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RMIT University Library - Learning Lab

Strategy 1

 

Teach students to analyse the task

One of the most common issues that students bring to the Study and Learning Centre is a lack of understanding of the assignment task. Unpacking the assignment task is a very useful activity to do in class when introducing the assignment to your students so that they learn not just what to do but how to do it.

How, not just what!

What's the best way to start an essay? Read the question!

The following example demonstrates how to unpack the content and instructional words of an assessment task.

How do I do this task?

Discuss the effects of long term poverty on health outcomes in Australia and suggest strategies to address these issues.

What is the topic?

Discuss the effects of long term poverty on health outcomes in Australia and suggest strategies to address these issues.

What does this mean?

You need to write this essay in two parts:

Part 1: Present an argument by discussing the effects of long term poverty

Part 2: Suggest possible solutions.