Introduction
Preparing and Submitting Assignments
- Always use your own words. As you prepare your assignments, don’t rely on the textbook to “think” and “write” for you. Be creative. Using what you’ve learned, answer the questions in a way that is characteristic of your talents, not those of the textbook author.
- How long should answers be? The acceptable length of answers is a frequently asked question. Long answers aren’t necessary in most cases. Your answers may be concise, but it is important that they are complete. Of course, clarity is essential for a well‑written assignment. Be sure to follow the rules of good grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Finally, always proofread your work for errors.
- Plan ahead! It is important that you know that there are a large number of students taking independent study courses. In the spring, they are all hurrying to finish courses in order to graduate, If you are one of those students anticipating May or June graduation, or if you have another important deadline to meet, it is essential that you carefully budget your time from the very beginning. Over the years, I’ve seen many students sign up for the course in the fall and not submit the first lesson until three weeks before graduation. If you do that, you won’t meet your goal. Again, make a realistic schedule and stick to it. Please do not procrastinate.
- Extra guidelines: For more information about submitting assignments, please read the student handbook. All assignments are submitted as Word documents. Use one-inch margins and a standard 12-point font, such as Times New Roman or Arial. Be sure to save a copy of your document file on your computer.
