ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL
PURPOSES REVIEWER
Made by: JP De Guzman
-Kung mahal mo, magreview ka muna!
I. READING ACADEMIC TEXTS
A. Informational Text Structures
• Definition/Elucidation
o Explains nature of something and
describes the thing being defined and
cites examples
o Key words: is/are, is defined as, means,
involves, as appears to be, a type of, a
kind of
• Description
o Concrete details of appearance,
characteristics, and actions
o Key words: describes size, shape, color,
position, texture, adverbs of manner,
adjective phrases
• Recount of a Sequence
o Chronological narration and sequential
description of a process/procedure
o Key words: first, second, now, before,
after, then, finally, while, meanwhile,
during
• Cause-Effect
o Explains reasons why something
happened/effect of something
o Key words: Effect-so, so that, as a
result, Cause-due to, because of, a
cause of
• Problem-Solution
o Starts with negative situations ends with
a positive situation
o Key words: the problem/dilemma is,
if/then, so that, solves, an answer to,
addresses the problem of
• Comparison and Contrast
o Similarities and differences are
presented
o Similarities key words: Similarly, in like
manner, in the same way
Differences key words: On the other
hand, on the contrary, the opposite,
compared to, in contrast, although,
unless, however
• Enumeration
o List of parts, of characteristics, of
examples,
o Key words: To start with, first, second, in
addition, next, then, another, finally
• Classification
o Present groupings, types, classes,
categories, and sub-categories that
constitute a concept, presented in
hierarchical order
o Key words: several type/kinds, another
kind of, divided to
• Thesis-evidence
o Serves the purposes of arguing a
point/position or interpretation
o Key words: assert/claim, prove/show
that, support, allege that
B. Approaches to Determine Text Structures
• Noting Language cues (key words)
• Make Graphic presentation of the text
• Outlining (main ideas and subtopics)
o Framework of a text through division
and subdivision of ideas
o Basic Principles and Rules in
Outlining
▪ Principle of Division
➢ every part of an outline
that has subtopics
should have at least two
parts or subsections
▪ Principle of Classification
➢ Similar ideas should go
together
▪ Principle of Coordination
➢ Coordinate headings
must be expressed in
parallel construction
▪ Principle of Subordination
➢ There are big ideas and
small idea
o Types of Outlines
▪ Sentences Outline
▪ Topic Outline
o Outline Format
▪ Traditional Outline
➢ Main ideas are labeled
with Roman numerals
▪ Non-Traditional Outline
C. Language and Text Structures across Disciplines
• Math
o Use of symbols and expressions in
place of words
o Exact, precise language
• Business
o Use of business jargons and letters
o Compound nouns are standard
expressions
• Social Science
o Analysis of graphs and tables
o Political Science, Economics, Sociology
and Psychology
 • Natural Science
o Technical terms, symbols,
abbreviations, diagrams and drawings
o Science texts are dense and
information-heavy
• Literature and the Arts
o Connotative language and figures of
speech; vivid language for images and
impressions
o Creativity weighs as much as content
D. Stating the Main Idea of a Text
• The thesis or main point of an informational text
• Types
o Deductive
▪ Stated ate the beginning;
followed by the supporting ideas
o Inductive
▪ Stated at the end; earlier
statements are details/specifics
that build up the main point
E. Summarizing and Paraphrasing
• Summary
o Short/abbreviated version of a longer
text
• Paraphrase
o A restatement/restructuring of ideas for
the purpose of clarifying the meaning of
a text
II. WRITING CRITIQUES AND REACTION PAPERS
A. Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing
• Critical Thinking
o Evaluative thinking
o Judgements can be both positive and
negative
o Judgements = to criticize and evaluate
• Critical Reading
o Applying critical thinking skills upon the
things we read that includes many kinds
of materials that we encounter everyday
o Important because it is not just used in
academics but is a life skill
• Critical Writing
o Result of critical thinking and reading
o Way of judging a student’s critical
thinking ability
o Way to determine how students feel
about the assigned subject
o People’s evaluation can help improve
