MODULE 7: COMMUNICATION FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES

LESSON 1: WRITING ACADEMIC PAPER

Learning Outcome:

write and present academic papers using appropriate tone, style, conventions and reference
styles

LET’S BEGIN…

ACADEMIC WRITING

Academic writing is clear, concise, focused and backed up by evidence. Its purpose is to
aid the reader’s understanding.

It is formal by avoiding casual or conversational language, such as contractions or

informal vocabulary.

It is impersonal and objective by avoiding direct reference to people or feelings, and

instead emphasizing objects, facts and ideas. It is technical by using vocabulary specific to the
discipline.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ACADEMIC WRITING

1. Planned and focused: answer the question and demonstrates an understanding of the
subject.
2. Structured: is coherent, written in logical order, and brings together related points and
material.
3. Evidenced: demonstrates knowledge of the subject area, supports opinions and
arguments with evidence, and is referenced accurately.
4. Formal in tone and style: uses appropriate language and tenses, and is clear, concise
and balanced.

Things to be avoided in academic writing

1. Addressing readers especially by using second person pronouns.

2. Contractions
3. Questions (unless in the statement of the problem of a research paper)
4. Exclamations
5. Run on expressions
6. Coordinating conjunctions at the beginning of sentences
 7. Passive voice (unless the agent of the action is unimportant)
8.
MOST COMMON EXAMPLES OF ACADEMIC WRITING

1. PERSONAL REFLECTIVE ESSAY: The personal reflective essay presents your insights
on a particular aspect of life as you have observed and experienced. It can include vivid
description of what you have witnessed and gone through.

Fig. 1 Gibb’s Reflective Cycle

PARTS OF REFLECTIVE ESSAY

•shortest; usually only one paragraph that establishes

the frame of your personal reflection in a clear and
Introduction concise manner.
•often achieved using reflective statements
•pointed sentences that describe the key ideas

•where you can be more creative with your

space and structure
Body •it is where descriptive langauge must used to
differentiate between simply retelling of key
events ans a rich narrative that exhibits true
personal reflection.

•typically another single paragraph where

restating the reflective statements in the
introduction must be avoided.
•it is where you can remind your reader of the
Conclusion links between your experiences and the impacts
of these experiences have had on on your
development in the areas targerted, whether you
are focusing on growth academically,
professionally or otherwise.

STEPS IN WRITING

1. Prewriting – in this stage, you plan what you are going to write. You choose your topic,
identify your audience and purpose, brainstorm ideas, and organize your information.

2. Drafting – in this stage, you start with a working thesis and then write your ideas in
sentences and paragraphs. You follow your prewriting plan to create a first draft of your essay.

3. Revising – This stage involves making changes that will improve your writing. You focus on
large-scale elements of the essay, such as, overall organization or logical flow of support,
effective thesis statement, interesting introduction and concluding paragraphs, well-developed
body paragraphs with clear topic sentences, appropriate tone and style for intended audience
and purpose, etc.

4. Editing and Proofreading – this is the stage of your essay where you polish your essay.
You focus on smaller-scale yet important essay elements, such as, clarity in sentence structure,
appropriate word choice, correct spelling and grammar, and accurate document format.

5. Publishing – in this final stage, you choose a way to present your work to an audience
(often this is indicated by your instructor).
https://library.defiance.edu/writingprocess/writingprocess

TIPS IN WRITING

1. Consider your purpose and your context

2. Consider your audience and your mode and medium in choosing the level of language you
will use.
3. Consider your purpose, your audience, your stance and your tone.

Author: (Anonymous)

As an English major I have learned to appreciate the peaceful, yet exhilarating moment when my
mind engages with an author's thoughts on a page. As Toni Morrison says in The Dancing Mind ,
"[reading is] to experience one's own mind dancing with another's." In my early days as a college
student, I wanted to know the "true" meaning of a work or what the author intended, however, I
have now realized this would void literature of its most noteworthy complexities. Individual
interpretations bring varied insights to a work and it is also interesting to point out messages the
author may not have realized s/he included in the piece.

