Students differ in how well they can read the unwritten rules of college. You can level that by being explicit. For each assignment, state its purpose, meaning why it matters and what skill it builds; the task, meaning exactly what to do; and the criteria, meaning how it will be judged. This transparent approach is well supported by research and helps every student, and it helps most those who are the first in their family to attend college and cannot rely on inherited know-how.

Transparency is not lowering the bar. It is making the bar visible, so success depends on learning rather than on guessing what you wanted.