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Lecture Script

The lecture discusses the importance of formality in academic writing, emphasizing the use of objective, complex, and precise language. Key strategies include using advanced vocabulary, complex sentence structures, minimizing first and second person pronouns, and avoiding rhetorical questions. By mastering these elements, writers can produce credible and effective academic work.

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13 views4 pages

Lecture Script

The lecture discusses the importance of formality in academic writing, emphasizing the use of objective, complex, and precise language. Key strategies include using advanced vocabulary, complex sentence structures, minimizing first and second person pronouns, and avoiding rhetorical questions. By mastering these elements, writers can produce credible and effective academic work.

Uploaded by

x15620058280
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Lecture Script: Formality in Academic Writing

Introduction
Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we will explore the concept of Formality
in academic writing. Formality is not just about sounding "proper" or
"sophisticated"—it is about ensuring your writing is clear, objective, and professional.
By mastering formality, you will produce work that is respected, credible, and
effective in conveying your ideas. Let’s dive into the key elements that make
academic writing formal and learn how to apply them in your own work.

Part 1: Understanding Formality


Formality in academic writing means using language that is objective, complex, and
precise. Unlike informal or colloquial language, formal writing avoids everyday
conversational words and techniques often used in speeches. Formal writing is
characterized by:
 Objective tone（客观语气）: Avoiding personal bias or subjective statements.
 Complex structure（复杂结构）: Using sentences that convey nuanced relationships
between ideas.
 Precision（精确性）: Using specific, exact vocabulary to eliminate ambiguity.

To achieve formality, focus on these four key strategies:


1. Use advanced, precise, and academic vocabulary.
2. Use complex and compound-complex sentences.
3. Minimize the use of first and second person pronouns.
4. Avoid rhetorical questions.

Each of these elements contributes to the overall tone and effectiveness of your
writing. Let’s explore them in detail.

Part 2: Using Advanced, Precise, and Academic Vocabulary


Word choice is the foundation of formality. Formal vocabulary often consists of
words with two or more syllables, while informal vocabulary tends to be shorter (one
syllable). For example:
Informal: good → Formal: decent; beneficial
Informal: bad → Formal: harmful; detrimental
Informal: big → Formal: immense; enormous

 Why syllables matter: Single-syllable words are commonly used in everyday


speech and thus sound casual. Longer words, on the other hand, are typically
associated with academic and professional contexts. This is not just about
"sounding smart"—it’s about using language that is precise and contextually
appropriate.
 Phrasal verbs: Another key aspect of informal vocabulary is phrasal verbs (e.g.,
"put off," "look into"). These verbs combine a verb with a preposition or adverb,
and their meaning is often not obvious from the individual words. While phrasal
verbs are common in spoken English, they are generally avoided in formal
writing. Instead, use single-word alternatives:
Informal: put off → Formal: postpone
Informal: look into → Formal: investigate
Informal: bring about → Formal: cause; produce

 Vague nouns: Words like "stuff" and "things" are also informal because they are
imprecise. In academic writing, replace these with specific terms:
Informal: stuff → Formal: tasks, materials, or equipment (depending on context)
Informal: things → Formal: foods, equipment, or events (depending on context)

 Contractions（缩略形式）: Finally, avoid contractions (e.g., "I’ve," "She’s") in formal


writing. Use the full forms instead:
Informal: I’ve → Formal: I have
Informal: won’t → Formal: will not

 Academic Word List (AWL)P59-60: To enhance your vocabulary, familiarize


yourself with the Academic Word List (AWL), a collection of high-frequency
academic words. Learning the various forms (verb, noun, adjective, adverb) of
these words will significantly improve the formality of your writing. For
example:
Noun: analysis
Verb: analyze
Adjective: analytical
Adverb: analytically

Part 3: Using Complex and Compound-Complex Sentences


Why complex sentences matter: Simple sentences can make writing feel choppy and
unsophisticated. Complex sentences, on the other hand, allow you to convey
relationships between ideas (e.g., cause and effect, contrast, time) in a single, cohesive
structure. This makes your writing more mature and academic.

