Academic writing refers to the distinct forms of writing practiced at the university level: e.g. essays, critical articles, literature reviews, or reports. Common to many forms of academic writing are:
- the presence of a thesis statement or hypothesis
- a fairly formal but clear style
- a specific organizational structure, and
- sound arguments supported by credible evidence, such as data and/or references to other works.
The resources on this page help new and returning students learn more about general expectations for academic writing.
- Video: Term Paper? How the Student Learning Commons Can Help!
- Top 10 Things to Know About University Writing
- Video: Academic Writing: the Basics
- Materials for First-Year Writers – Dartmouth Institute for Writing and Rhetoric
- The Writing Process and Advice on Academic Writing (click on navigation menu for advice in specific areas of writing) – University of Toronto
- Writing Process and Structure – University of Madison-Wisconsin
Preparing to Write
- The Assignment Calculator – a time-management tool
- Introduction to Prewriting (Invention) – Purdue University OWL
- Developing Your Topic – University of Saskatchewan
- Researching a Topic? Start Here