English for Academic and Professional Purposes

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 1 – EAPP Subject Teacher:

READING STRATEGIES

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, the student will be able to:

a. Understand academic texts and their relevance;
b. determine the writer’s purpose, tone, and intended audience;
c. identify the characteristics of persuasive, informative, expressive and entertaining
texts; and
d. analyze the literal and implied meaning of academic texts.

To become a critical, analytical, and expert reader, it is salient to identify the purpose and
intended audience of an author before evaluating the material any further. There are four
general types of purposes an author has when writing: to persuade, to inform, to express and to
entertain.

1. TO PERSUADE
The author’s main goal is to convince you. An author may use factual
information as tools to persuade the reader, but the main goal is to really
persuade and not just to inform the reader.
There are two main goals in convincing a person. These are:
a.) to make you change your mind on something; or
b.) to make you do a certain action.

Example:

Let’s consider an article that talks about the importance of having proper
nutrition to prevent illness. This article may convince you to stop eating
junk food and change your eating habits into a healthy one. This article is
then successful in persuading you because you took actions to change
your lifestyle.

On the other hand, let’s take a look at an article that talks about a
nutritionist who advocates the increased intake of calcium for weight loss.
The nutritionist suggested that you drink milk high in calcium and eat lots
of yogurt, so you’ll lose weight. You are however, lacrosse intolerant and
 English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 1 – EAPP Subject Teacher:

not a big fan of yogurt. You were convinced by the testimonies of her
client that nutritionist may be right, but you cannot follow her suggestions
because of personal preferences or limitations.

2. TO INFORM
Informative texts, unlike persuasive texts, aim to give information only,
but not necessarily to convince the reader to believe or to do something.

Writing informative texts requires a lot research. The author must check
if the sources of the information are valid and reliable. Authors of informative
texts must take extra caution when writing facts if they want to build their
credibility and trustworthiness. A single mistake in the text can lead to the
end of the author’s career. The author must also compare sources and cite
them properly to avoid plagiarism and conflict with other authors or sources.

Example:

On July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 spacecraft launched from the Kennedy Space
Center in Florida. Its mission was to go where no human being had gone
before—the moon! The crew consisted of Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and
Buzz Aldrin. The spacecraft landed on the moon in the Sea of Tranquility, a
basaltic flood plain, on July 20, 1969. The moonwalk took place the following
day. On July 21, 1969, at precisely 10:56 EDT, Commander Neil Armstrong
emerged from the Lunar Module and took his famous first step onto the
moon’s surface. He declared, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap
for mankind.” It was a monumental moment in human history!

3. TO EXPRESS
These are texts that are more creative in nature, and the goal of the
author could be to engage the reader’s emotions. Expressive texts may have
more opinions than facts.
One less-known form of an expressive text is satire. It is a form of
writing that uses humor to scorn and/or expose follies of a person, an
organization, or politics in government.

Example:

THE STATE OF being sawi does not diminish a person’s worth; if anything, it
only enhances his stature in the eyes of others. Our heroes, thus, could
easily be the guys who failed to realize their loves - not just the victors.
Similarly, the underdog-ness of the Filipino makes his achievements all the
more remarkable, like the security guard who becomes a cum laude graduate
in the very school where he goes on duty; the tricycle driver’s son who tops
 English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 1 – EAPP Subject Teacher:

the medical board exams, or the lover who manages to win over his beloved
not because of his wealth or physical superiority - but because of his love
itself: its passion, its ingenuity, and its capacity to transcend even its
perceived limits.

I would like to think that the same is true with our nation. We carry on: a
people full of hope, made richer - not poorer - by the tragedies and
disappointments we've faced and the handicaps we’ve had to deal with.
Through kundiman lyrics past and ‘hugot lines’ present, our emotions have
been transmuted into humor and sublimated to art. Undeterred by our
failings, we continue; unencumbered by the weight of our feelings, we press
on. But even as we move on, we keep holding on to the memory of a past
that may yet return in the future - and to the hope of a future that we can
almost experience, even as it never seems to arrive.

4. TO ENTERTAIN
Academic writing that seeks to entertain may take the form of creative
nonfiction whose intent─ in addition to telling a story─ would be to state a
narrative in an academic way. Writing in this form uses the conventions of
formal writing while writing about personal experience.
There’s no actual formula for what makes a speech fun to listen to, but
there are some guidelines that can help.
• Stay on topic: The more specific and focused your message is, the
better. If you’re showing pictures of children in Africa or talking about
how hard it is living with a disability, then be sure not to stray from these
topics.
• Stay simple: Sometimes, things are better left unsaid. Get to the point
and say what you need to say succinctly without any filler content.
• Be brief: If your speech is more than about five minutes, then it has too
much filler content. Keep it short, concise, and funny!

Author’s

A reader can tell to whom the text is written based on different factors such
as vocabulary words used, the length of sentences, the nature of the topic, and the
way the topic is presented. The younger the audience, the shorter the texts and the
simpler the vocabulary words. The older the audience, the longer the texts and the
more complicated the vocabulary words. Usually, a text written for public
consumption, such as newspaper article, has a general audience in mind.

