Make sure you understand the assignment

If you don't understand an assignment, there is no way you can do it well. And here is a secret about college professors and their assignments: Most of the time, all you have to do to get an 'A' on an assignment is follow the directions.

1. Before you start, read the directions completely. Figure out what you are supposed to do from start to finish. This advice, of course, is nothing new, but that doesn't make it any less important.
2. Ask your professor. If you are confused about an assignment, the person who assigned it, is almost always the best person to ask to explain it. Don't count on asking another student, and please don't expect the librarians to know what you are supposed to do. Other students and librarians may have some good guesses and ideas, and they may have seen the assignment before, but they won't be the ones grading your work.
3. Ask immediately. If the assignment doesn't make sense, raise your hand, or talk to the professor immediately following class. Please, don't wait until weeks later or the night before the assignment is due.