LESSON #1 (STRUCTURE OF ACADEMIC TEXTS) Persuasive Texts (To Persuade)

English for Academic Purposes • the author’s main goal here is to convince
• commonly known as Academic English the reader.
• entails training students, usually in a higher • can make you change your mind on
education setting, to use language something
appropriately for study. • can make you to do certain action
English for Occupational Purposes
• aims to help students become better writers, Informative Texts (To Inform)
• aim to give information only
thinkers, and communicators in the
• require a lot of research
business world.
• more on facts
What is Academic Text?
Expressive Texts (To Express/Entertain)
• Academic text means a text that is
• more creative in nature
specifically written for use by instructors or
students, or • engage reader’s emotions
• may have more opinion than facts
• it is a text your instructor has assigned
• one less-known form of this type of text is
because of its usefulness in your college
course. (Retrieved from: satire
Retrieved from:
https://opentextbc.ca/writingforsuccess/chapter/introd
https://study.com/academy/lesson/authors-purpose-
uction-to-academic-writing)
definition-examples.html

Types of Academic Text

Structure of Academic Texts
• Articles
Structure
• Blogs • is an important feature of academic writing.
• Collaborative Wiki • A well-structured text enables the reader to
• Essay
follow the argument and navigate the
• Review text.
• Thesis (Retrieved from: https://lnu.se/en/library/Writing-and-
• Journals (Academic and Scholarly Journals) referencing/the-structure-of-academic-texts)
• Anthologies, Edited Books, Special edition
What are Non-Academic Texts? The Three-Part Essay Structure
• Non-academic texts are writings that are • Introduction
personal, emotional, or subjective in nature. • Body
• They do not contain citation and use • Conclusion
informal language.
Introduction
Authors of academic texts: • Its purpose is to clearly tell the reader the
• raise abstract questions and issues. topic, purpose and structure of the paper.
• present facts and evidence to support their
claims. Body
• use logic to build their arguments and • It may elaborate directly on the topic
defend their positions. sentence by giving definitions, classifications,
• conform to a clearly-defined structure. explanations, contrasts, examples and
• choose their words carefully to present their evidence.
arguments as effectively as possible. • This is considered as the heart of the essay
• try to convince us to accept their positions. because it expounds the specific ideas for
the readers to have a better understanding of
Purpose of Academic Text the topic. It usually is the largest part of
• To persuade the essay.
• To inform
• To entertain/express

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Conclusion Types of written text based on structural
• The conclusion is closely related to the pattern and purpose:
introduction and is often described as its
‘mirror Description - This text structure uses sensory
image’. detail to describe a thing, person, place or
• This means that if the introduction begins idea.
with general information and ends with
specific information, the conclusion moves in Problem-Solution - This structure presents a
the opposite direction. problem, its cause and possible solution.

The IMRaD Structure Time/Order Chronological - This structure gives

• The sections of the IMRaD structure are information in order of appearance or event.
Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion.
• The Introduction usually depicts the Comparison/Contrast - This structure provides
background of the topic and the central focus information on the similarities or differences of
of two things, persons,
the study. places, events and even ideas.
• The Methodology lets your readers know
your data collection methods, research Cause and Effect - This structure presents a
instrument employed, sample size and so on. concept or problem and provides reasons or
• Results and Discussion state the brief explanation for such.
summary of the key findings or the results of
your LESSON #2 (LANGUAGE USED IN ACADEMIC
study. TEXTS)

Argumentative Structure Jargon - special words or expressions that are

• Introduction used by a particular profession or group and
• Background are difficult for others to understand.
Supporting Evidence 1
Supporting Evidence 2 Kinds of Jargon
Supporting Evidence 3 • Medicalese - Language of doctors.
• Counter Arguments • Legalese - Language of lawyers.
Supporting Evidence 1 • Journalese - Language of journalists.
Supporting Evidence 2 • Mercantilese/Commercialese - Language of
Supporting Evidence 3 businessmen.
• Conclusions • Technicalese - Language of technocrats.
• Diplomatese - Language of diplomats.
Report Structure • Teacherese - Language of teachers.
• Title Page • Motherese - Language used in parenting.
• Executive summary - Abstract • Computerese - Language of computer
• Table of Contents - Sections of the report specialists.
and their corresponding page numbers Source: Menoy, J. Z., Ph. D. (2016). Language Used in Academic Text.
In English for Academic and Professional Purposes: A Multidisciplinary
• Introduction - The purpose/objectives of the Approach (pp. 7-8). Mandaluyong CIty, Philippines: Books atbp.
report Publishing.

