ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES - The starting point of an academic text is a particular perspective, idea or
*READING ACADEMIC TEXTS position applied to the chosen research problem, such as establishing, providing,
Part 1 – Academic Language used from Various Disciplines or disproving solutions to the questions posed for the topic.
Learning Objectives: Features of Academic Texts: …………………………………………………………………………………………………..
1. Differentiate language used in academic texts from various disciplines. 1. Complex
2. Determine the structure of a specific academic text. - written language has no longer words; it is lexically more varied vocabulary.
3. Explain the specific ideas contained in various academic texts. - Written texts are shorter and the language has more grammatical complexity,
4. Use knowledge of text structure to glean the information he/she needs. including more subordinate clauses and more passives.
5. Use various techniques in summarizing a variety of academic texts. 2. Formal
- Should avoid colloquial words and expressions.
Nature and Characteristics of an Academic Text ……………………………………………………………………. 3. Precise
Academic text - Facts are given accurately and precisely.
- written language that provides information which contains ideas and concepts 4. Objective
that related to a particular disciplined. - Has fewer words that emphasize on the information you want to give and the
- Essay, research paper, report, project, article, thesis and dissertation. arguments you want to make
Structure - Mostly use nouns (adjectives), rather than verbs (adverbs)
- Formal and logical basic structure of academic text (3) parts INDTRODUCTION, 5. Explicit
BODY, CONCLUSION - Make it clear to the reader how the various parts of the text are related.
Tone 6. Accurate
- Attitude conveyed in a piece of writing. - Uses vocabulary accurately
- Describe the argument accurately without loaded or biased language. - Most subjects have words with narrow specific meanings.
Language 7. Hedging
- Use unambiguous language. - Make decisions about your stance on a particular subject, or the strength of the
- Formal language and the third person point-of-view should be used. claims you are making.
- Technical language appropriate to area of study may also be used, however, it 8. Responsible
does not mean using “big words” just for the sake of doing so. - Must be able to provide evidence and justification for any claims are making.
Citation 9. Organize
- It is essential to always acknowledge the source of any ideas, research findings, - Well-organized
data, or quoted text that have been used in a paper as a defense against - It flows easily from one section to the next in a logical fashion.
allegations of plagiarism. 10. Plan
Complexity - Well-planned
- Academic text addresses complex issues that require higher-order thinking skills - It usually takes place after research and evaluation, according to specific purpose
to comprehend. and plan.
Evidence-based Arguments
- What is valued in an academic text is that options are based on a sound Purposes in Reading an Academic Text …………………………………………………………………………………..
understanding of the pertinent body of knowledge and academic debates that 1. To locate a main idea;
exist within, and often external to a specific discipline. 2. To scan for information;
Thesis-driven 3. To identify gaps in existing studies;
4. To connect new ideas to existing studies;
5. To gain more pieces of information; Characteristics of Academic Language ……………………………………………………………………………………
6. To support a particular writing assignment; and A. FORMAL
7. To deeply understand an existing idea. - It should not sound conversational or casual. Colloquial, idiomatic, slang or
journalistic expressions should particularly be avoided.
Factors to Consider in Writing Academic Text ………………………………………………………………………… Examples:
1. State critical questions and issues;
2. Provide facts and evidence from credible sources; Use… Instead…
3. Use precise and accurate words while avoiding jargon; Consider, monitor Look at
4. Take an objective point of view; Revise, review Go over
5. List references; and Solve, repair, amend Fix
6. Use cautious language.
B. OBJECTIVE
ACADEMIC LANGUAGE ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - This means it is unbiased. It should be based on facts and evidence and are not
influenced by personal feelings.
Academic language – is a language needed by students to do the work in schools.
It includes, for example, discipline-specific vocabulary, grammar and punctuation, C. IMPERSONAL
and applications of rhetorical conventions and devices that are typical for a content - This involves avoiding the personal pronouns “I” and “we”. For example, instead
are (e.g., ESSAY, LAB REPORTS, DISCUSSIONS OF A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.) of writing “I” will “show”, you might write “this report will show”. The second
person, “you”, is also to be avoided.
Social language – is the set of vocabulary that allows us to communicate with
others in the context of regular daily conversations.
Here are some of the differences between social and academic language includes:
SOCIAL LANGUAGE ACADEMIC LANGUAGE
In everyday interactions in spoken/written In textbooks, research papers, conferences
form in spoken/written form
For everyday conversation Used in school/work conversations
Used to write to friends, family, or for other Appropriate for written papers, classwork,
social purposes homework
Informal, such as words like Very formal and more sophisticated in its
“cool”, “guy”, “kidding”) expressions, such as words like
“Appropriate,” “studies,” “implementation”
Can use slang expressions Don’t use slang
Can be repetitive Uses a variety of terms
Can use phrases Uses sentences
Sentences don’t follow grammar Sentences begin with appropriate
conventions necessarily, with phrases like, transitions, like, “moreover” or “in
“you’re hungry?” addition”)
