Distinguishing Features of

Academic Writing

Quarter 4 – Lesson 1
What I Know
Directions: Write T if the statement is true of F it is false.
1. Academic writing is also considered critical writing.
2. The purpose of academic writing is to entertain rather
than to inform.
3. Formal use of language should be evident in writing a
critical paper.
4. There is no need to use references in supporting one’s
ideas.
5. Writing an academic paper means you must be
subjective in your topic.
What’s New
Directions: Read and reflect on the essay about the various
effects of online gaming among students. Then, answer the
following questions.
1. According to the essay, what are the positive and negative
effects of online gaming to students and teenagers?
2. Why is online gaming considered as the best pastime in
today’s generation?
3. What are the possible consequences if students often play
online games late at night?
4. What do you think are the roles of parents and teachers in
the issue of game addiction?
5. As a student, how can you help in preventing game
addiction and cyberbullying among the youth?
 The Effects of Online Gaming on Youth
- Mark Darwin V. Garcia
In a fast-changing world where technology is drastically
rising, the internet becomes the primary source of information
and entertainment for most people. It plays a significant role in
office works, schools, and other institutions. It truly becomes
the most efficient tool for everyone in this digital era. Using
smartphones and other gadgets, one can easily access it to do
research, apply for a job, finish homework or even play games
online.
 Nowadays, online gaming is considered the best past time
for teenagers because they are enticed by the level of
entertainment and competition that they can get through
playing online. It also becomes the subject of leisure for many
people for they feel relaxed and distracted from reality
whenever they are playing. However, the issue of gaming
addiction is still a question for some experts because it may pose
negative effects on one’s physical and mental health.
 In the study conducted by Fabito, et al. (2018) about
mobile game addiction in a university in the Philippines, 47% of
the total respondents said they can play mobile games from 1-3
hours, and 20% can play for more than 4 hours. This only means
that gaming addiction really exists among students, and if the
students are playing mostly at night, this might lead to sleep
deprivation, fatigue and irritability.
 Furthermore, mental health may also be affected
negatively due to video gaming. Further result of the study of
Fabito, et al. (2018) also revealed that cyberbullying also exists
among gamers for there are some who have experienced
cyberbullying or have initiated cyberbullying towards other
gamers. In addition, some researchers also suggests that there is
a direct relationship between violent video games and
aggression (Shao and Yunqiang 2019). If these negative
implications will not be resolved immediately, they might lead to
bigger problems and life-threatening cases.
 On the other hand, online gaming seems to have
beneficial effects according to studies. In the study of
Dumrique and Castillo (2018) on the impact of online
gaming on the academic performance of university
students, it is revealed that online gaming has positive
effects on the social behavior of students, and it doesn’t
affect their academic performance in school. This is also
supported by Gamada (2020) whose research result
suggests that online game addiction does not influence
students’ academic attitudes towards study habits,
achieving goals, and academic responsibility.
 His study also recommends that the school should provide
opportunities to facilitate engaging and interactive activities
that will divert students’ attention and will foster mass
participation.
In conclusion, moderation is still the key to everything.
Proper time management and guidance of the parents should
always be present among students so that these may be
prevented. Involvement among schools, parents, and
community should highly be regarded to provide teenagers
sufficient knowledge to avert any risk in health due to excessive
gaming.
Comprehension Check
1. According to the essay, what are the positive and negative
effects of online gaming to students and teenagers?

According to the essay, online gaming has a positive effect in

the social behavior of students. On the other hand, game
addiction and cyberbullying are some of the negative effects
of online gaming.
2. Why is online gaming considered as the best past time in
today’s generation?

Online gaming is considered the best past time for teenagers

because of the entertainment and level of completion that
they can get through playing online.
3. What are the possible consequences if students often play
online games late at night?

If students often play online games late at night, they might

suffer from sleep deprivation, fatigue or irritability.
4. What do you think are the roles of parents and teachers in
the issue of game addiction?

The parents and the teachers are the ones who should
remind and educate the students about the negative effects
of online gaming.
5. As a student, how can you help in preventing game
addiction and cyberbullying among the youth?

As a student, I can help in preventing game addiction and

cyberbullying through information dissemination. I will
inform my fellow students not to engage excessively in online
gaming, and they should manage the time they spend in
gaming.
 ACADEMIC WRITING

It is the style of writing that investigates the state of

an issue and present your position based on the
evidence of your research.
 Different Types of Academic Writing include:
 Abstract  Research paper
 Annotated bibliography  Research proposal
 Academic journal article  Textbook
 Book report  Thesis
 Conference paper
 Dissertation
 Essay
 Explication
• Literary criticism
 Features of Academic Writing
A. Formality

Academic writing is relatively formal.

 a more formal vocabulary choice
Correct use of grammar
 a more objective style
In general, this means that in an essay you should avoid:
a. Colloquial words – same here, no worries, gonna, cheesy
b. Abbreviated or contracted form – wouldn’t , don’t, can’t
c. Two-word verbs – hand- in, break up, fill out, keep off
d. Sub-headings, numbering and bullet-points in formal essay-
but use them in reports
Colloquial Words and Expressions

Informal: My cousin invited me to eat a lot during our recess.

