With final exams approaching, many courses have final assignments and essays requiring completion. The end of semester can be stressful because of this as these projects are normally heavily weighted. In saying that, there are several things you can be doing to ensure you complete these assignments on time, and more importantly, completing them to the best of your ability.
1) Make a schedule
One of the biggest reasons we feel overwhelmed this time of year is because we don’t have plan to finish these assignments. It’s important to take some time to make a schedule and plan how you will manage your time to finish these assignments. Having a plan is half the battle because it allows you to see a “path” for how you will complete these assignments. If nothing else, making a schedule keeps the deadlines in the forefront of your mind so you can work towards finishing your assignments before they’re due.
2) Leave time to review
While making your schedule, it’s crucial you incorporate time dedicated to review. Having time to review is vital for achieving optimal performance on assignments as it eliminates “silly” mistakes. These are the kind of mistakes you make when you are rushed and subsequently fail to understand the nature of the assignment. Such mistakes are easily avoided if proper review is conducted, and it will ensure marks are not lost for carelessness.
3) Ask questions
If you don’t understand what the assignment is asking of you, or you are unsure about the expectations, talk to your professor. Professors are there to help you and you should be using them as a tool to achieve success. There is no such thing as a “stupid” question, especially if it enables you to feel more confident about the assigned task. Clarification is always useful when completing assignments as it keeps you focused on the purpose of the task. If you are unsure or have any questions, go talk to your professor as it will save you not only marks, but it will alleviate unwarranted stress.
4) Ask for a second opinion
This is another important element of review. If you have the time, it’s always a good idea to have someone else review your work. It’s especially helpful for clarity reasons as the reviewer may pick up on something you never thought about or didn’t realize yourself before it was brought to your attention. Such information may prove to be vital in producing the best work possible. A second set of eyes is also beneficial for editing purposes to ensure your writing is clear and to the point.
5) Reward yourself
This time of year can be taxing both physically and mentally. It’s important to keep this in mind as you can only perform to your capabilities if you remain healthy. That means when you put in a long day’s work, it’s important to relax and reward yourself for your hard work. Whether that’s going for a walk with friends, watching a sports game, or simply listening to music, taking some time to relax to get your mind off things is beneficial.
These are just a few things you can do to ensure you are working towards completing your final assignments to the best of your abilities.
Sebastian Farkas is a Fourth Year Honours Politics Student and Sports and Wellness Editor of the Athenaeum.
