Academic text is a type of text

or writing that is written by

professionals in a given field
and is also intended for a
scholarly audience. Language in
academic texts must be
formal and contain words and
terms specific to the field. The
names and credentials of
the authors must be included in
any type of academic text.
Academic text is a type of text
or writing that is written by
professionals in a given field
and is also intended for a
scholarly audience. Language in
academic texts must be
formal and contain words and
terms specific to the field. The
names and credentials of
the authors must be included in
any type of academic text.
Academic text is a type of text
or writing that is written by
professionals in a given field
and is also intended for a
scholarly audience. Language in
academic texts must be
formal and contain words and
terms specific to the field. The
names and credentials of
the authors must be included in
any type of academic text.
What is Academic Text?

Academic text is a type of text or writing that is written by professionals in a given field and is
also intended for a scholarly audience. Language in academic texts must be formal and contain
words and terms specific to the field. The names and credentials of the authors must be included
in any type of academic text. A list of valid and reliable references must also be included,
indicating where the author obtained the information used in the article.
The primary goal of academic writing is to inform the audience while providing non- biased
information and providing solid evidence to back up the writer's claims. Furthermore, academic
writing heavily incorporates vocabulary/ies that are specific to or intended for a specific field. To
avoid plagiarism, sources of evidence and research must be cited both in-text and in the reference
list when writing academic text.
What is Non-Academic Text?
Non-Academic text is a type of text or writing that is written for a non-academic audience. They
are for the general public. It can be written by anyone with writing talent or skill, regardless of
whether they are a professional in the field or area they are writing about. The primary goal of
non-academic writing is to inform, entertain, or persuade readers. Furthermore, the majority of
non-academic writings lack references, citations, and a list of sources.
Difference Academic writing is a formal and impersonal style of writing that is intended for a
scholarly or academic audience while non-academic writing is an informal and often subjective
style of writing that aims the mass public. The difference between academic writing and non-
academic writing stems from various factors such as their audience, purpose, language, format,
and tone. Academic writing aims academia while non- academic writing aims the mass public.
Moreover, the main purpose of academic writing is to inform the readers, with non-biased facts
and solid evidence. However, the purpose of academic writing can be to inform, entertain, or
persuade the audience.

STRUCTURE OF AN ACADEMIC TEXTS

Text structure is the way in which all the information in text is organized. In other words,
authors use text structure to convey their main intent and ideas in text. It is important that
language learners acknowledge different text structures to comprehend different texts in English.
Further on, the main text structures are mentioned and explained in details.

WHAT IS A STRUCTURE OF A TEXT TYPE?

There are seven types of text structure in the English language. The seven types are:
process, compare and contrast, chronological, cause and effect, problem and solution, inductive
and deductive, and descriptive text structure.

COMMON STRUCTURES OF A TEXT

Text structures in English language
Text structure has many types or patterns. Learning the different patterns
of text structure helps you to get a good comprehensive analysis of the details and sequences of
information in text. It also helps you to organize the main elements of the text you are going to
write about.
There are seven types of text structure in the English language. The seven types are:
process, compare and contrast, chronological, cause and effect, problem and solution, inductive
and deductive, and descriptive text structure.
In this article, seven types of text structures are presented. The seven main text structures are:
1) sequence or process structure
2) time order or chronology structure
3) cause and effect structure
4) compare and contrast structure
5) definition structure
6) inductive and deductive structure
7) problem and solution structure.
We are going to explain each type of text structure in details. Let’s see the distinctive
features of each text structure:
Sequence or process text structure
The focus of this pattern is the procedure or phases of a certain result. Chronological order
and cause and effect relationships are the dominant features of this text structure type. In the
following, there is an example of a process text:
Example:
Topic: Chocolate Cake Recipe
 You should mix the dry ingredients including flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking
soda, salt, and espresso powder by a paddle attachment to make a delicious chocolate cake.
Then, you should add the other ingredients including milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla to the
flour mixture. In the end, add boiling water to bake the cake for 30-35 minutes.
Sequence or process pattern expresses the steps of a certain process or project. The steps
are stated in a chronological order. Thus, all the phases are explained step by step. For example,
if you want to write about “the project of your investigation”, then you should follow this type
of text structure.
You should write all the components of an essay in a logical order. You can see the
words showing the order of the process such as “first”, “then”, “second” and so on in this pattern.
Keep in mind that this type of text structure is not based on time order or cause and
effect relationships.
The author illustrates the process or project through certain phases in text. Thus,
each paragraph can indicate a certain phase of the process in this pattern. Sequence or
process text structure is applied in all the recipes and instructions because recipes and
instructions refer to an explanation of doing a certain project or process.
For example, An easy about “making a chocolate cake” as a recipe tends to talk about the
steps which you should take to do a process or making a cake.
Time order or chronology text structure
Most narratives follow this pattern. The elements such as “flashback and foreshadowing”
are sometimes used in such texts. The dominant feature of a chronological text structure is “time
order.”
 