I have always been a thinker, but throughout my coursework, I have greatly sharpened my
critical analysis skills. Instead of focusing on proposed meanings or biographical background, I
have learned to continuously ask "why" on many different levels. I challenge myself to dig into a
text as deeply as possible and unpack every detail to develop a satisfying close read. Also, by
reading multiple novels by the same author I have learned to identify different writing styles and
make connections that weave texts together; this helped me develop a deeper understanding of
the novels. When I look at one of my freshman level novels and see clean pages, I realize that I
did not actively read the book. I guess you could say that I have learned to read with a pen,
which has drastically taken my writing to a new level because I am able to connect back with my
initial insights marked on the page.

Writing had always been one of my strengths, but it was challenging to take that initial step past
the high school, five-paragraph essay form that constricted my ideas for so long. Moving past this
form, however, has greatly opened my mind. My thoughts are now able to be more complex
because I have learned how to sustain a logical argument in an organized manner. My writing
has become increasingly more concise and I no longer have room for added "fluff" or "padding."
Another improvement is my ability to point out multiple complexities within a text, instead of
sticking to one-sided arguments in my papers. Furthermore, learning how to find peer reviewed
journal articles and order books through interlibrary loan has significantly widened the scope of
my research, which has led to more scholarly papers with credible references. My writing is so
much more interesting than it used to be.

It is difficult to identify gaps in my knowledge as an English major, only because I feel like I have
learned so much. I feel that I have largely expanded my literary analysis and writing skills, but I
need to be prepared to teach high school students their required literature. I think it would be
useful to identify commonly taught novels in our local high schools and study them myself. By
studying the required literature and thinking about how to teach it, I will have a sturdy foundation to
work from once I am in the classroom.
https://english.csuci.edu/program/sample-essay-example-2.htm

2. INFORMATIVE ESSAY: It is written to provide information on topics that are not known
to a vast majority of readers. You are expected to do some research since you need to
give facts and evidence on your chosen topic. Your end goal is to make sure your reader
will understand your topic better. Your readers will expect up-to-date information, as well
as explanations of complex terms.

It provides
concrete and
purposeful
information.

It uses
It may explains a different
process, analyse
causes and effects. rhetorical
patterns.
features of
Informative
Essay

define unique
terminologies,
It defines
or compare
complex terms
and contrast
and ideas.
certain
subjects.
Some examples of informative essay Some possible titles for inspiration:
topics:

World poverty How to Donate Blood

History of women's right to vote A Brief History of Ireland

Dream interpretation Understanding the Link Between

Recycling How to Buy a House

Air pollution The Health Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

Procrastination and its effects The Importance of Regular Daily Exercise

How to open a bank account Top Three Causes of Global Warming

Study the given example below:

"How to Travel Solo Successfully"

James Baldwin said it best. "I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered
myself" (Baldwin, 2014). Solo travel will not only reveal colorful new heights, it will
also introduce you to yourself - your resiliency, your sense of adventure, your
independence. Learning how to travel solo is as intrinsic as tying your shoes, and it
is something that can be learned today.

The first, most obvious, way to travel solo successfully is to research your area. The
number one indicator of a tourist is someone stopped in the middle of the sidewalk
scanning the GPS on their phone. According to World Travel News Report, four in
fifteen tourists will be pickpocketed if they stand still on a busy street (Parker, 2019).
Arrive well-informed on the area. Understand the public transportation system to the
point where you can blend in as a local.

Also in line with safety, you may want to splurge on accommodations. You can stay
alone in a hostel, but read the reviews carefully. Make sure it is in a safe area and
security is a priority for them. You might even want to consider a private room, some
of which include a private bath.

In terms of fun, pack for your lack of companionship. Bring a blank journal to record
your adventures. Pack a paperback to enjoy while you wait out a rainstorm in a
coffee shop. World traveler Samantha Byrnes says, "I never travel with friends.
When I'm exploring a new continent, my journal is my only sidekick" (Byrnes, 2018).

This allows her to absorb her new surroundings, make new acquaintances, and focus
on the act of encountering herself. Byrnes continues, "We lost sight of ourselves in
the day-to-day. We focus on work, family, to-do lists, chores. Solo travel allows us to
return to ourselves so that, when we resume our day-to-day activities, we can give
our all" (Byrnes, 2018).

