ABSTRACT
This chapter examines similarities and differences between research articles and various undergraduate academic writing tasks. Lab reports usually have the same division structure as research articles but lack many of the common components, particularly need and framework and their associated citations. Essays are sometimes called research reports even when the writing is secondary research, and therefore lacks components associated with the present research, including research details, testing methods, and results (although these may be summarized from other studies). Senior projects in an honors program may conduct primary research and follow a format similar to a graduate thesis, with all the common components. On the other hand, senior seminar papers may be secondary research. The audience in most cases is one professor, who sets the goals and criteria. Based on their undergraduate writing experience, graduate students may have difficulty both because of lack of experience writing certain components and, moreover, not even recognizing that they are required.
