using bullet points. You can also post your handwritten notes/musings from class as well. You can type as we discuss things (whatever works for you, is fine by me as long as you answer the questions and engage in the content thoughtfully)! You can also incorporate imagery and/or media clips for a more multimodal approach. You can, if you feel comfortable, submit a video of you working through these prompts in lieu of a traditional written post. Just make sure your response is clear and shows depth in analytical and critical thinking.

Grading/Assessment: 

Discussion Rubric: