LESSON 1 ..

Academic Language
Used from
Various Disciplines
DIFFENTIATES LANGUAGE
USED IN ACADEMIC
TEXT FROM
CHARMINE MARIE A. SANTOS
VARIOUSDISCIPLINES
Subject Teacher
 LANGUAGE

A system of spoken, signed and or

written communication used by
humans to express themselves
 INFORMAL LANGUAGE

FORMAL LANGUAGE
 RECOGNIZING SOCIAL VS.
ACADEMIC LANGUAGE
SOCIAL (Informal) Academic (Formal)
 ACADEMIC WRITING

- a scholarly of presenting ideas or

concepts about a specific topic. It is
scholarly because it involves a
thorough, careful, investigative and
scientific study of a specific topic.
 ACADEMIC WRITING

- result from one’s struggle to increase

his knowledge about his carefully
chosen subject matter and to present
his findings skillfully through different
rhetorical or discourse patterns.
 ACADEMIC WRITING
- a process that starts with posing a
question, problematizing a concept,
evaluating an opinion, and ends in
answering the questions posed, clarifying
a problem, and arguing for a stand.
 ACADEMIC TEXT EX.:

Research Paper, Academic Journals,

Reports, Conference Paper,
Feasibility Study,
Thesis/Dissertation, Reviews, Essay
 FEATURES OF ACADEMIC WRITING
Academic writing has a specific purpose
Addresses specific audience. The assumption is,
your audience is composed of people who are
knowledgeable on the subject you are writing
about.
Academic Writing is thinking. It requires
deliberate, thorough, and careful thought and
that is why it involves research.
 NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
AN ACADEMIC TEXT

Structure Tone Language Citation

Complexity Evident-Based Thesis

 STRUCTURE
Unlike fiction or journalistic writing, the overall
structure of an academic text is formal and
logical (Introduction, Body, 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.
 NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
AN ACADEMIC TEXT

Structure Tone Language Citation

Complexity Evident-Based Thesis

 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.
 NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
AN ACADEMIC TEXT

Structure Tone Language Citation

Complexity Evident-Based Thesis

 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.
 NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
AN ACADEMIC TEXT

Structure Tone Language Citation

Complexity Evident-Based Thesis

 CITATION
Citing sources in the body of the paper and
providing a list of references as either footnotes
or endnotes is a very important. 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.
 NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
AN ACADEMIC TEXT

Structure Tone Language Citation

Complexity Evident-Based Thesis

 COMPLEXITY

An academic text addresses complex issues

that require higher-order thinking skills to
comprehend.
 NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
AN ACADEMIC TEXT

Structure Tone Language Citation

Complexity Evident-Based Thesis

 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.
 NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
AN ACADEMIC TEXT

Structure Tone Language Citation

Complexity Evident-Based Thesis

 THESIS

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.
 CHARACRTERISTICS ACADEMIC TEXT NON-ACADEMIC TEXT
Audience Academia Mass public
Purpose Inform the readers with Inform, entertain or
solid evidence persuade the readers
Style Formal and impersonal Personal, impressionistic,
emotional or subjective
Structure Standard structure No rigid structure
Language Formal language avoids Informal and casual
colloquialisms language, may contain
Subject/Content Shared historical events Personal life and
or literature or other everyday events
forms of knowledge
 NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
AN ACADEMIC TEXT

Formality Complexity Objectivity Explicitness

Hedging Precision Accuracy

 FORMALITY
- reflects your dignified stance in your
writing : use of language appropriate in
academic & professional settings
- Language use requires precision to make it
“legitimate” piece of academic writing.
- Follows accepted rules, forms &
conventions of writing in a particular
community discipline.
- Choosing expanded modal forms over
contracted forms such as using cannot
instead of can’t, or do not instead of don’t.
Choosing one verb form over two-word
verbs, such as damage instead of mess up

FORMALITY CAN BE ACHIEVE

 - Choosing expanded terms over their
abbreviated equivalents like as soon as
possible instead of ASAP. Avoiding
colloquial/trite/idiomatic expressions such
as kind of like, as a matter of fact, or I need
to go to John.

FORMALITY CAN BE ACHIEVE

 NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
AN ACADEMIC TEXT

Formality Complexity Objectivity Explicitness

Hedging Precision Accuracy

 EXPLICITNESS
- Refers to the organization of ideas in the
text
- Show relationship and connection of ideas
in the text
- Indicates the source of the idea
 EXPLICITNESS
- Academic writing demands the
use of signposts that allow readers to trace
the relationships in the parts of a study.

