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:

1. the presence of a thesis statement or hypothesis
2. a fairly formal but clear style
3. a specific organizational structure, and
4. 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.

• 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
• NEW! ProTips for Essay Writers - a series of short videos that provide tips for all stages of essay writing, from reading assignment instructions to crafting clear sentences.
• NEW! Thesis Statements 101 - a very short introduction to writing thesis statements (4 minute 23 second video) 

Preparing to Write

• The Assignment Calculator – a time-management tool
• What is Prewriting? - Douglas College
• Developing Your Topic – University of Saskatchewan 
• Researching a Topic? Start Here