Tips on writing your TMA

A reader has written in asking for some tips on writing the tutor marked assignments (TMAs), so here goes:

1) Start planning your TMA early. Remember that as the course gets more complex in higher levels, the assignments get more difficult. You only have a few short weeks between them, so I suggest that as soon as you finish one, you begin planning for the next.

a) While studying, make notes, mind maps, audio recordings, screen snapshots, or whatever else you usually do to remember the material.

b) Look at your TMA question beforehand, and try to put together an essay plan and connected to the material that you will need for the TMA.

c) Pay specific attention to the instructions of the TMA, and the learning outcomes.

2) I have said this before, and I will say it again – create a template for your TMAs. I use a 1.5 line spacing (for easier reading and to allow tutor comments), Arial font size 12, black lettering obviously. Do not use colours!

a) Create a header at the top of the page with your name, personal identifier number (PI), the course code e.g. W101, and which number of TMA it is, e.g. TMA 01. If you wish, you may also create a footer at the end of the page with the page number.

3) The OU has specific requirements regarding the type of TMA you are writing. There is a “formula” for essay-type questions and another for problem-type questions.

a) Essay-type questions require an introduction, body and conclusion: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByjaJEnvKIIZUmpHT0gweDhXOGs

b) Problem-type questions require a different approach: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByjaJEnvKIIZaHpHVVJPLThYbEU

4) Regardless of the type of assignment, the rule of thumb is to write simply, using “Plain English”. See my post on “Effective Writing Skills”:

http://oulawstudent.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/skills-2-effective-writing-skills.html

5) Reference properly: http://oulawstudent.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/how-to-reference-your-essays-for-law.html

Many of the above tips I have already posted online. Continue checking this blog, and using the “Advice” label on the right side.

Above all, do not take tutor feedback personally:http://oulawstudent.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/tutor-feedback.html