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Lesson 1 - Academic Language Used From Various Disciplines

The document discusses the key characteristics of academic language used in academic texts from various disciplines. It defines academic texts and notes they have a formal structure with introduction, body and conclusion. Academic language is formal, objective and impersonal tone while citing sources to avoid plagiarism. It addresses complex topics through evidence-based arguments in a thesis-driven manner and uses precise, accurate and well-organized language.

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12K views27 pages

Lesson 1 - Academic Language Used From Various Disciplines

The document discusses the key characteristics of academic language used in academic texts from various disciplines. It defines academic texts and notes they have a formal structure with introduction, body and conclusion. Academic language is formal, objective and impersonal tone while citing sources to avoid plagiarism. It addresses complex topics through evidence-based arguments in a thesis-driven manner and uses precise, accurate and well-organized language.

Uploaded by

jolinamariz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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English for Academic and

Professional Purposes

Ms. Jolina Mariz C. Noche


Lesson 1 – Academic
Language used from
Various Disciplines
Objectives:
1.Differentiate language used in academic texts from
various disciplines.
2.Determine the structure of a specific academic
text.
3.Explain the specific ideas contained in various
academic texts.
4.Use knowledge of text structure to glean the
information he/she needs.
5.Use various techniques in summarizing a variety
of academic texts.
Nature and Characteristics of an
Academic Text

An academic text is a written language that provides


information, which contain ideas and concepts that are
related to the particular discipline. Essay, Research
Paper, Report, Project, Article, Thesis, and Dissertation
are considered as academic texts.
Structure
• The basic structure that is used by an academic text is
consist of three (3) parts introduction, body, and
conclusion which is formal and logical.
• This kind of structure enables the reader to follow the
argument and navigate the text. In academic writing a
clear structure and a logical flow are imperative to a
cohesive text.
TONE
• This refers to the attitude conveyed in a piece of
writing.
• The arguments of others are fairly presented and with
an appropriate narrative tone.
• When presenting a position or argument that
disagrees with one’s perspectives, describe the
argument accurately without loaded or biased
language.
LANGUAGE
• It is important to use unambiguous language. Clear
topic sentences enable a reader to follow your line of
thinking without difficulty.
• Formal language and the third person point-of-view
should be used.
• Technical language appropriate to area of study may
also be used, however, it does not mean using “big
words” just for the sake of doing so.
LANGUAGE
• It is important to use unambiguous language. Clear
topic sentences enable a reader to follow your line of
thinking without difficulty.
• Formal language and the third person point-of-view
should be used.
• Technical language appropriate to area of study may
also be used, however, it does not mean using “big
words” just for the sake of doing so.
CITATION
• Citing sources in the body of the paper and providing
a list of references as either footnotes or endnotes is a
very important aspect of an academic text.
• It is essential to always acknowledge the source of any
ideas, research findings, data, or quoted text that have
been used in a paper as a defense against allegations
of plagiarism.
COMPLEXITY
• An academic text addresses complex issues that
require higher-order thinking skills to comprehend.
Evidence-based Arguments
• What is valued in an academic text is that opinions are
based on a sound understanding of the pertinent
body of knowledge and academic debates that exist
within, and often external to a specific discipline.
Thesis-driven
• The starting point of an academic text is a particular
perspective, idea or position applied to the chosen
research problem, such as establishing, proving, or
disproving solutions to the questions posed for the
topic.
Features of Academic Texts:
1. Complex
- Written language has no longer words, it is lexically
more varied vocabulary.
- Written texts are shorter and the language has
more grammatical complexity, including more
subordinate clauses and more passives.
Features of Academic Texts:
2. Formal
- Should avoid colloquial words and expressions.

3. Precise
- Facts are given accurately and precisely.
Features of Academic Texts:
4. Objective
- has fewer words that emphasize on the information
you want to give and the arguments you want to make
- mostly use nouns (adjectives), rather than verbs
(adverbs)
Features of Academic Texts:
5. Explicit
- It is the responsibility of the writer in English to
make it clear to the reader how the various parts of the
text are related.
Features of Academic Texts:
6. Accurate
- Uses vocabulary accurately
- Most subjects have words with narrow specific
meanings.
7. Hedging
- It is necessary to make decisions about your
stance on a particular subject, or the strength of the
claims you are making.
Features of Academic Texts:
8. Responsible
- You must be responsible for and must be able to
provide evidence and justification for any claims you
make.
9. Organize
- Well-organized.
- It flows easily from one section to the next in a
logical fashion.
Features of Academic Texts:
10. Plan
- Well-planned.
- It usually takes place after research and evaluation,
according to specific purpose and plan.
Purposes in Reading an Academic Text
1. To locate a main idea;
2. To scan for information;
3. To identify gaps in existing studies;
4. To connect new ideas to existing ones;
Purposes in Reading an Academic Text
5. To gain more pieces of information;
6. To support a particular writing assignment; and,
7. To deeply understand an existing idea.
Factors to Consider in Writing Academic Text
1. State critical questions and issues;
2. Provide facts and evidence from credible sources;
3. Use precise and accurate words while avoiding jargon;
4. Take an objective point of view;
5. List references; and,
6. Use cautious language.
Academic Language
Academic language is the language needed by students to do
the work in schools.
It includes, for example, discipline-specific vocabulary,
grammar and punctuation, and applications of rhetorical
conventions and devices that are typical for a content area
(e.g., essays, lab reports, discussions of a controversial issue.)
Students who master academic language are more likely to
be successful in academic and professional settings.
Academic Language
Social language is the set of vocabulary that allows us to
communicate with others in the context of regular daily
conversations.
Characteristics of Academic Language
A. Formal
- It should not sound conversational or casual. Colloquial,
idiomatic, slang or journalistic expressions should
particularly be avoided.
Examples:
Use… Instead…
Consider, monitor Look at
Revise, review Go over
Solve, repair, amend Fix
Characteristics of Academic Language
B. Objective
- This means it is unbiased. It should be based on facts and
evidence and are not influenced by personal feelings.
C. Impersonal
- This involves avoiding the personal pronouns ‘I’ and ‘we’.
For example, instead of writing ‘I will show’, you might write
‘this report will show’. The second person, ‘you’, is also to be
avoided.

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