Example:
Topic: The Great Wall of China
 
Building the great wall of China goes back to the Qin Dynasty period (221_206 BC).
During the Ham Dynasty period, the new fragments of the wall were added in 206 BC_ 220 AD.
The Great Wall of China was completed during the Mig Dynasty period in 1644.
The author explain the information of the text based on a chronological order. Thus, the
succession of the information must be in time order in this pattern. For example, if you want to
write a composition about “the first day of your school”, then you should follow this pattern
because you want to tell the events in a chronological order.
Many authors of stories and novels use this type of text structure to convey the events and
the circumstances of the novels or the stories. It is also can be seen in narrative essays. The
elements of a narration usually come together in a chronological sequence.
Cause and effect text structure
This type of text emphasizes the reasons and consequences. Therefore, it is based on the
time order pattern. A cause and effect text implies that certain effects are the products of certain
causes.
 Example:
Topic: Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a serious illness affecting the lungs and breathing process. The cause of pneumonia
are viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Also, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is the common
cause of pneumonia speed in the United States.
If the author wants to illustrate the cause and effect or reasons or results of something, he must
use this type of text structure. For example, if you want to write an essay about “the side effects
of smoking on pregnant women”, then you should explicitly state the dangerous results of the
action of smoking.
In short, cause and effect pattern refer to the results produced by a certain cause. In other words,
this pattern gives an exact explanation of the consequences following certain antecedent.
Compare and contrast text structure

