what is an assignment notebook

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• Write the test or assignment in your planner the day it is assigned.
• Make sure you write neatly so you can read it, and write enough so you know exactly what to do.
• Write the test or assignment in your planner the day it is due.
• If you were invited to a party, you wouldn’t write the date on your calendar the date you were invited, you would put it on the date of the party. In an assignment notebook, you do both. You enter the assignment when it was given (when you were invited), and you also enter it on the date it is due (the date of the party).
• The physical act of writing the assignment down again will serve as a reminder that you’ve got work to do. Break down long-term tests, projects and assignments into smaller steps so you are doing a specific task each time you have class that moves you closer towards completing your project. Don’t just re-enter the name of the project, test, or assignment; instead, write down the name and what you’re planning to do. Make a schedule for long-term assignments. Do a fraction of the long-term assignment every day.
• Write “No Homework” or “Nothing” or the null set sign if you don’t have any assignments in a certain class.
• Maintenance homework includes studying your flashcards from World Language, studying your notes, practicing your instrument, independent reading, etc.
• Make the planner a part of your daily routine. Carry it with you at all times and remember to check it every morning and every night.
• Fill in your assignment and test due dates as soon as you learn them. Get in the habit of writing in your planner while you're still in the classroom. Don't put it off!
• Show your parent your assignment notebook and your completed tasks/assignments to make sure what you did matches what you wrote in your assignment notebook.
• Ask a friend whose academic success you respect (a study buddy) to make sure what’s in your assignment notebook matches what you’ve been assigned.
• Check Schoology.
• Make sure your name is on the front cover of your planner REALLY BIG. If you forget it somewhere, we’ll know it’s yours.
• After you’ve completed the assignment or the task, check it off so you feel that sense of satisfaction.
• Write down the name and phone number of a study buddy in your assignment notebook.
• Make a weekly to-do list.
• Before you begin an assignment, write down how much time you predict it will take next to your entry in your planner. When you’re done, write down how much time you actually needed.
• Circle what you need to do that night.
• Devise a color-coding system that works for you.
• Write your assignments in your subject notebook, etc. so you’ve written it down twice.
• Start your assignment the night it’s assigned (if you can) to make sure you get it. If you don’t understand something, you can ask the teacher the next day before it’s the day of your class.
• If the assignment is repeated throughout the week, draw an arrow down to the appropriate day or write, for example, “See Monday.”
• Do the longest and hardest homework first. Do the easiest first. Do what you want to do first. Reach into your bag and do something random. Do the most urgent thing first. Do what you remember first without looking in your assignment notebook. Do the projects first – especially if they’re due the next day. All of these strategies work for different kids. Do what works for you, and follow the same routine.
• Use the weekends for long-term assignments, but try to make sure you have one day a week of no homework.

Understanding Assignments

What this handout is about.

The first step in any successful college writing venture is reading the assignment. While this sounds like a simple task, it can be a tough one. This handout will help you unravel your assignment and begin to craft an effective response. Much of the following advice will involve translating typical assignment terms and practices into meaningful clues to the type of writing your instructor expects. See our short video for more tips.

Basic beginnings

Regardless of the assignment, department, or instructor, adopting these two habits will serve you well :

• Read the assignment carefully as soon as you receive it. Do not put this task off—reading the assignment at the beginning will save you time, stress, and problems later. An assignment can look pretty straightforward at first, particularly if the instructor has provided lots of information. That does not mean it will not take time and effort to complete; you may even have to learn a new skill to complete the assignment.
• Ask the instructor about anything you do not understand. Do not hesitate to approach your instructor. Instructors would prefer to set you straight before you hand the paper in. That’s also when you will find their feedback most useful.

Assignment formats

Many assignments follow a basic format. Assignments often begin with an overview of the topic, include a central verb or verbs that describe the task, and offer some additional suggestions, questions, or prompts to get you started.

An Overview of Some Kind

The instructor might set the stage with some general discussion of the subject of the assignment, introduce the topic, or remind you of something pertinent that you have discussed in class. For example:

“Throughout history, gerbils have played a key role in politics,” or “In the last few weeks of class, we have focused on the evening wear of the housefly …”

The Task of the Assignment

Pay attention; this part tells you what to do when you write the paper. Look for the key verb or verbs in the sentence. Words like analyze, summarize, or compare direct you to think about your topic in a certain way. Also pay attention to words such as how, what, when, where, and why; these words guide your attention toward specific information. (See the section in this handout titled “Key Terms” for more information.)

