The Basics

Introduction

Assignment prompts (or assignment sheets, or simply prompts) are learning directions that direct students to create a project/product about a particular topic in a particular way. In the case of writing assignments, these can be referred to as a writing or essay prompt.

Important Habits

Regardless of the assignment, department, or instructor, adopting these two habits will serve you well:

1. Read the assignment carefully as soon as you receive it. Do not put this task off—reading the assignment at the beginning will save you time, stress, and problems later. An assignment can look pretty straightforward at first, particularly if the instructor has provided lots of information. That does not mean it will not take time and effort to complete; you may even have to learn a new skill to complete the assignment.

2. Ask the instructor about anything you do not understand. Do not hesitate to approach your instructor. Instructors would prefer to set you straight before you hand the paper in. That’s also when you will find their feedback most useful.

   • This is another reason why Habit 1 is so important. It gives you time to seek help.

Advantages of Utilizing Prompts

It has already been implied that actively reading an assignment sheet can help you ensure that your essay is on topic. However, there are other advantages as well:

• Clears-Up Confusion: By taking a couple of minutes to dissect a prompt early, you give yourself time process the information and get any questions answered.

• Overcomes Writer's Block: Actively reading and annotating a prompt already gets you thinking about and planning the essay, which makes starting to write easier.