Hedging and Voice in Writing
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What is the primary purpose of using hedging language in academic writing?

  • To express certainty in statements
  • To soften the impact of claims and present caution (correct)
  • To eliminate ambiguity in writing
  • To increase the length of the text
  • Which statement best illustrates hedging in academic language?

  • Smaller companies seem to be doing better than larger ones. (correct)
  • Physical exercise reduces the symptoms of depression.
  • Drought is the biggest danger in many developing countries.
  • Mature students do not manage their time better than younger students.
  • How can hedging impact the perception of information presented in academic writing?

  • It allows for a more nuanced understanding of the topic. (correct)
  • It makes the information appear less credible.
  • It reduces the writer's authority on the subject.
  • It encourages readers to take the claims as absolute facts.
  • Which of the following examples demonstrates a lack of hedging?

    <p>People tend to be much more aggressive when they are drunk. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be a consequence of failing to use hedging language in academic writing?

    <p>The writer may overstate their conclusions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of using hedging in academic writing?

    <p>To make claims reflect the evidence available. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following phrases is an example of hedging language?

    <p>It seems that (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sentences utilizes active voice?

    <p>The students completed the assignment. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Identify the sentence written in passive voice.

    <p>The thesis was approved by the committee. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one way to rewrite a statement to include hedging language?

    <p>It appears that students may succeed. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of hedging language?

    <p>Indicating certainty. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which hedging phrase best fits this statement: 'This method seems ____ effective'?

    <p>somewhat (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which sentence conveys a stronger certainty compared to the others?

    <p>The data suggests that success is likely. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of hedging in writing?

    <p>To convey uncertainty and caution in statements. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of claim is most appropriate for hedging?

    <p>Claims that could be argued against or interpreted differently. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which hedging technique involves making cautious statements instead of bold claims?

    <p>Employing modest phrasing in discussions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a risk associated with overusing hedging in writing?

    <p>It can make the writing appear overly uncertain. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to anticipate possible objections when writing academically?

    <p>It prepares the author for criticism and strengthens the argument. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does leaving room for other interpretations in academic writing facilitate?

    <p>Encouraging constructive dialogue and exploration of ideas. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How should strong claims be ideally presented in academic writing?

    <p>With qualifiers that emphasize the potential for error. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best reflects the relationship between hedging and critical review in academic writing?

    <p>Hedging fosters constructive criticism that advances knowledge. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of hedging language in academic writing?

    <p>To express doubt and uncertainty in a formal manner. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following examples represents the use of hedging language?

    <p>It seems that this method may work effectively. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key reason for discussing voice in academic writing?

    <p>To establish authority and credibility in the writing. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about the importance of hedging is TRUE?

    <p>Hedging shows humility and awareness of limitations. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phrase is NOT typically associated with hedging?

    <p>This is certainly true. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following verbs can be transformed into the passive voice?

    <p>The teacher explains the lesson. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentence 'The sweater is knitted by her', which part of the original active sentence has changed?

    <p>The object is now the subject. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the use of the active voice emphasize in a sentence?

    <p>The doer of the action. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sentences is an example of passive voice?

    <p>The cat was chased by the dog. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an essential condition for converting an active voice sentence to passive voice?

    <p>The verb must have a direct object. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is indicated by changing the form of the verb when discussing voice in writing?

    <p>An emphasis on the action rather than the subject. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should be done with the base verb when forming a passive voice sentence?

    <p>It must be changed to the past participle form. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the correct passive voice conversion of 'She prepares dinner'?

    <p>Dinner is prepared by her. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Under what condition is it appropriate to use passive voice?

    <p>When the performer of the action is unknown or unimportant. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sentences correctly uses a passive form?

    <p>The report is discussed at the meeting. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What error is commonly encountered when using modal verbs in active voice?

    <p>Incorrect verb conjugation in combination with modal verbs. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why should passive voice be avoided in most academic writing?

    <p>It can lead to vague writing and imprecise arguments. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How should the sentence 'Samples were collected from six municipalities in Camarines Sur by the research team' be converted to active voice?