The focus of this pattern is on indicating the similarities and dissimilarities between objects,
actions, ideas, or processes. The keywords of such text type are usually “same as, different from,
although, whereas, while, like, and in contrast.” There is an example of a compare and contrast
text in the following:
Example:
Topic: City Life and Village Life
The lifestyles of urban and rural people differ in many ways. The rural people are exposed to
cleaner air and water while the urban people spend most of their time in traffic and polluted
unhealthy air. There are many modern buildings in cities where’s villages have more natural
beautiful attractions.
Compare and contrast text structure show both the similarities and differences between two
things which belong to the same group. For example, if you want to state the similarities and
differences between “a duck” and “a swan”, then you must use compare and contrast pattern.
Authors usually dedicate one paragraph for similarities and the other one for differences. The
differences and similarities must be written so well organized that the reader never gets lost or
confuses. Keep in mind that if you compare and contrast two items which do not belong to the
same group, then you will not have a compare and contrast structure. (You will have an analogy
structure.)
Definition text structure
Descriptive structures present the illustrations, examples, features, and descriptions of a certain
topic.  The clue words of descriptive structures are “such as the same as, for instance, and
example.” You can see some of the mentioned keywords in the following example:
Example:
Topic: Audrey Hepburn
One of the old Hollywood superstars is Audrey Hepburn. This beautiful Belgian-born British
actress has also devoted her life and money to humanitarian work and received the Presidential
Medal of Freedom. She was a thin cute ballet dancer in her youth.
This pattern refers to definition or explanation of a thing or a concept. Keep in mind that the
thing that you are going to give the definition for should be abstract. In other words, you should
define something new to the readers in this pattern. For example, if you are going to write about
“What is happiness?”, then you must give definition in your text and follow this pattern.
Inductive and deductive text structure
The arrangement of information in a deductive structure is general to specific. That is, the
introduction of such structures encompasses the main generalization or definition. The main aim
of deductive structures is to reach a logical conclusion.
An inductive structure first starts from the specific details such as observations, suggestions, and
unanswered questions and then goes to the main points. In an inductive structure, readers realize
the author’s intent step by step. The “cause/effect, proposition/support, and judgment/critique
relationships” are the dominant common feature of inductive structures.
Example:
Topic: the OSCE exam
The PLAB2 is the OSCE exam is rather difficult. One out of three people usually fails this exam.
Sam is going to take the PLAB exam in the following month, therefore, Sam is likely to fail if he
does not get prepared for the practical exam well.
The authors usually use two approaches to impose the readers to believe something is true. The
two approaches are knowing as inductive structure and deductive structure.
In an inductive structure, the author uses many different evidences, examples and reasons in
order to lead the readers to a general true conclusion. In other words, the author gets the readers
to make logical connections between the specific data and the generalization. The inductive text
structure moves the readers from detailed information to a general truth.
An example of inductive reasoning:
The birds used to come here. (Detail one)
They love here and feel safe here. (supporting evidence for the detail one)
The birds will migrate here this spring. (a generalization)
In deductive pattern, the author gets the readers to move from a general truth to a detailed
conclusion. In this pattern, the author initially states a generalization and then begins to state
related details, information and evidences to support the general truth. Therefore, the truth of the
conclusion is unavailable in this type of text structure.
Example of deductive reasoning:
It is dangerous to go at night alone. (generalization)
It is 11:00 pm. (supporting evidence)
So, it is dangerous to go out alone. So, it is better to stay home now.
(the specific conclusion)
So, you can barely see that while both inductive pattern and deductive pattern are used for the
same purpose (trying to convince the readers that something is true.), the pattern have
opposite text structures.
Problem and solution text structure
A problem and solution or Hypothetical text structure presents solutions for a dilemma or a
concerning issue. The words such as “reason, as a result, so that, and consequently” are seen a lot
in problem and solution structures. The conclusion paragraph of a problem and solution structure
is often the resolution of the problem.
Problem and solution pattern consists of a dilemma or a concerning issue and the measures
which needs to be taken to improve the issue. In other words, the author initially expresses a
certain problem in the text and then begins to bring solutions for the problem.
Keep in mind that this pattern is very different from cause and effect structure as it expresses
solutions to the concerning issue. But, the author just states the reasons or the effects of a certain
a cause in cause and effect structure.
Problem and solution text structure can also refer to more than one problem and their possible
solutions in the situation. For example, if you want to write an essay about “social issues”, then
you should follow the pattern. You should first express a certain social issue and then you should
refer to all the possible solutions related to the social issue in your essay.
Conclusion
Overall, text structure is a way of organizing the information in text. It helps the authors to
reflect their main ideas more clearly and orderly. Text structure has seven commonly used types
or patterns as we mentioned above.
the seven text structures were mentioned and explained briefly. Each text structure containing
certain words or phrases follows a certain pattern to meet the purpose and style of writing. All
the text structures are used in paragraphs, passages, and texts.
You should get the hang of the common text structure patterns in order to comprehend or write
the main ideas and concept of a any text meticulously. Learning the patterns of text structure also
helps you to get to know the sequences of given information in text.

THE THREE-PART ESSAY STRUCTURE

The three-part essay structure is a basic structure that consists of introduction, body and
conclusion. The introduction and the conclusion should be shorter than the body of the text. For
shorter essays, one or two paragraphs for each of these sections can be appropriate. For longer
texts or theses, they may be several pages long.
Essays consisting of an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion are referred to as three-part
essays. You may be used to this essay format from school.
In the introduction, the reader is introduced to the topic that will be discussed and to the
argument that will be presented. After the introduction comes the main part of the text, where the
analysis and discussion are carried out and results are presented. Depending on the length of the
essay, this body section may or may not be divided into different sections. In the final part of the
essay, the argument will be summed up and conclusions will be drawn from what has been
discussed in the body.

