Quality Focus

Emphasizing precision and quality in your work; Avoiding mistakes and errors

It’s very easy to adopt a “just get it done” approach to your work. We don’t always see how one assignment, project, or test connects to what’s next. But in college, this is often the case. Not just getting a good grade, but learning is vital to not the classes you’re in now, but future semesters.

Have high standards for your work. You're a good student and you want your work to reflect that. There are ways to do this at each point of an assignment, project, or exam. Make sure you know what’s expected when you start (e.g., read the directions!), try to maintain your focus throughout, and - perhaps most importantly - when you’re done, go back and check your work. If you can build this habit now, it’s something that will help you throughout your college career and beyond.

Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.

Henry Ford

How can I improve my Quality Focus?

Strategies to Use

For any assignment you have, make sure you know what’s expected. Read and re-read the directions. If you’re unsure, ask your instructor for more information.
As you work on something, continue to go back to those expectations and ask yourself, “Is this meeting this assignment?”
When you’re done, double-check your work. This can be tough. After putting in a lot of effort, you might feel compelled to just “get it done” and submit the work. But sometimes, we get so focused, we miss a critical mistake. Try to take a breath and do one last review.
To that end, if it’s allowed, have someone else take a read-through.

Resources at Montclair State

Academic Advising helps students create a personalized approach that will help them achieve their personal and academic goals.
CAPS provides free, voluntary services to all students including short term individual counseling, a variety of weekly therapy and support groups, consultations, psychiatry services and referral assistance to providers off-campus.
Harry A. Sprague Library offers an Ask A Librarian service to help with finding sources and doing research (drop-in at the reference desk, chat live online, email, phone, text, Zoom/in-person appointments); study spaces; workshops (how to use the library, how to conduct research, how to use Google Scholar); and assistive technology. In addition, use the library website to find sources for your assignments and coursework (ebooks, print books, articles, streaming videos, and more).
CAST offers tutoring services, supplemental instruction, workshops (including how-to guides to navigate online platforms and courses), access to online course support (navigate online platforms, tips for succeeding in an online course, internet and hotspot access), and links to external supplemental instructional materials.
Center for Writing Excellence (CWE) offers in-person and online appointments for every type of writing, workshops, and various online resources. The CWE fosters confidence, independence, and self-efficacy with short- and long-term goals.

Online Resources

Consider using a proofing tool, such as Grammarly, to help review your work.