Study Guides

• Do you know exactly what is being asked of you?
• Look up any words you don't understand.
• Try writing out what you have to do in your own words.
• Are there any restrictions that may affect how you answer the brief?
• Are there any specific problems you need to address?
• If you are unsure about anything at this point consult a tutor.
• Do you know exactly what you are going to be assessed on? Consider highlighting the assessment criteria.

• Identify what you already know.
• Identify areas for possible research.
• Sketch out your initial ideas on how you might respond to the brief.
• Break the assignment into small specific tasks and set goals.
• Research and experiment with the ideas you have generated.
• Plan what you are going to do and think about the resources and equipment you might need.

At every stage of the process keep the brief where you can refer to it - this will ensure you are answering it and meeting the assessment criteria. It may help to keep a record of what thoughts and ideas arise out of your research by keeping self-critical notes (for example, a reflective journal or annotated research file) to:

• Identify the direction your work is taking.
• Clarify the issues which arise.
• Indicate any change of direction and reasons why.
• Review and evaluate.

It is a good idea to keep a record of the progression of your work. This may include:

• Photographs and videos.
• Sketch books.
• Preliminary plans.

At an early stage, consider how you are going to present your response to the brief. In order to show your work to its best advantage:

• Be selective.
• Experiment with different forms of media for presentation.
• Make available background research.

It is important to review and reflect on all the feedback of your work, as this is one of the best opportunities for learning how to improve. Looking at how other people responded to the brief can also be helpful.

Take time before starting your next project to ask:

• How successful was my response?
• What would I do differently?
• What have I learnt?
• What can I take forward to my next project?