Worried about second year of uni

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Use simple English and avoid unecessary complex words or sentence structures - at uni I was always advised to write for an intelligent 14 year old

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Have a clear structure: beginning (intro of main arguments, what you'll discuss and your thesis statement), middle (your arguments one by one which flow into each other), and end (summary of arguments and what based on the evidence you believe - remember to leave it open to further research is needed!)

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Keep to the word count - but remember its easier to cut down words than have to fill them in

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Use Google Scholar's date filtering tool to get up to date articles e.g from the past 3 years

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Keep a bibliography as you go along and don't be afraid to take references from your references!

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break down the question before you do anything else - underline key terms, what is it really asking

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plan out your argument in advance so your essay has a clear line of thought

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use feedback from past assignments - it can feel a bit harsh but it's genuinely helpful once you know what to look out for

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use strong sources - academic books/journals carry more weight than websites for example. shows that you've done your reading and understood the debate.

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proofread - this makes a bigger difference than people think! read it out loud to catch awkward phrasing.

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check if your uni offers study skills or academic writing workshops - they're usually free and super helpful

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Firstly, I would say to try and start your assignments as soon as possible. I know this sounds easier said than done and sounds obvious, but it really does help so you get time to make corrections and ask your tutors about anything they can help you with.

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Similarly, make sure you make use of your tutors! If you get any opportunities for feedback, take them or just ask them for help! They may be able to look over some of your work, or they might just help you with little bits but make sure you ask if you have anything you need help as that's what they are there for!

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In terms of writing the actual work, I would say to just read over the brief lots as you are working. Any time you finish a paragraph, check it with the marking criteria. You could also print off the marking rubric and check what you have written with it and highlight what you think you have done so you can try and get as much of it done as you can.

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Making sure you are critical is important too. This can be tricky but once you get it it does get easier. Just make sure you are counter arguing your points (if you need to of course!) so you can get the critical argument in rather than it being descriptive.

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Referencing is key too! Make sure you are referencing your points - don't say something as if it is a fact without evidence and make sure you back up your points. You can use google scholar or other journals or similar and use your lecture notes too, as well as the recommended reading!

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Make use of the services at your uni too. Often the library will put on sessions so you can learn things like critical writing, referencing, assignment structure etc! These are so helpful and will really help you.

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Also just making sure the structure is correct is important too. Referencing correctly is really important - make sure it is the correct format and in the right order in the reference list (usually alphabetical but can differ depending on the referring style)

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Make sure your argument is clear and runs through the whole essay like a thread.

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Use topic sentences to guide your reader through each paragraph.

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Don’t just describe theories or case studies — always ask so what? and link back to your main argument.

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Keep referencing tight and consistent (your uni might have a guide or offer workshops).

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Plan your structure: Before you even start writing, outline your essay thoroughly. Think about your main arguments, supporting points, and how they'll flow logically from the introduction to the conclusion. A clear, cohesive structure makes a huge difference for the examiner.

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Deep dive into research: Go beyond just the basics. Use all the materials your lecturers provide, but also explore other academic sources. The more you understand the nuances of the topic, the better your arguments will be.

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Use university support: This is crucial! Your university will have study support services (often in the library or a dedicated academic skills centre) that offer one-on-one appointments, workshops, and online resources specifically for academic writing, referencing, and critical thinking. They are there to help you improve.

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Talk to your lecturers/tutors: Never be afraid to ask for help. They can often provide specific feedback on where you went wrong or offer guidance before you even submit an essay.