EAPP Reviewer

English for Academic Text and Writing can seem both easy and difficult at
Professional Purposes different stages in the process, or at the same
time.
ACADEMIC WRITING
Realisation that doing something with ease
Introduction to Academic Writing does not mean that it is simple or
unchallenging.
Writing involves starting, progressing and
finishing a complicated combination of tasks. 5. The public v. private

Writing is not just influenced by what we Privacy protects early writing efforts, but
know and what we have discovered about scholarship in general requires public scrutiny
something, but also by what we feel.
A need to balance the public and private
Creative part of writing requires chaos; dimension of academic writing
shaping or writing requires discipline.
Language Used in Academic Text from
The Paradoxes of Academic Writing Various Disciplines

1. The starting v. finishing Academic text is a reading material that

provides information which includes concepts
Skills associated with starting a writing project
and theories that are related to the specific
are different from the skills you need to
course. Academic text is a formal way to
activate to complete it.
present words and terms typical for the field.
Projects we start, but do not finish –
Jargon - Languages that may not be
enthusiasm in the beginning, criticism and
understandable to people who do not belong
fears later.
to the same profession.
2. Originality v. convention
What is Linguistic Register?
The differences between taking in information
The concept of the linguistic register has
and putting forward or articulating ideas of
been described by Trudgill (1983:101) as
your own.
follows:
How can fresh ideas be incorporated into a
-Linguistic varieties that are linked to
writing style that tends to demand
occupations, professions, or topics have been
conformity?
termed registers. Registers are usually
Listen to voices of others, but write in your characterized solely by vocabulary
own. differences.

3. The Logic v. Emotion -Registers are simply a rather special case of

a kind of language being produced by the
Academic writers have to be objective, but it social situation.
is impossible to ignore the emotional
dimension.

Emotional dimension is needed to be self-

aware and reflective in what you write.

4. The easy v. difficult

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-According to Harold Schiffman (1997) it is a
set of specialized vocabulary and preferred
(or dispreferred) syntactic and rhetorical
devices/structures, used by specific
socioprofessional groups for special
purposes. A register is a property or SUMMARIZING TECHNIQUES
characteristic of a language, and not of an
Summary is much shorter than the original
individual or a class of speakers.
text. It excludes the explanation of the text.

-only the main idea or the basic information is

STRUCTURE OF THE TEXT included.

Text Structure - (or a precis) is a synopsis or digest of the

essence of an entire text.
Text Structure refers to how a piece of text is
built or organize. Summarizing is the tool in writing which is
used when you need the main idea of the
Cause and Effect – text. Also refers to an abridged version of the
Comparison and contrast – narrative.

Order and Sequence – Techniques in Summarizing

Sequential Paraphrasing is reading over a text and

interpreting it in one’s own words without
-Information is listed step-by-step. changing the meaning of the original text.
Also it is restating the meaning in another
-Explains how to do it or how it happens. form.
-Most examples are procedures. -Thesis statement contains the main idea that
-Uses signal words like: first, next, later, controls the content of the essay.
finally. Also called chronological order or time
order.
PASSIVE AND ACTIVE VOICE IN WRITING
Chronological
Note: APA, explains that VOICE shows
-Date and time are used. relationship between the verb and
-May include flashbacks that describes the subject/object (APA 7, Sec. 4.13)
previous events. Active voice helps to ensure clarity by making
Importance of Text Structure it clear who is taking the action. It is used
when the subject is doing the action
-Each text structures communicate ideas in
different ways. Passive voice; Leaves out the actor and
focuses on the relationship of the verb and
-Helps organize or arrange information the object (receiver of the action).

-Useful in understanding and gathering the Another indication of passive voice is

information when the verb precedes the actor in the
sentence. Even if the action taker is clearly
identified in a passive voice construction, the
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sentence is usually wordier. Making the actor requires only 200 to 250 words for its
the grammatical subject that comes before abstract.
the verb helps to the streamline the sentence.