SAMPLE OF A THREE-PART ESSAY

Education means considerably more than just teaching a student to read, write, and
manipulate numbers. Computers, the Internet, and advanced electronic devices are becoming
essential in everyday life and have changed the way information is gathered. How this new
technology is utilized in the curriculum and managed by teachers will have an important role to
play in widening the resource and knowledge base for all students. Technology affects the way
teachers teach and students learn. To make the best use of information technology (IT), schools
need a workable plan to fully integrate it into all aspects of the curriculum so students are taught
how, why, and when to use technology to further enhance their learning.
If a school does not have a clear plan of how and why it wishes to implement IT, then it
runs the risk of wasting money. In schools today, nearly all classrooms have access to a
computer. However, many schools mistake this as incorporating information technology into the
curriculum. School staff need to research what IT is available and what would best serve the
school's purpose, not simply purchase the latest equipment. There should be a policy stating how
IT is going to assist pupils' development and what teachers want pupils to achieve (Reksten,
2000). Staff members need to be clear about what they want IT to do for them before they can
start incorporating it into their lessons.
The only way information technology is going to be useful to schools is if all staff
members are well-informed and fully supported. It is the principal's responsibility, and should be
part of the school's plan, to ensure that all staff are consulted about the changes, and that the
change is carefully organized. Some teachers may be resistant, especially if they have not had
much experience with computers, so training teachers is essential in implementing IT into the
school curriculum. Staff members must feel involved in the process of acquiring technology, and
in learning how to operate it, in order for them to increase their confidence in using IT as a
curriculum tool. Teachers are only going to be able to incorporate IT into their lessons if they are
competent users themselves (Reksten, 2000).
In addition, teachers need to be aware that IT within the classroom is extremely flexible,
but that they need to plan what purpose IT serves in each lesson. The skills a child learns are the
important part of any lesson, and it is the same with technology. IT needs to be used and
understood in all subjects in the same way as the ability to read is necessary for all subjects, and
“must be used across the curriculum, in the same way that a pen and pencil are used in most
subject areas” (Ager, 2000, p. 15). The best way to plan the use of IT in the classroom is to
approach it as simply a learning tool that is more advanced (and more exciting) than the
traditional pen and paper.
It is vitally important for students to be taught the strategies for using IT. Children also
need to be fully informed about the capabilities of IT before being asked to use it. Pupils should
be aware that the contexts in which they use IT will change, and they need to know what the
appropriate use of IT is and what is not. Whilst it is important that children learn to use IT
effectively, teachers must emphasize that IT is not always suitable. According to Apter
(1968), the danger is that the “computer dehumanizes people and inevitably leads them to act
like machines themselves” (p. 58). Teachers must make sure they plan to use variety in their
lessons. Too much IT instruction may be just as harmful to a child as not enough.
The usefulness of IT in the classroom, as with any learning tool, depends on the innovation and
imagination of the teacher. It is imperative, though, that the implementation of IT into a school is
carefully planned. The current information explosion makes it essential that IT be used
extensively within the classroom so children know how to use IT appropriately and effectively.
Teachers must, therefore, be fully informed about what kinds of IT are available and whether or
not they are appropriate for classroom use. School boards and teachers must therefore ensure that
all staff have a clear plan about what they want their students to achieve through IT. The
appropriate incorporation of IT into the classroom will broaden the minds and skills of students,
allowing them to be better prepared for further technological advances.

