Definition and Purpose
An Assignment prompt is a statement of what an instructor expects a student to do to demonstrate learning in an assignment. Assignment prompts provide students with the information they need to complete an assignment successfully. The purpose of the prompt is to provide students with clear understanding of the assignment and directions for completing it. Assignment prompts inform students of the purpose, objectives, and expectations for the assignment, as well as of the process and parameters for completing it. Well written assignment prompts create a common understanding of the assignment, so all students can be held to the same standard. They ensure that students’ work is assessed on the content they have learned, rather than on their reading skills or past writing experiences.
Components of Assignment Prompts
There are many ideas about what information is important to include in an effective assignment prompt. Some of those most mentioned are the following:
- Title of the assignment should include a specific description of the nature of the assignment, as well as the topic (e.g., Descriptive Essay, Summary of an Article, or Comparison of Theories).
- Preamble situates the assignment within the larger context of the course, what lead up to it and what will follow, how the assignment relates to the overall theme of the course (e.g., remind students of what they have been working on in anticipation of the assignment and how that work has prepared them to succeed at it).
- Purpose and rationale/justification link the assignments to the goals of the course. They also explain how this specific assignment is related to a learning objective of the course; that is, they tell students what they will learn by doing it and why it is important. The prompt might also provide the specific learning objectives for the assignment.
- Tasks/steps/process outlines what students are supposed to do to complete the assignment. The phrase that explains the writing task will commonly contain an action verb, such as “discuss,” “analyze,” or “explore.” Strong assignment prompts not only identify a clear task, but also provide suggestions for how students might begin to accomplish the task (e.g., how to start, where to look, how to ask for help). Sometimes, prompts include a list of questions that are either suggestions for brainstorming or questions that you need to address in your essay.
- Intended audience tells students for whom to write the assignment (e.g., undergraduates with no psychology background, a potential funder who knows a great deal about start-ups, or a school principal who is interested in adopting a program for teaching with generative AI).
- Details about format provides information on the specifics of the document to be turned in. This might include the following:
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- Length (how many word/pages)
- Citation style or format (e.g., APA)
- Font type and size
- Margin settings
- Title sheets
- Special instructions about appearance
- Rubric and grading criteria communicate clear expectations about dimensions to be evaluated (e.g., content, clarity, originality, logic, organization, or grammar). This section might also indicate the assignment’s point value or percentage of the course grade. Models or samples of exemplary work might also be provided.
- Submission guidelines tell students how and when to submit their work. For example, should the assignment be handed in as a hard copy, emailed to the instructor, or uploaded to Canvas? When, exactly, is it due (e.g., by the beginning of the last class or by next Tuesday at 5:00pm?)
Additional Tips
- Write prompts that are short and focused, using short paragraphs or one-line statements.
- Use direct, clear language.
- Utilize a bulleted or numbered list with parallel wording in each item.
- Provide sufficient information for students to clearly understand the task but not so much as to obscure the focus.
- Anticipate questions students may have and answer those in the assignment prompt.
- Consider providing resources that can help a student, such as a link to a citation manual, a writing guide, or a sample.
- Avoid terms that may marginalize students. For example, use names that reflect the demographic diversity of students and include varied and non-binary names and pronouns.
- Write prompts in a manner that all students will have the knowledge and experience to understand them. For example, they avoid jargon, unusual figures of speech, and obscure cultural refences.
Sources
Harvard University Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning How to Write an Effective Assignment
Yale University Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning Designing Assignments
Stanford University Teaching Writing Creating Your Assignment Sheets
University of Texas/Austin Faculty Innovation Center Assignment Prompts
Carnegie Mellon University Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation Assignments at are inclusive regarding their implementation
Boston University Center for Teaching & Learning Key Components of Assignment Prompts
University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Developing Writing Prompts
University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center Writing an Assignment Prompt
Tips for students
Several sites provide tips for students about how to read and interpret assignment prompts:
Purdue University Online Writing Lab Information Included in the Writing Prompt
Loyola University Chicago Writing Center How to Understand a Prompt
University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill Writing Center Understanding Assignments
University of Washington School of Social Work Understanding the Prompt