Assignment types
During your studies, you'll need to write different types of assignments. Here's an overview of some common types.
This is just a general guide. The specific requirements for your subject may be different. Make sure you read through any assignment requirements carefully and ask your teacher or tutor if you're unsure how to meet them.
Once you've identified the type of assignment you need to complete, see our steps for writing assignments to help you get started.
Research essay
The purpose of a research essay is to:
- answer a question
- present an argument based on facts.
Audience
When you're writing a research essay, think of your target audience as:
- your peers
- the broader academic community.
Writing style
A research essay should:
- be concise and factual
- use active voice
- have a clear structure with a logical flow.
Structure and content
Don't use headings for sections in a research essay.
Organise your content into:
- introduction
- body
- conclusion.
Lab or prac report
The purpose of a lab or prac report is to:
- explain what you did
- draw conclusions.
Audience
When you're writing a lab or prac report, think of your target audience as:
- your peers
- other researchers wanting to replicate your experiments.
Writing style
Lab or prac reports should:
- be clear and objective
- be written in past tense and passive voice.
Structure and content
Use headings for sections in a lab or prac report.
Describe your actions and results in step-by-step order.
Include the following sections:
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion.
Reports usually include tables, graphs and other graphics to present data and supplement the text. To learn how to design and use these elements effectively, see our guides to:
Case study (report)
The purpose of a case study is to:
- examine a situation
- identify positives and negatives
- make recommendations.
Audience
When you're writing a case study, think of your target audience as:
- professionals (not just academics)
- politicians
- the general public.
Writing style
Case studies should:
- be written in a factual and authoritative tone
- be concise and easy to follow.
Structure and content
Use numbered headings for sections in a case study.
Make sure you include:
- table of contents
- executive summary.
Reports usually include tables, graphs and other graphics to present data and supplement the text. To learn how to design and use these elements effectively, see our guides to:
Article review
The purpose of an article review is to:
- evaluate or critique the article's data, research methods and results.
Audience
When you're writing an article review, think of your target audience as:
- your peers
- people interested in your profession.
Writing style
Article reviews should:
- be written in an analytical and evaluative tone
- use present tense and active voice.
Structure and content
Don't use headings for sections in article reviews.
Your review should include:
- a brief summary of the article being reviewed
- your commentary on the quality of the work.
Reports usually include tables, graphs and other graphics to present data and supplement the text. To learn how to design and use these elements effectively, see our guides to:
Literature review
The purpose of a literature review is to:
- identify key areas across literature
- understand current thinking
- find a 'gap' for research.
Audience
When you're writing a literature review, think of your target audience as:
- researchers
- academics
- fellow professionals.
Writing style
Literature reviews should be:
- written in a formal style
- objective, but you can include tentative opinions based on the text.
Structure and content
Use meaningful headings for sections in a literature review (not just 'introduction', 'body' and 'conclusion').
Organise your content into:
- introduction
- body
- conclusion.
Annotated bibliography
The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to:
- identify key literature on a topic
- evaluate the usefulness of the literature in relation to the topic
- inform others.
Audience
When you're writing an annotated bibliography, think of your target audience as:
- researchers
- academics
- fellow professionals.
Writing style
Use a formal and objective tone in an annotated bibliography.
Structure and content
An annotated bibliography should:
- list works alphabetically by author
- include an indented 1-2 paragraph summary and critique for each work.
Reflective journal
The purpose of a reflective journal is to:
- identify your understanding
- reflect on your thinking
- understand how and what you've learned.
Audience
When you're writing a reflective journal, think of your target audience as:
- yourself.
Writing style
In a reflective journal you can use:
- a more informal style, but make sure it's still clear
- a conversational tone - write as if you're thinking aloud
- the first person ('I' or 'me').
Structure and content
In a reflective journal you should:
- refer to texts, lectures and practical situations
- make links between formal learning and personal meaning.
Project report
The purpose of a project report is to:
- report on work that has been done, or
- plan for work to is to be done.
Audience
When you're writing a project report, think of your target audience as:
- an outside organisation, such as a government department or non-government organisation (NGO)
Writing style
Use a factual tone in a project report.
Vary your tense depending on what you're writing about. Use:
- present tense to outline the current situation
- past tense to describe work that has been completed
- future tense to explain work that is proposed.
Structure
Include the following sections:
- Title page
- Acknowledgements
- Executive summary or abstract
- Table of contents
- Introduction and body (no heading)
- Conclusion and recommendations
- References or bibliography
- Glossary
- Appendices.
Reports usually include tables, graphs and other graphics to present data and supplement the text. To learn how to design and use these elements effectively, see our guides to:
Presentation
For advice on writing, designing and delivering a presentation, see the presentation skills guide.