Academic Texts ○ React on the arguments presented in the text

 This is a reading material that provides information which include concepts and ○ Use context clues to define unfamiliar or technical words
theories that are related to the specific discipline.  Annotate important parts of the text.
 Any kind of material that help someone to gain more knowledge about a certain ○ Synthesize author's arguments at the end of chapter or section
topic or idea. (Strews,2010) ○ Determine the main idea of the text
 Means a text that is specifically written for use by college instructors or students ○ Identify the evidence or supporting arguments presented by the author
and check their validity and relevance
Purposes for Reading Academic Texts ○ Identify the findings and note the appropriateness of the research
 to better understand an existing data method used.
 to get ideas that can support a particular writing assignment After Reading
 to gain more information ○ Reflect on what you learned.
 to identify gaps existing studies ○ Link the main idea of the text to what you already know.
 to connect new ideas to existing ones ○ Critical Reading Strategies
 SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review)
Structure of Academic Texts  KWL (What I know, What I want to know, What I have learned)
• falls into just three categories: argumentative/thesis structure, problem –  Identify the main idea.
solution structure, report structure  State your opinion, insights, reflection about the academic text that you have
• three-part essay structure read.
• typically formal, precise, accurate, and objective
Paraphrasing
Content and Style of Academic Texts -used to rewrite the text in your own words
 Authors -used to clarify meaning
 state critical questions and issues -used to avoid PLAGIARISM.
 provide facts and evidence from credible sources Paraphrase
 use precise and accurate words - your own rendition of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else,
 take an objective point-of-view presented in a new form
 list references -a more detailed restatement than a summary, which focuses concisely on a single
 use hedging or cautious language to tone down their claims main idea
Critical Reading Strategies
Before Reading What is NOT Paraphrasing?
 Determine which type of academic text you are reading. -Changing a couple of words
 Predict and infer the main idea or argument of the text based on its title. -Deleting a couple words or phrases
 Check the publication date for relevance. -Rearranging the order of the words
 Check the reference list Summarizing
During Reading -Condenses, or takes a chunk of text and shrinks it into its main components
 Annotate important parts of the text. -Involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main points
○ Write brief notes on the margin -Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and give a broad overview of the
○ Write questions on info that you find confusing source material.
Thesis Statement
-It serves as the guide for the essay and directly answers the question or task asked
of you
- It tells the argument that you are going to defend.
-Can you find the thesis statement in the following example?

Key Features of a Thesis Statement

- Answers the prompt
- States the main idea in a complete sentence, not a question
- Appears at the end of an introduction
- Gives an opinion or attitude on a topic
- The Main Idea is a Complete Sentence
Strategies in Locating the Thesis Statement
-Read the title of the text and make inferences on its purpose.
-If the text has no abstract or executive summary, read first the first few paragraphs.
-In other cases, check the conclusion.

Topic Sentence
- presents and describes the point of the paragraph
-the main idea of the paragraph
Strategies in Locating the Topic Sentence
- Read the first sentence of the paragraph very carefully because
- most authors state their topic sentence in the beginning of the paragraph.
- Browse the sentences in the paragraph to identify what they describe.
- Find the concept or idea being tackled.
- Identify the purpose of the paragraph.
- Observe the writing style of the author

Outlines
• It is a general plan of what you are going to write.
• It can be a topic outline or sentence outline.
• Essay Outline

Bibliography
• This is a list of materials that were used or will be used in the composition of an
academic or professional piece.
• Found at the end of the text and arranged alphabetically