EAPP REVIEWER

FEATURES OF ACADEMIC WRITING

1. FORMAL - requires considerable effort to construct

meaningful sentences, paragraphs, and
arguments that make the text easy to
comprehend. In general, this means that
conversational English should be avoided
and facts and figures should be presented
in a clear manner. Academic texts should
be factual, concise and accurate. Choose
words precisely and carefully so that the
reader can accurately understand the
concepts within the text.
2. ANALYTICAL - Treating your topic and your material in
an _______should seep through in your
language. Part of being analytical in your
writing is to compare and contrast,
evaluate and consider both sides of an
issue. It also means that you explain, give
reasons, draw conclusions, make
suggestions and recommendations and
support this with evidence.
3. OBJECTIVE - Academic writing is based on research
and not on the writer's own opinion
about a given topic. When you write
objectively you are concerned about facts
and not influenced by personal feelings
or biases. When presenting an argument
to the reader, try to show both sides if
you can and avoid making value
judgments.
4. EXPLICIT - First, it means that there is a clear
presentation of ideas in the paper. The
text should have a well- organized
structure and be easy for the reader to
follow. One way to accomplish clarity and
structure in your text is through the use
of signposts. Signposts are words and
phrases that you can use in your text in
order to guide the reader along.
Signposting can be divided into two
different categories: major signposting
and linking words and phrases.
SIGNPOSTING - means using phrases and words to guide
the reader through the content of your
essay/dissertation.

STRUCTURE OF ACADEMIC TEXT

STRUCTURE - Construction
- Arrangement of the parts

WELL-WRITTEN TEXT A ___________ enables the reader to

follow the argument and navigate the
text. In academic writing, a clear
structure and logical flow of ideas are
imperative to a cohesive text.

THE THREE-PART ESSAY STRUCTURE (IBC) Most academic texts follow established
THE IMRaD STRUCTURE structures. There are two common
structures in academic writing:

THREE-PART ESSAY STRUCTURE ( IBC) Is a basic structure that consists of an

introduction, body and conclusion. The
introduction and the conclusion should
be shorter than the body of the text. For
shorter essays, one or two paragraphs for
each of these sections can be
appropriate. For longer texts or theses,
 they may be several pages long.
1. INTRODUCTION - gives a background of the topic
- identify the purpose
- Thesis statement

2. BODY - Several paragraphs (depending on the

length of the assignment)
- Provide more detailed information about
the topic
- Include examples, statistics, graphs,
tables, and charts to support ideas
- Analyse the evidence
3. CONCLUSION - Restate thesis statement
- Summarise main points
- Include final insights and
recommendations
IMRaD STRUCTURE - The sections of the ____are Introduction,
Methods, Results, and Discussion

I-NTRODUCTION WHY did you the study

M-ETHOD WHAT did you do?
R-ESULTS WHAT did you find?
A-ND &
D-ISCUSSION WHAT does it all mean?

TOPIC SENTENCES AND SUPPORTING SENTENCES

 Paragraphs consist of sentences. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence that presents the
main point or theme of the paragraph. This sentence is most often near the beginning of the
paragraph.

 All other sentences in the paragraph are supporting sentences that connect back to the topic
sentence. These sentences develop the idea that is expressed in the topic sentence. This
development may for example be a deeper analysis, a contrast or an illustrative example.
 The last sentence of the paragraph is the concluding sentence or transitional sentence. It sums
up the contents of the paragraph and leads the reader to the following paragraph. It is important
to transition smoothly from one paragraph to the next. Otherwise, the impression will be that
the paragraphs are piled onto each other rather than constitute one coherent text.

 The length of each paragraph depends on its contents. This means that the length of paragraphs
may vary. That is, you should not begin a new paragraph simply because you feel that now it is
long enough. However, if a paragraph is very short it could be an indication that something
needs to be developed. If it is very long it could be an indication that it contains more than one
central idea.
PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT

- Paragraphs can be structured in different ways. The internal structure of each paragraph often
depends on the idea that is treated in that specific paragraph and its relationship to the
surrounding paragraphs as well as to the text as a whole.

