Common Assignments
Jump to: Thesis or dissertation | Proposal | Research paper | Annotated bibliography | Literature review
Lab report / scientific research report | Book review | Email | Other type of assignments
On-Campus Resources
- Writing & Speaking Tutorial Services
Individual appointments available for undergraduates working on any type of writing. Website includes some online resources plus links to other campus resources for writing.
Thesis or dissertation
Online Resources
- Dissertations (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
This handout focuses on process and psychological aspects of dissertation writing rather than research or formatting. Includes a bibliography and list of helpful websites.
Print Resources
- Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day : A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis (Joan Bolker) -- D. H. Hill Jr. Stacks: LB2369 .B57 1998
An often-recommended guide to dealing with the psychological aspects of dissertation writing, such as motivation and writer’s block.
- Guide to Writing Empirical Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (David G. Garson) -- D. H. Hill Jr. Stacks: LB2369 .G27 2002
Written by an NCSU professor of public administration, this books deals with writing projects based on quantitative research. Major topics include topic selection, literature reviews, developing models, and working with data. Includes checklists for each step.
- Theses and Dissertations: A Guide to Planning, Research, and Writing (R. Murray Thomas) -- D. H. Hill Jr. Stacks: LB2369 .T458 2008
This book is particularly geared toward candidates in the social sciences, with a focus on methods of collecting and presenting data used in those fields. Stage-by-stage advice including planning checklists.
- Writing Your Thesis (Paul Oliver) -- D. H. Hill Jr. Stacks: LB2369 .O55 2008
In addition to chapters on the major sections of a thesis, this book includes a lot of advice about working in academia more broadly, with topics such as publishing, oral examinations, and “the role of the supervisor.” Also gets into the specifics of organization, grammatical conventions for theses, and formatting.
Proposal
Online Resources
- Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences, Articles, and Books (Purdue University)
- Grant Proposals (or Give Me the Money!) (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
Handout. Includes some UNC-specific resources but also more general advice, plus sample budget and timelines.
- Academic Proposals (University of Toronto)
Print Resources
- Proposal Writing across the Disciplines (Brian R. Holloway) -- D. H. Hill Jr. Stacks: HF5718.5 .H627 2003
This books starts with the principles of proposal writing in business, then applies those principles to writing academic proposals and grant applications. The format focuses largely on examples, with discussions of how they work.
Research paper
Online Resources
- Writing a Research Paper (Purdue University)
Print Resources
- The Craft of Research (Wayne C. Booth) -- D. H. Hill Jr. Stacks: Q180.55 .M4 B66 2008 (other versions available)
A widely recommended resource focused on developing research problems, argumentation, and the (nonlinear) process of writing a research paper. This book is intended for researchers at all levels.
- Researching and Writing : Across the Curriculum (Christine A. Hult) -- DH Hill Textbook Collection: LB2369 .H84 2006 (other versions available)
An overview of research in different disciplines, including general discussions of what inquiry means in different fields, explanations of library resources, and discussions of primary research. Includes chapters modeling research assignments in science / technology, social science, the humanities, and business.
- Research Methods: Planning, Conducting and Presenting Research (Ann Sloan Devlin) -- DH Hill Stacks: Q180.55 .M4 D48 2006
Aimed specifically at students with semester-long projects in the social sciences, this book covers the research process as a whole rather than just the writing aspects. Topics include practical considerations like navigating the IRB and managing data.
Annotated bibliography
Online Resources
- Annotated Bibliographies (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
- Annotated Bibliographies (Purdue University)
- Writing an Annotated Bibliography (University of Toronto)
Literature review
Online Resources
- Literature Reviews (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
- The Literature Review: A Few Tips on Conducting It (University of Toronto)
Lab report / scientific research report
Online Resources
- LabWrite (NCSU)
- Scientific Reports (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
Detailed handout including a list of other resources.
- Formatting Science Reports (University of Wisconsin, Madison)
- Guidelines for Preparing a Research Report (american Chemical Society)
Book review
Online Resources
- Book Reviews (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
- Writing a Book Review (Purdue University)
- The Book Review or Article Critique (University of Toronto)
- Writing Book Reviews (Indiana University)
Online Resources
- Effective E-mail Communication (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
- Writing Guide: Email (Colorado State University)
Print Resources
- Send : The Essential Guide to Email for Office and Home (David Shipley and Will Schwalbe) -- D. H. Hill Jr. Stacks: HD30.37 .S5 2007
A recommended guide to email etiquette and best practices.
Other types of assignments
Got an assignment that isn’t covered here? Check these websites for further options.
Online Resources
- Common Writing Assignments (Purdue University)
- Specific Writing Assignments / Contexts (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
- Types of Assignments (This link is broken. We're working on fixing it) (University of Toronto, Scarborough)
- Common Writing Assignments (University of Wisconsin, Madison)