Why you should read this book (and keep it to yourself) -- An insight into the marking process -- How to impress and how to distress markers -- Before you start, some rules of the game -- Getting started, and getting finished -- Reading and researching the literature -- Introductions, conclusions, and structure -- What was the question again? -- Critical analysis, perspective, and argument -- The greatest source of "marker distress" : language, grammar, and expression -- Referencing : an academic fetish for the anally retentive? -- Plagiarism -- How not to present graphs and charts -- Presenting your assignment :first impressions count -- Feedback and feed-forward -- Appendix 1: A sample assignment (with annotated comments) -- Appendix 2: Writing research/project reports -- Appendix 3: Critical thinking and sceptical inquiry.