“Analyze the effect that gerbils had on the Russian Revolution”, or “Suggest an interpretation of housefly undergarments that differs from Darwin’s.”

Additional Material to Think about

Here you will find some questions to use as springboards as you begin to think about the topic. Instructors usually include these questions as suggestions rather than requirements. Do not feel compelled to answer every question unless the instructor asks you to do so. Pay attention to the order of the questions. Sometimes they suggest the thinking process your instructor imagines you will need to follow to begin thinking about the topic.

“You may wish to consider the differing views held by Communist gerbils vs. Monarchist gerbils, or Can there be such a thing as ‘the housefly garment industry’ or is it just a home-based craft?”

These are the instructor’s comments about writing expectations:

“Be concise”, “Write effectively”, or “Argue furiously.”

Technical Details

These instructions usually indicate format rules or guidelines.

“Your paper must be typed in Palatino font on gray paper and must not exceed 600 pages. It is due on the anniversary of Mao Tse-tung’s death.”

The assignment’s parts may not appear in exactly this order, and each part may be very long or really short. Nonetheless, being aware of this standard pattern can help you understand what your instructor wants you to do.

Interpreting the assignment

Ask yourself a few basic questions as you read and jot down the answers on the assignment sheet:

Why did your instructor ask you to do this particular task?

Who is your audience.

• What kind of evidence do you need to support your ideas?

What kind of writing style is acceptable?

• What are the absolute rules of the paper?

Try to look at the question from the point of view of the instructor. Recognize that your instructor has a reason for giving you this assignment and for giving it to you at a particular point in the semester. In every assignment, the instructor has a challenge for you. This challenge could be anything from demonstrating an ability to think clearly to demonstrating an ability to use the library. See the assignment not as a vague suggestion of what to do but as an opportunity to show that you can handle the course material as directed. Paper assignments give you more than a topic to discuss—they ask you to do something with the topic. Keep reminding yourself of that. Be careful to avoid the other extreme as well: do not read more into the assignment than what is there.

Of course, your instructor has given you an assignment so that they will be able to assess your understanding of the course material and give you an appropriate grade. But there is more to it than that. Your instructor has tried to design a learning experience of some kind. Your instructor wants you to think about something in a particular way for a particular reason. If you read the course description at the beginning of your syllabus, review the assigned readings, and consider the assignment itself, you may begin to see the plan, purpose, or approach to the subject matter that your instructor has created for you. If you still aren’t sure of the assignment’s goals, try asking the instructor. For help with this, see our handout on getting feedback .

Given your instructor’s efforts, it helps to answer the question: What is my purpose in completing this assignment? Is it to gather research from a variety of outside sources and present a coherent picture? Is it to take material I have been learning in class and apply it to a new situation? Is it to prove a point one way or another? Key words from the assignment can help you figure this out. Look for key terms in the form of active verbs that tell you what to do.

Key Terms: Finding Those Active Verbs

Here are some common key words and definitions to help you think about assignment terms:

Information words Ask you to demonstrate what you know about the subject, such as who, what, when, where, how, and why.

• define —give the subject’s meaning (according to someone or something). Sometimes you have to give more than one view on the subject’s meaning
• describe —provide details about the subject by answering question words (such as who, what, when, where, how, and why); you might also give details related to the five senses (what you see, hear, feel, taste, and smell)
• explain —give reasons why or examples of how something happened
• illustrate —give descriptive examples of the subject and show how each is connected with the subject
• summarize —briefly list the important ideas you learned about the subject
• trace —outline how something has changed or developed from an earlier time to its current form
• research —gather material from outside sources about the subject, often with the implication or requirement that you will analyze what you have found

Relation words Ask you to demonstrate how things are connected.

• compare —show how two or more things are similar (and, sometimes, different)
• contrast —show how two or more things are dissimilar
• apply—use details that you’ve been given to demonstrate how an idea, theory, or concept works in a particular situation
• cause —show how one event or series of events made something else happen
• relate —show or describe the connections between things

Interpretation words Ask you to defend ideas of your own about the subject. Do not see these words as requesting opinion alone (unless the assignment specifically says so), but as requiring opinion that is supported by concrete evidence. Remember examples, principles, definitions, or concepts from class or research and use them in your interpretation.