Some considerations in assessing a text for its intended audience:

1. Ask about the gender for whom the text is written. Some texts are
gender sensitive- the author’s main goal is to reach specific gender.
 English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 1 – EAPP Subject Teacher:

• For example, there are blog articles written most especially for
women and their empowerment.
• There are also online articles for males encouraging them to
“man up” and live responsible lives especially in the areas of
finance, career, family, etc. Then there are also articles written
most especially for the gay community that discuss their rights
and issues.

Example:

A woman’s travel impressions are definitely different from

that of a man. They see things differently and help contribute
to the writing of her-story rather than the dominant his-tory.

2. Other aspects of audience classification can also be by age level. Some texts are
written for young children, some for teenagers, and some for adults. In the
academe, textbooks are classified according to the grade level.

3. Some published materials also cater to those practicing specific professions. For
example, academic journals cater to a specific discipline. There are journals or
magazines for those in the hospitality industry (hotels, restaurants, travel
agencies) for communication specialists, for businessmen, for politicians, for
academicians, for scientists, and so on.

Tone is the author’s attitude toward the topic or issue. The reader can tell whether the
author has a positive, negative, or neutral point of view at a certain things or issue.
The writer’s tone may also be formal, casual, or sarcastic.

1. FORMAL
The tone used by the writer complements the subject and purpose for
which it is written. This tone is used in academic writing to distinguish it from
informal types of writing that uses colloquial or slang expressions, such as blogs,
personal letters, or essays.

2. CASUAL
A more casual tone may be used by the writer for non-academic
topics. Because this tone is more conversational, it is more favored by readers
who prefer a casual and a more intimate approach.
 English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 1 – EAPP Subject Teacher:

3. SARCASTIC
In cases when the writer is expressing dissatisfaction over certain issues,
he or she may use sarcastic tone. Sarcasm is sometimes used to lighten the
impact of what could have been a harsh statement. On the contrary, it may
also be used to heighten the impact of a statement.

Example:
Engineer Bautista was awed at the project proposal Remy presented. He agreed to look at
the budget and make necessary cost-cutting measures to accommodate the new process that has
been suggested. Rod, the budget secretary, however, refused to make adjustments on the original
figures. He insisted that the proposed project will not give the company a good return in the long
run.
Try to answer the following:
1. What words convey a positive undertone?
2. What words relay a negative tone?
3. What words are neutral?

You should be able to find at least three positive words, three negative words, and two neutral
words in the paragraph.

IV. Determining the Relevance of the Text

All texts have something to teach you, but some are more valuable than others in
terms of the information and relevance they offer. Academic texts need to be evaluated on
the basis of their content, quality of writing and appropriateness to your needs. Most
readers read through an academic text, assessing its relevance through the abstract.

As an intelligent reader, you need to determine the worth of what you’re reading so
as not to waste your time on materials that have little value to you.

A. ANALYZING KEY INFORMATION

To assess how well you understood the text, you might wish to use the
reading strategy called SQRRRR.
The following chart lists the activities pertaining to each task:
SURVEY Browse through the article (inspect the tables and key
information).
“Feel” the text.
Preview the material by looking at the chapter and section
titles, highlighted words, and summaries.
QUESTION For each section, try to formulate a question that you think the text
will answer.
Annotate the margins.
 English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 1 – EAPP Subject Teacher:

READ Actively read the material to find answers to your questions.
Look for main ideas and supporting details.
Be mentally engaged with what you’re reading.
RECITE Recall important details and try to answer the questions you have
raised. You can say it aloud or write it down.
Summarize important details based on what you remember.
RELATE Consider how the information fits in with what you already
know.
REVIEW Try to answer those questions that you failed to answer correctly.
Evaluate what you have learned.

B. LITERAL MEANING
A text consists of layers of meaning, and as a reader you need to
determine its meaning beyond what is stated in the title. A text’s literal
meaning is what is stated directly by the writer. It is the surface meaning of the
text, what you see as what you read through the text.

C. IMPLIED MEANING
A text is said to have an implied meaning when what is directly stated is
not it’s real meaning. This kind of meaning can only be arrived at after
analyzing hidden or implied meaning of the text. Because it is more perplexing
kind, implied meaning has to be drawn from the layers of meaning hidden in
subtle language.
 English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 1 – EAPP Subject Teacher:

Barrot, J.S. (2016). Communication today: English for academic and professional
Purposes for senior high school. Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Co. ISBN: 978-971-
98-0455-0

Billanes, L.R. & Sipacio, P.J. F. (2019). English for Academic and Professional Purposes
(1st Ed.). Quezon City: TechFactors Inc. ISBN 978-621-425-030-1

Paragraph Examples. (n.d). Retrieved from

https://patternbasedwriting.com/elementary_writing_success/paragraph-
examples/

Saaqueton, G. & Uychoco, M. (2016). English for academic and professional

Purposes. Manila: Rex Book Store. ISBN 978-971-23-7831-7

Mondez, R. (2016). Senior High School Series: English for academic and
professional Purposes. Makati City: Diwa Learning Systems INC.