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What is the Difference Between Homework and Assignment

The main difference between homework and assignment is that homework is a task or a work assigned to a student generally by a teacher to be completed outside the classroom setting, most probably at home, while an assignment is a task assigned to a student to be completed within the course of a particular study.

Assignments and homework vary from one another due to a wide range of distinctive elements such as the objective or the purpose of the task, main functions, and the benefits received.

Key Areas Covered

1.  What is Homework     – Definition, Features 2.  What is Assignment      – Definition, Features 3.  Similarities Between Homework and Assignment      – Outline of Common Characteristics 4.  Difference Between Homework and Assignment     – Comparison of Key Differences

What is Homework

Homework refers to the tasks assigned to the students by the schoolteachers.  They expect students to carry out the task during non-school hours. Teachers often give homework to complete at home in order to make their students practice the learning material already taught. Their aim is to reinforce learning and facilitate the mastery of specific competencies and skills .

Sometimes, a student might get preparation assignments as homework. The purpose of such homework is to introduce the student to the study material that the teacher will present in future lessons. Furthermore, it would help students to obtain the maximum benefit once the new material is being taught in class.

On the other hand, homework sometimes facilitates the transfer of previously acquired skills to new situations. For example, the students might learn in class about factors that led to World war I. Then, as homework, the teacher would ask the students to find out the factors that led to World war II. Here, the teacher gives an integration homework, which requires the student to apply separately learned skills to create a single product, such as science projects, newspaper reports, or creative writing.

In addition, homework can be used to build up proper communication between parents and children, as a constructive method of punishment and also to make the parents aware of what is happening in school.

What is Assignment

If you are a student, you might think that it is not your responsibility to learn by yourself; rather, it is the job of the teacher to teach you. But, a teacher cannot teach every little thing in a particular unit or subject to the students.

Such a spoon-feeding method of imparting knowledge can negatively influence the learning capabilities and the academic career of a student. Especially in academic establishments such as colleges or universities, teachers expect the students do some research to grasp the untaught concepts and to explore the subject on their own instead of teaching everything to the students using a lecture method.

The actual purpose of giving assignments is to enhance the learning skills of the students.  This enables the students to occupy their brains more and more. Academic assignments improve the creativity of the students as they naturally acquire and learn a lot when they read or practice a subject or art on their own.  Therefore, the main reason for giving assignments is to provide the student with a platform to practice and explore knowledge about a subject on their own.

Similarities Between Homework and Assignment

• Both aim at enhancing the learning skills of the students.
• Teachers or professors assign them to the students.
• It is possible to grade both homework and assignments.

Difference Between Homework and Assignment

Homework is a work or a task assigned to a student by a teacher to be completed during a non-school hour, whereas an assignment is a task assigned to a student in the course of study. In contrast to homework, an assignment usually provides the student with a clue about the objectives of the assigned task.

The main purpose of an assignment is to help a student understand the studying process well. In contrast,  homework basically helps the student to improve his/her skills.

Main Function

An assignment can be used to figure out what should be taught, while homework is basically used to identify the challenges encountered by students on a particular topic. 

Some advantages of assignments include supporting students to revise a particular topic and boosting the students’ confidence, whereas homework becomes helpful in understanding a specific topic and when preparing for an exam.

In brief, the main difference between homework and assignment is that homework is assigned to be completed outside the classroom while assignments are assigned to be completed within the course of a particular study. Nonetheless, no matter how beneficial they can be, for most students, homework and assignments are a massive source of unhappiness and irritation.

1. Levy, Sandra. “ Why Homework Is Bad: Stress and Consequences .” Healthline , Healthline Media.

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Anuradha has a BA degree in English, French, and Translation studies. She is currently reading for a Master's degree in Teaching English Literature in a Second Language Context. Her areas of interests include Arts and Literature, Language and Education, Nature and Animals, Cultures and Civilizations, Food, and Fashion.

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Homework vs. Assignment: What's the Difference?

Key Differences

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Assignment vs. Homework

What's the difference.

Assignment and homework are both tasks given to students by teachers to reinforce learning and assess understanding. However, there are some key differences between the two. Assignments are typically larger projects or tasks that require more time and effort to complete, while homework is usually smaller, daily tasks that can be completed in a shorter amount of time. Assignments often involve more critical thinking and creativity, while homework is more focused on practicing and applying concepts learned in class. Overall, both assignments and homework play an important role in the learning process and help students develop their skills and knowledge.

Further Detail

Assignments and homework are both tasks given to students by teachers to reinforce learning. Assignments are typically more formal and structured tasks that are given to students to complete outside of class. Homework, on the other hand, is a broader term that encompasses any work that students are expected to complete outside of class time.

Assignments are usually given less frequently than homework. They are often larger tasks that require more time and effort to complete. Homework, on the other hand, is typically given on a daily or weekly basis and is meant to be completed in a shorter amount of time.

Assignments tend to cover a broader scope of material than homework. They may require students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of a topic or to apply concepts in a more complex way. Homework, on the other hand, is usually more focused and may involve practicing specific skills or reviewing material covered in class.

Assignments can come in a variety of formats, including essays, research papers, projects, presentations, and more. They often require students to engage in higher-order thinking skills and to demonstrate their understanding in a creative or analytical way. Homework, on the other hand, is typically more straightforward and may involve completing worksheets, answering questions, or reading assigned material.

Assignments are usually graded more rigorously than homework. They may account for a larger portion of a student's overall grade and may be assessed based on specific criteria or rubrics. Homework, on the other hand, is often graded on completion or effort and may not carry as much weight in terms of a student's final grade.

Time Management

Assignments often require more advanced time management skills than homework. Students may need to plan ahead and break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps in order to complete assignments on time. Homework, on the other hand, is usually more straightforward and can be completed in a shorter amount of time, making it easier for students to fit into their daily schedules.

The purpose of assignments is to deepen students' understanding of a topic, to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and to provide opportunities for creativity and self-expression. Homework, on the other hand, is meant to reinforce learning, to practice skills, and to provide feedback to both students and teachers on the progress of learning.

Collaboration

Assignments may involve more opportunities for collaboration than homework. Students may be asked to work in groups or pairs to complete assignments, which can help them develop teamwork and communication skills. Homework, on the other hand, is usually completed independently, although students may seek help from peers or parents if needed.

Assignments often provide more detailed feedback to students than homework. Teachers may offer comments, suggestions, and grades on assignments to help students understand their strengths and areas for improvement. Homework, on the other hand, may be graded quickly and may not always include detailed feedback, although teachers may use homework completion as a way to monitor student progress.

In conclusion, assignments and homework both play important roles in the education system. While assignments tend to be more formal, structured, and in-depth tasks that require advanced skills and knowledge, homework is typically more frequent, focused, and practice-oriented. Both assignments and homework provide valuable opportunities for students to learn, practice, and demonstrate their understanding of course material.

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Homework vs Assignments: Key Differences and How to Effectively Manage Them

Homework is tasks or exercises assigned to students to complete outside of class. It is often used to reinforce or practice the material covered in class and may be graded or ungraded.

Assignments , on the other hand, are tasks or exercises given as part of a class or course. They are typically completed in class or under the instructor’s guidance and usually contribute to a student’s overall course grade.

Table of Contents

Purpose of homework and assignments

The purpose of homework is to allow students to practice and reinforce the material covered in class. It helps students to solidify their understanding of the material and prepares them for exams and other assessments.

Assignments, on the other hand, are used to evaluate a student’s understanding of the material and ability to apply it in a real-world setting.

Importance of understanding the difference between homework and assignments

It can also help them understand the purpose of the tasks they are being assigned, increasing their motivation to complete them.

Differences between homework and assignments – Definition and examples of homework

1. Typically given to students to be completed outside of class: Homework is usually assigned outside of class, often to reinforce the material covered in class.

2. Often used to reinforce or practice the material covered in class: Homework is designed to allow students to practice and reinforce the material covered in class.

3. May be graded or ungraded: Homework may or may not be graded, depending on the teacher or school’s policy. Some homework may be used as a formative assessment to gauge student understanding, while others may not be graded.

Definition and examples of assignments

1. Given as part of a class or course: Assignments are typically given as part of a class or course and are used to evaluate a student’s understanding of the material. For example, a student might be assigned to write an essay as part of an English class.

3. Usually graded and contribute to a student’s overall course grade: Assignments are usually graded and contribute to a student’s overall course grade.

Similarities between homework and assignments

They provide opportunities for students to engage with the material and apply what they have learned in a real-world setting.

Teachers or instructors usually assign both: Homework and assignments by teachers or instructors responsible for creating and grading the tasks.

Students will need to set aside dedicated time to work on the tasks and may need to use study strategies and time management techniques to complete them effectively.

How to effectively manage homework and assignments

Time management strategies.

This might mean setting aside specific hours of the day to work on homework or scheduling blocks of time to work on assignments.

2. Prioritizing tasks based on importance and due date: Another important time management strategy is prioritizing tasks based on importance and due date.

Study Strategies

2. Using mnemonic devices or flashcards to memorize information: Another effective study strategy is to use mnemonic devices or flashcards to memorize information. Mnemonic devices, such as acrostics or rhymes, can help students to remember information more easily.

Tips for staying motivated

For example, a student might set a goal to finish a research paper by a certain date and reward themselves with a movie night or a favorite food.

This might mean taking a 5-minute break after every hour of studying or a more extended break after completing a particularly difficult task.

This post discussed the differences and similarities between homework and assignments. We also discussed strategies for effectively managing homework and assignments, including time management techniques, study strategies, and tips for staying motivated.

Final thoughts on the importance of understanding the difference between homework and assignments:

Encourage readers to use the strategies discussed in the post to manage their homework and assignments effectively: We hope that the strategies discussed in this post will be helpful for students as they work to manage their homework and assignments.

By using effective time management techniques, study strategies, and tips for staying motivated, students can improve their ability to complete tasks and achieve academic goals.

Homework V/s. Assignment

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Homework vs Assignment: Difference and Comparison

Key Takeaways Homework is assigned work completed outside of class time, while assignments encompass both in-class and out-of-class tasks. Homework reinforces and extends classroom learning, while assignments may include presentations, group projects, or quizzes. Teachers assign homework to help students develop study habits and time management skills, while assignments can assess a broader range of learning objectives.

Homework vs Assignment

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What is Homework?

What is assignment, main differences between homework and assignment.

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“Assignment” vs. “Homework”: What’s the Difference?