• assess —summarize your opinion of the subject and measure it against something
• prove, justify —give reasons or examples to demonstrate how or why something is the truth
• evaluate, respond —state your opinion of the subject as good, bad, or some combination of the two, with examples and reasons
• support —give reasons or evidence for something you believe (be sure to state clearly what it is that you believe)
• synthesize —put two or more things together that have not been put together in class or in your readings before; do not just summarize one and then the other and say that they are similar or different—you must provide a reason for putting them together that runs all the way through the paper
• analyze —determine how individual parts create or relate to the whole, figure out how something works, what it might mean, or why it is important
• argue —take a side and defend it with evidence against the other side

More Clues to Your Purpose As you read the assignment, think about what the teacher does in class:

• What kinds of textbooks or coursepack did your instructor choose for the course—ones that provide background information, explain theories or perspectives, or argue a point of view?
• In lecture, does your instructor ask your opinion, try to prove their point of view, or use keywords that show up again in the assignment?
• What kinds of assignments are typical in this discipline? Social science classes often expect more research. Humanities classes thrive on interpretation and analysis.
• How do the assignments, readings, and lectures work together in the course? Instructors spend time designing courses, sometimes even arguing with their peers about the most effective course materials. Figuring out the overall design to the course will help you understand what each assignment is meant to achieve.

Now, what about your reader? Most undergraduates think of their audience as the instructor. True, your instructor is a good person to keep in mind as you write. But for the purposes of a good paper, think of your audience as someone like your roommate: smart enough to understand a clear, logical argument, but not someone who already knows exactly what is going on in your particular paper. Remember, even if the instructor knows everything there is to know about your paper topic, they still have to read your paper and assess your understanding. In other words, teach the material to your reader.

Aiming a paper at your audience happens in two ways: you make decisions about the tone and the level of information you want to convey.

• Tone means the “voice” of your paper. Should you be chatty, formal, or objective? Usually you will find some happy medium—you do not want to alienate your reader by sounding condescending or superior, but you do not want to, um, like, totally wig on the man, you know? Eschew ostentatious erudition: some students think the way to sound academic is to use big words. Be careful—you can sound ridiculous, especially if you use the wrong big words.
• The level of information you use depends on who you think your audience is. If you imagine your audience as your instructor and they already know everything you have to say, you may find yourself leaving out key information that can cause your argument to be unconvincing and illogical. But you do not have to explain every single word or issue. If you are telling your roommate what happened on your favorite science fiction TV show last night, you do not say, “First a dark-haired white man of average height, wearing a suit and carrying a flashlight, walked into the room. Then a purple alien with fifteen arms and at least three eyes turned around. Then the man smiled slightly. In the background, you could hear a clock ticking. The room was fairly dark and had at least two windows that I saw.” You also do not say, “This guy found some aliens. The end.” Find some balance of useful details that support your main point.

You’ll find a much more detailed discussion of these concepts in our handout on audience .

The Grim Truth

With a few exceptions (including some lab and ethnography reports), you are probably being asked to make an argument. You must convince your audience. It is easy to forget this aim when you are researching and writing; as you become involved in your subject matter, you may become enmeshed in the details and focus on learning or simply telling the information you have found. You need to do more than just repeat what you have read. Your writing should have a point, and you should be able to say it in a sentence. Sometimes instructors call this sentence a “thesis” or a “claim.”

So, if your instructor tells you to write about some aspect of oral hygiene, you do not want to just list: “First, you brush your teeth with a soft brush and some peanut butter. Then, you floss with unwaxed, bologna-flavored string. Finally, gargle with bourbon.” Instead, you could say, “Of all the oral cleaning methods, sandblasting removes the most plaque. Therefore it should be recommended by the American Dental Association.” Or, “From an aesthetic perspective, moldy teeth can be quite charming. However, their joys are short-lived.”

Convincing the reader of your argument is the goal of academic writing. It doesn’t have to say “argument” anywhere in the assignment for you to need one. Look at the assignment and think about what kind of argument you could make about it instead of just seeing it as a checklist of information you have to present. For help with understanding the role of argument in academic writing, see our handout on argument .

