Writing in the Disciplines

Welcome to Writing in the Disciplines!

A representation of different writing disciplines.The teaching of writing in colleges and universities tends to focus on academic essays and research papers. Writing in the disciplines, on the other hand, refers to writing assignments tailored to the genres of a specific discipline or field. For instance, a science course might require students to write a lab report, while a sociology course might assign a case study.

Writing in the disciplines overlaps with modes of writing that are used in the workplace. For instance, a nursing course might have students practice writing a care plan or SOAP notes in preparation for clinical work, while an economics course might assign a business report or market analysis. In both cases, students are learning to write genres that are relevant to real-world industries and careers.

Writing in the disciplines is an effective way to embed the teaching of writing within the genres and conventions of a specific discipline or career. It helps make writing assignments more meaningful by connecting them to real-world situations. It also helps improve career readiness by aligning writing instruction with the types of writing that students will be expected to produce in the workforce.

Click below to access a Writing in the Disciplines subject area:

This section of the OWL is under development. We are working on adding additional disciplines to this section and will have a more complete WID menu for you soon.

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