• Body - The very core of the report, the Academic Writing

findings, substantial data and their analysis • Academic writing in English is linear, which
• Conclusion - The major inferences drawn means it has one central point or theme with
from the discussion of findings every part contributing to the main line of
• Reference List - List of reference material argument, without digressions or repetitions.
during research for report

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Messenger: @kimxharold
Features of Academic Writing 8. Responsibility
1. Complexity • In academic writing you must be responsible
• Written language is relatively more complex for, and must be able to provide
than spoken language. evidence and justification for, any claims you
• Written language has longer words, it is make.
lexically more dense and it has a more varied • You are also responsible for demonstrating
vocabulary. an understanding of any source texts you
use.
2. Formality
9. Organization
• Academic writing is relatively formal.
• Academic writing is well organized. It flows
• In general this means that in an essay you easily from one section to the next in a
should avoid colloquial words and logical fashion.
expressions.
• A good place to start is the genre of your
text.
3. Precision • Once you have decided on the genre, the
• In academic writing, facts and figures are
structure is easily determined.
given precisely.
10. Planning
4. Objectivity • Academic writing is well planned.
• Written language is in general objective • It usually takes place after research and
rather than personal. evaluation, according to a specific purpose
• It therefore has fewer words that refer to the and plan.
writer or the reader. LESSON #3 (THESIS STATEMENT)
• This means that the main emphasis should be What is a Thesis Statement?
on the information that you want to give • A thesis statement is the main idea of an
and the arguments you want to make, rather essay.
than you. • It is often a point you want to argue or
support in an essay.
5. Explicitness • A thesis statement is usually one sentence.
• Academic writing is explicit about the • It is often placed in the introductory
relationships in the text. paragraph of an essay.
• Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the • A thesis statement is a claim that could be
writer in English to make it clear to the reader argued.
how the various parts of the text are related.
• These connections can be made explicit by What to do before writing a thesis statement?
the use of different signaling words. Writing thesis statements can be fun and easy
to do. Before writing a thesis statement, the
6. Accuracy writer must be aware of his or her audience
• Academic writing uses vocabulary and purpose. Unclear thesis statements
accurately. emanate from the minds of writers with an
• Most subjects have words with narrow unclear purpose.
specific meanings. 1. You must begin with a topic question.
2. You must form an opinion and state it
7. Hedging clearly.
• In any kind of academic writing you do, it is 3. Be sure you have approached your
necessary to make decisions about your evidence fairly, without bias.
stance on a particular subject, or the strength 4. Consider both sides of a controversial
of the claims you are making. issue.
• Different subjects prefer to do this in different 5. Once you’ve established the topic
ways. question, a clear position, and
objectivity, you’re ready to write a thesis
statement.

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Messenger: @kimxharold
Thesis statements should avoid the following:
• the first person (I believe, In my opinion, etc.)
• unclear language (It seems, etc.)
• attempting two topics at once (even if they
seem related). Pick one and stick with it.
• just stating a fact - A thesis is something you
plan to make an argument about.

A thesis statement should :

• contain a topic (main idea of what you are
writing about)
• contain an opinion about the topic (your
attitude towards the topic)

Example:
The current television rating system does little
to help parents make wise programming
choices for their children.
Topic: the current television rating system
Writer's opinion: It does little to help parents
decide what children should watch.

Characteristics of a Good Thesis Statement:

1. A thesis statement should not be too
broad/too general.
Too broad: Drug use is detrimental to society.
Better: Illegal drug use is detrimental because
it encourages gang violence.

2. A thesis statement should not be too wordy.

Wordy: Some problems with Mountain City
Elementary School is that it needs a larger
playground, an air-conditioned gym, an
auditorium, restrooms connected to each
classroom, running water in the classrooms,
and a number of other physical changes to
the building.
Better: Mountain City Elementary needs
several changes to its facility to make it a
better school.

3. A thesis statement should not be a title.

A Title: Cost of Living
Better: The cost of living in Mountain City is
lower than in most other cities in the United
States.

4. A thesis statement should not be a fact.

A Fact: The average temperature for Mountain
City in winter is 34 and in summer is 75 degrees.
Better: The climate in Mountain City is ideal for
outdoor sports.
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