What kind of evidence do you need?

There are many kinds of evidence, and what type of evidence will work for your assignment can depend on several factors–the discipline, the parameters of the assignment, and your instructor’s preference. Should you use statistics? Historical examples? Do you need to conduct your own experiment? Can you rely on personal experience? See our handout on evidence for suggestions on how to use evidence appropriately.

Make sure you are clear about this part of the assignment, because your use of evidence will be crucial in writing a successful paper. You are not just learning how to argue; you are learning how to argue with specific types of materials and ideas. Ask your instructor what counts as acceptable evidence. You can also ask a librarian for help. No matter what kind of evidence you use, be sure to cite it correctly—see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial .

You cannot always tell from the assignment just what sort of writing style your instructor expects. The instructor may be really laid back in class but still expect you to sound formal in writing. Or the instructor may be fairly formal in class and ask you to write a reflection paper where you need to use “I” and speak from your own experience.

Try to avoid false associations of a particular field with a style (“art historians like wacky creativity,” or “political scientists are boring and just give facts”) and look instead to the types of readings you have been given in class. No one expects you to write like Plato—just use the readings as a guide for what is standard or preferable to your instructor. When in doubt, ask your instructor about the level of formality they expect.

No matter what field you are writing for or what facts you are including, if you do not write so that your reader can understand your main idea, you have wasted your time. So make clarity your main goal. For specific help with style, see our handout on style .

Technical details about the assignment

The technical information you are given in an assignment always seems like the easy part. This section can actually give you lots of little hints about approaching the task. Find out if elements such as page length and citation format (see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial ) are negotiable. Some professors do not have strong preferences as long as you are consistent and fully answer the assignment. Some professors are very specific and will deduct big points for deviations.

Usually, the page length tells you something important: The instructor thinks the size of the paper is appropriate to the assignment’s parameters. In plain English, your instructor is telling you how many pages it should take for you to answer the question as fully as you are expected to. So if an assignment is two pages long, you cannot pad your paper with examples or reword your main idea several times. Hit your one point early, defend it with the clearest example, and finish quickly. If an assignment is ten pages long, you can be more complex in your main points and examples—and if you can only produce five pages for that assignment, you need to see someone for help—as soon as possible.

Tricks that don’t work

Your instructors are not fooled when you:

• spend more time on the cover page than the essay —graphics, cool binders, and cute titles are no replacement for a well-written paper.
• use huge fonts, wide margins, or extra spacing to pad the page length —these tricks are immediately obvious to the eye. Most instructors use the same word processor you do. They know what’s possible. Such tactics are especially damning when the instructor has a stack of 60 papers to grade and yours is the only one that low-flying airplane pilots could read.
• use a paper from another class that covered “sort of similar” material . Again, the instructor has a particular task for you to fulfill in the assignment that usually relates to course material and lectures. Your other paper may not cover this material, and turning in the same paper for more than one course may constitute an Honor Code violation . Ask the instructor—it can’t hurt.
• get all wacky and “creative” before you answer the question . Showing that you are able to think beyond the boundaries of a simple assignment can be good, but you must do what the assignment calls for first. Again, check with your instructor. A humorous tone can be refreshing for someone grading a stack of papers, but it will not get you a good grade if you have not fulfilled the task.

Critical reading of assignments leads to skills in other types of reading and writing. If you get good at figuring out what the real goals of assignments are, you are going to be better at understanding the goals of all of your classes and fields of study.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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My Assignment Notebook Method

The winner of the sheet music decorative balls is commenter #5…  LaDona !  Congrats!!  (By the way, if you haven’t seen LaDona’s wonderful blog before, you can check it out  here .)

My method of tracking assignments is very similar to what many of you do: I write in a journal-sized notebook.

I always start with the date and then I outline any warmup/technique exercises (5-finger patterns, arpeggios, scales, etc).  The photos in this post show a made-up but typical assignment page: 

Each book is listed along with the page numbers of the assigned pieces.  I always include brief notes for what I will be listening for at the next lesson.  My students know that in order to “pass” each piece, they will need to reach those goals first!  This is good motivation for them to read their notebook as they practice throughout the week.  We often mark up the score too, but I find the notebook is a good place to put overall goals and comments.

