Laguna College of Business and Arts Academic Writing Guide PDF

1. What is the easiest writing assignment you have done so far? 2. How about the most difficult writing assignment you have done? 3. Based on your answers, what do you think is the academic writing and its differences from other kinds of writing? Academic Language Used for Various Discipline Objec...

1. What is the easiest writing assignment you have done so far? 2. How about the most difficult writing assignment you have done? 3. Based on your answers, what do you think is the academic writing and its differences from other kinds of writing? Academic Language Used for Various Discipline Objectives: Determine the language used in academic texts 01 from various discipline; Differentiate the language used in academic texts 02 from various discipline;and Evaluate the language used in the academic texts 03 from various disciplines. Academic Text Is a written language that provides information that contain ideas and concepts that are related to the particular discipline. Examples: Essay, research paper report, Project, Article, Thesis and Dissertations 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. 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. It disagrees with one’s perspectives, describes 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. 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. Complexity An academic text addresses complex issues that require higher-order-thinking skills to comprehend. Evidence-based Arguments Opinions are based on a sound understanding of the pertinent body of knowledge and academic debates that exists 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, approving or disapproving solutions to the questions posed for the topic. Features of an 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 complexity, including more subordinate clauses and more passives. Features of an Academic Texts 2. Formal Should avoid colloquial words and expressions. Features of an Academic Texts 3. Precise Facts are given accurately and precisely. Features of an Academic Texts 4. Objective -It has fewer words to emphasize on the information you want to give and the arguments you want to make. - Mostly used nouns (adjectives), rather than verbs (adverbs) Features of an Academic Texts 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. Features of an Academic Texts 6. Accurate -Uses vocabulary accurately. -Most subjects have words with narrow specific meanings. Features of an Academic Texts 7. Hedging -It is necessary to make decisions about your stance on a particular subject, or the strength of the claims you are making. Features of an Academic Texts 8. Responsible -You must be responsible for and must be able to provide evidence and justification for any claims you make. Features of an Academic Texts 9. Organize -Well organized. -It flows easily from one section to the next in a logical fashion. 10. Plan -Well-planned. -It takes place after research and evaluation, according to specific purpose and plan.  Purposes in Reading an Academic Text 1. To locate the 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 Academic Language This is the language needed by the students to do work in schools. Social Language This is the set of vocabulary that allows us to communicate with others in the context of regular daily conversations. Characteristics of Academic Language A. Formal It should not sound conversational or casual. Colloquial, idiomatic, slang or journalistic expressions should particularly be avoided. Examples: Use… Instead… Consider, monitor Look at Revise, review Go over Solve, repair, amend Fix Characteristics of Academic Language B. Objective This means it is unbiased. It should be based on facts and evidence and are not influenced by personal feelings. Characteristics of Academic C. Language Impersonal This involves avoiding the personal pronouns “I” and “We”. Let’s Try! Criteria: Characteristics of Academic Language A B Does the text use a formal language (Yes/No) Is the language impersonal (Yes/No) Are the choice of words appropriate for an academic text? (Yes/No) Does the text use technical terms? Is the academic text objective? Let’s find out! Compare the characteristics of academic texts from non-academic texts. Non- Academic Academic Text Text  Quiz Time!