- Shorter in length, but uses longer, more

complex word and phrases
Transitional Devices
Transitional Devices
Transitional Devices
Transitional Devices
1) This is due to the…
A number of Manila Electric Company
consumers trooped to the City Hall to claim a
PHP 500 cash incentive. This is due to the
Supreme Court ruling that overcharges must
be returned to the end users whose electric
consumption for the April-May period was
below 100kw/hr.
EXPLICITNESS CAN BE ACHIEVE
2) This resulted in…
With the Supreme Court ordering Manila
Electric Company to return overcharges to
the end users, government offices have been
tapped to operate as claimed centers. This
resulted in a number of Manila Electric
Company consumers trooping to the City Hall
to claim the PHP 500.00 cash incentive.
EXPLICITNESS CAN BE ACHIEVE
3) When two ideas seem the same, express each
one clearly
The study showed that eighty percent of the 200
participants involved in the study were
dissatisfied with the operations of Manila Electric
Company. Similarly, the data revealed that
majority of the participants were not aware of
the changes imposed on them by Manila Electric
Company.
EXPLICITNESS CAN BE ACHIEVE
4) If you intend to give extra information in
your sentence, make it clear by writing “In
addition. . .” Manila Electric Company has
been operating as a business conglomerate
involving foreign stakeholders and
Independent Power Producers or IPP. In
addition, MERALCO owns major IPPs
operating in the region.
EXPLICITNESS CAN BE ACHIEVE
5) If you are giving examples, do so explicitly by
writing “For example. . .”
The Manila Electric Company issue has led to
disputes between opposition and
administration senators. For example, those
who have been labeled as against the president
considered the issue as the administration’s
way of available the NBN-ZTE scandal.

OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVE

 COMPLEXITY
- Use of more lexical words than
grammatical words
- Shorter in length, but uses longer, more
complex word and phrases
 COMPLEXITY
5) Other examples:

How much money will be invested should be

determined.

The amount of money to be invested should

be determined.

COMPLEXITY CAN BE ACHIEVE

 COMPLEXITY
5) Other examples:
Improvements in technology have reduced
the risk and high cost associated with
simultaneous installation.
Because the technology has improved its less
risky that it used to be when you install them
at the same time, and it doesn’t cost so much
COMPLEXITY CAN BE ACHIEVE
 COMPLEXITY
5) Other examples:
Findings also suggest that the positive reactions of
the participants to the intervention was associated
with the new information. The information
acquired was about themselves.
Finding also suggest that the positive reactions of
the participants to the intervention was associated
with the new information that they acquired
about themselves.
COMPLEXITY CAN BE ACHIEVE
 NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
AN ACADEMIC TEXT

Formality Complexity Objectivity Explicitness

Hedging Precision Accuracy

 OBJECTIVITY
- Academic writing requires special
knowledge and use of more complex
language and objectivity. This means that the
writing must be impersonal and maintains a
certain level of social distance.
Characterized by use of the third person
rather than first person
- Avoiding the use of personal pronouns such
as you, I and we.
Poor example: You need to conduct the
experiment.
Improved version: The researchers need to
conduct the experiment.

OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVE

 - Avoiding rhetorical questions as it marks
“closeness” with the reader, and constantly
seeks his/her attention.
Poor example: How can these problems be
solved?
Improved version: Certain measures must be
discovered to solve the problems.

OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVE

 - Avoiding emotive language that shows
biases and lessens objectivity.
Poor example: The investigators were very
shocked to see the outcome of the tests.
Improved version: The investigators did not
expect the result.

OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVE

 OBJECTIVITY
Other examples:

In my opinion, this is a very interesting study.

This is a very interesting study.

OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVE

 OBJECTIVITY
Other examples:
Teachers need to realize the value of
feedback on student writing.

As teachers, we need to realize the value of

feedback on student writing.

OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVE

 NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
AN ACADEMIC TEXT

Formality Complexity Objectivity Explicitness

Hedging Precision Accuracy

 HEDGING
- Expresses tentativeness and possibility in
communication.
- Cautious or vague language

- Enables you to express a perspective on

claims that have not been acclaimed yet by
others.
 REASONS FOR HEDGING
1 When there are exceptions to the findings or
results are inconclusive
2 When they are sure about what they are
saying but want to appear more modest or
show deference to their readers or colleagues.
3 When they want to open up possibilities for
discussions
LANGUAGE USE IN HEDGING
LANGUAGE USE IN HEDGING
 NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
AN ACADEMIC TEXT

Formality Complexity Objectivity Explicitness

Hedging Precision Accuracy

 PRECISION
- Specifying Information, dates and figures
Example: Do not use ‘a lot of people’ when
you can say ’50 million people’
 PRECISION
1 Chemist had attempt to synthesize quinine for the
previous hundred years but all they had achieved was
to discover the extreme complexity of the problem.
2 The volatile oily liquid beta-chloro-beta-ethyl
sulphide was first synthesized in 1854 and in 1887. It
was reported to produce blisters if it touched the
skin. It was called mustard gas and was used at Ypres
in 1917, when it caused many thousands of
casualties.
 NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
AN ACADEMIC TEXT

Formality Complexity Objectivity Explicitness

Hedging Precision Accuracy &

Caution
 ACCURACY and CAUTION
- Sentence are free from grammatical errors
- Correct and appropriate words are used

- Academic writing requires care since knowledge is

built from proven theories and concepts.
Therefore, caution is needed to avoid sweeping
generalizations.
 ACCURACY and CAUTION
* Government officials are corrupt.
Improved Versions:
Some government officials may be corrupt.
Corruption is commonly linked to some government
officials.
A number of government officials tend to be linked
with cases of corruption
 ACCURACY and CAUTION
In academic writing, caution needs to be observed in
the following parts of your paper:
✓ When a hypothesis needs to be tested
✓ Drawing conclusions or predictions from your
findings that may generalize certain matters or may
not be conclusive
✓ Referencing others’ work to build on your own
paper
 ACCURACY and CAUTION
Below are some forms that you may use in observing
caution in writing:
1. Verbs indicating caution: tends, suggests, appear to
be, think, believe, doubt, indicate
Example: The findings of the survey suggest that
students’ use of social networking sites in their
academic work tend to be more updated on recent
developments in their respective subjects.
 ACCURACY and CAUTION
2. Modal verbs: will, must, would, may, can, might,
could
Example: The observations of students’ use of social
networking sites may lead to the different behaviors
that manifest in real-life communication.
 ACCURACY and CAUTION
3. Adverbs of frequency: often, usually, sometimes,
rarely, never. Example: The essays that were given
marks were usually high.
If your results show something different from another
author’s ideas, there are possible ways in writing
these points:
 ACCURACY and CAUTION
The results contradict Meyer’s findings.
The results appear to be different from Meyer’s findings.
What’s the difference?
The results contradict Meyer’s findings.
Sentence 1 may be interpreted by readers as an attempt
to highlight your findings as superior compared to
Meyer.
The results appear to be different from Meyer’s findings.
 ACCURACY and CAUTION
On the other hand, sentence 2 shows that you are
distancing yourself from your work and comparing it to
previous works done by other researchers relating your
contributions to other ideas in the discipline.
Remember that in academic writing, since you are
part of a community, it is important that you express
ideas with openness, striking a balance between being
concise and cautious.
 MAKE A TRY AND POST IT
Directions: Choose one feature of language use.
Explain how it contributes to the success of the
academic text. Create your own hashtag and write
your ideas in one paragraph with 50 words only.
#_______________________

Make this digital infographic inspired.

 ASSESSMENT
Directions: Put a check before the phrases that are
appropriate for academic texts.
1. The results indicate that…
2. We used a standard graphical representation to…
3. I researched the questions to the problems…
4. A survey of the literature revealed that…
5. I believe that the result…
 ASSESSMENT
Directions: Read each statement carefully and identify
whether each statement is true or false. Write T if it is
true and F if it is false.
1. Academic writing results from one’s struggle to
increase his knowledge about his carefully chosen
subject matter and to present his findings skillfully
through different rhetorical or discourse patterns.
 ASSESSMENT
2. In academic writing, it is important to use ambiguous
language. Clear topic sentences enable a reader to
follow your line of thinking without difficulty.
3. Academic language should be objective, precise,
impersonal and formal.
4. Both academic and non-academic texts employ the
use of informal language.
5. Slangs and colloquialisms are used in academic texts.