Many aspects of written assignments vary from discipline* to discipline. Writing within a discipline requires that you become familiar with what kinds of writing that discipline considers to be appropriate. A good strategy to use to get familiar with how to communicate in a discipline is to try to read things written by experts in that field.
Disciplinary approaches differ with respect to questions such as the following:
The boxes below review examples of evidence-related questions that might arise as you prepare a paper.
All types of assignments will require more than simply restating the findings of your readings. Generally, you will be making a claim or presenting a viewpoint, which you will need to support with evidence. For more information about how to develop an argument, see the Writing Strategies module.
*a discipline refers to an area of academic study such as Psychology, Biology, History, etc. Each discipline examines topics using different avenues (called 'methodologies') and each will require that you examine any given topic in a different way.
Humanities (e.g., English literature, classical studies, fine arts):
Are you being asked to consider a primary text, such as a novel, poem or play and to write an interpretation or argument based upon some feature of the work or the social context in which the work was produced? If so, what evidence do you need to provide to support your interpretation or argument (e.g., direct quotations from the text, other scholarly criticism, etc.)? Literary analysis, analysis of a painting or a historical movement, or discussions of how one object (a poem or a novel) differs from another might be an assignment you see often in these courses.
All types of assignments will require more than simply restating the content of your reading. Generally, you will be making an argument or presenting a viewpoint, which you will need to support with evidence. For more information about how to develop an argument, see the Writing Strategies module.
Are you being asked to consider a historical event and its importance, causes, or effects? If so, you will want to consider consulting documents from the time of the event (e.g., newspapers, government documents, letters, diaries, etc.) and examine later scholarly interpretations. You might also need to choose a particular lens (like feminism, or Marxism) through which to read the historical event you've chosen to discuss.
Social Sciences (e.g., sociology, criminology, political science):
What existing scholarly work informs your approach and understanding of this topic (e.g., scholarly journal articles, empirical studies, theoretical frameworks, etc.)? Will you be expected to consult resources that provide data on a particular aspect of society pertinent to your topic (e.g., census data, government documents, or primary sources such as newspapers, etc.)? These questions are important because answering them will be key to how you proceed. If you don't know how to answer them, then you will need to clarify with your professor about what elements you need to include.