one’s skill or craft
o Guide to help people make decisions
o Critique
▪ Assess/evaluate the merits of a
work
▪ Objective, using a criteria
o Reaction Paper
▪ Evaluation of the works,
experiencesfeelings in relation
to the work being evaluated
▪ Subjective, how the work affects
the writer
o Subjectivity sets the difference between
reaction papers and critiques
o Both provides accurate descriptions of
the work being evaluated
B. Facts and Opinions
• Facts
o Verifiable statements
o Can be proven as true or false
o Tested through direct experience
• Opinions
o Expression of a person’s “feelings,
attitudes, or beliefs, that are neither true
nor false”
o Can never be proven as true or false
o But may be difficult to prove as true or
false because of ambiguous wordings
C. Content and Organization of Critiques and
Reaction Papers
• Characteristics of a Good Critique/Reaction
Paper
o Accurate
▪ Accurate description
▪ Summary/background details (5
W’s)
o Evaluative
▪ Writer’s overall judgement
▪ 3 or more supporting
evaluations
o Balanced
▪ Pointing out the weaknesses
▪ Recognizing the strong points
• Writing process
o Know well the nature of the writing
assignment
o See, listen to, or otherwise experience
the work assigned for evaluation
o Outline your presentation
o Draft and edit your paper
 B. Writing a Position Paper
III. THE POSITION PAPER
• Choosing an issue for a topic
A. The Nature of a Position Paper • Collective information on the issue
o Logical Appeals
• Position Paper
▪ Use facts in order to support a
o Also called argumentative
position and persuade the
paper/manifesto
audience by targeting their
o Presents a person/group’s position or
thinking
stand on a particular issue
▪ Types of Arguments
o Convince the reader of the acceptability
➢ Transitivity
of the writer’s position
✓ Involves 3
• Uses of a Position Paper terms
o To express sentiments on an issue associated
o Any kind of situation in which there is a through the
significant issue that needs to be process of
addressed classification
o Helps others to become aware of certain ➢ Incompatibility
problems in society and possibly ✓ 2contradictory
become more involved in finding the choices
solution to it ➢ Reciprocity
• Parts of a Position Paper ✓ Individuals and
o Issue situations that
▪ An idea or question which can be put
people are divided together under
▪ Also called controversy the same
o Thesis category should
▪ A statement that expresses the be treated in the
stand or position on the issue same way
▪ Also called the claim ➢ Comparison
o Reasons ✓ argues that 2
▪ Explanation why the position is situations will
logical, acceptable, and have the same
believable outcome
▪ Also called arguments because of the
o Support similarities
▪ Evidences or ideas to between these
substantiate the reasons situations
▪ Types ➢ Generalization
➢ Facts - figures and the ✓ Use 1 member
writer’s own of a population
observations/reports to make
from scholarly studies conclusions
➢ Comparisons – about the entire
similarities/differentiatio population
n between two ideas, ➢ Examples
concepts, or situations ✓ use a group of
➢ Examples - real-life examples
demonstrations of an ➢ Cause
idea ✓ posits that A is
➢ Opinions - the author’s caused by B
feelings/generalizations
o Counterarguments ➢ Sign
▪ Opposing viewpoints give the ✓ uses a sign or
arguments opposing your stand indicator X to
▪ Refutes by showing argue for the
weaknesses existence of
condition Y
 o Emotional Appeals o Conclusion
▪ Use the audience’s feelings and ▪ Summarize your arguments
values in order to persuade ▪ Reiterate your position
▪ Used only in addition to Logical
appeals to ensure balanced IV. THE CONCEPT PAPER
approach A. The Nature of a Concept Paper
▪ Types of Emotional Appeals
➢ Bandwagon Appeal • Concept Paper
✓ Uses people’s o An in-depth analysis of any idea,
tendency to situation or practice
conform with o It can be on anything that you find
the majority significant: feeling, a cultural practice, a
➢ Appeal to Common belief, a situation
Folk o It could be on something you feel strong
✓ the persuasion about or something you are very familiar
is done by with
pointing out that o Examines the “what-ness” or nature of
a person is no something
different from
ordinary people B. The Concept Paper as Extended Definition
➢ False Authority • Written to inform if the topic or concept is