    <p>The research team collected samples from six municipalities in Camarines Sur. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the correct auxiliary verb for the passive voice of 'The students will submit their projects'?

    <p>The projects will be submitted by the students. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sentences is an example of using the active voice correctly?

    <p>John threw the ball. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Hedging in Academic Writing

    Using cautious or tentative language in academic writing to express claims based on available evidence.

    Hedging Words/Phrases

    Words or phrases used to make claims less definitive. Examples: 'seem,' 'tend,' 'look like,' 'believe,' 'doubt'.

    Active Voice

    A sentence structure where the subject performs the action. e.g. "The cat ate the fish."

    Passive Voice

    A sentence structure where the subject receives the action. e.g., "The fish was eaten by the cat."

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    Academic Tone

    A formal tone often used in academic writing, that is objective and less judgmental.

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    Formal vs. Informal Writing

    Formal writing adopts a precise and objective tone, avoids slang, and is structured carefully. Informal writing uses a relatable tone, conversational language, and may employ slang.

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    Objective tone

    Language free from personal bias and emotions, focusing on factual information.

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    Expressing Disagreement (in academic tone)

    Expressing disagreement with a teacher's assessment in a polite, respectful, and formal way while citing specific details.

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    Hedging

    A writing technique to express uncertainty or caution, like saying, "I'm fairly confident, but I might not be completely correct."

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    Hedging Techniques

    Strategies used in academic writing to make statements cautiously instead of boldly.

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    Strong Claims

    Statements made with forceful verbs like "prove," "equals," or "establishes."

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    Softened/Hedged Claims

    Statements made with less assertive verbs, showing caution and uncertainty.

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    Academic Criticism

    Evaluating other authors' work to identify its strengths, limitations, and areas needing improvement.

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    Avoiding Over-Hedging

    Using hedging selectively, only when making bold claims that could be misconstrued or argued against.

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    Research Paper Sections

    Sections of research papers benefiting from hedging.

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    Avoiding Over-Assertion

    Using hedging to avoid confidently presenting ideas that might be met with reader opposition.

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    Hedging Words and Phrases

    Examples include "appears to," "seems to," "tend to," "possibly," and "may." They express degrees of certainty.

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    Objective Tone in Academic Writing

    Presenting ideas in a neutral and unbiased way, avoiding strong opinions and personal feelings.

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    Importance of Hedging

    Hedging improves academic writing by increasing objectivity, allowing for nuanced discussion, and avoiding claims of certainties that may not be supported by facts.

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    Voice in Academic Writing

    The way a writer expresses themself and their ideas in academic writing, which includes formal language.

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    Voice in Writing

    The way a sentence structure emphasizes the subject or action. It can be active or passive.

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    Convert to Passive Voice (Rule 1)

    Identify the subject, verb, and object in an active sentence.

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    Convert to Passive Voice (Rule 2)

    Swap the object and subject of the active sentence to create the passive sentence.

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    Convert to Passive Voice (Rule 3)

    Change the verb in the active sentence to the past participle form in the passive sentence.

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    What is Hedging?

    Using cautious language in academic writing to avoid making overly strong claims, especially when there is uncertainty or limited evidence.

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    Hedging Examples

    Words and phrases like 'may', 'seems', 'suggests', 'likely', 'it is possible that', 'could' – they soften your statements.

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    Why is Hedging Important?

    Hedging helps you avoid absolute claims, acknowledge uncertainty, and show you've considered different perspectives, building credibility in your writing.

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    Rewrite with Hedging

    Take a strong claim and rewrite it using hedging language, making it less definitive and more cautious.

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    When to Use Passive Voice

    Use passive voice when you want to emphasize the thing or person acted on, or when the performer of the action is unknown or unimportant.

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    When to Avoid Passive Voice

    Avoid passive voice when it makes your writing vague or unclear, or when you want to be more direct and forceful.

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    Pronoun Changes

    When converting active voice to passive voice, the pronoun used in the sentence often changes. For example, "She prepares dinner" becomes "The dinner is prepared by her."