The difference between “assignment” and “homework”

• Assignments are typically more complex and involve more preparation and work than homework.
• Assignments can be given to test a student's knowledge and understanding of a specific topic, while homework is meant to reinforce what was already learned in class.
• Homework can be given on a daily basis, while assignments often have specific due dates and may account for a larger portion of a student's grade than homework.

What is the definition of “assignment” and “homework”?

• An assignment is a task or project given to a student by a teacher or professor.
• It is often given to test a student's understanding and knowledge of a particular topic or subject.
• Assignments are typically scheduled and have specific due dates for completion.
• Homework refers to work assigned by a teacher to be completed outside of the classroom.
• It is typically given to reinforce a student's understanding and practice of concepts learned in class.
• Homework can be given on a daily basis.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

• My professor gave us an assignment to research the effects of climate change on the polar bear population.
• I struggled with the programming assignment and had to ask my friend for help.
• The deadline for the assignment is next Wednesday.
• I always try to finish my homework on Friday night so that I can enjoy the weekend.
• My son has a lot of homework to complete tonight so he won't have time to watch TV.
• The teacher assigned a chapter to read for homework.

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Homework vs. Assignment — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Homework and Assignment

Table of contents, key differences, comparison chart, compare with definitions, common curiosities, can homework be considered an assignment, can assignments be collaborative, do all assignments count towards final grades, what is an assignment, are assignments only given for completion outside of class, is homework effective in improving academic performance, how much time should be spent on homework, why are assignments important in education, how does homework differ from classwork, what is homework, what role does feedback play in assignments, do assignments help in learning beyond the classroom, how can students manage homework effectively, why might some students struggle with assignments, what strategies can teachers use to make assignments more effective, share your discovery.

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Is homework a necessary evil?

After decades of debate, researchers are still sorting out the truth about homework’s pros and cons. One point they can agree on: Quality assignments matter.

By Kirsten Weir

March 2016, Vol 47, No. 3

Print version: page 36

• Schools and Classrooms

Homework battles have raged for decades. For as long as kids have been whining about doing their homework, parents and education reformers have complained that homework's benefits are dubious. Meanwhile many teachers argue that take-home lessons are key to helping students learn. Now, as schools are shifting to the new (and hotly debated) Common Core curriculum standards, educators, administrators and researchers are turning a fresh eye toward the question of homework's value.

But when it comes to deciphering the research literature on the subject, homework is anything but an open book.

The 10-minute rule

In many ways, homework seems like common sense. Spend more time practicing multiplication or studying Spanish vocabulary and you should get better at math or Spanish. But it may not be that simple.

Homework can indeed produce academic benefits, such as increased understanding and retention of the material, says Duke University social psychologist Harris Cooper, PhD, one of the nation's leading homework researchers. But not all students benefit. In a review of studies published from 1987 to 2003, Cooper and his colleagues found that homework was linked to better test scores in high school and, to a lesser degree, in middle school. Yet they found only faint evidence that homework provided academic benefit in elementary school ( Review of Educational Research , 2006).

Then again, test scores aren't everything. Homework proponents also cite the nonacademic advantages it might confer, such as the development of personal responsibility, good study habits and time-management skills. But as to hard evidence of those benefits, "the jury is still out," says Mollie Galloway, PhD, associate professor of educational leadership at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. "I think there's a focus on assigning homework because [teachers] think it has these positive outcomes for study skills and habits. But we don't know for sure that's the case."

Even when homework is helpful, there can be too much of a good thing. "There is a limit to how much kids can benefit from home study," Cooper says. He agrees with an oft-cited rule of thumb that students should do no more than 10 minutes a night per grade level — from about 10 minutes in first grade up to a maximum of about two hours in high school. Both the National Education Association and National Parent Teacher Association support that limit.

Beyond that point, kids don't absorb much useful information, Cooper says. In fact, too much homework can do more harm than good. Researchers have cited drawbacks, including boredom and burnout toward academic material, less time for family and extracurricular activities, lack of sleep and increased stress.

In a recent study of Spanish students, Rubén Fernández-Alonso, PhD, and colleagues found that students who were regularly assigned math and science homework scored higher on standardized tests. But when kids reported having more than 90 to 100 minutes of homework per day, scores declined ( Journal of Educational Psychology , 2015).

"At all grade levels, doing other things after school can have positive effects," Cooper says. "To the extent that homework denies access to other leisure and community activities, it's not serving the child's best interest."

Children of all ages need down time in order to thrive, says Denise Pope, PhD, a professor of education at Stanford University and a co-founder of Challenge Success, a program that partners with secondary schools to implement policies that improve students' academic engagement and well-being.

"Little kids and big kids need unstructured time for play each day," she says. Certainly, time for physical activity is important for kids' health and well-being. But even time spent on social media can help give busy kids' brains a break, she says.

All over the map

But are teachers sticking to the 10-minute rule? Studies attempting to quantify time spent on homework are all over the map, in part because of wide variations in methodology, Pope says.

A 2014 report by the Brookings Institution examined the question of homework, comparing data from a variety of sources. That report cited findings from a 2012 survey of first-year college students in which 38.4 percent reported spending six hours or more per week on homework during their last year of high school. That was down from 49.5 percent in 1986 ( The Brown Center Report on American Education , 2014).

The Brookings report also explored survey data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which asked 9-, 13- and 17-year-old students how much homework they'd done the previous night. They found that between 1984 and 2012, there was a slight increase in homework for 9-year-olds, but homework amounts for 13- and 17-year-olds stayed roughly the same, or even decreased slightly.

Yet other evidence suggests that some kids might be taking home much more work than they can handle. Robert Pressman, PhD, and colleagues recently investigated the 10-minute rule among more than 1,100 students, and found that elementary-school kids were receiving up to three times as much homework as recommended. As homework load increased, so did family stress, the researchers found ( American Journal of Family Therapy , 2015).

Many high school students also seem to be exceeding the recommended amounts of homework. Pope and Galloway recently surveyed more than 4,300 students from 10 high-achieving high schools. Students reported bringing home an average of just over three hours of homework nightly ( Journal of Experiential Education , 2013).

On the positive side, students who spent more time on homework in that study did report being more behaviorally engaged in school — for instance, giving more effort and paying more attention in class, Galloway says. But they were not more invested in the homework itself. They also reported greater academic stress and less time to balance family, friends and extracurricular activities. They experienced more physical health problems as well, such as headaches, stomach troubles and sleep deprivation. "Three hours per night is too much," Galloway says.

In the high-achieving schools Pope and Galloway studied, more than 90 percent of the students go on to college. There's often intense pressure to succeed academically, from both parents and peers. On top of that, kids in these communities are often overloaded with extracurricular activities, including sports and clubs. "They're very busy," Pope says. "Some kids have up to 40 hours a week — a full-time job's worth — of extracurricular activities." And homework is yet one more commitment on top of all the others.

"Homework has perennially acted as a source of stress for students, so that piece of it is not new," Galloway says. "But especially in upper-middle-class communities, where the focus is on getting ahead, I think the pressure on students has been ratcheted up."

Yet homework can be a problem at the other end of the socioeconomic spectrum as well. Kids from wealthier homes are more likely to have resources such as computers, Internet connections, dedicated areas to do schoolwork and parents who tend to be more educated and more available to help them with tricky assignments. Kids from disadvantaged homes are more likely to work at afterschool jobs, or to be home without supervision in the evenings while their parents work multiple jobs, says Lea Theodore, PhD, a professor of school psychology at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. They are less likely to have computers or a quiet place to do homework in peace.

"Homework can highlight those inequities," she says.

Quantity vs. quality

One point researchers agree on is that for all students, homework quality matters. But too many kids are feeling a lack of engagement with their take-home assignments, many experts say. In Pope and Galloway's research, only 20 percent to 30 percent of students said they felt their homework was useful or meaningful.

"Students are assigned a lot of busywork. They're naming it as a primary stressor, but they don't feel it's supporting their learning," Galloway says.

"Homework that's busywork is not good for anyone," Cooper agrees. Still, he says, different subjects call for different kinds of assignments. "Things like vocabulary and spelling are learned through practice. Other kinds of courses require more integration of material and drawing on different skills."

But critics say those skills can be developed with many fewer hours of homework each week. Why assign 50 math problems, Pope asks, when 10 would be just as constructive? One Advanced Placement biology teacher she worked with through Challenge Success experimented with cutting his homework assignments by a third, and then by half. "Test scores didn't go down," she says. "You can have a rigorous course and not have a crazy homework load."

Still, changing the culture of homework won't be easy. Teachers-to-be get little instruction in homework during their training, Pope says. And despite some vocal parents arguing that kids bring home too much homework, many others get nervous if they think their child doesn't have enough. "Teachers feel pressured to give homework because parents expect it to come home," says Galloway. "When it doesn't, there's this idea that the school might not be doing its job."

Galloway argues teachers and school administrators need to set clear goals when it comes to homework — and parents and students should be in on the discussion, too. "It should be a broader conversation within the community, asking what's the purpose of homework? Why are we giving it? Who is it serving? Who is it not serving?"

Until schools and communities agree to take a hard look at those questions, those backpacks full of take-home assignments will probably keep stirring up more feelings than facts.

Further reading

• Cooper, H., Robinson, J. C., & Patall, E. A. (2006). Does homework improve academic achievement? A synthesis of research, 1987-2003. Review of Educational Research, 76 (1), 1–62. doi: 10.3102/00346543076001001
• Galloway, M., Connor, J., & Pope, D. (2013). Nonacademic effects of homework in privileged, high-performing high schools. The Journal of Experimental Education, 81 (4), 490–510. doi: 10.1080/00220973.2012.745469
• Pope, D., Brown, M., & Miles, S. (2015). Overloaded and underprepared: Strategies for stronger schools and healthy, successful kids . San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

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Distinctive Differences Between Assignment And Homework

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Herbert Spencer once said that the most significant aim for any education is not the knowledge that we obtain from it but the action. This means that it is essential to apply the knowledge which we have learned in a certain subject. Assignments and homework are necessary when learning subjects from its roots. They help to improve the knowledge and skills of the students.

But the big question is, is there any difference between assignment and homework?

For the improvement of any student, the application of both assignment and homework is essential. If you have any doubt on the difference between these two processes, then feel free to read on!

Difference Between Assignment And Homework

Assignment and homework can be well differentiated with various elements. Some of these distinctive elements include

• Objective or purpose
• Word origin
• Main functions
• Advantages or benefits

In this post, we shall discuss in detail the differences between this two processes (Assignment and homework) using the elements mentioned above.

