What should I do first?

It is vital to carefully read the assignment description and any explanatory notes provided. Also, be alert for any comments that the lecturer may make about the assignment. Try to work out why a particular assessment task has been set. Can you figure out how it relates to the goals of the subject, as set out in the unit guide?

Another useful strategy is to determine what the assignment is designed to evaluate. Some assessment tasks are planned to develop your problem-solving skills; others are devised to judge how well you can relate theory to practice; others to ascertain whether you have read deeply and critically on a topic.
After having read the assignment description and the unit guide, if you are still not quite clear about what is expected of you in the assignment, ask your lecturer or tutor. Discussion with other students can also be helpful.

Some lecturers provide detailed marking criteria, indicating how many marks are allocated to particular aspects of the assignment. You should spend your time accordingly.

Your lecturer or tutor may be willing to discuss or look at a plan of your assignment to let you know whether you are on the right track; they are unlikely to read your entire paper before you submit it however.

(Source: www.deakin.edu.au)