- Your topic and the purpose of the paragraph should determine its organization. For example, if
your purpose is to illustrate the differences between two theories, your topic sentence should
tell the reader that you are about to contrast two theories. You may then describe first one
theory, then the other, and finally contrast the two.

ACADEMIC TEXT

NON-ACADEMIC TEXT - may be considered that writing is

personal, emotional, impressionistic, or
subjective in nature.
- It can be more informal in tone, and may
even rely more heavily on emotional
appeal or the opinions of the author.

ACADEMIC TEXT - is defined as critical, objective,

specialized texts written by experts or
professionals in a given field using formal
language.
- Based on facts with solid basis

ACADEMIC WRITING - is generally quite formal, objective

(impersonal) and technical.

It is formal by avoiding casual or

conversational language, such as informal
vocabulary or contractions "don't"="do
not"

It is impersonal and objective by avoiding

direct reference to people or feelings and
it is based on facts and not on opinions,
and it is technical by using vocabulary
specific to the discipline.

ACADEMIC TEXT - is a kind of text that is commonly

characterized as being formal, studied,
researched, objective, exact, direct, and
has the ability to influence its readers.
TEXT STRUCTURE
TEXT STRUCTURE refers to how information is organized in
a passage.

PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION
CAUSE AND EFFECT It explains the reason and results of
something.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST two or more things are described. Their

similarities and differences are discussed.

CHRONOLOGICAL information in the passage is organized in

accordance to time.

PROBLEM & SOLUTION a problem is

described and a response or solution
is proposed or explained.

SEQUENCE/PROCESS information is organized in steps or a

process is explained in the order in which
it occurs.

DESCRIPTIVE provides a vibrant experience for the

reader through vivid language and
descriptions of something

SUMMARIZING
SUMMARY is a short overview of an entire
discussion or argument.
You might summarize a whole research
paper or conversation in a single
paragraph, for example, or with a series
of bullet points, using your own
words and style.

leave out details or examples

that may distract the reader from the
most important information, and they
simplify complex arguments, grammar
and vocabulary.

To summarize text or speech:

 1. GET A GENERAL IDEA OF THE ORIGINAL
2. CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
3. MAKE NOTES
4. WRITE YOUR SUMMARY
5. CHECK YOUR WORK
6. Seek permission for any copyrighted material that you use, and cite it appropriately.

Stating the Thesis Statement of an Academic Text

THESIS STATEMENT Is a sentence that expresses the main
idea of a research
paper or essay. A ______tells the reader
what the paper is about and helps
guide the writer and keep his arguments
or ideas focused. It is a fact that the
writer
wants to prove or explain.

The ________ tells what the entire paper

is about.

TOPIC SENTENCE It is used to define the purpose of the

paper, to argue or to state a point.
The_______, however, shows only what
the paragraph is about. It is sometimes
called the focus sentence in the
paragraph.

EXPLICIT In academic writing, the thesis is

often____; it is a sentence that forms
BEGINNING OF THE WORK part of the paper and it is directly stated
in the text. It may be found in
the_______, but not always–some types
of academic writing leave the thesis until
the conclusion.

IMPLICIT Academic writing sometimes relies on

____ thesis statements, as well.

IMPLICIT Denotes something that is suggested or

implied. Unlike explicit thesis statements,
the primary point of the paper is not
directly stated in the text. It is not a
one-sentence thesis statement. Instead,
writers use facts, storylines or narratives,
 figures or statistics, etc. to support their
opinions, judgments and prove their
stand.

Here are steps which you may do as suggested by courses.lumenlearning.com

to help you identify the thesis statement of a text – be it explicit or implicit:
1. Read the whole work.
2. Write one or two sentences that summarize/s the article.
3. Look for a sentence or two (even a paragraph) in the article, that says essentially the same
thing as your summary.
4. If your summary is accurate, you will (probably) have found the thesis statement.