During your university studies, you will write many types of texts: essays, learning diaries, summaries and theses. This guide covers the most common types of written assignments, their formatting requirements, and referencing and source conventions.
Each subject has its own specific guidelines. Always check the practices of your own subject in your learning environment and follow them.
Types of written assignments
Learning task
In a learning task, you address a given problem based on the course literature and your own experience. Your answer is usually written in essay form. You may also use sources in addition to the course literature – in fact, this is often encouraged.
You can complete learning tasks individually, in pairs or in groups, depending on the course instructions. Writing assignments is a process: your first draft is not always the final version, and your writing will improve with experience.
Learning diary
In a learning diary, you write down your own thoughts about what you have learned and how you have understood the topics covered. The purpose is not to summarise the course content, but to reflect on and evaluate what you have learned. A learning diary is a personal piece of work and is usually graded on a pass/fail basis.
In your learning diary, you can for example:
- describe and interpret the phenomena discussed
- raise your own questions and reflections
- assess what you have learned and what you still need to study
- examine your own study methods and how well they work
Lecture diary
In a lecture diary, you engage with the topics presented in lectures: you evaluate, comment on and, where appropriate, critique them. You develop the ideas that arose during the lectures with the help of literature and aim to form a synthesis of the themes discussed.
Write your diary throughout the lecture series, not only after it has ended. The diary may be free-form or follow a set structure. It is common to conclude with your own assessment of how writing the lecture diary supported your learning.
Essay
In an essay, you discuss a topic with reference to source literature. An essay is characterised by coherent, considered and accessible writing – not lists, bullet points or single-sentence paragraphs. An academic essay differs from a literary essay in that claims are supported by citations. However, presenting your own views is permitted and encouraged, as long as they are substantiated.
Essay structure:
- Introduction – present the topic and your perspective
- Development – discuss the topic by comparing and analysing sources
- Conclusion – bring together the key findings
Finally, read your essay aloud – this helps you check the coherence and clarity of your text.
Abstract
An abstract is a shortened version of a text or study, written in your own words. It can be descriptive (outlining the purpose and structure of the text) or informative (summarising the content and key ideas). An abstract is often written last, for example as part of a thesis.
Summary
In a summary, you briefly recount in your own words what you have previously read or heard. A summary must convey the key ideas of the source text accurately and precisely. The same guidelines largely apply as for writing an abstract.
Portfolio
A portfolio is a collection of work you compile yourself to demonstrate your skills. It can include written, visual and audio documents, as well as reflection on different stages of your study process. A portfolio may take the form of an online folder, a presentation, a video or a publication.
Formatting, references and sources
Formatting – general guidelines
Content is the most important element of any written assignment, but careful formatting supports readability and credibility. When writing a learning task, follow these guidelines:
- Use 1.5 line spacing.
- Structure your text with headings, subheadings and paragraph breaks.
- Leave one blank line between paragraphs.
- Add a page number to every page.
- Include your name and study right number on the assignment.
References in the text
References show which parts of your text are your own analysis and which are based on sources. Keep the following principles in mind:
- Use the referencing style of your own subject consistently throughout the text. Do not switch styles mid-text.
- Avoid direct quotations – rephrase the content of your sources in your own words. If you do quote directly, always use quotation marks.
- In-text citations are the most common referencing method. In some subjects, particularly theology and history, footnotes are used. Footnotes can also be used to explain concepts that appear in the text in more detail.
Reference list
At the end of your assignment, include a reference list containing all sources cited in your text, arranged in alphabetical order. Personal communications are not included in the reference list. For each source, you typically include:
- author
- year of publication
- title of the book or article
- publication details (publisher, place of publication)
- for articles: journal name, volume, issue number and page numbers
Reference list formatting varies between disciplines. Follow the guidelines of your own subject.