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    Auxiliary Verbs

    Passive voice sentences require the use of auxiliary verbs (is/am/are/was, etc.) depending on the tense of the sentence.

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    Common Passive Voice Errors

    Avoid common errors when forming passive voice sentences, such as using incorrect tenses or including unnecessary "ing" endings.

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    Convert to Passive Voice

    Transform a sentence from active to passive voice by changing the subject and object, using appropriate auxiliary verbs, and adding a preposition like "by".

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    Study Notes

    Hedging

    • Hedging is a writing technique used in academic writing to express uncertainty or caution.
    • It's a way to make claims that accurately reflect the available evidence.
    • It helps writers sound cautious and avoid making overly assertive claims.

    Active and Passive Voice

    • Voice in writing is about emphasis.
    • Active voice emphasizes the doer or agent in the action. Example: The government promised...
    • Passive voice emphasizes the action. Example: Close monitoring of the housing market...
    • Converting between active and passive voice is a common strategy for making claims sound less certain.
    • Rule 1: Identify the subject, verb, and object in the active sentence
    • Rule 2: Interchange the subject and object in the passive voice
    • Rule 3: Change the base verb to the past participle form in the passive voice
    • Rule 4: Pronouns change in the passive voice conversion
    • Rule 5: Understand the rules for auxiliary verbs' use in passive voice

    Language Used in Hedging

    • Introductory Verbs: tend to, assume, indicate, estimate, seem to, appear to be, doubt, believe, suggest. These expressions show tentativeness when discussing potential connections.
    • Adverbs: probably, possibly, seemingly, apparently, arguably, perhaps, maybe, presumably, conceivably. These are useful for expressing varying degrees of certainty.
    • Modal Verbs: may, might, could, can, would. These demonstrate cautiousness and a nuanced understanding of the topic.
    • Adjectives: probable, possible, likely, doubtful, unlikely, uncertain. These express different degrees of certainty about a claim's level of validity.
    • Nouns: probability, possibility, likelihood, assumption, tendency, indication, estimate, evidence, trend, claim. These nouns add strength and objectivity to writing.
    • Other Phrases: It is generally agreed that, in our opinion, in our view, if true, if anything, sometimes, often, generally, commonly, frequently, approximately, somewhat, These phrases add nuances and show different emphasis on the degree of certainty.

    Criticizing Others' Work

    • Criticism is critical for academic writing and advancing knowledge.
    • Constructive Criticism: Always offer constructive feedback recognizing the contributions of other authors while pointing out areas for improvement.
    • Be precise in how you critique other authors' work.
    • Criticize fairly (don't undermine the research)
    • Acknowledge contributions even when critiquing.

    Toning Down Strong Claims

    • Strong claims often use strong verbs ("prove," "establishes," "confirms").
    • The stronger the verb, the less cautious the tone, which can be viewed as overly assertive.
    • Use softer verbs like "may," "might," or "seems to" to show tentativeness and nuance.

    Why and When to Hedge

    • Writers hedge to express uncertainty or caution.
    • This helps them avoid overly strong claims.
    • Hedging helps writers anticipate reader's opposition and avoid sounding overly assertive.

    Risks of Over-Hedging

    • Over hedging can lead to weak writing.
    • Use hedging only when you are making bold claims which might be perceived differently or as arguable by the reader
    • Be careful not to use hedging after a strong claim.

    Example Sentence Changes (and Their Effect on Tone)

    • Example of an unhedged claim: The findings clearly demonstrate…
    • Example of a hedged claim: The findings suggest that…

    When To Use Passive Voice

    • Emphasize the thing or person acted on.
    • The performer is unknown or unimportant.
    • Use sparingly

    When To Avoid Passive Voice

    • More clarity and directness.
    • Avoid vague arguments and imprecise information.
    • Excessive use makes writing sound “wordy” and hard to read.

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    APPL111 Hedging and Voice - PDF

    Description

    This quiz explores the concepts of hedging and the difference between active and passive voice in academic writing. It covers techniques to express uncertainty and methods for converting between voices to adjust the emphasis in your writing. Test your understanding of these key writing strategies!

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