✓ A type of false unknown to the audience
reasoning in • Written to introduce new information/dimension
which a person that gives new perspective to the concept if the
speaks as audience knows the subjects
expert on
• Definition Paper and Project Proposal
something on
o Definition Paper: Targets the
which he / she
explanation of an idea, theory, practice,
has no
or principle for the purpose of informing
expertise,
the audience
➢ Name Calling/Ad
o Project Proposal: Seeks to present an
Hominem
idea for consideration by others,
✓ uses labels with
possibly for support; hence, a concept
negative
paper also entails persuasive intent
meanings to
• Formal Definition
cast one’s
o Give the class to which the term belongs
opponent in a
• Informal Definition
bad light
o Based on a person’s personal views
➢ Association
✓ done by • Technical Definition
creating a link o Makes use of the technical language or
between one specialized vocabulary of a field
thing or idea • Popular Definition
and another o Makes use of the layman’s language is
one that people easy to understand
have a positive • Deductive Order > Organization > > Negative to
or negative Positive & Chronological Order
feelings for • Present tense for defining a term;
Past tense for tracing the historical
development > Indefinite article in the 1st part of
the definition > Restrictive clause in the 2nd part
• Organizing the Content of the definition
o Introduction C. Rhetorical Strategies used to Extend a Definition
▪ Introduce the issue
▪ State the claim on the issue • Examples
o Body o Fitting strategy if the term is abstract
▪ Present the opposing viewpoint • Comparison and Contrast
▪ Present your arguments
 o Used when the term is not familiar or ▪ Free of emotionally loaded or
popular to the audience biased words so that the report
• Giving Details appears neutral and factual
o Physical description: shape, size, color, o Nondiscriminatory Writing
texture; non-physical: characteristics ▪ Treats all people equally and
• Giving Historical Background respectfully: gender, age,
o Used when a definition has gone disability
through changes in time
B. Parts of a Report
• Analysis
o Discussing the idea’s components • Prefatory Elements
and/or its implications o Title Page
o Abstract
D. The Concept Paper as a Project Proposal
• Report Proper
• Serves as an initial stage in the process of o Introduction
preparing a project proposal o Procedures
• A summary of proposed project o Results and Discussion
• Serve the twin purposes of informing and o Conclusion
persuading o Appendix
• Sections of Project Concept Paper o References
o Introduction C. Field Report
▪ Arouse the interest of the
reader/target sponsor by • Documents and interprets a researcher’s
showing your understanding of observation of behaviors usually in relation to a
their mission theory
o Purpose • Participants’ behaviors are carefully recorded,
▪ a problem or need of the reader described, and classified in order to show
that you wish to address patterns and/or unique instances.
o Project Description • Assigned to allow students to connect a theory
▪ Describe the activities that your to real life
project will undertake to address • Parts of a Field Report
the problem/need. o Introduction
o Objectives ▪ Orients the readers about the
▪ SMART observation done
o Methodology/Project Design o Description
▪ steps/procedures to implement ▪ provides the details of what you
the project have experienced
o Project Needs ▪ Scope
▪ a list that will be needed to carry ▪ Subjects
out the project ▪ Obsevations
o Timetable o Interpretation and Analysis
▪ an estimate of the time it will ▪ explains what you have seen
take for the completion of the from the perspective of the
project theory
o Conclusions and Recommendations
V. WRITING A FIELD REPORT
▪ summarizes the findings of the
A. Basic Report Writing Principles paper
▪ Summary of the findings
• Writing Style for Reports ▪ Recommendations
o Concise Writing ▪ Limitations
▪ Efficient writing; text should o Appendix
state an idea with the least ▪ the “extras” that you don’t need
number of words without affect in the body, but are related to
meaning the study
o Clear Writing o References
▪ Transmits to the reader the ▪ presents the complete
exact idea you have in mind bibliographic information of all
o Objective Writing the sources cited in the paper