12 Tips On Common Errors in Assignment Writing

12 Tips on Common Errors in Assignment Writing http://www.devu.co.uk/12-tips-on-common-errors-in-cmi-assignment-wr...
Home A bout U s Online learning Apprenticeship Programmes
Training Development Blog What People Say Contact Candidat e G at eway
12 Tips on Common Errors in

Assignment Writing
THU 15TH OCT. '15 BY MANDY LEAVE A COMMENT
1 of 11 7/6/17, 9:41 AM
Taking a Management & Leadership Quali cation involves writing assignments.

Assignment writing is an art and something all students need to learn to pass their
quali cation. Below are some examples of how to avoid the common errors.
Focus on the assessment criteria

Assessment criteria are shown as A.C. on your assignment brief. The assessment
criteria are the only area assessors look at in order to determine whether you get a
pass or refer. However, the task gives you some helpful background detail on what is
required. Therefore, a good assignment uses the assessment criteria as a heading
and a guide to keep your eye on the ball.
Pay attention to the command verbs

Command verbs are the key! Each Assessment criteria will start with a command
verb, starting with basic command verbs at level 3 and working up to analytical verbs
at level 7. Here are some examples of the verbs you will see at each level.
Level 3: Identify, describe, List

Level 5: Determine, discuss, evaluate, explain
Level 7: Evaluate, assess, critically review
It is essential you understand what each command verb is asking you to do so you
can be very speci c in your answer. For example, if they ask you to evaluate and you
describe you will not pass.
We will be writing another blog soon on command verbs and their meanings or you
can go to the Developing U resources section of the website to get a complete
breakdown of command verbs.
An Example from a Level 5 Assignment Brief

Task
This website2:
uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you
wish.
2 of 11 7/6/17, 9:41 AM
Based upon the stakeholder needs identi ed in Task 1, produce a work plan or work
scenario which illustrates how the primary needs of your stakeholders are being met.
As a rst line manager, demonstrate how you and your team have modi ed a work
plan or situation to meet stakeholder needs more e ectively.
Guideline word count: 500 600 words
A.C. 1.3 Identify work plans with the team, gaining commitment to meet stakeholder
needs
A.C. 1.4 Evaluate and modify the work plans to meet the stakeholder needs
Access management direct and your Pathways Workbook for your research and
make sure you reference your research sources
Remember it is essential to demonstrate you have researched around the subject. In

your assignment you must have several references in each task. They might be
quotes, diagrams, models, or citing the work of others. Without this you will get a
refer.
Management Direct and Pathways Workbooks are your rst port of call to support
your research. Here you will be able to get lots of helpful resources for use in your
assignment.
A Level 7 example answer:

A.C. Analyse the concept of managers as e ective leaders.
The Oxford Dictionary de nes Management as The process of dealing with or

controlling things or people (2014). This includes the application of skill or care in the
manipulation, use, treatment, or control of the thing or person. Managerial technique
encourages managers to dedicate themselves to tasks, process, politics, structures
and roles.
Leadership is de ned in The Supplement to the Oxford English Dictionary as the

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you
wish.
3 of 11 7/6/17, 9:41 AM
undertaking (Burch eld in Rost, 1976). John Adair (2002) expands on this in 100
Greatest Ideas for E ective Leadership and Management to add that leading is about
giving direction especially in times of change; inspiring or motivating people to work
willingly; building and maintaining teamwork; providing an example; producing a
personal output. The element of being responsible for planning and people is far
more important.
Draw your own conclusions

Whilst research is essential it cant be used alone. Your assignment must contain a
balance of research and your own views. For every section of theory you include
make sure you draw your own conclusions and state your own views.
An example from a Level 5 assignment:

It is my view however that x could certainly use innovation more e ectively to help
meet the other key priorities. The problem facing x is that lessening budgets means
that innovation is essentially restricted to working with what youve got. As indicated,
the emphasis on innovation seems to be on saving or raising money and doing things
di erently rather than on what ideas could primarily make things better for the
customer or the environment. For example, whilst the greater development of land to
provide additional housing will in part help provide a Better Environment and Better
Lives the main driving force behind this appears to be to increase revenues with
other advantages more of a bi-product.
Pay attention to the guidance notes

Every assignment brief includes guidance notes which are written by the CMI to help
you to know the main areas to cover. Before writing your assignment, always check
these notes as they will give you direction.
Example Guidance Notes for a Level 5 quali cation

