ACADEMIC TEXT - a kind of writing that can be used in academia or school.

Essay, Research
Paper, Report, Project, Article, Thesis, and Dissertation are considered as academic texts.
- It contain ideas and concepts that are related to the particular discipline.
Academic language is the language needed by students to do the work in
schools. It includes, for example, discipline-specific vocabulary, grammar and
punctuation, and applications of rhetorical conventions and devices that are typical for a
content area (e.g., essays, lab reports, discussions of a controversial issue.) Students
who master academic language are more likely to be successful in academic and
professional settings.

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 In textbooks, research papers, conferences in
spoken/written form 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 ''cool,'' Very formal and more sophisticated in its
''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 transitions,
conventions necessarily, with phrases like, ''moreover'' or ''in addition'')
like, ''you're hungry?''

Structure

The basic structure that is used by an academic text is consist of three (3) parts
introduction, body, and conclusion which is formal and logical. This kind of structure
enables the reader to follow the argument and navigate the text. In academic writing a
clear structure and a logical flow are imperative to a cohesive text.
 Tone

This refers to the attitude conveyed in a piece of writing. The arguments of others are
fairly presented and with an appropriate narrative tone. When presenting a position or
argument that disagrees with one’s perspectives, describe the argument accurately
without loaded or biased language.

Language

It is important to use unambiguous language. Clear topic sentences enable a reader to

follow your line of thinking without difficulty. Formal language and the third person point
of-view should be used. Technical language appropriate to area of study may also be
used, however, it does not mean using “big words” just for the sake of doing so.

Citation

Citing sources in the body of the paper and providing a list of references as either
footnotes or endnotes is a very important aspect of an academic text. It is essential to
always acknowledge the source of any ideas, research findings, data, or quoted text
that have been used in a paper as a defense against allegations of plagiarism.

Complexity

An academic text addresses complex issues that require higher-order thinking skills to
comprehend.

Evidence-based Arguments

What is valued in an academic text is that opinions are based on a sound

understanding of the pertinent body of knowledge and academic debates that exist
within, and often external to a specific discipline.

Thesis-driven

The starting point of an academic text is a particular perspective, idea or position

applied to the chosen research problem, such as establishing, proving, or disproving
solutions to the questions posed for the topic.

Subject — pertains to the topic of the text.

Tone — pertains to the attitude of the writer about the text. It can be distinguished through
the words used by the author.

Purpose — is information that an author wants to imply to the reader. To inform

means supplementing a lot of information about the topic. To persuade means
having the credibility to make your audience or readers believe in you. To argue
means making your readers or audience respond on the information you are telling
them.
Language — are the words used by the author in writing an academic text. Academic
writing requires formal language.
Audience —pertains to the reader in writing.
Point of View — refers to how the writer tells the information in the reading text. An
academic text is always in the third person point of view.
Style — refers to how the author arranges his or her writing.
Knowledge — is the amount of information that an author knows about his or her topic.
The reader is the one who can distinguish how much knowledge an author has in the
topic he or she is writing.
Explicit — means that the information should be precise and clear.

Features of Academic Texts:

1. Complex
- Written language has no longer words; it is lexically more varied vocabulary.
- Written texts are shorter and the language has more grammatical complexity,
including more subordinate clauses and more passives. 2. Formal
- Should avoid colloquial words and expressions.
3. Precise
- Facts are given accurately and precisely.
4. Objective
- has fewer words that emphasize on the information you want to give and the
arguments you want to make
- mostly use nouns (adjectives), rather than verbs (adverbs)
5. Explicit
- It is the responsibility of the writer in English to make it clear to the reader how the
various parts of the text are related.
6. Accurate
- Uses vocabulary accurately
- Most subjects have words with narrow specific meanings.
- 7. Hedging
- It is necessary to make decisions about your stance on a particular subject, or the
strength of the claims you are making.
8. Responsible
- You must be responsible for and must be able to provide evidence and justification
for any claims you make.
9. Organize
- Well-organized.
- It flows easily from one section to the next in a logical fashion. 10. Plan
- Well-planned.
 - It usually takes place after research and evaluation, according to specific purpose
and plan.
Purposes in Reading an Academic Text

1. To locate a main idea;

2. To scan for information;
3. To identify gaps in existing studies;
4. To connect new ideas to existing ones;
5. To gain more pieces of information;
6. To support a particular writing assignment; and,
7. To deeply understand an existing idea.

Factors to Consider in Writing Academic Text

1. State critical questions and issues;
2. Provide facts and evidence from credible sources;
3. Use precise and accurate words while avoiding jargon;
4. Take an objective point of view;
5. List references; and,
6. Use cautious language.

FORMALITY – reflects your dignified stance in writing as a member of an academic

community. You should avoid colloquial words and expressions.
-The language use requires precision to make it a legitimate piece of writing.
 Choosing expanded modal forms over contracted forms, such as CANNOT instead of
CAN’T, DO NOT instead of DON’T.
I HAVE – I’VE, COULD NOT – COULDN’T, YOU WILL – YOU’LL, IT IS – IT’S, I AM – I’M,
 Choosing one verb form over two-word verbs, such as DAMAGE instead of MESS UP.
CALCULATE – ADDED UP, PURCHASE – BOUGHT UP, CANCEL – CALL OFF, CONTINUE
– CARRY ON, DISCOVER – FIND OUT
 Choosing expanded terms over their abbreviated equivalents, such as soon as
possible instead of ASAP.
 Avoiding colloquial / idiomatic expressions, such as kind of like, as a matter of fact, sort
of.
OBJECTIVITY – the focus of the information is on the topic rather on the writer itself. Written
language should not be personal but rather in general objective.
A. Avoiding the use of personal pronouns such as you, l, my, and we.
Informal: You need to follow instructions.
Improved version: The researchers need to follow instructions.
B. Avoiding rhetorical questions because academic writing should not assume that the readers
know the answer in the statement and the author should express the information strongly and
clearly.
Poor example: How can these problems be solved?
Improved version: Certain procedures must be discovered to solve problems.
C. Avoiding emotive language that shows biases. Giving an overly favorable opinion of
someone can eliminate objectivity.
Poor example: The police investigators were shocked to see the outcome of the tests.
EXPLICITNESS – It demands the use of signposts that allow readers to trace the relationships
in the parts of the study. If you intend to show a change in your line of argument, make it clear
by using however.
Improved version: The police investigators did not expect the results.

Prepared by:
DIXTER B. PADRIQUEZ
EAPP Teacher