WHAT IS ACADEMIC LANGUAGE?

Academic language is the language used in academic settings and for academic purposes to help students acquire and
use knowledge (Anstrom, 2010). It is the language needed for students to access disciplinary content and textbooks and
successfully participate in activities and assessments involves knowledge and ability to use specific linguistic features
associated with academic disciplines (Gottlieb & Ernst-Slavit, 2014).
The features of academic language may vary as a function of the discipline for example differences between the
academic languages used in social science vs. mathematics, topic, and whether the information is communicated orally
or via written text. Knowledge and understanding of academic language can be readily applied by you in everyday
situations, allowing you to communicate more effectively and precisely.

LANGUAGE ACROSS DISCIPLINES

Mathematics Texts can be easily recognized because of its unique language features.
Business Texts has a special vocabulary (jargon), so first of all you have to learn its jargon, like remit, obligate, loan,
collateral, interest, stocks, etc.
Social Science Texts – Political Science (communism, monarchy, and executive branch), Economics (market, profit, equity,
and trade relations), Sociology (migration, social, class, and discrimination), Psychology (depression, suicidal, personality,
and motivation) are some of the jargons in Social Science Text.
Natural Science Texts – In natural science texts such as physics, chemistry, and biology, technical terms, symbols (ph,
NaCI, and CO2) and abbreviations are common.
Literature and the Arts – Like the other disciplines, literature and the arts have their content-specific terms or jargon
(examples: gothic mood, symbol, balance, mosaic, hue, etc.) but what makes them different is the dominant use of
connotative language and figures of speech to describe and convey content.

WHAT IS TEXT STRUCTURE?

Text structure refers to how the information within a written text is organized. Text types depend on the primary purpose
of a text and what information the author introduces in the text. As authors write a text to communicate an idea, they
will use a structure that goes along with the idea (Meyer, 1985).

THE NINE (9) MAIN INFORMATIONAL TEXT STRUCTURES:

1. Definition text structure is the method of identifying a given term and making its meaning clear. Its main
purpose is to clarify and explain concepts, ideas and issues by answering the question, “What does it mean?”
2. Descriptive text gives concrete details about appearance, characteristics, and actions. This type of text structure
is common to Business Texts and Literature and the Arts.
3. Recount of a Sequence is a chronological narration of a historical period, a sequential description of a process or
a procedure. Recount of a sequence text structure is common to Social Sciences Texts.
4. Cause and Effect text presents reasons why a situation is obtained. Though logically the cause comes before the
result, in academic writing it is the effect that is usually presented first, perhaps to achieve a more dramatic
effect. Cause-effect text structure is a common text structure for Social Sciences Texts and Literature and the
Arts.
5. Problem and solution text structure shows the development of a problem and the solution(s) to the problem.
The author takes a problem, clarifies or explains the problem and suggests one or more solutions to the problem.
6. Compare and contrast is a text structure or pattern of organization where the similarities and differences of two
or more things are explored. It is important to remember that with the compare and contrast text structure the
text should be discussing similarities and differences.
7. Enumeration is a listing, as in a list of parts, of characteristics, of examples etc. It is the common text structure
for Social Science Texts and Literature and the Arts.
8. Classification text structure is an organizational strategy whereby authors arrange groups of persons, places,
things, or abstract ideas according to a common. Some examples are types of personalities, groupings in a
school, species of animals, categories of films, and television shows.
9. Thesis-Evidence – Primarily to serve the purpose of arguing a point/position or interpretation, the Thesis-
Evidence text organization or thought pattern may be arranged deductively (general statement or thesis
followed by supporting details) or inductively (details from which an inference or thesis is drawn).
WHAT IS ACADEMIC LANGUAGE?
Academic language is the language used in academic settings and for academic purposes to help students acquire and
use knowledge (Anstrom, 2010). It is the language needed for students to access disciplinary content and textbooks and
successfully participate in activities and assessments involves knowledge and ability to use specific linguistic features
associated with academic disciplines (Gottlieb & Ernst-Slavit, 2014).
The features of academic language may vary as a function of the discipline for example differences between the
academic languages used in social science vs. mathematics, topic, and whether the information is communicated orally
or via written text. Knowledge and understanding of academic language can be readily applied by you in everyday
situations, allowing you to communicate more effectively and precisely.

LANGUAGE ACROSS DISCIPLINES

Mathematics Texts can be easily recognized because of its unique language features.
Business Texts has a special vocabulary (jargon), so first of all you have to learn its jargon, like remit, obligate, loan,
collateral, interest, stocks, etc.
Social Science Texts – Political Science (communism, monarchy, and executive branch), Economics (market, profit, equity,
and trade relations), Sociology (migration, social, class, and discrimination), Psychology (depression, suicidal, personality,
and motivation) are some of the jargons in Social Science Text.
Natural Science Texts – In natural science texts such as physics, chemistry, and biology, technical terms, symbols (ph,
NaCI, and CO2) and abbreviations are common.
Literature and the Arts – Like the other disciplines, literature and the arts have their content-specific terms or jargon
(examples: gothic mood, symbol, balance, mosaic, hue, etc.) but what makes them different is the dominant use of
connotative language and figures of speech to describe and convey content.

WHAT IS TEXT STRUCTURE?

Text structure refers to how the information within a written text is organized. Text types depend on the primary purpose
of a text and what information the author introduces in the text. As authors write a text to communicate an idea, they
will use a structure that goes along with the idea (Meyer, 1985).

THE NINE (9) MAIN INFORMATIONAL TEXT STRUCTURES:

1. Definition text structure is the method of identifying a given term and making its meaning clear. Its main
purpose is to clarify and explain concepts, ideas and issues by answering the question, “What does it mean?”
2. Descriptive text gives concrete details about appearance, characteristics, and actions. This type of text structure
is common to Business Texts and Literature and the Arts.
3. Recount of a Sequence is a chronological narration of a historical period, a sequential description of a process or
a procedure. Recount of a sequence text structure is common to Social Sciences Texts.
4. Cause and Effect text presents reasons why a situation is obtained. Though logically the cause comes before the
result, in academic writing it is the effect that is usually presented first, perhaps to achieve a more dramatic
effect. Cause-effect text structure is a common text structure for Social Sciences Texts and Literature and the
Arts.
5. Problem and solution text structure shows the development of a problem and the solution(s) to the problem.
The author takes a problem, clarifies or explains the problem and suggests one or more solutions to the problem.
6. Compare and contrast is a text structure or pattern of organization where the similarities and differences of two
or more things are explored. It is important to remember that with the compare and contrast text structure the
text should be discussing similarities and differences.
7. Enumeration is a listing, as in a list of parts, of characteristics, of examples etc. It is the common text structure
for Social Science Texts and Literature and the Arts.
8. Classification text structure is an organizational strategy whereby authors arrange groups of persons, places,
things, or abstract ideas according to a common. Some examples are types of personalities, groupings in a
school, species of animals, categories of films, and television shows.
9. Thesis-Evidence – Primarily to serve the purpose of arguing a point/position or interpretation, the Thesis-
Evidence text organization or thought pattern may be arranged deductively (general statement or thesis
followed by supporting details) or inductively (details from which an inference or thesis is drawn).