Assign students clearly defined work assignments. Make it clear what the requirements are. For example, if it's a writing assignment, tell the students that a passing assignment needs to be on topic and meet a certain word count. If it's a math assignment, tell students that all questions need to be answered.
Inform the students that they're responsible for doing their work. Explain to them that just as adults are responsible for paying bills, children are responsible for doing schoolwork. Tell them that work is a fact of life, and that if they don't do their work, they will have to face certain consequences.
Lay out the consequences for repeatedly not handing in work. For example, if you're having a very hard time getting students to be accountable about for their work, tell the class that students who fail to turn in work three times in a row will have one of their classroom privileges, such as computer use, taken away.
Offer the class a reward in the event that all students have their work completed on time. Tell the students that if every one of them has their work in on time and completed to an adequate standard, that they will get ten extra minutes for recess break. Mix the rewards up periodically to keep them interesting.
Deduce points from students who hand in work late. Tell the students clearly that they will lose 5 percent of an assignment for every day that it's late.