USE VARIOUS TECHNIQUES IN

SUMMARIZING A VARIETY OF ACADEMIC Structure of an Abstract, a Precis, or
TEXTS Summary

Vocabulary ✔Usually contains 150 to 300 words;

Summary- a shortened or simplified version ✔It does not use any citation;
of an original text using your own words ✔It does not include specific result statistics;
Abstract- a summary of the contents of a ✔Last to be written
study or academic text
Summary of Expository Texts
Prěcis- a summary or abstract of a text
✔Condenses information into 15 to 30% of
Reporting verb- a word used to discuss the original text;
another person’s writings or assertions.
✔It is achieved by getting the thesis
Also known as abstract or prěcis (pray-see), statement of the text and the main idea or
a Summary is a form of writing that is a topic sentence of each paragraph;
product of careful digesting and relating to a
shorter form of any long composition. ✔Main ideas are combined into a paragraph
using cohesive devices;
-Simply put, to sum up a text is to simplify,
condense, or shorten it into its most important ✔Name of the author and the title of the
ideas using your own words. article are indicated in the first sentence.

Why is summarizing critical in reading? Format in Summarizing

-deepen your understanding of the text; 1. Idea Heading Format

-learn to identify relevant information or key In this format, the summarized idea comes
ideas; before the citation.

-combine details or examples that support the 2. Author Heading Format

main idea and key words presented in the
In this format, the summarized idea comes
text; and,
after the citation. The author’s name/s is/are
-capture the key ideas in the text and put connected by an appropriate reporting verb.
them together clearly and concisely.
3. Date Heading Format
General Rule in Writing Precis, Abstract or
In this format, the summarized idea comes
Summary:
after the date when the material was
Condense information into around published.
15% of the original length of the text. A 6000-
Reporting verb is a word used to discuss
word research article for an academic journal
another person’s writings or assertions. They
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are generally used to incorporate the source Critical approach
to the discussion in the text.
1. Formalism or New Criticsm

-it posits that the key to understanding a text

is through the text itself. Also, it claims that
literary works contain intrinsic properties and
OUTLINE treats each work as a distinct work of art.
Outline is a tool we use in the writing process This approach claims that all that are
to help organize our ideas, visualize our important in analyzing and understanding the
paper’s potential structure, and to further text can be found in the piece of writing or
flesh out and develop points. text itself. Outside information regarding the
-is a summary that gives the essential author, society of the time, politics or any
features of a text other external context are no longer needed.
The text is independent. It has a fixed
-is a way of formally arranging your ideas. meaning. It is timeless and universal.

This shows how the parts of the text On the aforesaid principles, formalism
are related to one another as parts that are requires a close and intent reading of the text
equal importance, or sections that concentrating on the relationships within the
subordinate to a main idea. text that showcases its distinct characteristics
or form.
Two Kinds of Outline
2. Feminism
1. Reading outline is used to get the main
idea of the text that is already written. -it focuses on how literature presents women
as subjects of socio-political, psychological,
2. Writing Outline is a skeletal overview of
and economic oppression.
your draft, which contains your fundamental
points and the different ideas that support This approach emphasizes the
them. importance or relevance of women as
subjects and how gender been perceived in
Creating Writing Outline
the piece. The images of women and the
Three kinds of generally accepted outline: underlying concepts of femininity including
economic, societal, psychological and
1. Topic Outline are simple lists of ideas that archetypal nature of women are examined.
take the form of words and phrases. This approach likewise stresses equality for a
male dominated society.
2. Sentence Outline; use sentences to define
the subject matter. 3. Reader Response
3. Paragraph Outline; use paragraph as This approach stresses the attachment or
enties. strong connectionism of an individual reader’s
mind to the piece at hand. The reader herself
Importance of Outline
can put meaning and interpret every part of
-It will make your essay more organized. the text. The text is nothing unless it has
been read and interpreted by the reader.
-An outline saves time for writers. The reader’s reaction and interaction
Critical Approaches in Writing a Critique made out of the piece recreates and develops
a further depth of meaning. The manner a
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poem or a short story is read or delivered This approach focuses on themes,
strengthens and invokes visuals and view of the world, moral statements, author’s
imagination to a much sought individual philosophy, etc.
appreciation.
Writing Structure
4. Marxist Criticsm
There has been no strict rules in terms
This approach tries to unfold how of structure for it varies depending on your
socioeconomic status affects hierarchy or
conflicts involving social classes in the teacher’s task requirements, however, for
masterpiece. uniformity purposes, let us generally use the
following parts below ranging from at least
Other Approaches 100 to 750 words.

