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.

• 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