MODULE 1

ACADEMIC LANGUAGE

Lesson Objectives:

At the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:

 Differentiate academic texts from non-academic texts;

 Examine an academic text to establish its nature and characteristics;
 Recognize the characteristics of language used in academic texts;
 Analyze academic texts according to its language use; and
 Evaluate academic texts based on its use of language.

Week 1-Online Class

INTRODUCTION

How many times have you been asked to write about your summer vacation for your Christmas
vacation? How many times have you been assigned to do a book review or a reaction paper? Maybe, at some
point, you were also asked to write poems, skits, letters, and other related works. You have had different
writing assignments. But have you really pondered on the differences of the various writing assignments that
you have done? Would you know the difference between an academic essay and a personal narrative? Can
you distinguish a news report from an editorial?

Activity One:

Fill out the table to differentiate academic text from non-academic text. Choose your answers from the box.

Formal Diaries
To entertain Objective
Related Literature Intro-Body-Conclusion
Slang and Colloquial No fixed structure
To inform and/or validate idea Scholarly audience
Subjective Public
Research papers, Reports Everyday events

Characteristics Academic Text Non-academic Text

1. Audience
2. Purpose
3. Structure
4. Language
5. Style
6. Source of content
7. Examples

“[Students] believed essays were „creative writing‟ and research papers were a different beast altogether”
(quoted by Ballenger, Nadell, and Comodromos 2005).

This is true for most students and maybe for you as well. You probably equate academic writing research
writing and you think that academic writing is boring and difficult and that it is not readily accessible. There is a
big possibility that you dread writing papers, be it a reaction paper, argumentative essay, or proposal. You
seem to have a notion that writing in the academic setting requires a certain kind of skill that only a few have.
In a way, you are right but not quite.

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Is a process that starts with;

1. posing a question,
2. problematizing a concept,
3. evaluating an opinion, and
4. ends in answering the question or questions posed, clarifying the problem, and/or arguing for a
stand.

It also has a specific purpose:

1. to inform;
2. to argue a specific point, and
3. to persuade

It also addresses a specific audience:

1. your teacher (for the most part),

2. your peers who will read and evaluate your work, and
3. the academic community that may also read your work.

ACADEMIC WRITING Is THINKING.

ACADEMIC WRITING requires deliberate, thorough, and careful thought and that is why it involves research.
Formal but not pretentious language is required. It is a misconception, however, that big and difficult words
have to be used because ultimately the purpose of writing is to engage the readers.

Your audience is varied and you have to make sure that when you write, you keep the readers in mind.

Your audience determine the language of your paper, but how do we focus on the audience? Here are
questions you need to ask yourself in determining your readers:

1. Who specifically is your reader? Do you have multiple readers? Who needs to see or use the
document?
2. What do your readers already know about your subject? What are your readers‟ attitudes about
the subject?
3. What actions do you need readers to take after interacting with your message?
4. Do you need to adapt your message for international readers?

NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ACADEMIC TEXT

An academic text is a reading material that provides information which includes concepts and theories that are
related to the specific discipline.

Structure
Unlike fiction or journalistic writing, the overall structure of an academic text is formal and logical (Introduction,
Body, and Conclusion). It must be cohesive and possess a logically organized flow of ideas; this means that
various parts are connected to form a unified whole.

Tone
The overall tone 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 the area of study may also be used, however it does not mean using “big words” just
for the sake of doing so.
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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.

Characteristics Academic Text Non-academic Text

Audience Academia Mass public

Inform the readers with Inform, entertain or

Purpose solid evidence persuade the readers

Personal,
Style Formal and impersonal impressionistic,
emotional or subjective

Structure Standard structure No rigid structure

Formal language avoids Informal and casual

Language colloquialisms language, may contain

Shared historical events Personal life

or literature or other and everyday
Subject/Content
forms of knowledge events

ACADEMIC LANGUAGE

Academic Language refers to the oral, written, auditory, and visual language proficiency required to learn
effectively in schools and academic programs. It is also the language used in classroom lessons, books, tests,
and assignments.

What is difference between academic language and social language?

Social language is the simple, informal language we use when talking face to face with family members and
friends. It allows us to use contemporary or slang terms like “cool,” “awesome,” or “dude.” We can also
communicate feelings, needs, and wants using symbolic hand gestures for drink, eat, hot, cold, hurt, or tired.

Academic language is different from everyday social language. It is the vocabulary students or adults
must learn to succeed in the classroom or in the workplace. We use academic language to describe and
comprehend complex ideas, process higher-order thinking, and understand abstract concepts.

Characteristics of Academic Language

 Formal
 Impersonal
 Precise
 Objective
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 Week 1-Modular Class

Activity Two:

Take time to read and evaluate the four texts below and answer the questions after reading them. This activity
allows you to realize how well you know academic texts based from your understanding. Visit Schoology -
Lesson 1- Reading Texts for the full transcript.

1. In your opinion, which of the texts is/are academic text/s?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________

2. Why did you consider it/them as academic?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________

TEXT A

From Hand to Mouth

(An Excerpt)
Michael C. Corballis

(1) Imagine trying to teach a child to talk without using your hands or any other means of
pointing of gesturing. The task would surely be impossible. There can be little doubt that bodily
gestures are involved in the development of language…

-See Schoology for full text.

TEXT B

Mother Tongue
(An Excerpt)
Amy Tan

(1) I am not a scholar of English or literature. I cannot give you much more than personal
opinions on the English language and its variations in this…

-See Schoology for full text.

TEXT C

Dear Sir,

Sub.: Availability of new scheme of an automobile loan…

-See Schoology for full text.

TEXT D

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

SUPREME COURT…

-See Schoology for full text.

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Activity Three:

Did you choose the text that appears to be the most “serious” to you as academic text? Are you one of those
students that think academic texts are difficult to read? How then do you distinguish academic text from a
business letter, or a personal essay? Below is a table that will help you answer this question. Fill out this table
based on your evaluation of the texts. Attach an extra paper for this page for extra space.

TEXT A TEXT B TEXT C TEXT D

What is the text

about?
(Subject/Focus)

What is the
writer‟s goal in
writing the text?
(Purpose)

Who is the
target reader of
the text?
(Audience)

What is the point

of view used in
the text?
(First, second,
third)

How much does

the writer know
of the subject?
(Writer‟s
knowledge)

How did the

writer organize
the text?
(Style)

Did the writer

write in a formal
or informal
manner?
(Tone)

Was the
language formal,
informal, or
casual?

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