2.1 Evaluate the meaning of quality to an organisation
wish.
4 of 11 7/6/17, 9:41 AM
source (e.g. from a quality standard such as the ISO 9000 family or an author such as
Dale, Juran, Deming, or, Crosby) this de nition can then be matched against the
Learners own organisation where possible to evaluate the meaning of quality from
the organisations point of view. The following points may assist:
Does the organisation use quality control, quality assurance or total quality
management approaches? Does it know what its objective is around quality? Are
quality approaches explicit or have they simply evolved over time (ad hoc)?
Does the organisation know why it manages quality and what its expectations
are in terms of the business bene ts? Does it measure its progress towards
these?
Where does the organisation place the customer in their quality management
approach?
How does quality feature in the organisations culture?
Use su cient personal experience and models

Each task will give an idea of the amount of personal experience and models you
need to include within your assignment. It is essential if the task asks for two
examples you give two examples.An Example from a Level 7 Assignment
An Example from a Level 7 Assignment:

Task 1:
Describe a performance management process for ensuring that responsibility for

delivering strategic objectives is shared throughout the organisation. Use a practical
example to illustrate how team performance links to organisational objectives.
Describe a performance management process for ensuring that responsibility for

delivering strategic objectives is shared throughout the organisation. Use a practical
example to illustrate how team performance links to organisational objectives.
Identify a range of at least four di erent tools and techniques for setting team
wish.
5 of 11 7/6/17, 9:41 AM
Assess their value then in the ongoing measuring and monitoring of team
performance during the year, using practical examples to illustrate what worked well
and what did not work so well in di erent situations or with di erent teams and
cultures.
Critically examine at least three methods you could use to agree performance targets
for individuals within the team when compared with their current performance.
Guideline word count: 1,000 1,100 words
A.C. 1.1 Assess the links between team performance and strategic objectives
A.C. 1.2 Evaluate tools and techniques available to set team performance
targets
A.C. 1.3 Assess the value of team performance tools to measure future team
performance
Look externally and internally for examples

Having an external and internal focus for your research adds credibility to your
assignment. Rather than just focussing on what your organisation does, look outside
for other ideas.
Here is an example from a level 5 assignment

Organisations, large and small alike, will rely on these types of creativity tools to help
encourage ideas and innovation across the business, mainly with a view to increasing
value. One such organisation that embraces innovation, and indeed is reliant upon it
to deliver its product, is Pixar Studios, the pioneers of computer animation. The
Harvard Business Review (2008) cites a number of factors that have been integral to
encouraging ideas and innovation at Pixar and these are held in the basic beliefs of
the organisation:
Talent is rare
Managements job is not to prevent risk but to build the capability to recover
wish.
6 of 11 7/6/17, 9:41 AM
Must constantly challenge all our assumptions and search for the aws that
could destroy our culture
Write professionally, succinctly and clearly

Professional writing is key to success with your assignment. Try to write in the rst
person In my view .., in my opinion .. and avoid judgement statements e.g. all the
managers are rubbish in my company.
Remember your assignment should read like a professional report you would submit
to a senior manager in the organisation.
You must stick to the wordcount or your assignment will not be marked. This is a
challenge but helps you to stay focussed on the key messages in your assignment.
Use Bullets, Screenshots and Powerpoint slide

to illustrate your work
These methods do not count in the wordcount so they are a good way of increasing
the content of your assignment without over running the wordcount. Remember if
you are using lists you must write a sentence about each item on the list.
Put all the relevant information in the text

rather than appendices
The assessors will only look at the information in the body of your assignment so if
there is any information relevant to the assessment criteria this must be in the main
part of the work.
Include a Bibliography
So that assessors can see you have carried out su cient research you must always
include a Bibliography with your work. There is help on the Developing U website to
wish.
7 of 11 7/6/17, 9:41 AM
We hope our guidance notes help. Please feel free to contact us on john@devu.co.uk
if you have any queries about your assignment.
Share this:
Filed Under: e-Learning, Training Development
About Mandy
Mandy Underwood FCIPD, FCMI is a Director of Developing U. Her
experience of training and development spans over 30 years, working
with both the private and public sectors at strategic and operational levels.
Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required elds are marked *
Comment
Name *
Email *
wish.
8 of 11 7/6/17, 9:41 AM
Website
Post Commen t
Notify me of follow-up comments by email.
Notify me of new posts by email.
TRAINING MENU
Online learning
Partnership Working
Training Development
Level 5 Quali cation in Coaching & Mentoring
PURCHASE A COURSE
FOLLOW DEVE LOPING U
GET OUR NEWS LETTER
First Name:
Email address:
wish.
9 of 11 7/6/17, 9:41 AM
Your Interest?
All Courses
Sign up
LATEST BLOG ARTICLES
Action Words in CMI Units
Keeping to Wordcount in 700 Words
Coaching Quali cation: The

