Academic Language

Used from Various

Disciplines
LESSON 1
 1. What is the easiest writing assignment you have done so far?
 2. How about the most difficult writing assignment you have done?
 3. Based on your answer, what do you think is academic writing and its
differences from other kinds of writing?
Nature and Characteristics of
an Academic Text
 An academic text is a written language that provides
information, which contain ideas and concepts that are
related to the particular discipline. Essay, Research
Paper, Report, Project, Article, Thesis, and Dissertation
are considered as academic texts.
Structure

 The basic structure that is used by an

academic text is consist of three (3) parts
introduction, body, and conclusion which
is formal and logical. This kind of
structure enables the reader to follow the
argument and navigate the text. In
academic writing a clear structure and a
logical flow are imperative to a cohesive
text.
  This refers to the attitude conveyed in a piece of writing.

Tone 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.
  It is important to use unambiguous language. Clear
Language 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 area of study may also be used,
however, it does not mean using “big words” just for
the sake of doing so.
Citation

 Citing sources in the body of the paper and providing a

list of references as either footnotes or endnotes is a
very important aspect of an academic text. 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.
Complexity
AN ACADEMIC TEXT ADDRESSES COMPLEX
ISSUES THAT REQUIRE HIGHER-ORDER
THINKING SKILLS TO COMPREHEND.
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.
Thesis-driven

 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.
  1. Complex
Features of  -Written language has no longer words, it is lexically
Academic 
more varied vocabulary.
-Written texts are shorter and the language has more
Texts: grammatical complexity, including more subordinate
clauses and more passives.
 2. Formal
 -Should avoid colloquial words and expressions.
 3. Precise
 -Facts are given accurately and precisely.
  4. Objective
Features of  -has fewer words that emphasize on the information
Academic 
you want to give and the arguments you want to make
-mostly use nouns (adjectives), rather than verbs
Texts: (adverbs)
 5. Explicit
 -It is the responsibility of the writer in English to make
it clear to the reader how the various parts of the text
are related.
Features of Academic Texts:
 6. Accurate
 -Uses vocabulary accurately
 -Most subjects have words with narrow specific meanings.
 7. Hedging
 -Itis necessary to make decisions about your stance on a
particular subject, or the strength of the claims you are
making.
  8. Responsible
 -You must be responsible for and must be able to provide
evidence and justification for any claims you make.

Features of 


9. Organize
-Well-organized.
Academic  -It flows easily from one section to the next in a logical
fashion.
Texts:  10. Plan
 -Well-planned.
 -It usually takes place after research and evaluation,
according to specific purpose and plan.
Purposes in Reading an
Academic Text
 1. To locate a main idea;
 2. To scan for information;
 3. To identify gaps in existing studies;
 4. To connect new ideas to existing
ones;
 5. To gain more pieces of information;
 6. To support a particular writing
assignment; and,
 7. To deeply understand an existing
idea.
Factors to Consider in
Writing Academic Text
 1. State critical questions and issues;
 2. Provide facts and evidence from credible sources;
 3. Use precise and accurate words while avoiding
jargon;
 4. Take an objective point of view;
 5. List references; and,
 6. Use cautious language.
Academic Language

 Academic language is the language needed by students

to do the work in schools. It includes, for example,
discipline-specific vocabulary, grammar and
punctuation, and applications of rhetorical conventions
and devices that are typical for a content area (e.g.,
essays, lab reports, discussions of a controversial
issue.) Students who master academic language are
more likely to be successful in academic and
professional settings.
 Social  Social language is the set of vocabulary that allows us to
communicate with others in the context of regular daily
language  conversations.
Social Language Academic Language

In everyday interactions in spoken/written In textbooks, research papers, conferences in

form spoken/written form
For everyday conversation Used in school/work conversations
Used to write to friends, family, or for other Appropriate for written papers, classwork,
social purposes homework
Very formal and more sophisticated in its
Informal, such as words like ''cool,'' ''guy,''
expressions, such as words like ''appropriate,''
''kidding'')
''studies,'' ''implementation''
Can use slang expressions Don't use slang
Can be repetitive Uses a variety of terms
Can use phrases Uses sentences
Sentences don't follow grammar conventions Sentences begin with appropriate transitions,
necessarily, with phrases like, ''you're hungry?'' like, ''moreover'' or ''in addition'')
Characteristics of Academic Language

-It should not sound conversational or casual.

A. Formal Colloquial, idiomatic, slang or journalistic
expressions should particularly be avoided.
Examples

Use… Instead…
Consider, monitor Look at
Revise, review Go over
Solve, repair, amend Fix
Characteristics of
Academic Language
 B. Objective
 -This means it is unbiased. It should be based on facts
and evidence and are not influenced by personal
feelings.
 C. Impersonal
 -This involves avoiding the personal pronouns ‘I’ and
‘we’. For example, instead of writing ‘I will show’,
you might write ‘this report will show’. The second
person, ‘you’, is also to be avoided.
• Instruction: Write TRUE if the statement is
correct and FALSE if is not.

 1. Students who master academic language are more likely to be successful in

academic and professional settings.
 2. An academic text makes use of complex jargons to promote a higher level of
comprehension.
 3. Academic text uses words which tones up claims expressing certainty.
 4. Both academic and non-academic texts can be used to inform.
 5. The language used in academic texts should be conversational.
 6. In reading an academic text, it helps acquire new information.
 7. An academic text needs less concentration and focus because the terms are
simple.
 8. It is in academic text that issues are stated to provoke information discussion.
 9. A magazine is an academic text.
 10. Academic language should be objective, precise, impersonal and formal.
Summary

 An academic text is a reading material

that provides information which include
concepts and theories that are related to
the specific discipline. Common text
includes introduction, body, and
conclusion. On one hand, students who
master academic language are more
likely to be successful in academic and
professional settings.
Thank you!!!