When students forget to bring their notebook to the lesson (which doesn’t happen very often, fortunately), I use a separate sheet of paper for their assignment that day and tell them to staple or tape it into their notebook when they get home.

So that’s my current method!  Someday, I’d love to try a digital method, like some of you described in the comment section of last week’s post .  For now, my current system is working well.  I have no trouble keeping up with the pace of the lesson — I am a fast writer, and  I usually jot my notes down while students are finding the next page, putting a sticker on their finished pieces, etc..

I’ve heard of another great idea for assignment pages for more advanced students.  I think I probably read it on the Yahoo group for piano teachers (please let me know if you happen to know who I can credit this idea to).  Instead of organizing chronologically by date, each page of the notebook is for each piece that the student is working on.  I really like the idea of having a progression of notes and comments from the very first week, especially for lengthy, involved repertoire!

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your assignment method!

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Published by Joy Morin

Joy Morin, MM, is a teacher, pianist, composer, speaker, and writer of a blog at ColorInMyPiano.com. A devoted teacher and lifelong learner, she teaches students of all ages at her independent piano studio near Ann Arbor, Michigan. Joy is a frequent attendee and presenter at conferences and workshops, and enjoys connecting with fellow piano teachers through her blog and beyond. View all posts by Joy Morin

12 thoughts on “My Assignment Notebook Method”

Thanks for the link, Joy. The notebook worked for years for me, too, but now that I’ve gone digital I’ll never go back…. Looking forward to getting my prize in the mail!

Our methods seem very similar! I like how you encourage students to attain each goal before a piece is “passed.” Like you said, it’s a nice way to get them to read the notebooks! (Which is something I need to work on with several of my students!)

One thing I like to do – when a student has a good lesson (passing songs, or learning new concepts and using problem solving skills) we add a sticker to the outside. It’s a fun way to decorate and make the journal “theirs.” 🙂

Thanks for sharing your sticker idea! Sounds like fun.

Your notebook method is almost identical to mine! Only I also add a practice chart along the right side for my students to record practice time. Even with all of the directions that I write in their notebooks, though, I still have students who never even open them during the week. =P

My system is similar, although I write in a dictation book so I’ve got staff paper there if needed. However, for the pieces, I write the title — I think a student is more likely to play musically if they’re thinking of their piece as “Quiet Waters” or “Hurricane Hop” rather than “page 12”.

I ditched the notebook a few years ago. I found that they would get lost or forgotten and then I was completely lost about what to do in the lesson. I also heard students come to lessons saying ” i didn’t know what page to practice” that was with it written in the notebook. Most of the time the notebook was never even opened. So i switched to sticky-notes and flags. A sticky flag goes on the page they are to play for the week,(so you can see it sticking out) Instructions for the song go on the bigger sticky note that goes directly on the song. This works great for songs that are worked on mulitlple times I can move the instructions around so the student has less tendency to skip over them because they see them in the same place over and over. i do miss being able to go back in the notebook to see the progress but I don’t think my students care at all.

Thanks for sharing about the Yahoo group for piano teachers! I just sent a join request, hope they approve so I can check it out.

Some great ideas here everyone. I’ve always been a notebook girl too. But I loved the idea of flagging pages with those mini post-its.

I am trying a laminated sheet that we will write assignments on each week. This is then put on the front of the binder so they don’t have the excuse of looking for the wrong date. I’m new at the binder work, but really want to give the students more than just sit down, play, go home, practice type of lessons. I keep a binder of my own notes for each student so I can see how they have progressed from week to week. We’ll see how it works this year.

The notebooks work the best for me by far. It’s usually something that parents can be a part of too, and sometimes I hide hidden “gems” in the writing. I tend to use a lot of brightly colored gel pens because it keeps the younger ones focused. Letting them pick out the colors keeps them zeroed in on the fact that I’m writing something. Parents have something that they can easily glance at to see if the child is even practicing the correct songs or not. You wouldn’t believe how many times a parent tells me they are confused about why no progress is being made! It might be because the “hours” of practice that little Suzy did were all on her old favorite songs, but not on the current assignment! Once I show them the notebook they feel like they are involved in the activities that they’re investing time, money and effort in to.

Hi Bridget,

What are the hidden gems you hide in your writing?

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Test: Understanding Your Study Habits Quiz

12 multiple choice questions.

