Common Assignment Instructions Students Misunderstand

The ten to watch

• "Discuss" — more than one position is expected, not a single explanation.
• "With reference to the literature" — cited academic sources, not general knowledge.
• "Apply" — a specific case must appear, with concrete detail.
• "Reflect" — first person, about your own learning, and still structured.
• "Justify" — give reasons and rule out the alternatives.
• "Compare and contrast" — both halves, organised by theme rather than one subject after the other.
• "Briefly outline" — genuinely brief; this section is not where the marks are.
• "Where appropriate" — the rubric usually decides that it is appropriate.
• "Using an example of your choice" — the choice is graded too; pick one you can source.
• "Word limit excludes references" — check whether it also excludes tables, appendices and quotes.

How to protect yourself

Rewrite each instruction in your own words next to the original. Any phrase you cannot rewrite confidently is a question for your professor, and asking is not a sign of weakness — it is what office hours exist for.