characterization of refereed journal articles, essays and postgraduate thesis

This paper discusses the characterization of refereed journal articles, essays and theses for obtaining a graduate degree. This characterization emphasizes on the structure of each of these  three types of work, located in the category of academic production, framed in scientific- technicaldiscourse. From a methodological standpoint, this is the result of a documentary inquiry, supplemented by the authors' experience both as writers of books and articles, as referees and reviewers of articles for refereed journals, and tutors and graduate thesis jury. One of the most important conclusions arising from this analysis is the distinction to be made in the evaluation ofthese three types of written work, based on the characteristics and objectives of each one of them.