Term Which helps a student do all of the following: organize assignments, plan after-school activities, and find time to relax with friends or family? Choose matching definition having a study routine breaking the schedule into tasks and due dates. have academic success. having a study schedule Don't know? 1 of 12

Term To create an effective study schedule, a student must Choose matching definition guess the amount of time needed for studying. have academic success. write down all activities and commitments. study schedule. Don't know? 2 of 12

Definition a study schedule. Choose matching term The most effective tool for developing good study habits is a A plan to budget time for studying and activities is referred to as The most important reason study habits are necessary is so students can Which is a correct statement about a study routine? Don't know? 3 of 12

Term Which is a correct statement about a study routine? Choose matching definition A study routine is a spontaneous, random way to study. A study routine is a one-time, occasional way to study. A study routine is a regular, repeated way to study. A study routine is a chaotic, disorganized way to study. Don't know? 4 of 12

Definition have academic success. Choose matching term The most important reason study habits are necessary is so students can Step 1 of creating an effective assignment notebook is Which helps a student do all of the following: organize assignments, plan after-school activities, and find time to relax with friends or family? The most effective tool for developing good study habits is a Don't know? 5 of 12

Term Sofia just remembered that her social studies project is due tomorrow. She had started working on it when it was first assigned two weeks ago, but she has not worked on it since then. She knows she will have to stay up late to finish it and that it will not be her best work. What is the first thing Sofia should do to prevent this situation from happening again? Choose matching definition a study routine is a regular, repeated way to study. record the project in her assignment notebook a study schedule. breaking the schedule into tasks and due dates. Don't know? 6 of 12

Term Step 1 of creating an effective assignment notebook is Choose matching definition memorizing the entire schedule. breaking the schedule into tasks and due dates. ignoring due dates completely. color coding the notebook sections. Don't know? 7 of 12

Term What should Stephan do to improve his study environment? Check all that appl Choose matching definition breaking the schedule into tasks and due dates. Check : remove distracting technology have easy access to his study resources ask his parents to leave the room allow his dad to stay only if he is helping with studying remove all food and drink from the room have academic success. study schedule. Don't know? 8 of 12

Term To create an effective study schedule, a student mus Choose matching definition guess the amount of time needed for studying. have academic success. study schedule. write down all activities and commitments. Don't know? 9 of 12

Term The most effective tool for developing good study habits is a Choose matching definition breaking the schedule into tasks and due dates. have academic success. study schedule. a study routine is a regular, repeated way to study. Don't know? 10 of 12

Term A plan to budget time for studying and activities is referred to as Choose matching definition a student's parents. study habits. a study schedule. a study routine. Don't know? 11 of 12

Definition A study routine is a regular, repeated way to study. Choose matching term Step 1 of creating an effective assignment notebook is Which is a correct statement about a study routine? The most effective tool for developing good study habits is a To create an effective study schedule, a student mus Don't know? 12 of 12

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Assignment notebook hack: How to keep track of homework so you don’t forget to do things

Katie Azevedo September 12, 2019 ADD/ADHD , executive function , good habits , homework , memory , organization , productivity , routines , time management

By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed.

Our brains are not meant for storing information; they are made for creating. We simply don’t have enough bandwidth (energy) to remember everything. How many times has someone introduced herself, but twenty seconds later you forget her name? Our brains have more important things to do than remember details like this. 

Similarly, our brains are not good at remembering homework assignments and due dates. We tell ourselves I’ll remember that, but it’s unlikely that we will. Even if we do remember something that’s due the next day, it often comes at the expense of forgetting something else. 

My point? All students – no matter the age or grade level – should write down every single assignment. Immediately. On paper. 

Yes. On paper. In an actual assignment notebook. Sure, I know there are excellent homework-tracking apps out there. They have bright colors and are fun. Like candy. But I argue that paper-based assignment notebooks are the better choice for nearly everyone. (So many reasons why.)

Assuming you are already using an assignment notebook because you’re a genius and have watched my awesome video on this topic , it’s time to level up. The following assignment notebook hack is a strategy that I’ve personally used for yearssssss, as well as taught to my students.

How to keep track of homework

My assignment notebook hack is simple. There are two parts: 

• First, use a coding system for identifying which tasks you’ve completed, which ones you are pushing off until tomorrow, and which ones you are pushing off for more than one day. 
• Second, always rewrite assignments you don’t get to.

