The Language of Academic Writing

Eight Main Language Features of Academic Writing

1. Complexity
- use of this method of control unquestionably leads to safer and faster train running in the most aadverse weather
conditions

2. Formality
- Academic Writing is Relatively formal
- In general, this means that you should AVOID:
a. colloquial words and expression
b. abbreviated forms
c. two-word verbs

3. Precision
- You need to be precise when you use information, dates, or figures

4. Objectivity
- Emphasis should be on the information that you want to give and the arguments you want to make, rather than you
- Tends to use nouns (and Adjectives), rather than verbs (and Adverbs)

5. Explicitness
- Explicit about the relationships in the text
- It is the responsibility of the writer in english to make clear to the reader how the various parts of the next are related
- Use of different signaling words

6. Accuracy
7. Hedging
- necessary to make decisions
- About your stance on a particular subject or the strength of the claims you are making

8. Responsibility

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TEXT STRUCTURE
Chronological
- Information is organized in order of time.

Cause and Effect

- An action and its results are explained.

Compare and Contrast

- Tells how two things are similar and different.

Problem and Solution

- A problem and answer are suggested.

Sequence / Process Writing

Information is listed step-by-step.
- Explains how to do it or how it happens.
- Does not occur at a specific time.

Spatial / Descriptive Writing

- Racial is to race as spatial is to space.
- Describes something in order of space.
- Describes how something looks.
* TIME DOESN’T PASS in these passages. *

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 THESIS STATEMENT

Thesis statement
- is a complete sentence that contains one main idea. It is often a point , or idea, you want to
argue or support in an essay. A thesis statement that
contains subpoints also helps a reader know how the essay will be organized.
- SO, The thesis statement explains to a reader the main idea of the essay, and the writer’s opinion on that idea.
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SUMMARIZING A TEXT
1. Inductive
- a writing method which starts from particular to general; this means that specific details are presented at the first part of
the text and conclusions or generalizations are placed at the end of the text.

2. Deductive
- the opposite of induction; this writing method starts from general to specific, which means that conclusions are presented
first before presenting the support ideas or the specific details.

3. Deductive - Inductive
- a combination of the first two methods; this pattern starts from a general statement, proceeds in discussing specific
details in the middle of the text and ends with a recapitulation of the generalized statement at the end. Usually, this
repeated general statement becomes an “intensifier” of the idea presented at the beginning of the text.

4. Inductive - Deductive
- a combination of the two previous methods; this pattern starts from specific, presents a generalized statement or
conclusion at the middle and proceeds in discussing additional information or support details towards the end.
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OUTLINING TEXTS

OUTLINING
➢It is the process of organizing one’s ideas in a logical way.

➢In writing, it helps the writer what to include and not to include.

WRITING OUTLINING
- help organize your ideas, visualize your paper's potential structure, and to further flesh out and develop points
READING OUTLINING
• used to get the main ideas of the texts that is already written
• It helps you understand the text's structure more critically because you will have to find the text's thesis statement and
support

PRINCIPLES OF OUTLINING✓Parallelism
✓Coordination

✓Subordination

✓Division

PARALLELISM
• Nouns should be made parallel with nouns, verbs with verbs; This will enable the reader to recognize similarity and
function. This will enable the outline to be expressed in parallel sentence structure.

COORDINATION

• Items of equal significance in the same category or label.

• Headings = using Roman Numerals
• Subheadings = Arabic Letters
I. Definition of Communication
II. Functions of Communication
III. Forms of Communication
A. Oral
B. Written

SUBORDINATION
-Thru specifying most important and least important details
• Writer should distinguish major and minor components of the outline

DIVISION
-Basic rule is to have two or more parts and this division should be based on rank/level/category.

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 APPROACHES TO CRITICISM AND CRITIQUE PAPER

1. Reader
- This approach asserts that a great deal of meaning in a text lies with how the reader responds to it.
2. Reading Situation
- It focuses on the act of reading and how it affects our perception of meaning in a text (how we feel at the beginning vs.
the end).
3. Text
- process of creating meaning and experiencing a text as we read. It has to be noted that this approach looks at text as an
experience, not an object.
FORMALIST CRITICISM
- This approach emphasizes the form of a literary work to determine its meaning, focusing on literary elements and how
they work to create meaning.
- it focuses on close readings of texts and analysis of the effects of literary elements and techniques on the text.
Psychological/ Psychoanalytic Criticism
- This approach views a text as a revelation of its author’s mind and personality. It is based on the work of Sigmund
Freud.
- focuses on the hidden motivations of literary characters. It looks at literary characters as a reflection of the writer.