WHAT IS AN INTRODUCTION (IN AN ESSAY)

An introduction is the opening of an essay. Its purpose is to inform your audience about
the topic of your essay, and to state your opinion or stance (if any) about the stated topic. Your
introduction is your essay’s ‘first impression’ on your audience, and as such, it is very important.
Writing an introduction
The purpose of the introduction is to give your reader a clear idea of what your essay will
cover. It should provide some background information on the specific problem or issue you are
addressing, and should clearly outline your answer. Depending on your faculty or school, ‘your
answer’ may be referred to as your position, contention, thesis or main argument. Whatever term
is used, this is essentially your response to the essay question, which is based on the research that
you have undertaken or the readings you have analyzed.
An essay is not like a mystery novel which keeps the reader in suspense; it should not
slowly reveal the argument to the reader. Instead, the contention and supporting arguments are
usually stated in the introduction.
When writing an introduction, you should typically use a general to specific structure.
This means that you introduce the particular problem or topic the essay will address in a general
sense to provide the context before you narrow down to your particular position and line of
argument.

Parts of Introduction
a. Opening
Sometimes known as a ‘hook’ or a ‘lead’, the purpose of an opening is to get your reader’s
interest and have them connect to the content of the essay. A strong opening may be surprising,
vivid, or thought-provoking. It’s really important because it helps the audience decide whether
they want to keep reading. In most cases, the more interesting or relatable the opening is, the
more likely the rest of your essay will be read, so make it good!
b. Statement of topic
An essential job of the introduction is to identify the topic for the reader. The topic may be a
single sentence or a clause in a larger sentence.
c. Thesis (opinion or stance)
The thesis is a statement that is supported or proven in the body of the essay. An introduction
must include a thesis. It is often placed at the beginning or end of the introduction.
d. Context or purpose
An introduction needs to help the reader understand why the topic is important.  The introduction
must give enough information for the audience to make a connection and create interest.

WHAT IS A BODY (IN AN ESSAY)

The body is the longest part of an essay. This is where you lead the reader through your ideas,
elaborating arguments and evidence for your thesis. The body is always divided into paragraphs.
The body of the essay is where you fully develop your argument. Each body paragraph should
contain one key idea or claim, which is supported by relevant examples and evidence from the
body of scholarly work on your topic (i.e. academic books and journal articles).
Together, the body paragraphs form the building blocks of your argument.
How do I structure paragraphs?
The TEECL structure provides an effective way of organizing a paragraph. TEECL stands for
Topic sentence, Explanation, Evidence, Comment, and Link. You may find it helpful to add C
for Comment before Link. A paragraph structured this way would contain the following:
 Topic sentence – the first sentence in a body paragraph that tells the reader what the main
idea or claim of the paragraph will be.
 Explanation – Explain what you mean in greater detail.
 Evidence – Provide evidence to support your idea or claim. To do this, refer to your
research. This may include: case studies, statistics, documentary evidence, academic
books or journal articles. Remember that all evidence will require appropriate citation.
 Comment – Consider the strengths and limitations of the evidence and examples that you
have presented. Explain how your evidence supports your claim (i.e. how does it ‘prove’
your topic sentence?).
 Link – Summarize the main idea of the paragraph, and make clear how this paragraph
supports your overall argument.

WHAT IS A CONCLUSION (IN AN ESSAY)

The last section of an academic essay is the conclusion. The conclusion should reaffirm your
answer to the question, and briefly summarise key arguments.  It does not include any new points
or new information.

A conclusion has three sections. First, repeat the thesis statement. It won’t use the exact same
words as in your introduction, but it will repeat the point: your overall answer to the question.
Then set out your general conclusions, and a short explanation of why they are important.
The function of a conclusion is to draw together the main ideas discussed in the body of the
essay. However, a good conclusion does more than that.
You may choose to also:
reflect on the broader significance of the topic
discuss why it is difficult to arrive at a definitive answer to the question posed
raise other questions that could be considered in a subsequent essay
make a prediction or a caution or a recommendation about what will happen to the phenomenon
under investigation
When writing a conclusion, a specific to general structure is usually recommended. Yes, this is
opposite to the introduction! Begin by re-stating or re-emphasising your position on the topic,
then summarise your line of argument and key points. Finish off by commenting on the
significance of the issue, making a prediction about the future of the issue, or a recommendation
to deal with the problem at hand.