You can create assignments from the Assignments Index page (Assignments area of course site) and you have two options: You can create an assignment shell, or you can create the entire assignment. An assignment shell is just a placeholder for the assignment within an assignment group, such as a discussion assignment within the discussion assignment grouping. You can come back and add the details at any time. For more information on both creating an assignment shell and creating an entire assignment, see the Canvas guide article How do I create an assignment?.