Formal: My cousin invited me to eat excessive amount of food
during our recess.

Informal: We considered that performance to be an epic fail.

Formal: We considered that performance to be a complete
failure.
Abbreviations:

Informal: Filipinos don’t forget to have fun together with their

relatives and friends.
Formal: Filipinos do not forget to have fun together with their
relatives and friends.
Informal: Majority of car accidents occur because of drivers
who aren’t paying attention.
Formal: Majority of car accidents occur because of drivers who
are not paying attention.
Two-word Verbs

Informal: The police officers told the protesters to back off.

Formal: The police officers told the protesters to retreat.

Informal: I gave up doing unnecessary things which wasted my

time.
Formal: I stopped doing unnecessary things which wasted my
time.
B. Complexity

The written language is relatively more complex than

spoken language.

 Requires more formal words

 Phrasing is more noun-based.
 Has longer words
 More difficult to comprehend in terms of subject matter,
language, arrangement of words and grammar
Examples:

1. Filipinos are trained to be courteous from the moment they

are born by utilizing these basic catchphrases: po and opo,
which are words that end sentences when addressing the
elders.

2. Catholicism was introduced to the Philippines during Spanish

control, with missionaries establishing churches, schools,
hospitals, and universities, displacing the formerly dominant
Hindu, Islamic, and Buddhist faiths.
C. Accuracy

It is necessary to use accurate terminologies in academic

writing.
You will be using a lot of technical language, so make sure you
are not using the improper words and phrases.
You must carefully select the correct word. Here are some
examples:

"assembly", "conference", "gathering" or "meeting“

The barangay captain called for a general assembly.

The PNP Chief called for a conference.
We had a simple gathering together with my high school
friends.
The teachers had a short meeting in the office.
"capital", "cash", "currency", "funds" or "money"

I have sufficient capital to put up a business.

I paid the groceries in cash.
A new currency has been introduced in the foreign exchange
market.
We diverted funds from armaments to education.
That boy had taken my money from my drawer.
4. Objectivity

Being objective means that you are concerned with facts

rather than personal feelings or biases.
Being fair in your work is a part of being objective.
Avoid making value judgments by using terms like amazing or
horrible to describe both sides of an argument.
Being objective also improves the professionalism and
credibility of your work
Always remember that:

Clear and evidence-based information should be the focus

of your presentation.

Your position should be based on a thorough examination

of the evidence.
Don't write: "In my opinion, this would be a very interesting
topic.“
Write: "This would be a very interesting topic."

Don't write: "I believe money and other tangible incentives

have a limited impact.”
Write: "Clearly, money and other tangible incentives have a
limited impact.“
When addressing the reader or people in general, avoid using
the word "you.“

Don't write: "You can easily forget how different things were 30
years ago."

Write: "It is easy to forget how different things were 30 years

ago."
E. PRECISION

In academic writing, you need to be specific especially in

dealing with facts, figures, and dates.

Inappropriate word combinations, such as "someone said" or

"a lot of people," are not acceptable academic writing
expressions.

75 thousand, 90%, 2,015 miles, September 11, 2013 – these

are the data that are more appropriate for academic content.
Don't write: There were many people died in an ambush.
Write: There were 15 people died in an ambush.

Don't write: Pope John Paul II visited the Philippines sometime

in 1995.
Write: Pope John Paul II visited the Philippines on January 12,
1995.
Different types of academic writing include:
a. abstract
b. academic journal article
c. book report
d. dissertation
e. essay
f. research paper/summaries
g. textbook
h. thesis
Explanation:

1. project (Accuracy) – There are many terms related to the

word “project” such as study, program, task, plan,
undertaking and activity but the word “project” is the most
accurate term to be used.
2. two inches (Precision) – The number of inch was specified.
3. two cups (Precision) – The number of cup was detailed.
4. twelve plants (Precision) – The number of plant was
identified.
5. four groups (Precision) – The number of group was exactly stated.
6. One vitamin A tablet was added to each of the three plants in the first
group by burying the tablet one inch from the stem and one inch deep
while two vitamin A tablets were added to the second group of three
plants in a similar manner. (Complexity) – The sentence is composed of
both independent and subordinate clauses.
7. Experimental groups showed less development and slower growth rates
than plants in the control group. (Objectivity) – This idea is objective
because it was based on the findings of the study and not from the personal
opinion of someone.
8. did not (formality) – This is a formal term for didn’t.