Academics mostly write texts intended for publication, such as journal articles, reports, books, and chapters in edited collections. For students, the most common types of academic writing assignments are listed below.
Type of academic text |
Definition |
Essay |
A fairly short, self-contained argument, often using sources from a class in response to a question provided by an instructor. |
Research paper |
A more in-depth investigation based on independent research, often in response to a question chosen by the student. |
Thesis/dissertation |
The large final research project undertaken at the end of a degree, usually on a dissertation topic of the student’s choice. |
Research proposal |
An outline of a potential topic and plan for a future dissertation or research project. |
Literature review |
A critical synthesis of existing research on a topic, usually written in order to inform the approach of a new piece of research. |
Lab report |
A write-up of the aims, methods, results and conclusions of a lab experiment. |
Annotated bibliography |
A list of source references with a short description or evaluation of each source. |
Source: https://www.scribbr.com/category/academic-writing/