Week-1_Academic-Language-and-Academic-Text-Structure(1).pdf

EAPP English for Academic and Professional Purposes EAPP Defined English for Academic and Professional Purposes is a branch of ESP – English for Specific Purposes. - Teaching content is matched to the requirements of the learners. Academic Writing What is Academic Writing? Academic writing is...

EAPP English for Academic and Professional Purposes EAPP Defined English for Academic and Professional Purposes is a branch of ESP – English for Specific Purposes. - Teaching content is matched to the requirements of the learners. Academic Writing What is Academic Writing? Academic writing is what scholars do to communicate with other scholars in their fields of study, and their disciplines. What is Academic Writing? It is the research report a biologist writes, the interpretive essay a literary scholar composes, the media analysis a film scholar produces. Academic writing is a process. Posing a question Problematizing a concept Evaluating an opinion Answering the question/s posed Academic writing has a specific purpose. To inform To argue a specific point To persuade Academic writing addresses a specific audience Teacher (for the most part) Peers (read and evaluate the work) Academic community (read the work) Academic writing is thinking – we cannot just write anything that comes to our mind. Abide by the set of rules and practices in writing. Write in a language that is appropriate and formal but not too pretentious. The sentences in academic writing are often longer and more intricate than the sentences in popular magazines (Lexical density). Academic writing considers the k n o w l e d g e a n d b a c kg ro u n d o f t h e audience. Use of jargons – if the readers belong to the same field/discipline to which the writer belongs Use laymanʼs terms – if the readers are outsiders Ac a d e mi c w r i t i ng i s b a c ke d up/supported with strong and valid evidence. deliberate, thorough, and careful thought involves research  Aspect Literary Text Academic Text Tone Reflective and Serious and personal impersonal Style Symbolic and Formal and LITERARY imaginative authoritativ TEXT VS. e ACADEMIC Choice of Simple but Uses TEXT Words may be specialized figurative language of discipline  Aspect Literary Text Academic Text Organizatio Flows freely and Follows a n of Ideas spontaneously pattern of LITERARY presenting TEXT VS. ideas Purpose To show/tell To inform, to ACADEMIC unfolding of explain, to TEXT details/events argue/assert Intended Varies, Discipline- Audience depending on specific complexity of text Compare: Compare: What is Academic Text? A text that is specifically written or used by college instructors or students in a specific discipline. A kind of text expected to be semi- formal/ formal, impersonal, and objective. What are examples of academic text? Journal articles- Essays Conference Paper Reviews Theses and Dissertations What is non-academic text? A text that is considered to be personal, emotional, impressionistic, or subjective in nature. Examples are personal journal entries, memoirs, autobiographical writing, letters, e-mails and text messages.  Elements that Shape Writing Topic Purpose Authorʼs Role Audience  Understanding Calories (1) A calorie, also known as kilocalorie, is a unit of energy. This unit represents the energy required to heat a kilogram of water to a degree Celsius. While people generally link the term calorie with food, it is a unit of measurement that can be applied to any substance possessing energy. For instance, there are 8200 calories in a litter (about one quart) of gasoline. (2) Calories describe the potential energy in food to maintain bodily functions, grow or repair tissue, and perform mechanical work such as exercise. Food calories may take the form of fat, carbohydrates, or proteins. Once consumed, enzymes act on these nutrients through metabolic processes and break them into their prospective categories of fatty acids, glucose, and amino acids. These molecules travel through the bloodstream to specific cells where they are absorbed for immediate use or sent on to the final stage of metabolism where they release their stored energy through the process of oxidation. 3) The number of calories burned during an exercise depends on various factors including body weight and the type of exercise. For example, an individual weighing 59 kilograms (130 pounds) would expend roughly 500 calories per hour swimming or playing basketball. However, this same person would burn an estimated 200 walking or playing table tennis. In order to survive and maintain body weight, the average individual requires approximately 2000 to 2500 calories per day. Gaining or losing weight is a simple process. Add and subtract 7,700 calories over the course of time to gain or lose a kilogram. Nutrition has nothing to do with it. It is all about calories Activity 1 Answer the following questions. 1. What is the topic of the text? 2. What is the purpose of the text? 3. What do you think is the authorʼs role? 4. Who do you think is the target audience? Language Features in Academic Text A. Formality- use of more complex words and expressions Informal – simple; language of self- expression; language used in conversation Formal – follows accepted rules, forms and conventions of writing in particular discipline or community  Choosing expanded modal forms instead of contracted forms, such as using cannot instead of canʼt and do not instead of donʼt. Choosing one verb form over two-word verbs, such as damage instead of mess up. Choosing expanded terms over abbreviated equivalents, such as as soon as possible instead of ASAP  Avoiding colloquial/ trite/ idiomatic expressions, such as kind of like, as a matter of fact. My paper, Iʼll make it clear, talks a b o ut th e re a s o ns b e h i nd w h y students drop out of college. This paper will identify the fa c to r s b e h i n d s c h o o l attrition. B. Objectivity- impersonal and maintains a certain level of social distance