Learning how to travel solo successfully is an achievable feat. You can stay safe if
you remain knowledgeable on the area and choose your accommodations wisely.
Beyond that, you can experience true transformation through the simple act of
carrying a tattered old journal. What do you say? Will you explore solo travel?
Choose wisely, for it just might change your life forever.
 https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-informative-essays.html

Research Report: A research paper uses outside information to support a thesis or make an
argument. Research papers are written in all disciplines and may be evaluative, analytical, or
critical in nature. Common research sources include data, primary sources (e.g., historical
records), and secondary sources (e.g., peer-reviewed scholarly articles). Writing a research
paper involves synthesizing this external information with your own ideas.

COMMON RESEARCH FORMAT IN UNIVERSITY

TITLE
Name of author(s)
ABSTRACT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
DEDICATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter I. Introduction
A. Background
B. Statement of topic area
Chapter II. Literature Review
A. Summary and synthesis of the major schools of thought s on the topic and a review of the relevant
current main findings reported on the chosen topic.
B. Conceptual framework (links the research variables which has been specified based on the findings in
the literature so that the research questions and hypothesis could be explicitly stated in the next subsection
C. Specific research question(s) and hypothesis to be tested.
Chapter III. Method
A. Participants
1. Who? How many?
2. Characteristics (male/female, proficiency level, native language, etc.)
3. Sampling Technique
B. Materials
1. What equipment? What Setting?
2. What data collecting instruments?
C. Procedures
1. How is the treatment to be administered?
2. How/when is the testing to be conducted?
3. What analysis techniques?
Chapter IV. Results
Charts, tables, and/or figures accompanied by verbal descriptions
Chapter V. Discussion/Conclusion (often two separate sections)
Common features:
• Summary of conclusions
• Relation to other results
• Aberrant results
• Implications
• Grand summary (including summary, limitations and suggestions for future research)
APPENDICES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
TYPES OF RESEARCH

A. Argumentative Research Paper (Goal: Persuasion)

In this type of research paper, everything starts with an introduction that introduces the
topic and the stance it intends to take. Since this is the case, the topic should be
controversial or debatable.

A. Analytical Research Paper( Goal: Exploration and Evaluation)

In this type of research paper, a question is usually addressed. And while the question
may also be debatable or controversial, the writer does not take a stance since that is
not the intention of the paper in the first place.

Activity 1:
A. Identify the parts of Reflective Essay

where you can be more pointed sentences that typically another single
creative with your space describe the key ideas. paragraph where restating
and structure. the reflective statements in
the introduction must be
_____________________ _____________________ avoided.
_ _ _______________________
_

B. Parts of Research Report

It contains the It contains the statement of It contains the results and

participants, topic area. discussions.
materials and
procedures.
Lesson 2: Understanding the Importance of Citation in writing Academic Papers

Learning Outcome:

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

understand the importance of citing sources in writing and publishing an Academic Papers

LET’S BEGIN…..

AVOIDING PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is the unethical practice of using words or ideas (either planned or accidental) of
another author/researcher or your own previous works without proper acknowledgment.

It is considered as a serious academic and intellectual offense; plagiarism can result in highly
negative consequences such as paper retractions and loss of author credibility and reputation.

It is currently a grave problem in academic publishing and a major reason for retraction of
research papers.

Here are some guidelines to avoid plagiarism.

1. Understand the context

Do not copy–paste the text verbatim from the reference paper. Instead, restate the idea in your
own words.

Understand the idea(s) of the reference source well in order to paraphrase correctly.

2. Quote

Use quotes to indicate that the text has been taken from another paper. The quotes should be
exactly the way they appear in the paper you take them from.

3. Identify what does and does not need to be cited

Any words or ideas that are not your own but taken from another paper need to be cited.

Cite Your Own Material—If you are using content from your previous paper, you must cite
yourself. Using material you have published before without citation is called self-plagiarism.

The scientific evidence you gathered after performing your tests should not be cited.

Facts or common knowledge need not be cited. If unsure, include a reference.

4. Manage your citations

Maintain records of the sources you refer to. Use citation software like EndNote or Reference
Manager to manage the citations used for the paper

Use multiple references for the background information/literature survey. For example, rather
than referencing a review, the individual papers should be referred to and cited.
5. Use plagiarism checkers

You can use various plagiarism detection tools such as iThenticate or eTBLAST to see how much
of your paper is plagiarised.

CITATION

1. APA (American Psychological Association) FORMAT

2. MLA (Modern Language Association) FORMAT