Understanding Types of Academic Writing and the Arguments They Make Part I
A guide and some further reading
One of the things they should tell you in graduate school, but rarely do, is that every piece of writing, whether a seminar paper or a cover letter, is expected to make a specific argument. Each type of document has its own unique purpose and expectations for what type of argument should be made. It’s about knowing what the that document requires and focusing on making the best argument you can for that specific context.
In this newsletter and the next, I’m offering a brief guide to understanding what kinds of arguments each type of academic writing is asking you to make. Today features journal articles, seminar papers, conference papers, and books. Thursday’s post will add to this list.
Journal Articles: Adding Nuance to the Scholarly Conversation
Let us start with journal articles, which are regarded in many fields as one of the most important types of academic writing. When you’re writing a journal article, you’re expected to bring something nuanced or novel to the conversation (although sometimes new authors think they need to dramatically alter the field rather than simply push the conversation along).
You’re not just summarizing or recontextualizing existing ideas—you’re building on them, adding depth, and pushing the conversation forward. This could mean introducing a fresh perspective, offering a slightly nuanced interpretation, or refining a theory. It’s a bit like joining a discussion at a conference and offering your own well-thought-out contribution that makes everyone else sit up and think, Oh, I hadn’t thought of it that way!
Journal articles are about making a meaningful contribution to your field. Readers are looking for insight, nuance, and original thinking. Yes, that feels like a lot of pressure, but the next couple of genres of academic writing help you get there.
Seminar Papers: Engaging with Theories and Finding Your Own Voice
Seminar papers are typically written as part of your coursework, and the good news is that they don’t need to be as polished or groundbreaking as a journal article. This is your space to demonstrate your understanding of the themes, debates, and theories covered in class, as well as to begin experimenting with your own ideas. It is like a stepping stone—an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge while also becoming comfortable with adding your own voice to the mix.
Focus on showing that you’ve got a handle on the material and take a small step toward contributing your own insights. Think of it as practice for the more advanced work you’ll do later.
Conference Papers: Testing Ideas and Engaging in Dialogue
Conference papers are where you get to test out your ideas in front of a live audience. The argument you are making here does not have to be perfect—it is more about opening up your ideas for feedback and discussion. Conference papers are brief and concise. This means you won’t have a lot of room for long explanations or storytelling, but you will have the chance to share your core argument in a concise way.
A conference paper is a "trial run" for a bigger argument. Don’t stress about making it perfect—use this as an opportunity to explore ideas and get valuable feedback. It’s all part of the learning process!
Books: Expanding the Conversation with Room to Breathe
Books are a completely different ballgame because they allow you to delve deeply into the phenomenon you are researching and construct an argument that is supported from multiple angles or cases. Here, you can take your time, investigate sub-arguments, and even use storytelling and elaboration. You are still making a compelling argument, but you have the luxury of more space to flesh out your ideas and allow readers to engage with your work over time.
Writing a book entails making a large, ambitious argument. This is your opportunity to demonstrate the breadth of your thinking and take your readers on a journey through your research that will be far more engaging to read than some of the other genres on this list.
Stay Tuned!
Thursday’s post will add a few other genres to the list!
Jenn, thank you for this breakdown! As someone who is going through a period of needing to produce a lot of writing and trying to figure out how to make the arguments and in which form, this is incredibly helpful. I don’t know why this type of information is so hidden in academia - it is one of those things that perpetuates power dynamics and makes students feel like they are missing something. Thanks again.