Coursework planning
Plan coursework before you start drafting
A useful plan connects the exact question, the marking criteria, your evidence and the purpose of each paragraph. It reduces wasted writing without deciding your answer for you.
Start with the task, not the topic
Underline the command word, scope, subject and any required context. 'Discuss', 'evaluate' and 'critically analyse' demand different kinds of reasoning.
- Write the question at the top of the plan
- Define unfamiliar terms from reliable sources
- Confirm word count, format and deadline
Map every marking criterion
Turn each criterion into a question your coursework must answer. Give more space to higher-weighted or more demanding criteria and note where one paragraph can support more than one outcome.
- Keep the original criterion wording
- Mark missing evidence early
- Check tutor instructions separately
Plan claims and evidence together
For each planned paragraph, note the claim, the source or genuine experience supporting it, a limitation or alternative view, and how it answers the brief.
Review the plan before drafting
Check that the sequence builds an argument rather than a list of topics. If a paragraph does not answer the question or satisfy a criterion, revise or remove it before spending time drafting.
Start with the question you have been set
Start by decoding your own coursework question. The tool is free and does not require an account.