Some forms of academic writing are common across different disciplines: e.g. abstracts, critical analyses, literature reviews, and research papers.
The resources on this page help you as a writer learn more about these typical assignments—keeping in mind that “one size does not fit all.” A critical analysis of a short story has notably different aims and approaches than, say, a critical analysis of studies on the effectiveness of a new teaching method.
Each “typical” writing assignment may have requirements tailored to a discipline or even to a specific course. Always check with your instructor or TA about specific requirements.
- Typical Assignments, from Abstracts to Reflections
- Types of Writing – University of Toronto
- Common Writing Assignments – University of Wisconsin-Madison
- The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - see "Specific Writing Assignments or Contexts" and "Writing for Specific Fields"
Literature review
Research paper
- A Quick Guide to Research Papers
- Writing and Research Strategies
- Research Essay Self-Assessment Checklist
Other typical situations
- Personal statement for graduate school (also see How To Write Your Way into Grad School)
- Writing strategies for online/distance-learning students (and also see resources on "Netiquette" in online writing)