An assignment is a piece of work or task that is assigned to a student in the course of study. An assignment generally gives the student a clue on the objectives and the purpose of a particular class of research.

On the other hand, homework is a piece of work or task that a student is assigned by his or her teacher to complete it outside the classroom setting, mostly at home.

Objective Or Purpose

An assignment and homework meet different goals. An assignment helps a student to understand the studying process well. Through helping a student to learn how to study, a student will learn a specific subject very well.

Homework meets different purposes especially when done regularly. Some of these purposes include:

• It helps the students to improve their skills
• When done on a daily basis, homework can be a gateway to exam preparation
• When a student does homework with the seriousness it deserves, he or she will be able to understand a particular topic.
• Homework encourages teamwork through group discussions. These group discussions help the students to interact with each other hence there is an intense exchange of vital information.
• Homework can be used as a tool for increasing the confidence of a student after understanding numerous topics. This makes it hard to forget those topics.
• Conventionally, homework is used as a tool to create an excellent interpersonal relationship between students and their friends, teachers, and parents.

An assignment and homework have different accounts. The word assignment originate from old French assignment which was a phrase used in the late Middle English. The term homework can be traced back from 1350 to 1400. It originated from the phrases "Medieval Latin assignamentum" and "Middle English assignment."

Main Function

The element of the primary function can be used to differentiate between an assignment and homework. An assignment can be used to point out what should be done, give a guide on the procedure of completing a particular task, a source of motivation in performing work and also, to give a review of the difficulties that can be encountered when completing a task. Besides, an assignment can be used to suggest the solutions that can be used to overcome such problems.

Homework on the other side is primarily used to identify the challenges or difficulties that are faced by the students on a particular topic. This process can also provide viable solutions to the problems and challenges. For example, homework helps students to prepare very well for their examinations.

Various advantages are associated with an assignment. These advantages can easily be used as a differentiation element for assignment and homework. Some of the merits for assignment include

• Helps students to revise a particular topic
• Gives the student the ability to understand and tackle a specific problem
• Helps in boosting the students' confidence
• Assignments are useful when polishing the student's knowledge

Homework has the following advantages to a student:

• Helpful when understanding a specific topic
• Homework gives a student some insight to research on the subject matters regarding a particular homework.
• Homework provides the student with a platform to prepare for an exam

Teachers should use both assignment and homework to improve the skills of a student. If you are seeking reliable assignment help online , do not hesitate to contact us! We are here to help you out! That's why our "pay for homework help" services is affordable to cater for the needs of every student.

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What’s the Right Amount of Homework?

Decades of research show that homework has some benefits, especially for students in middle and high school—but there are risks to assigning too much.

Many teachers and parents believe that homework helps students build study skills and review concepts learned in class. Others see homework as disruptive and unnecessary, leading to burnout and turning kids off to school. Decades of research show that the issue is more nuanced and complex than most people think: Homework is beneficial, but only to a degree. Students in high school gain the most, while younger kids benefit much less.

The National PTA and the National Education Association support the “ 10-minute homework guideline ”—a nightly 10 minutes of homework per grade level. But many teachers and parents are quick to point out that what matters is the quality of the homework assigned and how well it meets students’ needs, not the amount of time spent on it.

The guideline doesn’t account for students who may need to spend more—or less—time on assignments. In class, teachers can make adjustments to support struggling students, but at home, an assignment that takes one student 30 minutes to complete may take another twice as much time—often for reasons beyond their control. And homework can widen the achievement gap, putting students from low-income households and students with learning disabilities at a disadvantage.

However, the 10-minute guideline is useful in setting a limit: When kids spend too much time on homework, there are real consequences to consider.

Small Benefits for Elementary Students

As young children begin school, the focus should be on cultivating a love of learning, and assigning too much homework can undermine that goal. And young students often don’t have the study skills to benefit fully from homework, so it may be a poor use of time (Cooper, 1989 ; Cooper et al., 2006 ; Marzano & Pickering, 2007 ). A more effective activity may be nightly reading, especially if parents are involved. The benefits of reading are clear: If students aren’t proficient readers by the end of third grade, they’re less likely to succeed academically and graduate from high school (Fiester, 2013 ).

For second-grade teacher Jacqueline Fiorentino, the minor benefits of homework did not outweigh the potential drawback of turning young children against school at an early age, so she experimented with dropping mandatory homework. “Something surprising happened: They started doing more work at home,” Fiorentino writes . “This inspiring group of 8-year-olds used their newfound free time to explore subjects and topics of interest to them.” She encouraged her students to read at home and offered optional homework to extend classroom lessons and help them review material.

Moderate Benefits for Middle School Students

As students mature and develop the study skills necessary to delve deeply into a topic—and to retain what they learn—they also benefit more from homework. Nightly assignments can help prepare them for scholarly work, and research shows that homework can have moderate benefits for middle school students (Cooper et al., 2006 ). Recent research also shows that online math homework, which can be designed to adapt to students’ levels of understanding, can significantly boost test scores (Roschelle et al., 2016 ).

There are risks to assigning too much, however: A 2015 study found that when middle school students were assigned more than 90 to 100 minutes of daily homework, their math and science test scores began to decline (Fernández-Alonso, Suárez-Álvarez, & Muñiz, 2015 ). Crossing that upper limit can drain student motivation and focus. The researchers recommend that “homework should present a certain level of challenge or difficulty, without being so challenging that it discourages effort.” Teachers should avoid low-effort, repetitive assignments, and assign homework “with the aim of instilling work habits and promoting autonomous, self-directed learning.”

In other words, it’s the quality of homework that matters, not the quantity. Brian Sztabnik, a veteran middle and high school English teacher, suggests that teachers take a step back and ask themselves these five questions :

• How long will it take to complete?
• Have all learners been considered?
• Will an assignment encourage future success?
• Will an assignment place material in a context the classroom cannot?
• Does an assignment offer support when a teacher is not there?

More Benefits for High School Students, but Risks as Well

By the time they reach high school, students should be well on their way to becoming independent learners, so homework does provide a boost to learning at this age, as long as it isn’t overwhelming (Cooper et al., 2006 ; Marzano & Pickering, 2007 ). When students spend too much time on homework—more than two hours each night—it takes up valuable time to rest and spend time with family and friends. A 2013 study found that high school students can experience serious mental and physical health problems, from higher stress levels to sleep deprivation, when assigned too much homework (Galloway, Conner, & Pope, 2013 ).

Homework in high school should always relate to the lesson and be doable without any assistance, and feedback should be clear and explicit.

Teachers should also keep in mind that not all students have equal opportunities to finish their homework at home, so incomplete homework may not be a true reflection of their learning—it may be more a result of issues they face outside of school. They may be hindered by issues such as lack of a quiet space at home, resources such as a computer or broadband connectivity, or parental support (OECD, 2014 ). In such cases, giving low homework scores may be unfair.

Since the quantities of time discussed here are totals, teachers in middle and high school should be aware of how much homework other teachers are assigning. It may seem reasonable to assign 30 minutes of daily homework, but across six subjects, that’s three hours—far above a reasonable amount even for a high school senior. Psychologist Maurice Elias sees this as a common mistake: Individual teachers create homework policies that in aggregate can overwhelm students. He suggests that teachers work together to develop a school-wide homework policy and make it a key topic of back-to-school night and the first parent-teacher conferences of the school year.

Parents Play a Key Role

Homework can be a powerful tool to help parents become more involved in their child’s learning (Walker et al., 2004 ). It can provide insights into a child’s strengths and interests, and can also encourage conversations about a child’s life at school. If a parent has positive attitudes toward homework, their children are more likely to share those same values, promoting academic success.

But it’s also possible for parents to be overbearing, putting too much emphasis on test scores or grades, which can be disruptive for children (Madjar, Shklar, & Moshe, 2015 ). Parents should avoid being overly intrusive or controlling—students report feeling less motivated to learn when they don’t have enough space and autonomy to do their homework (Orkin, May, & Wolf, 2017 ; Patall, Cooper, & Robinson, 2008 ; Silinskas & Kikas, 2017 ). So while homework can encourage parents to be more involved with their kids, it’s important to not make it a source of conflict.

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Homework – Top 3 Pros and Cons

Pro/Con Arguments | Discussion Questions | Take Action | Sources | More Debates

From dioramas to book reports, from algebraic word problems to research projects, whether students should be given homework, as well as the type and amount of homework, has been debated for over a century. [ 1 ]

While we are unsure who invented homework, we do know that the word “homework” dates back to ancient Rome. Pliny the Younger asked his followers to practice their speeches at home. Memorization exercises as homework continued through the Middle Ages and Enlightenment by monks and other scholars. [ 45 ]

In the 19th century, German students of the Volksschulen or “People’s Schools” were given assignments to complete outside of the school day. This concept of homework quickly spread across Europe and was brought to the United States by Horace Mann , who encountered the idea in Prussia. [ 45 ]

In the early 1900s, progressive education theorists, championed by the magazine Ladies’ Home Journal , decried homework’s negative impact on children’s physical and mental health, leading California to ban homework for students under 15 from 1901 until 1917. In the 1930s, homework was portrayed as child labor, which was newly illegal, but the prevailing argument was that kids needed time to do household chores. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 45 ] [ 46 ]

Public opinion swayed again in favor of homework in the 1950s due to concerns about keeping up with the Soviet Union’s technological advances during the Cold War . And, in 1986, the US government included homework as an educational quality boosting tool. [ 3 ] [ 45 ]

A 2014 study found kindergarteners to fifth graders averaged 2.9 hours of homework per week, sixth to eighth graders 3.2 hours per teacher, and ninth to twelfth graders 3.5 hours per teacher. A 2014-2019 study found that teens spent about an hour a day on homework. [ 4 ] [ 44 ]

Beginning in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic complicated the very idea of homework as students were schooling remotely and many were doing all school work from home. Washington Post journalist Valerie Strauss asked, “Does homework work when kids are learning all day at home?” While students were mostly back in school buildings in fall 2021, the question remains of how effective homework is as an educational tool. [ 47 ]

Is Homework Beneficial?