6. Biographical Approach Note: Remember that the heart of your

critique shall focus on its strengths and
-focuses on connection of work to author’s weaknesses and to relay how effective the
personal experiences material is.
Understanding authors’ life can help in A. Introduction (Short paragraph/paragraph/s
comprehending the work. This aspect - one to three sentences or more)
amplifies meaning and relevance of the text.
This must include the title of the
7. Historical Approach material, the author, and your assessment of
This approach focuses on connection the material. For a short story, this part may
of work to the historical period in which it was also include the background of the piece,
written; literary historians attempt to connect your opinion and the thesis. The thesis
the historical background of the work to includes the subject, your opinion and your
specific aspects of the work. main point.

8. Psychological Approach B. Plot Summary/Description (Short

paragraph/s – one to three sentences or
This approach focuses on the more) This involves the gist or the description
psychology of characters. of the material. For a short story, this is the
understanding of plot or summary of the
9. Sociological Approach
piece examined.
This approach focuses on man’s
C. Analysis and Interpretation/ Evaluation
relationship to others in society, politics,
(One to three or more paragraph/s)
religion, and business.
In this phase you will retrieve the
10. Archetypal Approach
guiding questions of your choice to include in
This approach focuses on connections your outlined discussion. It does not
to other literature, mythological/biblical necessarily mean that you will include all in
allusions, archetypal images, symbols, one but rather only those you think are
characters, and themes. needed depending on the arguments or
points you wanted to stress. Likewise, though
11. Philosophical Approach critical approaches are not exclusive and may
be used at the same time, it is better to focus
and use at least one among the many
approaches.
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D. Conclusion/Closing paragraph (One to 3. Sufficiency and soundness of explanation
three paragraphs) in relation to other available information and
experts. It is likewise best to ask the
At this point, you shall be able to link following questions during this part:
your thoughts reinforced with your
assessment in the introduction. If in any case a. What are the assumptions mentioned in
it is possible for you to compare the the work? Are they explicitly discussed? •
masterpiece to a similar work, the better. What are the contributions of the work to the
Your recommendation depends on how you field where it belongs?
have perceived the material observing all fair
judgment and appreciation. b. What problems and issues are discussed
or presented in the work? • What kinds of
Note: The length and the depth of your information are presented in the work?
critique depend on the task required to you.
Two to three paragraphs could even be c. How are information used to support the
possible to include all the parts cited above arguments or thesis? • Are there other ways
of supporting the arguments or thesis aside
For academic texts and researches the from the information used in the work? Is the
following parts may be adopted: author or creator silent about the alternative
ways of explanation?
STRUTURE FOR CRITIQUE OF ACADEMIC
TEXTS AND RESEARCHES d. Discuss the article’s pros and cons and
state your opinion about its clarity and
A. INTRODUCTION (around 5% of the paper) accuracy.
This includes the title of the Use the data and examples from the article to
book/article/work, the writer’s name and the support your arguments.
thesis statement which will preview your
analysis. D. CONCLUSION (around 10%)

B. SUMMARY (around 10%) 1. Your overall impression of the work shall

be stated.
In this phase, objective or purpose
must be cited. Methods used if applicable 2. Scholarly or literary value of the reviewed
could be included along with major finding, article, book, or work
claims, ideas or message highlighted in the
material. This also includes arguments and 3. Benefits for the intended audience or field
findings on the material 4. Suggestion for future direction of research
C. REVIEW (around 75%) 5. Clarify and summarize judgments
In this phase, the following must be 6. Comment about why such research
observed: matters or what else needs to be researched
1. Appropriateness of methodology to support in the field.
the arguments (for books and articles) or OTHER POINTS TO CONSIDER IN
appropriateness of mode of presentation WRITING
(other works) must be cited.
1. Organization. Depending on the approach,
2. Theoretical soundness, coherence of ideas you can arrange paragraphs by points,
strengths vs. weaknesses, or topics. Your
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goal isn’t just too negatively criticize a book Reader-Response Criticism asserts that a
but also point out what the author did well. great deal of meaning in a text lies with how
the reader responds to it.
2. Writing techniques and style. In evaluating
a book, don’t forget to mention these points. -Focuses on the act of reading and how it
Discuss how effectively (or not) the author affects our perception of meaning in a text
used stylistic devices to prove his ideas. (how we feel at the beginning vs. the end)