advantages to your business
Coaching Quali cation: Why study

Coaching & Mentoring?
Whats Wellbeing Got to do with

Talent Management?
LATEST BLOG ARTICLES GET OUR NEWSLETTER
First Name:
FOLLOW MANDY ON Action Words in CMI
TWITTER Units
Email address:
Keeping to
wish.
10 of 11 7/6/17, 9:41 AM
Tweets by Wordcount in 700

@MandyJUnderwood Words
Mandy Underwood Your Interest?
Retweeted
Coaching Level 5 Quali cation in
Mind Tools @Mind_To Quali cation: The Coaching & Mentoring
How emotionally
intelligent are you? Take advantages to your All Courses
our quick #quiz to find business
out. ow.ly/Y4ZGH
Sign up
Coaching
Quali cation: Why
study Coaching & CONTACT US
Mentoring? John or Mandy Underwood

14 Feb
Tel: 07789881963
Embed View on Twitter email: mandy@devu.co.uk
form: contact form
Suite 1, 19 Forestlake Avenue

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK Ringwood, Hampshire BH24
1QU
Copyright 2017 Developing 'U' limited : The Leadership Development Company

VAT No: 768787156 Company Registration No: 4634401
wish.
11 of 11 7/6/17, 9:41 AM

12 Tips On Common Errors in Assignment Writing

Caricato da

Informazioni sul documento

Titolo originale

Copyright

Formati disponibili

Condividi questo documento

Condividi o incorpora il documento

Opzioni di condivisione

Hai trovato utile questo documento?

Questo contenuto è inappropriato?

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

12 Tips On Common Errors in Assignment Writing

Caricato da

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

12 Tips on Common Errors in Assignment Writing http://www.devu.co.uk/12-tips-on-common-errors-in-cmi-assignment-wr...

Home A bout U s Online learning Apprenticeship Programmes

Training Development Blog What People Say Contact Candidat e G at eway

12 Tips on Common Errors in

Taking a Management & Leadership Quali cation involves writing assignments.

Focus on the assessment criteria

Pay attention to the command verbs

Level 3: Identify, describe, List

An Example from a Level 5 Assignment Brief

Guideline word count: 500 600 words

Remember it is essential to demonstrate you have researched around the subject. In

A Level 7 example answer:

The Oxford Dictionary de nes Management as The process of dealing with or

Leadership is de ned in The Supplement to the Oxford English Dictionary as the

Draw your own conclusions

An example from a Level 5 assignment:

Pay attention to the guidance notes

Example Guidance Notes for a Level 5 quali cation

Use su cient personal experience and models

An Example from a Level 7 Assignment:

Describe a performance management process for ensuring that responsibility for

Describe a performance management process for ensuring that responsibility for

Guideline word count: 1,000 1,100 words

Look externally and internally for examples

Here is an example from a level 5 assignment

Write professionally, succinctly and clearly

Use Bullets, Screenshots and Powerpoint slide

Put all the relevant information in the text

Filed Under: e-Learning, Training Development

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Level 5 Quali cation in Coaching & Mentoring

Level 5 Quali cation in Coaching & Mentoring

FOLLOW DEVE LOPING U

GET OUR NEWS LETTER

LATEST BLOG ARTICLES

Action Words in CMI Units

Keeping to Wordcount in 700 Words

Coaching Quali cation: The

Coaching Quali cation: Why study

Whats Wellbeing Got to do with

LATEST BLOG ARTICLES GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Tweets by Wordcount in 700

Mentoring? John or Mandy Underwood

Suite 1, 19 Forestlake Avenue

Copyright 2017 Developing 'U' limited : The Leadership Development Company

Potrebbero piacerti anche