LESSON-1-Fundamentals-of-Reading-Academic-Text.pdf

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION POLYTECHNIC Sta. Maria, Bulacan, Philippines, Inc. Marian Road, Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Bulacan Week 1 LESSON 1: Fundamentals of Reading Academic Texts What Is Academic Text? An academic text...

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION POLYTECHNIC Sta. Maria, Bulacan, Philippines, Inc. Marian Road, Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Bulacan Week 1 LESSON 1: Fundamentals of Reading Academic Texts What Is Academic Text? An academic text is a formal written work that develops specific topics or deepens understanding in an academic field. It is produced through intellectual processes and is characterized by its formal nature and exclusive use within academic spaces. Academic texts adhere to specific writing conventions and are used to contribute to the existing body of knowledge in a particular field. They are essential for intellectual discourse and the advancement of knowledge. A. Key Features of an Academic Text Academic texts have several key characteristics that distinguish them from other types of writing. Here are the main characteristics of an academic text: 1. Purpose: The main purpose of an academic text is to disseminate knowledge in a formal manner. It aims to communicate and offer knowledge while creating spaces for discussion and exchange of ideas on the subject it deals with. 2. Authorship: Academic texts are typically written by students, researchers, or professors who have expertise in a specific field of knowledge. 3. Consultation of Sources: Academic texts rely on a variety of sources to support their content. Authors consult multiple academic and reliable sources to ensure the accuracy and credibility of their writing. 4. Rigorous Structure: Academic texts follow a structured and organized approach. They have a clear and logical organization of ideas, supported by evidence and references. The structure ensures that the information is presented in a coherent and understandable manner. 5. Intertextuality: Academic texts engage in dialogue with other texts and authors. They refer to and build upon existing research and ideas to support their arguments and conclusions. Intertextuality is an important aspect of academic writing. 6. Search for Persuasion: Academic texts aim to persuade the reader about the validity of the information presented. They provide evidence, logical analysis, and well-supported arguments to convince the reader of the results and contributions of the research. 7. Variety of Resources: Academic texts can incorporate various resources to enhance their content. These resources may include comparisons, definitions, examples, citations, analogies, and rhetorical questions, among others.  IMMACULATE CONCEPTION POLYTECHNIC Sta. Maria, Bulacan, Philippines, Inc. Marian Road, Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Bulacan In summary, academic texts have a formal and structured nature, with the purpose of disseminating knowledge and engaging in scholarly discourse. They rely on a variety of sources, follow a rigorous structure, and aim to persuade the reader through well-supported arguments and evidence. B. Structure of the academic text The structure of academic texts depends not only on the logical development of a topic but also on conventions within disciplines. Every type of academic text consists of an: Introduction – Main (central) part – Conclusion. Depending on the specific genre the main part can consist of various parts. Project reports of engineers often follow the structure of a research article based on the IMRAD- model (introduction-methods-results and discussion): Academic writing requires a certain amount of structure. The reader can follow the argument and navigate the text more easily if the material is well-structured. The three-part essay format and the IMRaD structure are two frequent academic text structures that you should learn, depending on the type of project you're working on. C. Academic Text Vs. Non-academic Text Characteristics of Academic Texts Academic texts are characterized by being formal, objective, and carefully researched and argued. They are intended for the scholarly and research community and are typically found in scholarly journals, research papers, theses, and reports. Academic texts aim to inform readers through a logical flow of ideas without digression. They exhibit complexity, formality, objectivity, precision of language, and clear organization Characteristics of Non-Academic Texts On the other hand, non-academic texts are informal, personal, and subjective. They are intended for the general public and can be written by anyone. Non-academic texts include newspaper articles, blog posts, personal essays, literature, poetry, scripts, and more. They are often emotional, personal, and lack the formal and objective tone of academic texts Academic Text Vs. Non-academic Text Attribute Academic Text Non-academic Text Language Formal and technical Informal and conversational Purpose Convey knowledge and research Entertain, persuade, or inform Audience Academic community General public Introduction, literature review, Structure Introduction, body, conclusion methodology, results, conclusion Extensive use of citations and May or may not include Citations references citations Tone Objective and neutral Subjective and expressive  IMMACULATE CONCEPTION POLYTECHNIC Sta. Maria, Bulacan, Philippines, Inc. Marian Road, Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Bulacan Varies depending on the Complexity Highly specialized and technical subject matter Written by various authors, Authorship Written by experts in the field including professionals and amateurs The key difference between academic and non-academic texts lies in their intended audience and tone. Academic texts are formal, objective, and intended for the scholarly and research community, while non-academic texts are informal, personal, and intended for the general public In summary, academic texts are formal, objective, and intended for scholarly and research purposes, while non-academic texts are informal, personal, and intended for the general public. Types of academic writing Academics mostly write texts intended for publication, such as journal articles, reports, books, and chapters in edited collections. For students, the most common types of academic writing assignments are listed below. D. Critical Reading Strategies Critical reading involves presenting a reasoned argument that evaluates and analyses what you have read. Being critical, therefore - in an academic sense - means advancing your understanding, not dismissing and therefore closing off learning. Critical reading goes further than just being satisfied with what a text says, it also involves reflecting on what the text describes, and analyzing what the text actually means, in the context of your studies.  