3. Evidence. Describe what types of -Deals more with the process of creating
arguments the author used. Were they logical meaning and experiencing a text as we read.
and appropriate? Don’t forget to explain why A text is an experience, not an object. The
the evidence supports your point. text is a living thing that lives in the reader’s
imagination.
4. Usefulness. Discuss what the book adds to
understanding its topic. Is it useful? Does it READER + READING SITUATION + TEXT =
present ideas in original and engaging ways? MEANING
How does it address the core aspects of
society? 2 Important Ideas in Reader-Response

5. Examples. Support every argument of your -An individual reader’s interpretation usually
critique with examples. You can’t just write changes over time.
that the book was boring; provide a quote as -Readers from different generations and
evidence and explain why it does not appeal different time periods interpret texts
to you. differently.

2. Formalist Approach
CRITICAL APPROACHES TO Formalist Criticism emphasizes the form of a
LITERATURE literary work to determine its meaning,
focusing on literary elements and how they
Critical Approaches to the Study of work to create meaning.
Literature
-Examines a text as independent from its time
Critical Approaches are different perspectives period, social setting, and author’s
we consider when looking at a piece of background. A text is an independent entity.
literature.
-Focuses on close readings of texts and
They seek to give us answers to these analysis of the effects of literary elements and
questions, in addition to aiding us in techniques on the text.
interpreting literature.
Two Major Principles of Formalism
1. What do we read?
-A literary text exists independent of any
2. Why do we read? particular reader and, in a sense, has a fixed
3. How do we read? meaning.

Critical Approaches to Consider -The greatest literary texts are “timeless” and
“universal.”
1. Reader Response Approach
3. The Psychological/ Psychoanalytic
Approach
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Psychological Criticism views a text as a -Asserts that most “literature” throughout time
revelation of its author’s mind and has been written by men, for men.
personality. It is based on the work of
Sigmund Freud. -Examines the way that the female
consciousness is depicted by both male and
-Also focuses on the hidden motivations of female writers.
literary characters
4 Basic Principles of Feminist Criticism
-Looks at literary characters as a reflection of
the writer 1. Western civilization is patriarchal.
2. The concepts of gender are mainly
4. The Sociological Approach cultural ideas created by patriarchal
societies.
Sociological criticism argues that social 3. Patriarchal ideals pervade
contexts (the social environment) must be “literature.”
considered when analyzing a text. 4. Most “literature” through time has
-Focuses on the values of a society and how been gender-biased.
those views are reflected in a text

-Emphasizes the economic, political, and 5. The Biographical Approach

cultural issues within literary texts Biographical Criticism argues that we must
[Core Belief: Literature is a reflection of its take an author’s life and background into
society.] account when we study a text.

4A. The Marxist Approach Three Benefits:

Marxist Criticism emphasizes economic and 1. Facts about an author’s experience

social conditions. It is based on the political can help a reader decide how to
theory of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. interpret a text.
2. A reader can better appreciate a text
-Concerned with understanding the role of by knowing a writer’s struggles or
power, politics, and money in literary texts difficulties in creating that text.
3. A reader can understand a writer’s
Marxist Criticism examines literature to see
preoccupation by studying the way
how it reflects:
they apply and modify their own life
1. The way in which dominant groups experiences in their works.
(typically, the majority) exploit the subordinate
groups (typically, the minority)
6. The New Historicist Approach
2. The way in which people become alienated
New Historicist Criticism argues that every
from one another through power, money, and
literary work is a product of its time and its
politics
world.
4B. The Feminist Approach
New Historicism:
Feminist Criticism is concerned with the role,
1. Provides background information
position, and influence of women in a literary
necessary to understand how literary
text.
texts were perceived in their time.
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2. Shows how literary texts reflect ideas
and attitudes of the time in which they
were written.

-New historicist critics often compare the

language in contemporary documents and
literary texts to reveal cultural
assumptions and values in the text.