First 15 minutes: decide and plan
- Re-read the brief and marking rubric. Underline the task word (discuss, evaluate, compare) and the word limit.
- Consider an extension. If you are ill or have a genuine reason, email your instructor now, politely and briefly. Asking before the deadline is far better than after.
- Turn off notifications and set a timer.
Next 45 minutes: sources and outline
- Use your lecture slides and the reading list first: they are what the marker expects.
- Pick 4–6 good sources. Note one key point and the page number from each, with full reference details.
- Write a one-line answer to the question (your thesis) and a heading for each section with word counts.
Writing blocks
- Write in 45-minute blocks with 10-minute breaks. Body sections first, introduction and conclusion last.
- Add citations as you write. Fixing references at 3 a.m. is how mistakes happen.
- Do not copy-paste from sources "to rewrite later". That is how accidental plagiarism happens.
Last hour: check
- Does every paragraph answer the question? Cut anything that doesn't.
- Reference list complete and in the required style (APA, Harvard, MLA)?
- Spell-check, read the introduction aloud, check the word count and file format.
For next time
Put every deadline in your phone calendar with a reminder one week before, and write a rough outline the day an assignment is set. Ten minutes early saves a night later.
We can proofread your finished draft, check references and formatting, and run a similarity report before you submit. We don't write assignments for students to submit.
More: citation help · is using an editor allowed?
This guide is general information. Always follow your own university's current regulations and your supervisor's advice.