Every assignment matters: 5 March 2019

Email 3: Every assignment matters

Did you know?

• Some Unisaassignments are compulsory, which means that you won't be allowed to write a module's examination unless you've completed the relevant assignments.
• Most assignmentscontribute to your final mark, so it's really important that you complete them according to the specified guidelines.
• Assignments help your lecturers to see whether you understand the module, and they help you to learn the course material and prepare for exams.
• Submitting an assignment via myUnisa is fast and reliable. It's also the easiest method. Simply login to myUnisa and follow the instructions onscreen.

Our focus this week is on helping you to prepare for and submit your assignments.

Activity 1: Learn more about the different types of assignments used at Unisa

• Read about Unisa's different types of assignments or on the Assignments website on myUnisa.
• Make sure that you understand the requirements of each assignment you have to submit. Read each module's Tutorial Letter 101 carefully for more information.

Activity 2: Read Unisa's student policies & rules

Unisa's student policies, rules and disciplinary code are available on myUnisa. It's very important that you read and understand these rules, as all your learning and study activities should be guided by academic integrity - doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Keep your end goal in mind - your completed qualification - and commit to doing your own assignments and other academic work.

Invest in your studies

Do you make notes while you are studying? Or do you think they're a waste of time and that you could rather spend your time reading, memorising or participating in group discussions? We believe that making notes is an investment in your studies. Successful students make notes of what they read. Your notes serve two major purposes:

• Your notes are a permanent record of the time you've spent on a section of work.
• Your notes serve as a first step towards expanding your network of memory strategies.

As you prepare for your assignments, we recommend that you make notes before you answer your assignment questions, as it will help you to make sense of your learning and understand how everything is linked.

Our focus this week is on helping you to learn more effectively.

Activity 1: Learn more about an effective learning strategy

The EFT study method helps you to divide your time between reading your study material, making notes, revising, memorising and testing yourself. Read more about this method.

Activity 2: Try out different note making methods

Read about different ways of making notes. Try out these different methods (examples are provided on the web page) on at least one study unit in one module. See how you can incorporate these ways of making notes with what you are already doing.

Special activity

You are invited to the live broadcast to be hosted by the Student Retention Unit between 12:00 and 13:00 on Wednesday, 6 March 2019. The broadcast will focus on Assignment preparation.

To watch the live broadcast follow this link: http://portal.joininvideo.com#/player/f713ef33-b39b-4f71-a12d-b1e1e633ee12/1442 during the specified time. We suggest that you read the guidelines, and register before the start of the live broadcast. A recording of the broadcast will be available at the same link if you are not able to join the live session.

All the best for your studies this week!