In short
- Read the brief, the handbook and the course page first, so you only ask what isn’t written down.
- Ask in the first week, while the answer can still change your plan.
- Ask one precise question per point, and say what you already know.
- Keep the answer with the brief, where you will see it when you write.
A brief is written once, for a whole class, so it can’t cover everything. The gaps are easy to miss: which referencing style, whether headings are allowed, whether the reference list counts towards the words. Guessing wrong costs marks you never see coming. Asking takes two minutes.
This lesson is part of step 1, break down the brief. When you mark a brief with the brief marker, its last step shows what the brief doesn’t say: those are your questions.
The questions worth asking
Not every brief needs all of these. Ask the ones your brief and handbook leave open.
| About | The question |
|---|---|
| Referencing | Which style should I use, and is there a department guide for it? |
| Word count | Does the count include the reference list, quotations and headings? What happens if I go over? |
| Sources | How many sources are you expecting, and are there any I must or mustn’t use? |
| Format | Can I use headings, bullet points, tables or an appendix? |
| The question itself | When it says “discuss”, do you want my own view, or a balanced account? |
| Marking | Which parts of the marking criteria matter most for this piece? |
| Hand-in | Where and how is it submitted, and by what time on the day? |
| AI and help | What help is allowed, from AI tools or anyone else, and do I need to declare it? |
How to ask well
Check first
Look in the brief, the module handbook, the course page and any announcements. If the answer is there, you have it already.
Ask early
In the first week. An answer that changes your structure is much more useful before you start writing than after.
Be precise
One point per question, and say what you found. “The brief says 2,000 words. Does that include the reference list?” is quicker to answer than “What are the rules?”
Use the right place
Many courses have a forum or a Q&A session for assignment questions, so everyone gets the same answer. Use email for anything personal, like an extension.
Write the answer down
Put it with the brief. Weeks later, you will want the exact words.
An example email
Hi Dr Shah, I’m planning the EDU204 essay. Two quick questions: does the 2,000-word limit include the reference list, and is it fine to use headings for each section? I’ve checked the module handbook but couldn’t find either. Thanks, Sam
It is short, it says which assignment, it shows the handbook was checked, and each question has a yes or no answer.
Common mistakes
- Asking the night before. The answer may come too late, and it reads as a last-minute panic.
- Asking what the handbook already says. Check first; it’s quicker for you too.
- Asking “Is this right?” about a whole draft. Most tutors can’t pre-mark work. Ask about one specific choice instead.
Keep the questions and answers in KanBananza
- The questions get answered once, then forgotten. Add them as a checklist with + Add item, and tick each one off when it’s answered. Free
- Your tutor’s answer gets lost in email. Paste it into the notes of a card linked to the assignment, where you’ll see it when you write. Free
For your level
GCSE and A level
For coursework and NEA, your teacher can explain the task and the criteria but can’t give detailed feedback on drafts beyond what the exam board allows. Ask about the rules early.
University
Office hours exist for exactly this. Going once, with one or two questions written down, is often quicker than a chain of emails.
Dissertations
Bring your questions to each supervisor meeting as a short list, and write down what was agreed straight after.
Questions
Is it OK to email my tutor about an assignment?
Yes. Tutors and teachers expect questions about the brief, and most would rather answer one in week one than read an essay that misread it. Check the handbook and the course page first, so you only ask what isn’t written down.
How do I ask a tutor a question without sounding lost?
Show what you have already checked, then ask one precise question. For example: “The handbook says Harvard, but the brief mentions footnotes. Which should I use for this essay?”
What if my tutor doesn’t reply?
Give it two or three working days, then ask again or try a seminar, office hours or a course forum, where others probably have the same question. In the meantime, make a sensible choice and note it, so you can change it later.
Does the word count include references?
It depends on your course, which is why it is worth asking. Many universities leave the reference list out of the count but include in-text citations and quotations; some count everything.
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