Planners &
To-Do Lists
To-Do Lists
You have a dentist appointment on Wednesday at 3:00 PM and need to finish a worksheet by Thursday. Which item belongs on your planner, and which belongs on your to-do list?
The dentist appointment belongs on the planner. Finishing the worksheet belongs on the to-do list. You could also schedule time to complete the worksheet on your planner.
You have 45 minutes before you need to leave for work. You have a 30-minute assignment, need to eat, and need 10 minutes to get ready. What should you do first, and why?
Consider eating and getting ready so you can leave on time, then use the remaining time for the assignment if possible. Another reasonable plan is acceptable if it accounts for the time needed to leave.
You find a crumpled assignment in your backpack. It is due tomorrow, but you cannot read the directions. What should you do?
Find a clear copy in Canvas or ask the instructor for help, then organize the assignment so you can complete it.
You log into Canvas and see an announcement about a change to an assignment deadline. What should you do with that information?
Read the announcement carefully, update the deadline in your planner, and adjust your plan if necessary.
Your instructor gives the class a new assignment. Before you begin working, what is one important thing you should do?
Read the directions carefully and identify what needs to be completed and when it is due.
Your planner says, “English paper due Friday.” It is Wednesday, and you have not started. What should you add to your to-do list to make this assignment easier to manage?
Break the paper into smaller tasks, such as reading the directions, choosing a topic, writing a draft, checking the paper, and submitting it.
Your instructor gives you a project that is due in two weeks. Why might starting this week be a better choice than waiting until the night before?
Starting early gives you time to break the project into steps, ask questions, handle unexpected problems, and finish without rushing.
You need to bring a college form to class tomorrow. Right now, it is mixed in with old receipts and loose papers. Where should you put it, and why?
Put it in a designated folder or another safe, easy-to-find place so it does not get lost.
You read an assignment three times but still do not understand what the instructor wants. What is the best next step, and what information should you bring when you ask for help?
Ask the instructor. Bring the assignment directions and explain what part is confusing or what you have already tried.
An assignment has six questions, but you only have time to complete three before work. What should you do to make a responsible plan?
Determine how much time is available, complete what you reasonably can, and plan when to finish the remaining questions before the deadline. Ask for help if needed.
You wrote five assignments in your planner, but you still forgot to complete two of them. What might be missing from your organization system?
A way to track completed tasks, such as a to-do list or checklist, and a routine for checking the planner regularly.
You planned to study for one hour, but after 30 minutes you realize you still have a lot to learn. You also have other responsibilities tonight. What is a realistic next step?
Reassess what needs to be studied, focus on the most important material, and schedule additional study time. Ask for help if needed rather than ignoring other responsibilities or staying up all night.
You cannot find an assignment that you know you completed. Name three places you should check before assuming it is missing.
Possible answers: Canvas, the class notebook, a folder, the backpack, a computer downloads folder, or an email attachment.
You understand the material during class but struggle to complete assignments on your own. Which college resource might help, and how could it help?
Tutoring or an academic support center could help you practice skills, review course material, and work through difficult concepts.
You start a project and realize you are missing information required to complete it. What should you do before continuing?
Review the instructions, identify the missing information, and look for it in Canvas or ask the instructor a specific question.
You have a project due Friday, a quiz on Thursday, and a work shift Wednesday evening. Explain how you could use both a planner and a to-do list to stay organized.
Put the quiz, project deadline, and work shift on the planner. List the steps needed to study and finish the project on the to-do list. Schedule work time around the other commitments and check off tasks as they are completed.
You have a quiz tomorrow, a project due in three days, laundry to do, and a friend inviting you out tonight. What three things should you consider before deciding how to spend your evening?
Consider deadlines, how much time each task requires, and which responsibilities are most important. Available time, work or family commitments, and the need for rest are also valid answers.
You keep losing papers even though you have a backpack and several folders. Describe a system you could use to keep track of papers for different classes.
Use labeled folders for each class, put papers away immediately, keep current assignments separate from completed work, and check the folders regularly.
You want to earn a certificate in a career field, but you do not know which classes or program to choose. Who could help you, and what are two questions you could ask?
An academic counselor or program advisor. Possible questions: “Which program leads to this certificate?” “What are the admission requirements?” “How long does it take?” or “Which classes should I take first?”
You have a four-part project due Friday. It is Monday, and you have not started. Create a plan with at least three steps and identify when you would complete them.
Answers will vary. A reasonable plan breaks the project into smaller tasks, schedules work across the week, and leaves time to review and submit it before Friday.
You check your planner every morning, but you often forget assignments that are posted in Canvas. Create a three-step routine that would help you keep track of your assignments.
Possible response: Check Canvas daily, record deadlines in the planner, and add the work to a to-do list. Other reasonable routines are acceptable.
You make a weekly plan on Sunday. By Tuesday, you have missed a study session because you were sick, and now two assignments need attention. What should you do instead of giving up on your plan?
Review the remaining deadlines, reprioritize tasks, reschedule missed work, break assignments into manageable steps, and contact the instructor if you need clarification or support.
Your backpack contains old worksheets, food wrappers, a loose college form, three pens, a planner, and a current assignment due tomorrow. Explain how you would organize everything and identify what needs attention first.
Throw away the wrappers, discard or file old worksheets, secure the college form, keep useful supplies, put the planner somewhere accessible, and prioritize the assignment due tomorrow.
You discover that you may have missed an important deadline because you misunderstood an instruction in Canvas. Name two actions you should take and explain why ignoring the problem could make it worse.
Review the directions and contact the instructor as soon as possible to explain the situation and ask about options. Ignoring it could lead to a missed assignment, lost points, or fewer opportunities to resolve the problem.
It is Thursday evening, and you discover an assignment is due Friday morning. You have not started, the directions are confusing, and you also need to prepare for a quiz. What should you do? Give at least three steps in the order you would take them.
Read the assignment directions and identify exactly what is required.
Contact the instructor or seek help with the confusing part.
Estimate the time needed and prioritize the most important work.
Make a realistic plan for the assignment and quiz.
Complete and submit the assignment according to the directions.