When you use this system, you force yourself to address EVERY item on your list and make a decision about it. Nothing gets lost in the shuffle.

You can use any symbols, but personally I recommend the following:

? Check mark for tasks you’ve completed

⇩ Down-facing arrow for tasks you’re pushing off until tomorrow

? The first letter of the weekday that you’re pushing off the task to (example: M for Monday, or Th for Thursday)

Let’s say you write down an assignment on Monday’s list, and it’s due on Thursday. If you complete it on Monday, check it off and be done. But if you don’t get to it on Monday, put a downward arrow next to the task and REWRITE THE ASSIGNMENT on Tuesday’s list . Like this:

Or, if you don’t think you can get to it until Thursday, put “Th” next to the task and rewrite it on Thursday’s list. This is a key step . You must rewrite assignments that you don’t get to on another day’s list . Like this:

I know this assignment notebook hack might sound too simple to be effective, but the best systems really are the simplest. I challenge you to try it.

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Best laptop deals for Prime Day 2024: Juicy sales on great notebooks

With Amazon Prime Day 2024 right around the corner, we’re seeing loads of laptop deals popping up all over the place like wild daisies. That means you don’t have to wait until the official event arrives on July 16th. Prime Day sales are exclusive to Prime members, so make sure you’ve nailed down a subscription. If you’ve never been a Prime member before, you can sign up for a 30-day trial for free .

Whether you need a portable notebook for work or a powerful rig for those long gaming sessions, these discounted laptops can certainly meet just about anyone’s needs.

Why should you listen to my recommendations? I oversee PCWorld’s laptop review program, from assignment to publication, and I also carefully maintain our daily laptop deals roundup , as well as our best laptops roundup . Every day, I spend a good amount of time hunting down the juiciest laptop deals.

To assemble the list below, I looked at everything from graphics and storage space to design and form factor. I also checked out Amazon pricing history with Camel Camel Camel . Since I’m so plugged into the laptop scene, I’ve also included deals from Dell, Acer, Best Buy and Newegg—though the focus for Prime Day deals is clearly on Amazon.

Read on to check out the best laptop deals. And don’t forget to tune into our Prime Day 2024 deals hub for delicious discounts in other tech categories.

Prime Day 2024 deals on mainstream and productivity laptops

• Acer Aspire 3 , includes 8GB of RAM and a 1080p display, $299.99 ($22 off at Amazon)
• Asus VivoBook 16 , includes an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U CPU and 1TB of SSD storage, $499.99 ($100 off at Amazon)
• HP Envy x360 , includes an Intel Core Ultra 5 125U CPU and a 2-in-1 form factor, $869.99 ($130 off at Amazon)
• Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro , includes an OLED touchscreen and an Intel Core 7 Ultra CPU, $1,274.99 ($139 off at Amazon)
• Dell Inspiron 15 , includes an Intel Core i7-1255U CPU and 1TB of SSD storage, $499.99 ($200 off at Dell)
• LG Gram 16 , includes an Intel Core i7-1360P CPU and weighs just under three pounds, $999.99 ($300 off at Best Buy)
• Dell XPS 13 , includes an Ultra 7 Processor 155H CPU and a 1200p 120Hz display, $1,149 ($250 off at Dell)
• Dell XPS 14 , includes an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU and 14.5-inch 3200×2000 OLED touch display, $2,099.99 ($400 off at Dell)

The above laptop deals are all fantastic, no doubt, but there are a couple that really stand out from the pack. First is the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro , which boasts a beautiful OLED touchscreen and a zippy Intel Core 7 Ultra 155H processor. In our review of this model, we awarded It 4.5 stars out of 5 and an Editor’s Choice badge. We were especially impressed with the OLED display, saying “the color reproduction is outstanding.” We also liked how it stayed cool and virtually silent under heavier loads.

The other standout is the Dell XPS 14 , an ultra-luxurious laptop with a stunning OLED touch display. The 14.5-inch 3200×2000 OLED display is capable of producing rich colors and inky blacks–so it’s a phenomenal screen for both entertainment and graphic design purposes. It should also deliver snappy performance thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU CPU, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, and the 32GB of RAM. Other cool features include a backlight keyboard and a 1080p webcam.