Avoiding the use of personal pronouns such as you, I and we. Poor example: You need to conduct the experiment. Improved version: The researchers need to conduct the experiment. I consulted two experts in establishing the reliability of my analysis. Two experts established the reliability of the analysis.  Avoiding rhetorical questions as it marks “closeness” with the reader, and constantly seeks his/her attention. Poor example: How can these problems be solved? Improved version: Certain measures must be discovered to solve these problems.  Avoiding emotive language that shows biases and lessens objectivity Poor example: The investigators were very shocked to see the outcomes of the tests. Improved version: The investigators did not expect the results. The people who answered the survey were very accommodating. The people who answered the survey accommodated the request. Explicitness – use of signposts that allow readers to trace the relationships in the parts of the study. TRANSITIONAL DEVICES However – to show change in line of argument In addition – to give extra information This is due to the, this resulted in – to make ideas explicit For example – giving of examples  Essays must be handed in by deadline, _______________ they will not be marked. (obviously, otherwise, as a result) ________________ it has been shown that motivation is a factor in learning, teachers should continue to provide encouragement. (Nevertheless, Because, Even though) this or these + summary word Until now, teachers have not received the learning materials for the K-12 subjects. This problem resulted in differences in how subjects should be taught. In this paper, moral identity is discussed in relation to moral schema. Based on this conception, the moral schema is used in evaluating the mental state of the person. The school decided to use English as a medium of instruction in Literature classes. This ______________ met negative reactions from the faculty. The study revealed that the scores in reading comprehension did not increase after using the approach. ________ _________ resulted in changes in certain policies in the teaching of reading. Caution/ Hedging- academic w riting requires care since knowledge is built from proven theories and concepts. Therefore, caution is needed to avoid s w eeping generalizations. All government employees are corrupt. Improved versions Corruption is commonly linked to some key government officials. (Adverb) A number of government officials tend to be linked with cases of corruption. (Verb)  When a hypothesis needs to be tested Drawing of conclusions and predictions from WHEN findings that may generalize certain matters or may not be conclusive TO USE HEDGING? Referencing othersʼ work to build on your own paper Below are some forms that may be used in observing caution in writing. Verbs indicating caution: tends, suggests, appear to be, think, believe, and indicate Example: The findings of the survey suggests that students who use social networking sites in their academic work tend to be more updated on recent developments in their respective subjects. Modal verbs: will, must, would, may, can, might and could Example The observation of studentsʼ use of social networking sites may lead to the different behaviors that manifest in real-life communication. Verbs of frequency: often, sometimes and usually Example The essays that were usually given marks were usually high. If your results show something different from another authorʼs ideas, there are possible ways in writing these points: 1. The results contradict Meyerʼs findings. 2. The results appear to be different from Meyerʼs findings  ACADEMIC TEXT STRUCTURE & THESIS STATEMENT MELC 2 Week 1 THREE-PART ESSAY  Introduction  provide the reader with a clear idea of the focus and aim of the text.  often accompanied by a thesis statement (the claim that the writer wishes to make)  provides the context/background of the argument  introduces the theoretical perspectives, terminology, etc. that will be used  explains how the writing will be organized. Body It is where the essay's (or article's) argument, ideas and results are developed and discussed.  Each piece of the text should have a purpose, and should be in a place where it best can fulfil its purpose Conclusion the last part of the essay (or article). a brief restatement of the main arguments and facts that have been treated in the essay. It might refer back to the Introduction and comment on the thesis statement or the research questions presented Performance Task 1