Formal writing often requires complex and compound-complex sentences to express


sophisticated ideas. These sentence types combine independent clauses (which can
stand alone) with dependent clauses (which cannot stand alone). Here’s how they
work:

Complex sentences: These sentences combine one independent clause with at least
one dependent clause. The dependent clause begins with a subordinating conjunction
(e.g., "although," "because," "since").
Example: "Although the research was challenging, it yielded valuable results."
In this sentence, "Although the research was challenging" is the dependent clause, and
"it yielded valuable results" is the independent clause.

Compound-complex sentences: These sentences combine two or more independent


clauses with at least one dependent clause. They are ideal for expressing multiple
related ideas in a single sentence.
Example: "Even though she was tired, Abby knew she had to finish the race, and she
ran to meet her team."
Here, "Even though she was tired" is the dependent clause, and "Abby knew she had
to finish the race" and "she ran to meet her team" are the independent clauses.

Types of subordinating conjunctions: Different conjunctions serve different purposes:


Cause: because, since, so that
Condition: if, unless, provided that
Contrast: although, even though, whereas
Time: after, before, when, until
Place: where, wherever

Using these conjunctions effectively will help you construct clear and formal
sentences.
Part 4: Minimizing the Use of First and Second Person Pronouns
In academic writing, first and second person pronouns (e.g., "I," "we," "you") are
generally avoided to maintain objectivity. Here’s why:
First person pronouns ("I," "we") can introduce personal bias and make your writing
sound subjective.
Example: "I believe the data supports this conclusion" sounds less professional than
"The data supports this conclusion."
Second person pronouns ("you," "your") are too casual and can make your writing
feel like a direct conversation with the reader, which is inappropriate in formal
contexts.

Alternatives to first person pronouns:


 Use passive voice with formal subjects:
Example: "It was found that..." instead of "We found that..."
 Use nouns like "this study" or "the evidence":
Example: "This study reveals that..." instead of "I found that..."

Alternatives to second person pronouns:


 Replace "you" with "one" or "people":
Example: "If people skip breakfast, they will overeat at lunch" instead of "If you
skip breakfast, you will overeat at lunch."
 Use gerunds or noun phrases:
Example: "Skipping breakfast results in overeating" instead of "If you skip breakfast,
you will overeat."

Exceptions: Some disciplines or style guides (e.g., APA) allow the use of first person
pronouns in specific contexts, such as describing actions performed by the author
(e.g., "We conducted the experiment"). However, these exceptions are rare, and it’s
best to avoid first and second person pronouns unless explicitly instructed otherwise.

Part 5: Avoiding Rhetorical Questions


Rhetorical questions are questions that do not expect an answer. They are often used
for effect in speeches or informal writing but are too casual for academic contexts.
Here’s why:
 Informal tone: Rhetorical questions can make your writing sound like a
conversation rather than a formal argument.
 Ambiguity( 歧 义 ): The answer to a rhetorical question may not be clear to all
readers, leading to confusion.
 Redundancy（冗余）: Asking a question and then answering it takes up more space
than simply stating the point.

Why statements are better: Statements are direct, concise, and leave no room for
misinterpretation. They also save space and maintain the formal tone required in
academic writing.

How to replace rhetorical questions: Convert them into clear, declarative statements.
Example:
Original: "Do you ever wonder how people get your phone numbers?"
Improved: "Information leakage often explains how people obtain phone numbers."

Conclusion
Today, we’ve explored the key elements of formality in academic writing: vocabulary,
sentence structure, pronoun usage, and avoiding rhetorical questions. Remember:
Vocabulary: Use precise, academic words with two or more syllables. Replace phrasal
verbs and vague nouns with formal alternatives.
Sentences: Prioritize complex and compound-complex structures to express nuanced
relationships between ideas.
Pronouns: Minimize first and second person usage to maintain objectivity.
Questions: Replace rhetorical questions with clear statements to ensure clarity and
formality.

By applying these strategies, you’ll enhance the formality and professionalism of your
writing. Thank you, and feel free to ask questions!

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