Pro 1 Homework improves student achievement. Studies have shown that homework improved student achievement in terms of improved grades, test results, and the likelihood to attend college. Research published in the High School Journal indicated that students who spent between 31 and 90 minutes each day on homework “scored about 40 points higher on the SAT-Mathematics subtest than their peers, who reported spending no time on homework each day, on average.” [ 6 ] Students in classes that were assigned homework outperformed 69% of students who didn’t have homework on both standardized tests and grades. A majority of studies on homework’s impact – 64% in one meta-study and 72% in another – showed that take-home assignments were effective at improving academic achievement. [ 7 ] [ 8 ] Research by the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) concluded that increased homework led to better GPAs and higher probability of college attendance for high school boys. In fact, boys who attended college did more than three hours of additional homework per week in high school. [ 10 ] Read More

Pro 2 Homework helps to reinforce classroom learning, while developing good study habits and life skills. Students typically retain only 50% of the information teachers provide in class, and they need to apply that information in order to truly learn it. Abby Freireich and Brian Platzer, co-founders of Teachers Who Tutor NYC, explained, “at-home assignments help students learn the material taught in class. Students require independent practice to internalize new concepts… [And] these assignments can provide valuable data for teachers about how well students understand the curriculum.” [ 11 ] [ 49 ] Elementary school students who were taught “strategies to organize and complete homework,” such as prioritizing homework activities, collecting study materials, note-taking, and following directions, showed increased grades and more positive comments on report cards. [ 17 ] Research by the City University of New York noted that “students who engage in self-regulatory processes while completing homework,” such as goal-setting, time management, and remaining focused, “are generally more motivated and are higher achievers than those who do not use these processes.” [ 18 ] Homework also helps students develop key skills that they’ll use throughout their lives: accountability, autonomy, discipline, time management, self-direction, critical thinking, and independent problem-solving. Freireich and Platzer noted that “homework helps students acquire the skills needed to plan, organize, and complete their work.” [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 49 ] Read More

Pro 3 Homework allows parents to be involved with children’s learning. Thanks to take-home assignments, parents are able to track what their children are learning at school as well as their academic strengths and weaknesses. [ 12 ] Data from a nationwide sample of elementary school students show that parental involvement in homework can improve class performance, especially among economically disadvantaged African-American and Hispanic students. [ 20 ] Research from Johns Hopkins University found that an interactive homework process known as TIPS (Teachers Involve Parents in Schoolwork) improves student achievement: “Students in the TIPS group earned significantly higher report card grades after 18 weeks (1 TIPS assignment per week) than did non-TIPS students.” [ 21 ] Homework can also help clue parents in to the existence of any learning disabilities their children may have, allowing them to get help and adjust learning strategies as needed. Duke University Professor Harris Cooper noted, “Two parents once told me they refused to believe their child had a learning disability until homework revealed it to them.” [ 12 ] Read More

Con 1 Too much homework can be harmful. A poll of California high school students found that 59% thought they had too much homework. 82% of respondents said that they were “often or always stressed by schoolwork.” High-achieving high school students said too much homework leads to sleep deprivation and other health problems such as headaches, exhaustion, weight loss, and stomach problems. [ 24 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] Alfie Kohn, an education and parenting expert, said, “Kids should have a chance to just be kids… it’s absurd to insist that children must be engaged in constructive activities right up until their heads hit the pillow.” [ 27 ] Emmy Kang, a mental health counselor, explained, “More than half of students say that homework is their primary source of stress, and we know what stress can do on our bodies.” [ 48 ] Excessive homework can also lead to cheating: 90% of middle school students and 67% of high school students admit to copying someone else’s homework, and 43% of college students engaged in “unauthorized collaboration” on out-of-class assignments. Even parents take shortcuts on homework: 43% of those surveyed admitted to having completed a child’s assignment for them. [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] Read More

Con 2 Homework exacerbates the digital divide or homework gap. Kiara Taylor, financial expert, defined the digital divide as “the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology and those that don’t. Though the term now encompasses the technical and financial ability to utilize available technology—along with access (or a lack of access) to the Internet—the gap it refers to is constantly shifting with the development of technology.” For students, this is often called the homework gap. [ 50 ] [ 51 ] 30% (about 15 to 16 million) public school students either did not have an adequate internet connection or an appropriate device, or both, for distance learning. Completing homework for these students is more complicated (having to find a safe place with an internet connection, or borrowing a laptop, for example) or impossible. [ 51 ] A Hispanic Heritage Foundation study found that 96.5% of students across the country needed to use the internet for homework, and nearly half reported they were sometimes unable to complete their homework due to lack of access to the internet or a computer, which often resulted in lower grades. [ 37 ] [ 38 ] One study concluded that homework increases social inequality because it “potentially serves as a mechanism to further advantage those students who already experience some privilege in the school system while further disadvantaging those who may already be in a marginalized position.” [ 39 ] Read More

Con 3 Homework does not help younger students, and may not help high school students. We’ve known for a while that homework does not help elementary students. A 2006 study found that “homework had no association with achievement gains” when measured by standardized tests results or grades. [ 7 ] Fourth grade students who did no homework got roughly the same score on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) math exam as those who did 30 minutes of homework a night. Students who did 45 minutes or more of homework a night actually did worse. [ 41 ] Temple University professor Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek said that homework is not the most effective tool for young learners to apply new information: “They’re learning way more important skills when they’re not doing their homework.” [ 42 ] In fact, homework may not be helpful at the high school level either. Alfie Kohn, author of The Homework Myth, stated, “I interviewed high school teachers who completely stopped giving homework and there was no downside, it was all upside.” He explains, “just because the same kids who get more homework do a little better on tests, doesn’t mean the homework made that happen.” [ 52 ] Read More

Discussion Questions

1. Is homework beneficial? Consider the study data, your personal experience, and other types of information. Explain your answer(s).

2. If homework were banned, what other educational strategies would help students learn classroom material? Explain your answer(s).

3. How has homework been helpful to you personally? How has homework been unhelpful to you personally? Make carefully considered lists for both sides.

Take Action

1. Examine an argument in favor of quality homework assignments from Janine Bempechat.

2. Explore Oxford Learning’s infographic on the effects of homework on students.

3. Consider Joseph Lathan’s argument that homework promotes inequality .

4. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? If so, how? List two to three ways. If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the “other side of the issue” now helps you better argue your position.

5. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives .

More School Debate Topics

Should K-12 Students Dissect Animals in Science Classrooms? – Proponents say dissecting real animals is a better learning experience. Opponents say the practice is bad for the environment.

Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms? – Proponents say uniforms may increase student safety. Opponents say uniforms restrict expression.

Should Corporal Punishment Be Used in K-12 Schools? – Proponents say corporal punishment is an appropriate discipline. Opponents say it inflicts long-lasting physical and mental harm on students.

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Natalie Leppard Managing Editor [email protected]

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School Life Balance , Tips for Online Students

The Pros and Cons of Homework

Updated: June 19, 2024

Published: January 23, 2020

Homework is a word that most students dread hearing. After hours upon hours of sitting in class , the last thing we want is more schoolwork over our precious weekends. While it’s known to be a staple of traditional schooling, homework has also become a rather divise topic. Some feel as though homework is a necessary part of school, while others believe that the time could be better invested. Should students have homework? Have a closer look into the arguments on both sides to decide for yourself.

Photo by  energepic.com  from  Pexels

Why should students have homework.

Homework has been a long-standing part of the education system. It helps reinforce what students learn in the classroom, encourages good study habits, and promotes a deeper understanding of subjects. Studies have shown that homework can improve students’ grades and skills. Here are some reasons why homework is important:

1. Homework Encourages Practice

Many people believe that one of the positive effects of homework is that it encourages the discipline of practice. While it may be time consuming and boring compared to other activities, repetition is needed to get better at skills. Homework helps make concepts more clear, and gives students more opportunities when starting their career .

2. Homework Gets Parents Involved

Homework can be something that gets parents involved in their children’s lives if the environment is a healthy one. A parent helping their child with homework makes them take part in their academic success, and allows for the parent to keep up with what the child is doing in school. It can also be a chance to connect together.

3. Homework Teaches Time Management

Homework is much more than just completing the assigned tasks. Homework can develop time management skills , forcing students to plan their time and make sure that all of their homework assignments are done on time. By learning to manage their time, students also practice their problem-solving skills and independent thinking. One of the positive effects of homework is that it forces decision making and compromises to be made.

4. Homework Opens A Bridge Of Communication

Homework creates a connection between the student, the teacher, the school, and the parents. It allows everyone to get to know each other better, and parents can see where their children are struggling. In the same sense, parents can also see where their children are excelling. Homework in turn can allow for a better, more targeted educational plan for the student.

5. Homework Allows For More Learning Time

Homework allows for more time to complete the learning process. School hours are not always enough time for students to really understand core concepts, and homework can counter the effects of time shortages, benefiting students in the long run, even if they can’t see it in the moment.

6. Homework Reduces Screen Time

Many students in North America spend far too many hours watching TV. If they weren’t in school, these numbers would likely increase even more. Although homework is usually undesired, it encourages better study habits and discourages spending time in front of the TV. Homework can be seen as another extracurricular activity, and many families already invest a lot of time and money in different clubs and lessons to fill up their children’s extra time. Just like extracurricular activities, homework can be fit into one’s schedule.

The Other Side: Why Homework Is Bad

While homework has its benefits, there are also many arguments against it. Some believe that homework can cause increased stress, limit time for extracurricular activities, and reduce family time. Studies and expert opinions highlight the drawbacks of too much homework, showing how it can negatively affect students’ well-being and academic experience. Here are some reasons why homework might be bad:

1. Homework Encourages A Sedentary Lifestyle

Should students have homework? Well, that depends on where you stand. There are arguments both for the advantages and the disadvantages of homework.

While classroom time is important, playground time is just as important. If children are given too much homework, they won’t have enough playtime, which can impact their social development and learning. Studies have found that those who get more play get better grades in school , as it can help them pay closer attention in the classroom.

Children are already sitting long hours in the classroom, and homework assignments only add to these hours. Sedentary lifestyles can be dangerous and can cause health problems such as obesity. Homework takes away from time that could be spent investing in physical activity.

2. Homework Isn’t Healthy In Every Home

While many people that think homes are a beneficial environment for children to learn, not all homes provide a healthy environment, and there may be very little investment from parents. Some parents do not provide any kind of support or homework help, and even if they would like to, due to personal barriers, they sometimes cannot. Homework can create friction between children and their parents, which is one of the reasons why homework is bad.

3. Homework Adds To An Already Full-Time Job

School is already a full-time job for students, as they generally spend over 6 hours each day in class. Students also often have extracurricular activities such as sports, music, or art that are just as important as their traditional courses. Adding on extra hours to all of these demands is a lot for children to manage, and prevents students from having extra time to themselves for a variety of creative endeavors. Homework prevents self discovery and having the time to learn new skills outside of the school system. This is one of the main disadvantages of homework.

