How to Format Coursework According to University Guidelines

Line spacing should also be set consistently throughout the document.

Where there is no specific instruction, 1.5 spacing is commonly a practical choice. The Open University's general guidance allows 1.5 or double spacing when no other requirement applies. (Open University Help)

Set this through your word processor's paragraph settings rather than pressing Enter repeatedly between lines.

Build a Logical Coursework Structure

Once the basic page settings are in place, think about the structure.

For a conventional essay, you will usually have:

1. Introduction
2. Main discussion
3. Conclusion
4. References or bibliography
5. Appendices, if required

The exact structure depends on the assignment. A report may include an executive summary, methodology, findings and recommendations. A reflective assignment may use headings based on the reflection model specified by your course.

The key principle is simple: the structure should help the reader understand your answer.

Your introduction should establish what you are addressing and how you will approach it. The main sections should develop the argument or analysis. Your conclusion should bring the discussion together rather than suddenly introducing a completely new argument.

Use Headings Consistently

Headings are particularly useful when your coursework is long or contains several distinct areas of discussion.

Rather than manually changing the font size every time you create a heading, use the heading styles available in Microsoft Word.

This keeps your formatting consistent and makes it easier to navigate the document. It also means you can create a table of contents automatically if your assignment requires one.

A simple hierarchy might look like this:

Main section

Use this for the major parts of your discussion.

Subsection

Use this when a major section needs to be divided into smaller topics.

You don't need a heading for every paragraph. If your essay is only 1,500 words long, an excessive number of headings can make it feel fragmented rather than organised.

Pay Close Attention to the Word Count

The stated word limit should influence how you plan your coursework from the beginning.

One mistake I see frequently is treating the word count as an approximate target and then trying to remove several hundred words at the end. It is much easier to plan your sections before you start writing.

More importantly, find out what your university includes in the count.