IMMACULATE CONCEPTION POLYTECHNIC Sta. Maria, Bulacan, Philippines, Inc. Marian Road, Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Bulacan A. BDA- Before, During, After ❖ Before Reading Determine which type of academic text you are reading. Determine and establish your purpose for reading. Identify the author’s purpose for writing. Predict or infer the main idea or argument of the text based on its title. ❖ During Reading Annotate important parts of the texts.- Annotating a text can help you determine essential ideas or information, main ideas or arguments, and new information or ideas. ❖ After Reading Reflect on what you learned. React to some parts of the text through writing. As a critical reader, you should reflect on: What the text says: after critically reading a piece you should be able to take notes, and paraphrase - in your own words - the key points. What the text describes: you should be confident that you have understood the text sufficiently to be able to use your own examples and compare and contrast with other writing on the subject in hand. Interpretation of the text: this means that you should be able to fully analyze the text and state a meaning for the text as a whole. Critical reading means being able to reflect on what a text says, what it describes, and what it means by scrutinizing the style and structure of the writing, the language used as well as the content. Critical Thinking is an Extension of Critical Reading Thinking critically, in the academic sense, involves being open-minded - using judgment and discipline to process what you are learning about without letting your personal bias or opinion detract from the arguments. Critical thinking involves being rational and aware of your own feelings on the subject – being able to reorganize your thoughts, prior knowledge, and understanding to accommodate new ideas or viewpoints. B. SQ3R is a well-known strategy for reading. SQ3R can be applied to a whole range of reading purposes as it is flexible and takes into account the need to change reading speeds. SQ3R is an acronym and stands for: Survey, Question, Read, Recall, Review 1) Survey This relates to speed-reading, scanning, and skimming the text. At this initial stage, you will be attempting to get the general gist of the material in question. 2) Question It is important that, before you begin to read, you have a question or set of questions that will guide you - why am I reading this? When you have a purpose for your reading you want to learn and retain certain information. Having questions changes reading from a passive to an active pursuit. Examples of possible questions include:  IMMACULATE CONCEPTION POLYTECHNIC Sta. Maria, Bulacan, Philippines, Inc. Marian Road, Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Bulacan ▪ What do I already know about this subject? ▪ How does this chapter relate to the assignment question? ▪ How can I relate what I read to my own experiences? 3) Read Now you will be ready for the main activity of reading. This involves careful consideration of the meaning of what the author is trying to convey and involves being critical as well as active. 4) Recall Regardless of how interesting an article or chapter is, unless you make a concerted effort to recall what you have just read, you will forget a lot of the important points. Recalling from time to time allows you to focus on the main points – which in turn aids concentration. Recalling gives you the chance to think about and assimilate what you have just read, keeping you active. A significant element of being active is to write down, in your own words, the key points. 5) Review The final step is to review the material that you have recalled in your notes. Did you understand the main principles of the argument? Did you identify all the main points? Are there any gaps? Do not take for granted that you have recalled everything you need correctly – review the text again to make sure and clarify. C. The KWL Method KWL, an acronym for Know, Want-to-know, and Learned, is an effective way to read with purpose. KWL is easy to apply and can lead to significant improvement in your ability to learn efficiently and to retain what you have learned. The active steps follow the acronym KWL and are generally organized in the form of a three- column chart: Activity 1: Hide and Seek! Direction: Identify the following and write your answer in a UPPER CASE to the provided spaces. ______1. A formal written work that develops specific topics or deepens understanding in an academic field. ______2. An informal, personal, and subjective text. They are intended for the general public and can be written by anyone. ______3. What kind of reading strategy uses a table with three columns wherein you need to write what you know, what you want to know, and what you have learned after reading the text? ______4. A critical reading strategy that allows you to survey, question, read, recall, and review based on your reading. ______5. Academic text structure that follows this structure introduction-methods-results and discussion.  IMMACULATE CONCEPTION POLYTECHNIC Sta. Maria, Bulacan, Philippines, Inc. Marian Road, Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Bulacan References: Academic Texts vs. Non-Academic Texts - What’s the Difference? | This vs. That. (n.d.). This Vs. That. https://thisvsthat.io/academic-texts-vs-non-academic-texts Copyright skillsyouneed.com 2011-2024. (n.d.). Critical Reading & Reading Strategies | SkillsYouNeed. https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/critical-reading.htm Dietrichs, I. (2018, September 10). Structure of academic texts. Pressbooks. https://ebooks.hslu.ch/academicwriting/chapter/3-5-structure-of-academic-texts/ Kramer, L. (2022, June 2). Essay structure: The 3 main parts of an essay | Grammarly blog. Essay Structure: The 3 Main Parts of an Essay | Grammarly Blog. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/essay- structure/?msockid=0d5ef1765cdf60303758e5cc5d42617a The difference between academic text and non-academic text. (n.d.). www.differencebetween.com. https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between- academic-text-and-non-academic-text/ Typesofartstyles, & Typesofartstyles. (2021, May 21). Academic text: what it is, main features, structure, types and more. Types of Art Styles. https://typesofartstyles.com/academic-text/ Reading Strategies: The KWL Method - Academic Success Center. (n.d.). https://asc.tamu.edu/study-learning-handouts/reading-strategies-the-kwl-method Prepared by: Mr. Mario R. Lazaro