4. Homework Has Not Been Proven To Provide Results

Endless surveys have found that homework creates a negative attitude towards school, and homework has not been found to be linked to a higher level of academic success.

The positive effects of homework have not been backed up enough. While homework may help some students improve in specific subjects, if they have outside help there is no real proof that homework makes for improvements.

It can be a challenge to really enforce the completion of homework, and students can still get decent grades without doing their homework. Extra school time does not necessarily mean better grades — quality must always come before quantity.

Accurate practice when it comes to homework simply isn’t reliable. Homework could even cause opposite effects if misunderstood, especially since the reliance is placed on the student and their parents — one of the major reasons as to why homework is bad. Many students would rather cheat in class to avoid doing their homework at home, and children often just copy off of each other or from what they read on the internet.

5. Homework Assignments Are Overdone

The general agreement is that students should not be given more than 10 minutes a day per grade level. What this means is that a first grader should be given a maximum of 10 minutes of homework, while a second grader receives 20 minutes, etc. Many students are given a lot more homework than the recommended amount, however.

On average, college students spend as much as 3 hours per night on homework . By giving too much homework, it can increase stress levels and lead to burn out. This in turn provides an opposite effect when it comes to academic success.

The pros and cons of homework are both valid, and it seems as though the question of ‘‘should students have homework?’ is not a simple, straightforward one. Parents and teachers often are found to be clashing heads, while the student is left in the middle without much say.

It’s important to understand all the advantages and disadvantages of homework, taking both perspectives into conversation to find a common ground. At the end of the day, everyone’s goal is the success of the student.

FAQ Section

What are the benefits of assigning homework to students.

Homework reinforces what students learn in the classroom, helps develop good study habits, and promotes a deeper understanding of subjects. It also encourages practice, improves time management skills, and encourages parents to participate in their children’s education.

How much homework is too much for students?

Generally, it is recommended that students receive no more than 10 minutes of homework per grade level per day. For example, a first grader should have no more than 10 minutes of homework, while a fifth grader should have no more than 50 minutes.

What are the potential drawbacks of excessive homework assignments?

Excessive homework can lead to increased stress, a sedentary lifestyle, lack of free time for extracurricular activities, and diminished family time. It can also create a negative attitude towards school and learning.

How does homework impact students’ stress levels and well-being?

Too much homework can significantly increase stress levels and negatively affect students’ well-being. It can lead to anxiety, burnout, and reduced time for physical activity and relaxation.

Does homework promote independent thinking and problem-solving skills?

Yes, homework can promote independent thinking and problem-solving skills by encouraging students to tackle assignments on their own, manage their time effectively, and find solutions to problems without immediate assistance from teachers.

Are there any long-term effects of excessive homework on students?

Excessive homework over long periods can lead to chronic stress, burnout, and a negative attitude towards education. It can also hinder the development of social skills and reduce opportunities for self-discovery and creative pursuits.

How can technology enhance or supplement traditional homework practices?

Technology can provide interactive and engaging ways to complete homework, such as educational apps, online resources, and virtual collaboration tools. It can also offer personalized learning experiences and immediate feedback.

Are there any innovative approaches to homework that schools are adopting?

Some schools are adopting innovative approaches like flipped classrooms, where students watch lectures at home and do hands-on classroom activities. Project-based learning and personalized assignments tailored to individual student needs are also becoming more popular.

How do educators balance the workload with diverse student needs?

Educators can balance the workload by differentiating assignments, considering the individual needs and abilities of students, and providing flexible deadlines. Communication with students and parents helps to ensure that homework is manageable and effective for everyone.

At UoPeople, our blog writers are thinkers, researchers, and experts dedicated to curating articles relevant to our mission: making higher education accessible to everyone.

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Everyone struggles with homework sometimes, but if getting your homework done has become a chronic issue for you, then you may need a little extra help. That’s why we’ve written this article all about how to do homework. Once you’re finished reading it, you’ll know how to do homework (and have tons of new ways to motivate yourself to do homework)!

We’ve broken this article down into a few major sections. You’ll find:

• A diagnostic test to help you figure out why you’re struggling with homework
• A discussion of the four major homework problems students face, along with expert tips for addressing them
• A bonus section with tips for how to do homework fast

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you .

So let’s get started!

How to Do Homework: Figure Out Your Struggles 

Sometimes it feels like everything is standing between you and getting your homework done. But the truth is, most people only have one or two major roadblocks that are keeping them from getting their homework done well and on time. 

The best way to figure out how to get motivated to do homework starts with pinpointing the issues that are affecting your ability to get your assignments done. That’s why we’ve developed a short quiz to help you identify the areas where you’re struggling. 

Take the quiz below and record your answers on your phone or on a scrap piece of paper. Keep in mind there are no wrong answers! 

1. You’ve just been assigned an essay in your English class that’s due at the end of the week. What’s the first thing you do?

A. Keep it in mind, even though you won’t start it until the day before it’s due  B. Open up your planner. You’ve got to figure out when you’ll write your paper since you have band practice, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dance recital this week, too.  C. Groan out loud. Another essay? You could barely get yourself to write the last one!  D. Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favorite artist might have just posted to Instagram...so you better check your feed right now. 

2. Your mom asked you to pick up your room before she gets home from work. You’ve just gotten home from school. You decide you’ll tackle your chores: 

A. Five minutes before your mom walks through the front door. As long as it gets done, who cares when you start?  B. As soon as you get home from your shift at the local grocery store.  C. After you give yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.  D. You won’t get it done. Between texts from your friends, trying to watch your favorite Netflix show, and playing with your dog, you just lost track of time! 

3. You’ve signed up to wash dogs at the Humane Society to help earn money for your senior class trip. You: 

A. Show up ten minutes late. You put off leaving your house until the last minute, then got stuck in unexpected traffic on the way to the shelter.  B. Have to call and cancel at the last minute. You forgot you’d already agreed to babysit your cousin and bake cupcakes for tomorrow’s bake sale.  C. Actually arrive fifteen minutes early with extra brushes and bandanas you picked up at the store. You’re passionate about animals, so you’re excited to help out! D. Show up on time, but only get three dogs washed. You couldn’t help it: you just kept getting distracted by how cute they were!

4. You have an hour of downtime, so you decide you’re going to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. You: 

A. Scroll through your social media feeds for twenty minutes before hitting play, which means you’re not able to finish the whole episode. Ugh! You really wanted to see who was sent home!  B. Watch fifteen minutes until you remember you’re supposed to pick up your sister from band practice before heading to your part-time job. No GBBO for you!  C. You finish one episode, then decide to watch another even though you’ve got SAT studying to do. It’s just more fun to watch people make scones.  D. Start the episode, but only catch bits and pieces of it because you’re reading Twitter, cleaning out your backpack, and eating a snack at the same time.

5. Your teacher asks you to stay after class because you’ve missed turning in two homework assignments in a row. When she asks you what’s wrong, you say: 

A. You planned to do your assignments during lunch, but you ran out of time. You decided it would be better to turn in nothing at all than submit unfinished work.  B. You really wanted to get the assignments done, but between your extracurriculars, family commitments, and your part-time job, your homework fell through the cracks.  C. You have a hard time psyching yourself to tackle the assignments. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to work on them once you get home.  D. You tried to do them, but you had a hard time focusing. By the time you realized you hadn’t gotten anything done, it was already time to turn them in. 

Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible). Here’s how your answers break down: 

• If your answers were mostly As, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination. 
• If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management. 
• If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation. 
• If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted. 

Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it. 

And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating. 

How to Do Homework When You’re a Procrastinator  

Merriam Webster defines “procrastinate” as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” In other words, procrastination is when you choose to do something at the last minute on a regular basis. If you’ve ever found yourself pulling an all-nighter, trying to finish an assignment between periods, or sprinting to turn in a paper minutes before a deadline, you’ve experienced the effects of procrastination. 

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re in good company. In fact, one study found that 70% to 95% of undergraduate students procrastinate when it comes to doing their homework. Unfortunately, procrastination can negatively impact your grades. Researchers have found that procrastination can lower your grade on an assignment by as much as five points ...which might not sound serious until you realize that can mean the difference between a B- and a C+. 

Procrastination can also negatively affect your health by increasing your stress levels , which can lead to other health conditions like insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even heart conditions. Getting a handle on procrastination can not only improve your grades, it can make you feel better, too! 

The big thing to understand about procrastination is that it’s not the result of laziness. Laziness is defined as being “disinclined to activity or exertion.” In other words, being lazy is all about doing nothing. But a s this Psychology Today article explains , procrastinators don’t put things off because they don’t want to work. Instead, procrastinators tend to postpone tasks they don’t want to do in favor of tasks that they perceive as either more important or more fun. Put another way, procrastinators want to do things...as long as it’s not their homework! 

3 Tips f or Conquering Procrastination 

Because putting off doing homework is a common problem, there are lots of good tactics for addressing procrastination. Keep reading for our three expert tips that will get your homework habits back on track in no time. 

#1: Create a Reward System

Like we mentioned earlier, procrastination happens when you prioritize other activities over getting your homework done. Many times, this happens because homework...well, just isn’t enjoyable. But you can add some fun back into the process by rewarding yourself for getting your work done. 

Here’s what we mean: let’s say you decide that every time you get your homework done before the day it’s due, you’ll give yourself a point. For every five points you earn, you’ll treat yourself to your favorite dessert: a chocolate cupcake! Now you have an extra (delicious!) incentive to motivate you to leave procrastination in the dust. 

If you’re not into cupcakes, don’t worry. Your reward can be anything that motivates you . Maybe it’s hanging out with your best friend or an extra ten minutes of video game time. As long as you’re choosing something that makes homework worth doing, you’ll be successful. 

#2: Have a Homework Accountability Partner 

If you’re having trouble getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time, it may be a good idea to call in reinforcements . Find a friend or classmate you can trust and explain to them that you’re trying to change your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you to make sure you’re doing your homework and check in with you once a week to see if you’re meeting your anti-procrastination goals. 

Sharing your goals can make them feel more real, and an accountability partner can help hold you responsible for your decisions. For example, let’s say you’re tempted to put off your science lab write-up until the morning before it’s due. But you know that your accountability partner is going to text you about it tomorrow...and you don’t want to fess up that you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability partner can give you the extra support and incentive you need to keep your homework habits on track. 