Historical- Biographical Criticism

- This approach argues that we must take an author’s life and background into account when we study a text.
- Shows how literary texts reflect ideas and attitudes of the time in which they were written.

Sociological Criticism
- This argues that social contexts (the social environment) must be considered when analyzing a text. It focuses on the
values of a society and how those views are reflected in a text.
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Critique
- is an exercise in judging the value of a piece of writing or work of art.
-It is a valuable exercise in the careful reading of text and viewing of a material that will increase your understanding of a
particular subject.

INTRODUCTION (2 paragraphs)
• Essay hook
• Name of author and work Brief summary and/or description of work as a whole
• Thesis statement indicating the particular points to be discussed

BODY
• Exposition/description of the first, second, and third points/arguments
• Detailed analysis and interpretation in each point/argument

CONCLUSION
• overall evaluation of the work
• summary of the key reasons identified during the critical evaluation
• recommendations for improvement on the work [may be appropriate

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ELUCIDATING CONCEPTS

Ways to Eludicate a Concept

1. Informal Definition
2. Formal Definition
3. Extended Definition
4. Combined Definition

EXTENDED, EXPANDED, AMPLIFIED, DEFINITION

Formal Definition
- Term = Genus + Differentia

Etymology
- Definition based on it's word origin
Historical Definition
- When the word was first coined and how it evolved to how it is being used today
Negation/Elimination
- Defining the term by stating it from what it is NOT
Operating Principle/Function
- Stating what the term is for
Comparison and Contrast
- using the words that are similar and different to the word being defined
Analysis by Partitioning
- defines the word by partitioning or dividing the word into chunks of information from which the term can be used
Use of Examples
- Defines the word by providing examples which allow the definition to be concretized
Use of Analogy
- Defines the word by comparing the term to another object/concept/idea that shares the same characteristics as the term
defined
Combined Definition
- It defines the word by introducing the term in a sentence definition that exactly specifies its genus or class and its
function or purpose

EXAMPLE OF COMBINED DEFINITION

Democracy is the term that belongs to the class, “form of government; and what distinguishes it from other forms of
government is that “all eligible citizens participate equally. (Formal definition). It encompasses social, economic, and
cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political self – determination. (Extended definition by
analysis). The political system of classical Athens for example, granted democratic citizenship to an elite class of free men
and excluded slaves and women from political participation. (Extended definition by example).
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WRITING A CONCEPT PAPER

Concept paper
- is a document that can be used in different disciplines. By nature, a concept paper discusses an idea, concept or process
in an orderly and clear manner.

IN ACADEMIC CONTEXT
It can be a definition of an idea with certain amount of explanation and clarification in order to present an idea clearly. It
also presents itself as a brief summary written to outline a research project. It may also be used to convince potential
funders to sponsor a product, program or service.

IN BUSINESS CONTEXT
Conceptualizing a product or invention is not as difficult as selling it or proposing it to a potential buyer if he knows how
to present his ideas effectively. The maker must capture the interest of the funding agency and demonstrate the idea being
proposed is worthy of further consideration.

STRUCTURE OF A CONCEPT PAPER

PROJECT PROPOSAL

CONTEXT AND RATIONALE

a. Includes purpose/objective and overview of the methodology
b. Based on empirical evidence, reasonable
cost and complexity; time boundedness
c. Stresses out a plan to do; approach to be
utilized and benefits and impacts to achieve

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
a. Like a lit review = may provide written studies about the topic
b. Gap to be filled; problems to be addressed in the realization of the project
c. Highlight the significance of the project

SUPPORT/BUDGET
a. Provides an outline of the main budget categories
b. Bottom line amount which has the explanation on how the budget will be spent or allocated
c. Stresses out a plan to do; approach to be utilized and benefits and impacts to achieve

PROCEDURE/STRATEGIES
a. Steps in executing the project
b. Present a timeline of activities. Tables and charts work best here.
c. Specific activities, resources needed, responsible personnel, time frame, expected outcomes, success indicator

SUPPORT/BUDGET
a. Provides an outline of the main budget categories
b. Bottom line amount which has the explanation on how the budget will be spent or allocated
CONTACT INFORMATION
Important part, as this will be the contact to address should the funder agree with the proposed project