– What are the different categories of writing assignments?

Writing assignments can be broadly divided into formal and informal ones.

Formal assignments usually follow a very specific format and use the academic tone in writing. They will probably make up a big part of your overall grade, too. Research essays, position pieces, literature reviews, and annotated bibliographies are some of the common formal assignments.

Informal assignments like weekly journal responses, in-class written responses, or brainstorming usually make up a smaller percentage of your overall grade. They often have less structure, and you don’t always have to use the academic tone in writing (although it is better to avoid using colloquialisms in most cases).

The biggest difference is that with informal assignments you are addressing your instructor and can expect them to remember classroom discussions and your previous work. With formal assignments, you are addressing “a reader” (a stranger) who has an understanding of your topic but who was not with you in class, and whom you will have to convince about the importance and validity of your argument.

For more information on understanding different types of written work, see here.

Posted in: Assignments