#3: Create Your Own Due Dates 

If you’re a life-long procrastinator, you might find that changing the habit is harder than you expected. In that case, you might try using procrastination to your advantage! If you just can’t seem to stop doing your work at the last minute, try setting your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the assignment is actually due. 

Here’s what we mean. Let’s say you have a math worksheet that’s been assigned on Tuesday and is due on Friday. In your planner, you can write down the due date as Thursday instead. You may still put off your homework assignment until the last minute...but in this case, the “last minute” is a day before the assignment’s real due date . This little hack can trick your procrastination-addicted brain into planning ahead! 

If you feel like Kevin Hart in this meme, then our tips for doing homework when you're busy are for you. 

How to Do Homework When You’re too Busy

If you’re aiming to go to a top-tier college , you’re going to have a full plate. Because college admissions is getting more competitive, it’s important that you’re maintaining your grades , studying hard for your standardized tests , and participating in extracurriculars so your application stands out. A packed schedule can get even more hectic once you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix. 

If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once, you’re not alone. Recent research has found that stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression— are a major problem for high school students . In fact, one study from the American Psychological Association found that during the school year, students’ stress levels are higher than those of the adults around them. 

For students, homework is a major contributor to their overall stress levels . Many high schoolers have multiple hours of homework every night , and figuring out how to fit it into an already-packed schedule can seem impossible. 

3 Tips for Fitting Homework Into Your Busy Schedule

While it might feel like you have literally no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to make sure you’re able to get your homework done and meet your other commitments. Here are our expert homework tips for even the busiest of students. 

#1: Make a Prioritized To-Do List 

You probably already have a to-do list to keep yourself on track. The next step is to prioritize the items on your to-do list so you can see what items need your attention right away. 

Here’s how it works: at the beginning of each day, sit down and make a list of all the items you need to get done before you go to bed. This includes your homework, but it should also take into account any practices, chores, events, or job shifts you may have. Once you get everything listed out, it’s time to prioritize them using the labels A, B, and C. Here’s what those labels mean:

• A Tasks : tasks that have to get done—like showing up at work or turning in an assignment—get an A. 
• B Tasks : these are tasks that you would like to get done by the end of the day but aren’t as time sensitive. For example, studying for a test you have next week could be a B-level task. It’s still important, but it doesn’t have to be done right away.
• C Tasks: these are tasks that aren’t very important and/or have no real consequences if you don’t get them done immediately. For instance, if you’re hoping to clean out your closet but it’s not an assigned chore from your parents, you could label that to-do item with a C.

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you visualize which items need your immediate attention, and which items you can leave for later. A prioritized to-do list ensures that you’re spending your time efficiently and effectively, which helps you make room in your schedule for homework. So even though you might really want to start making decorations for Homecoming (a B task), you’ll know that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more important. 

#2: Use a Planner With Time Labels

Your planner is probably packed with notes, events, and assignments already. (And if you’re not using a planner, it’s time to start!) But planners can do more for you than just remind you when an assignment is due. If you’re using a planner with time labels, it can help you visualize how you need to spend your day.

A planner with time labels breaks your day down into chunks, and you assign tasks to each chunk of time. For example, you can make a note of your class schedule with assignments, block out time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice. Once you know which tasks take priority, you can add them to any empty spaces in your day. 

Planning out how you spend your time not only helps you use it wisely, it can help you feel less overwhelmed, too . We’re big fans of planners that include a task list ( like this one ) or have room for notes ( like this one ). 

#3: Set Reminders on Your Phone 

If you need a little extra nudge to make sure you’re getting your homework done on time, it’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone. You don’t need a fancy app, either. You can use your alarm app to have it go off at specific times throughout the day to remind you to do your homework. This works especially well if you have a set homework time scheduled. So if you’ve decided you’re doing homework at 6:00 pm, you can set an alarm to remind you to bust out your books and get to work. 

If you use your phone as your planner, you may have the option to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events . Many calendar apps, including the one that comes with your phone, have built-in reminders that you can customize to meet your needs. So if you block off time to do your homework from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, you can set a reminder that will pop up on your phone when it’s time to get started. 

This dog isn't judging your lack of motivation...but your teacher might. Keep reading for tips to help you motivate yourself to do your homework.

How to Do Homework When You’re Unmotivated 

At first glance, it may seem like procrastination and being unmotivated are the same thing. After all, both of these issues usually result in you putting off your homework until the very last minute. 

But there’s one key difference: many procrastinators are working, they’re just prioritizing work differently. They know they’re going to start their homework...they’re just going to do it later. 

Conversely, people who are unmotivated to do homework just can’t find the willpower to tackle their assignments. Procrastinators know they’ll at least attempt the homework at the last minute, whereas people who are unmotivated struggle with convincing themselves to do it at a ll. For procrastinators, the stress comes from the inevitable time crunch. For unmotivated people, the stress comes from trying to convince themselves to do something they don’t want to do in the first place. 

Here are some common reasons students are unmotivated in doing homework : 

• Assignments are too easy, too hard, or seemingly pointless 
• Students aren’t interested in (or passionate about) the subject matter
• Students are intimidated by the work and/or feels like they don’t understand the assignment 
• Homework isn’t fun, and students would rather spend their time on things that they enjoy 

To sum it up: people who lack motivation to do their homework are more likely to not do it at all, or to spend more time worrying about doing their homework than...well, actually doing it.

3 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Do Homework

The key to getting homework done when you’re unmotivated is to figure out what does motivate you, then apply those things to homework. It sounds tricky...but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Here are our three expert tips for motivating yourself to do your homework. 

#1: Use Incremental Incentives

When you’re not motivated, it’s important to give yourself small rewards to stay focused on finishing the task at hand. The trick is to keep the incentives small and to reward yourself often. For example, maybe you’re reading a good book in your free time. For every ten minutes you spend on your homework, you get to read five pages of your book. Like we mentioned earlier, make sure you’re choosing a reward that works for you! 

So why does this technique work? Using small rewards more often allows you to experience small wins for getting your work done. Every time you make it to one of your tiny reward points, you get to celebrate your success, which gives your brain a boost of dopamine . Dopamine helps you stay motivated and also creates a feeling of satisfaction when you complete your homework !  

#2: Form a Homework Group 

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, it’s okay to turn to others for support. Creating a homework group can help with this. Bring together a group of your friends or classmates, and pick one time a week where you meet and work on homework together. You don’t have to be in the same class, or even taking the same subjects— the goal is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) your assignments. 

Another added benefit of a homework group is that you can help one another if you’re struggling to understand the material covered in your classes. This is especially helpful if your lack of motivation comes from being intimidated by your assignments. Asking your friends for help may feel less scary than talking to your teacher...and once you get a handle on the material, your homework may become less frightening, too. 

#3: Change Up Your Environment 

If you find that you’re totally unmotivated, it may help if you find a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been struggling to get your homework done at home, try spending an extra hour in the library after school instead. The change of scenery can limit your distractions and give you the energy you need to get your work done. 

If you’re stuck doing homework at home, you can still use this tip. For instance, maybe you’ve always done your homework sitting on your bed. Try relocating somewhere else, like your kitchen table, for a few weeks. You may find that setting up a new “homework spot” in your house gives you a motivational lift and helps you get your work done. 

Social media can be a huge problem when it comes to doing homework. We have advice for helping you unplug and regain focus.

How to Do Homework When You’re Easily Distracted

We live in an always-on world, and there are tons of things clamoring for our attention. From friends and family to pop culture and social media, it seems like there’s always something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do.

The 24/7 world we live in has affected our ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time. Research has shown that over the past decade, an average person’s attention span has gone from 12 seconds to eight seconds . And when we do lose focus, i t takes people a long time to get back on task . One study found that it can take as long as 23 minutes to get back to work once we’ve been distracte d. No wonder it can take hours to get your homework done! 

3 Tips to Improve Your Focus

If you have a hard time focusing when you’re doing your homework, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert tips for blocking out the noise so you can focus on getting your homework done. 

#1: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Pick a place where you’ll do your homework every day, and make it as distraction-free as possible. Try to find a location where there won’t be tons of noise, and limit your access to screens while you’re doing your homework. Put together a focus-oriented playlist (or choose one on your favorite streaming service), and put your headphones on while you work. 

You may find that other people, like your friends and family, are your biggest distraction. If that’s the case, try setting up some homework boundaries. Let them know when you’ll be working on homework every day, and ask them if they’ll help you keep a quiet environment. They’ll be happy to lend a hand! 

#2: Limit Your Access to Technology 

We know, we know...this tip isn’t fun, but it does work. For homework that doesn’t require a computer, like handouts or worksheets, it’s best to put all your technology away . Turn off your television, put your phone and laptop in your backpack, and silence notifications on any wearable tech you may be sporting. If you listen to music while you work, that’s fine...but make sure you have a playlist set up so you’re not shuffling through songs once you get started on your homework. 

If your homework requires your laptop or tablet, it can be harder to limit your access to distractions. But it’s not impossible! T here are apps you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working so that you’re not tempted to scroll through Twitter or check your Facebook feed. Silence notifications and text messages on your computer, and don’t open your email account unless you absolutely have to. And if you don’t need access to the internet to complete your assignments, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the online chatter is a great way to make sure you’re getting your homework done. 

#3: Set a Timer (the Pomodoro Technique)

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique ? It’s a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you focus!

Here’s how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, you get to take a 5 minute break. Every time you go through one of these cycles, it’s called a “pomodoro.” For every four pomodoros you complete, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

The pomodoro technique works through a combination of boundary setting and rewards. First, it gives you a finite amount of time to focus, so you know that you only have to work really hard for 25 minutes. Once you’ve done that, you’re rewarded with a short break where you can do whatever you want. Additionally, tracking how many pomodoros you complete can help you see how long you’re really working on your homework. (Once you start using our focus tips, you may find it doesn’t take as long as you thought!)

Two Bonus Tips for How to Do Homework Fast

Even if you’re doing everything right, there will be times when you just need to get your homework done as fast as possible. (Why do teachers always have projects due in the same week? The world may never know.)

The problem with speeding through homework is that it’s easy to make mistakes. While turning in an assignment is always better than not submitting anything at all, you want to make sure that you’re not compromising quality for speed. Simply put, the goal is to get your homework done quickly and still make a good grade on the assignment! 

Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments , even when you’re in a time crunch. 

#1: Do the Easy Parts First 

This is especially true if you’re working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems. As you do, make a mark beside the questions you think are “easy” to answer . 

Once you’ve finished going through the whole assignment, you can answer these questions first. Getting the easy questions out of the way as quickly as possible lets you spend more time on the trickier portions of your homework, which will maximize your assignment grade. 