Prime Day 2024 deals on gaming laptops

• HP Victus , includes an Intel Core i5-12450H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 GPU, $599.99 ($100 off at Amazon)
• Dell G15 , includes a 165Hz 1080p display and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, $949.99 ($49.98 off at Amazon)
• Asus TUF Gaming A15 , includes an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU and an Nvidia GeForce 4060 GPU, $1,049 ($350.99 off at Amazon)
• MSI Bravo 15 , includes a 144Hz IPS display and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, $979.99 ($320 off at Newegg)
• HP Victus , includes an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, $999.99 ($400 off at Best Buy)
• Acer Nitro 16 , includes an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, $1,499.99 ($300 off at Acer)

While I stand behind every deal in the list above, the Dell G15 snags my attention every time because of its high refresh rate display. The 15.6-inch 1920×1080 display has a 165Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time, so visuals should be as smooth as your mother’s freshly churned butter. Also, thanks to the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, it should chew right through most games on High or Ultra graphics, especially if you flip on Nvidia’s speed-boosting DLSS technology in supported games.

More awesome Prime Day tech discounts

Our PCWorld editors have curated best deal roundups across all the major tech categories:

• Best Amazon tech deals across PCWorld’s top categories
• PC computer deals: Best of Prime Day 2024
• Monitor deals: Best of Prime Day 2024
• SSD and storage deals: Best of Prime Day 2024
• USB flash drive deals: Best of Prime Day 2024
• Thunderbolt dock and USB-C hub deals: Best of Prime Day 2024
• Office chairs and standing desks: Best of Prime Day 2024
• PC keyboard deals: Best of Prime Day 2024
• Battery charger deals: Best of Prime Day 2024
• Laptop bag and backpack deals: Best of Prime Day 2024
• Chromebook deals: Best of Prime Day 2024
• iPad, Galaxy Tab and Kindle deals: Best of Prime Day 2024

Laptop deals FAQ

How do i pick a laptop for prime day 2024.

Well, it depends on your needs and lifestyle. A 2-in-1, for example, is a good fit for someone who travels often. You can swing the screen back 360 degrees and use it in tablet mode for taking notes or you can prop it up like a tent for watching movies with others. If gaming is a top priority, then you’ll want to look into a laptop with powerful internal hardware and a display with a high refresh rate. For those of us who need a basic laptop for general web browsing, a low-powered Windows laptop should do you just fine.

How can I tell whether a laptop is a good Prime Day deal?

I always use Camel Camel Camel , which is a pricing history platform. You can make a free account and the interface is pretty easy to navigate. Let’s use the Asus VivoBook 16 as an example. Plug the ASIN, which is the part of the URL that starts with the letter B (B0BT6NKLQR in this case), into the search bar and hit search. Once the result generates, scroll down and you’ll see a graph of its price history. You’ll see a big dip in the price this month, the lowest price it has ever been in fact. That’s a big drop from the end of March when it was as high as $741.16.

Do laptop brands matter?

Not particularly when you’re hunting for deals, as long as you stick to household names. All of the big manufacturers like HP and Acer make perfectly capable machines and they all offer pretty steep discounts on their online retail storefronts. You may have a personal preference, though. Dell, for example, has great customer service and their website is easy to navigate. As for HP, their back-to-school guide is laid out in a really straightforward way.

How much memory do I need in a laptop?

I always tell my friends and family to shoot for at least 8GB of RAM. Anything less than that and you may very well notice a slowdown. If you can go higher than 8GB, that’s great! The more RAM you have, the zipper your laptop will be, especially when it comes to general browsing or making spreadsheets. 16GB of RAM is better for productivity tasks and gaming, and 32GB of RAM is perfect for photo editors.

Author: Ashley Biancuzzo , Associate Editor, PCWorld

Ashley Biancuzzo manages all laptop and Chromebook coverage for PCWorld. She's been covering consumer tech since 2016, and her work has appeared on USA Today, Reviewed, Polygon, Kotaku, StarWars.com, and Nerdist. In her spare time, she enjoys playing video games, reading science fiction, and hanging out with her rescue greyhound.

Recent stories by Ashley Biancuzzo:

• Best laptops for engineering students 2024: Expert picks and advice
• Today’s best laptop deals: Save big on work, school, home use, and gaming
• Best laptops 2024: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1s, and more