(Quick note: this is also a good strategy to use on timed assignments and tests, like the SAT and the ACT !) 

#2: Pay Attention in Class 

Homework gets a lot easier when you’re actively learning the material. Teachers aren’t giving you homework because they’re mean or trying to ruin your weekend... it’s because they want you to really understand the course material. Homework is designed to reinforce what you’re already learning in class so you’ll be ready to tackle harder concepts later.

When you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes, you’re absorbing the information you’ll need to succeed on your homework assignments. (You’re stuck in class anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!) Not only will paying attention in class make your homework less confusing, it will also help it go much faster, too.

What’s Next?

If you’re looking to improve your productivity beyond homework, a good place to begin is with time management. After all, we only have so much time in a day...so it’s important to get the most out of it! To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best time management techniques that you can start using today.

You may have read this article because homework struggles have been affecting your GPA. Now that you’re on the path to homework success, it’s time to start being proactive about raising your grades. This article teaches you everything you need to know about raising your GPA so you can

Now you know how to get motivated to do homework...but what about your study habits? Studying is just as critical to getting good grades, and ultimately getting into a good college . We can teach you how to study bette r in high school. (We’ve also got tons of resources to help you study for your ACT and SAT exams , too!)

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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• English (US)

What is the difference between “assignment” and “homework” ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.

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• Spanish (Mexico) Near fluent

Nothing much, other than assignment can be done anywhere, including in class, whereas homework should only be done at home.

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IN the context of school, they are pretty much the same. You might use the a little differently in sentences though… “I have a lot of homework to do.” “My teacher gave me a difficult assignment.” The words homework and assignment are not directly interchangeable in these sentences. You could even say that your homework is a collection of all your assignments, those that are assigned for work outside the classroom. Outside of school, you’d primarily use assignment. “My boss gave me an assignment” is better than “my boss gave me homework.” And as the other responder said, homework is work you usually do outside the classroom. You could do an assignment in the classroom or at home.

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Usage of "homework," "schoolwork," and "assignment" in AmEng for schoolwork given to students to do at home

As far as AmEng goes, is there any difference in using either homework , schoolwork , or assignment to call schoolwork given to students to be done at home? Can these be used just about interchangeably?

ASSIGNMENT vs. HOMEWORK

assignment An assignment is a task that someone is given to do, usually as part of their job.

My first major assignment as a reporter was to cover a large-scale riot.

An assignment is also a piece of academic work given to students.

The course has heavy reading assignments.

When class begins, he gives us an assignment and we have seven minutes to work at it.

In American English, an assignment is also a piece of work given to students to do at home. (emphasis is mine.)

Work given to schoolchildren to do at home is also called homework .

He never did any homework.

HOUSEWORK vs. HOMEWORK

homework Homework is work that school pupils ( Chiefly BrEng )/students ( Chiefly AmEng ) are given to do at home.

Have you done your English homework?

Housework is work such as cleaning or washing that is done in a house.

She relied on him to do most of the housework.

Collins COBUILD English Usage

: work that is done in classes in a school or given to students to do at home. Merriam-Webster

Point to all of this is, if some native speakers of AmEng actually use exclusively "assignment" (or schoolwork ) for "homework" in the sense "schoolwork done at home," wouldn't the reason for that be that "homework" might have a quite different meaning in their vernacular, e.g. "housework" or "work done on the home"?

Homeworker in the US is a person who works on homes or a person who works in homes (maid). It is not a "clear" phrase at all because it tends to have ambiguous or no/multiple meanings. It is certainly something that I would expect to hear from a foreigner in the US. (emphasis is mine.) RyeBread - ELU

Please, consider the following example:

I'll help you with your homework / schoolwork / assignments once I'm done with the housework . (standard AmEng)

I'll help you with your schoolwork / assignments once I'm done with the homework . (nonstandard regional AmEng?)

• american-english
• non-standard

• 2 You should find some better references, there's no need to confuse our poor answerers with the completely unrelated "housework". –  curiousdannii Commented Mar 18, 2016 at 10:37
• 2 Ah, I guess that's possible, but I really doubt it. Note that "home duties" is the same as housework. –  curiousdannii Commented Mar 18, 2016 at 10:47
• 1 @Elian I don't think I have heard anyone say homework for housework. –  James McLeod Commented Mar 18, 2016 at 10:48
• 5 Yes they are interchangeable for work assigned to be done at home. No, no one ever uses homework for housework or vice versa. (unless we contrive a situation where someone is taking home ec and is assigned the task of doing laundry or something) –  Jim Commented Mar 18, 2016 at 10:49
• 1 Where I went to school (Australia), an assignment is a much larger project than homework. Homework might be a few short answer questions at the back of a chapter, while an assignment might be to do a series of studies and to produce a 1000-word report. –  Einheri Commented Mar 18, 2016 at 11:00

2 Answers 2

I've always used these terms in a different way that @James McLeod is describing them. Perhaps they are regional differences.

Assignment : One singular task or project; large tasks may be broken up into smaller assignments. I may get one or more assignment per class. Whatever it is, it is thought of as a singular 'unit of work' when submitted or completed. Complex, multi-part, or really large assignments are generally referred to as projects .

Homework : The collection of all the assignments I have to do at home

Schoolwork : The collection of all the assignments I have to do for school, regardless of the location of where it is done. Can be a synonym for homework , but less frequently used as such.

(Further clarification after reading some comments): An assignment can also be done IN school. Assignment just means 'one task'. Which is why a lot of people do use homework assignment . They're specifying that this assignment is to be done at home (or at least, not during that class)

Not sure about other parts of the country, but I have never heard of homework used to describe not-related-to-school work done on or in the home.

Yes, Housework means work done for the house/home. This typically means tasks like cooking, cleaning, laundry, yard work, and small house repairs (when done on one's own home, this term is not used if professionals are called in).

I have never known a native speaker to confuse housework and homework , but if someone learning AmE were to mix the terms up, I do believe they would still be understood by most people.

• 1 I agree with this analysis. In my experience "in-class work" is the one clear-cut common term for "work done at school;" in contrast, "schoolwork" tends to mean simply "work done somewhere for school." –  Sven Yargs Commented Mar 19, 2016 at 1:08

The distinction I make is that an assignment is a larger project (an essay, a science fair project, a lab report), whereas homework includes assignments and day-to-day work like reading, doing a certain number of math problems, studying for a test, etc.

• Interesting. Although those math problems were assigned as well as the reading. I make a distinction between doing homework and studying. –  Jim Commented Mar 18, 2016 at 11:25
• But when a parent asks a child "have you done your homework?" the intent is to find out if everything is done. –  James McLeod Commented Mar 18, 2016 at 11:35
• Agreed. "Homework" is a short assignment intended to be completed quickly (generally that same day) and used to reinforce that day's lesson. An "assignment" is a longer project that is completed over weeks or months, such as a science fair project, at-home experiment, a research paper, and so on. –  Chris Bergin Commented Mar 18, 2016 at 14:57
• 2 A longer project was usually called a "project" (or, just as often, "long-term project") when I went to school. –  Hot Licks Commented Mar 18, 2016 at 18:22

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged american-english word-usage formality non-standard dialects or ask your own question .

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Homework vs Classwork: Unraveling Commonly Confused Terms

As students, we have all heard the terms homework and classwork. But what do they really mean? Are they interchangeable? In this article, we will explore the differences between homework and classwork, and which one is the proper term to use.

We should define the terms. Homework refers to the work that students are assigned to complete outside of class. It can include reading assignments, problem sets, essays, and more. Classwork, on the other hand, refers to the work that students complete during class time. This can include group projects, in-class assignments, and other activities that are completed within the classroom setting.

So, which term is the proper one to use? The answer is that it depends on the context. Both homework and classwork are valid terms, but they refer to different types of work. If you are referring to work that is completed outside of class, then homework is the appropriate term. If you are referring to work that is completed during class time, then classwork is the appropriate term.

Now that we have established the difference between homework and classwork, let’s dive deeper into each type of work and explore their respective benefits and drawbacks.

Define Homework

Homework is a task assigned by a teacher to be completed by a student outside of the classroom. It is typically given to reinforce concepts taught in class, provide additional practice, or to prepare for upcoming lessons. Homework can take various forms, including reading assignments, writing exercises, problem sets, and research projects. It is an integral part of the educational process, as it helps students develop time management skills, self-discipline, and independent learning habits.

Define Classwork

Classwork refers to any activity or task that is completed by a student during class time. It is typically supervised by a teacher, who provides guidance and feedback as needed. Classwork can take various forms, including lectures, discussions, group projects, and hands-on activities. The purpose of classwork is to provide students with the opportunity to engage with the material in a structured and supportive environment. It allows students to ask questions, clarify concepts, and receive immediate feedback on their work.

How To Properly Use The Words In A Sentence

Using the right words in a sentence is crucial to convey the intended meaning. The words “homework” and “classwork” are commonly used in academic settings, but they have different meanings and contexts. Here’s how to use them properly in a sentence.

How To Use “Homework” In A Sentence

“Homework” refers to the tasks assigned by teachers to students to be completed outside of class hours. Here are some examples of how to use “homework” in a sentence:

• My math teacher gave us a lot of homework to do over the weekend.
• I need to finish my English homework before I can watch TV.
• Did you do your history homework last night?

When using “homework” in a sentence, make sure to use it as a noun and not as a verb. For example, it’s incorrect to say “I’m going to homework now.” Instead, you could say “I’m going to do my homework now.”

How To Use “Classwork” In A Sentence

“Classwork” refers to the tasks assigned by teachers to students to be completed during class hours. Here are some examples of how to use “classwork” in a sentence:

• We have a lot of classwork to do today, so let’s get started.
• My science teacher collects our classwork at the end of each lesson.
• Did you finish your classwork before the bell rang?

When using “classwork” in a sentence, it’s important to remember that it’s a noun and not a verb. For example, you can’t say “I’m going to classwork now.” Instead, you could say “I’m going to work on my classwork now.”

More Examples Of Homework & Classwork Used In Sentences

In order to further understand the difference between homework and classwork, it is helpful to see them used in various sentences. Here are some examples of how to use each term in a sentence:

Examples Of Using Homework In A Sentence

• I have to finish my math homework before I can watch TV.
• She spent all night doing her history homework.
• The teacher assigned a lot of homework over the weekend.
• He forgot to bring his English homework to class.
• My mom helps me with my science homework when I don’t understand it.
• They gave us a group project for our biology homework.
• The students complained about having too much homework.
• He always procrastinates and does his homework at the last minute.
• She received a good grade on her Spanish homework.
• The teacher collects our homework at the beginning of class.

Examples Of Using Classwork In A Sentence

• We worked on a group project for our social studies classwork.
• The teacher gave us a quiz during our math classwork.
• He was absent for our English classwork and had to make it up.
• She always participates during our science classwork.
• They had a debate during their history classwork.
• The students were graded on their participation during their art classwork.
• He struggled during their French classwork and needed extra help.
• She enjoys the hands-on activities during their music classwork.
• The teacher uses classwork to help students understand the material better.
• We were given a worksheet to complete during our Spanish classwork.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

When it comes to academic work, there are two terms that are often used interchangeably: homework and classwork. However, these terms are not synonymous, and using them incorrectly can lead to confusion and misunderstandings. In this section, we will highlight some common mistakes people make when using homework and classwork interchangeably, and offer tips on how to avoid making these mistakes in the future.

Mistake #1: Using The Terms “Homework” And “Classwork” Interchangeably

One of the most common mistakes people make is using the terms “homework” and “classwork” interchangeably. While both terms refer to academic work, they have different meanings and should be used appropriately.

Homework: This refers to assignments that are given to students to complete outside of class. Homework is usually assigned to reinforce concepts that were taught in class or to provide additional practice.

Classwork: This refers to assignments that are completed during class time. Classwork is usually supervised by the teacher and may involve group work, individual assignments, or other activities that are designed to reinforce concepts that were taught in class.

Using the terms interchangeably can lead to confusion and may result in students not completing assignments as intended. For example, if a student is told to complete “classwork” at home, they may not understand that the assignment was meant to be completed during class time.

Mistake #2: Assuming That Homework Is Less Important Than Classwork

Another common mistake people make is assuming that homework is less important than classwork. While classwork is important, homework is also a crucial part of the learning process. Homework allows students to practice what they have learned and reinforces key concepts.

Assuming that homework is less important than classwork can lead to students not completing assignments or not taking them seriously. It is important for students to understand that homework is just as important as classwork and should be treated with the same level of importance.

Tips For Avoiding These Mistakes

Here are some tips for avoiding these common mistakes:

• Make sure you understand the difference between homework and classwork.
• Read assignment instructions carefully to ensure you know when and where the assignment should be completed.
• Take homework assignments seriously and treat them with the same level of importance as classwork.
• Ask your teacher for clarification if you are unsure about an assignment.

Context Matters

When it comes to choosing between homework and classwork, context plays a crucial role. The decision should depend on the specific situation and the goals that the teacher wants to achieve. Here are some examples of different contexts and how the choice between homework and classwork might change:

Classroom Environment

In a traditional classroom setting, classwork is often the preferred option. This is because it allows for immediate feedback and clarification from the teacher. Students can ask questions and receive guidance, which can help them understand the material better. Additionally, classwork can promote collaboration and discussion among students, which can be beneficial for their learning.

Online Learning

In an online learning environment, homework may be a better option. This is because students are often working independently and may not have immediate access to a teacher for support. Homework allows them to work at their own pace and review the material as many times as needed. However, teachers can still provide feedback and guidance through online communication tools.

Individual Learning Needs

When it comes to individual learning needs, the choice between homework and classwork can vary. For example, students who struggle with time management may benefit from classwork, as it ensures that they are staying on track and completing tasks in a timely manner. On the other hand, students who need more time to process information may benefit from homework, as they can take their time to review and understand the material.

Subject Matter

The subject matter being taught can also influence the choice between homework and classwork. For example, subjects that require a lot of practice, such as math or language learning, may benefit from homework assignments. This is because students need to practice and apply the concepts they have learned in order to fully understand them. On the other hand, subjects that require more discussion and analysis, such as literature or social studies, may benefit from classwork assignments, as they promote collaboration and critical thinking.

Ultimately, the choice between homework and classwork depends on the specific context in which they are used. By considering factors such as the classroom environment, individual learning needs, and subject matter, teachers can make informed decisions that will benefit their students’ learning.

Exceptions To The Rules

Identifying exceptions.

While homework and classwork are important aspects of any academic curriculum, there are instances where the rules for using them may not apply. It is essential to identify these exceptions to ensure that students are not unfairly penalized or disadvantaged.

Examples And Explanations

Here are some examples of exceptions where the rules for using homework and classwork might not apply:

1. Absence Due to Illness or Emergency

If a student is absent due to illness or an emergency, they may not be able to complete the homework assigned or participate in classwork activities. In such cases, teachers should provide alternative assignments or make-up opportunities to ensure that the student is not unfairly penalized.

2. Learning Disabilities

Students with learning disabilities may require accommodations to complete homework or participate in classwork activities. For example, a student with dyslexia may require extra time to complete a reading assignment or a student with ADHD may require breaks during class to stay focused. In such cases, teachers should work with the student and their parents to provide appropriate accommodations.

3. Differentiated Instruction

Teachers may use differentiated instruction to meet the unique needs of their students. This may include assigning different homework or classwork activities to different students based on their learning style, ability level, or interests. In such cases, the rules for using homework and classwork may vary depending on the needs of each student.

4. Project-Based Learning

In project-based learning, students may work on long-term projects that span several weeks or months. In such cases, the rules for using homework and classwork may be different, as the project itself may serve as both homework and classwork. Teachers should provide clear guidelines and expectations for such projects to ensure that students are able to complete them successfully.

5. Independent Study

In some cases, students may engage in independent study, where they work on their own outside of class. In such cases, the rules for using homework and classwork may not apply, as the student is responsible for their own learning. However, teachers should provide guidance and support to ensure that the student is on track and making progress towards their learning goals.

While homework and classwork are important components of any academic curriculum, it is essential to identify exceptions where the rules for using them may not apply. By providing appropriate accommodations and guidelines, teachers can ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed.

Practice Exercises

One of the best ways to improve one’s understanding and use of homework and classwork is through practice exercises. These exercises help readers to reinforce the concepts they have learned and apply them in real-life situations. Here are some practice exercises that can help readers:

Exercise 1: Identifying Homework And Classwork

In this exercise, readers will be given a list of sentences and will be asked to identify whether each sentence is an example of homework or classwork. Here are some examples:

Answer key: 1. Homework, 2. Classwork, 3. Homework

Exercise 2: Using Homework And Classwork In Sentences

In this exercise, readers will be given a list of sentences with missing words or phrases. They will be asked to fill in the blanks with the correct form of homework or classwork. Here are some examples:

• After the lecture, the students were given some __________ to do at home.
• The teacher assigned a group project as __________ for the week.
• During the __________ period, the students reviewed the material from the previous day’s lecture.

Answer key: 1. homework, 2. classwork, 3. classwork

By completing these practice exercises, readers can improve their understanding and use of homework and classwork. It is important to note that these exercises are just a starting point and that readers should continue to practice and apply these concepts in their daily lives.

After exploring the differences between homework and classwork, it is clear that both play an important role in language learning. Classwork provides immediate feedback and allows for interaction with peers and the teacher, while homework offers the opportunity for independent practice and self-reflection.

It is important for language learners to understand the purpose and benefits of both types of assignments in order to maximize their language acquisition. By utilizing both classwork and homework effectively, learners can improve their grammar and language use skills.

As with any skill, consistent practice and dedication are key to success. Language learners should continue to seek out opportunities for practice and learning, whether through formal classes or independent study.

Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.

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assignment vs homework

• Thread starter tulipflower
• Start date Oct 1, 2020
• Views : 1,087

tulipflower

• Oct 1, 2020

How can we differentiate 'assignment' from 'homework'? Can we say in education an 'assignment' is done in the class or at home within a longer period of time (e.g. during a term) but 'homework' is done at home immediately after class?  

Charlie Bernstein

tulipflower said: How can we differentiate 'assignment' from 'homework'? Can we say in education an 'assignment' is done in the class or at home within a longer period of time (e.g. during a term) but 'homework' is done at home immediately after class? Click to expand...

Timing does not establish a difference between "assignment" and "homework". Homework could be assigned to be completed over an indefinite period of time. Any differentiation with regard to timing should/could be stated when the activity is scheduled.  

Senior Member

In my school days in England we only had homework. "Assigngments" were something mentioned on TV programmes imported from the USA. My understanding would be that "homework" is a generic term covering anything from revision to writing an essay. An "assignment" would have a specific deliverable".  

Yankee said: Timing does not establish a difference between "assignment" and "homework". Homework could be assigned to be completed over an indefinite period of time. Any differentiation with regard to timing should/could be stated when the activity is scheduled. Click to expand...

PeterCW said: In my school days in England we only had homework. "[STRIKE]Assigngments[/STRIKE] Assignments " were something mentioned on TV programmes imported from the USA. Click to expand...

PS - Of course, homework assignment is redundant.  

GoesStation

No longer with us (rip).

Charlie Bernstein said: Of course, homework assignment is redundant. Click to expand...

PeterCW said: In my school days in England , we only had homework. "[STRIKE]Assigngments[/STRIKE] Assignments " were something mentioned on TV programmes imported from the USA. My understanding would be that "homework" is a generic term covering anything from revision to writing an essay. An "assignment" would have a specific deliverable no quotation marks here . Click to expand...

emsr2d2 said: See my corrections above. I'm surprised the inbuilt spellchecker didn't underline "Assigngments" when you posted, giving you the opportunity to go back in and correct it. Click to expand...

PeterCW said: Spleechecker?(sic) Well that didn't produce a warning, what spellchecker? Click to expand...

PeterCW said: Spleechecker (sic)? Well , that didn't produce a warning . W hat spellchecker? Click to expand...

• Oct 2, 2020

I've had spellcheck turned off for years because I got fed up with its idiotic auto-corrections and suggestions.  

probus said: I've had spellcheck turned off for years because I got fed up with its idiotic auto-corrections and suggestions. Click to expand...

One small caveat: A spellchecker will find no fault with Yew no yore knot aloud too reed allowed inn hear.  

GoesStation said: You can disable auto-correct. Click to expand...

probus said: That's true, of course, but spellcheck still doesn't suit me because we Canadians tend to use a mix of British and American spellings. Click to expand...

I use Google Chrome and the default spellcheck language is AmE. BrE is not an option.  

Rover_KE said: I use Google Chrome and the default spellcheck language is AmE. BrE is not an option. Click to expand...

GoesStation said: Choose "Canadian English" in the spell check's dictionary option. Click to expand...

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