Reading Academic Texts

Overview
• Academic Text
• Language Use in Academic Text
• Text Structure
• Summarizing
• Thesis Statement
• Outlining
Academic Reading
• It is an active process that goes beyond merely reading
and highlighting your text.
• This is done through interacting with the text by taking notes,
making connections between the text, and asking critical
questions about the material you are reading.

Academic Text
• An academic text is a critical, objective, specialized reading
material that provides information about concepts and
theories that are related to a specific discipline.
 Non-Academic Text Academic Text
It is written for non-academic audience. It is a type of writing that is written by
They are for the general public and can be professionals in a given field and is also
written by anyone. intended for a scholarly audience.
 Examples of Academic Texts

These are papers presented in scholastic

conferences and may be revised as articles
for possible publication in journals.
 Examples of Academic Texts

These feature results of research and

development that can impact the academic
community to nation building.
 Examples of Academic Texts

These provide evaluation of works

published in scholarly journals.
 Examples of Academic Texts

These are personal researches written

by a candidate for college or university
degree.
• The CONTENT
CONTENT of academic texts includes concepts,
principles, and theories that link to the specific discipline it
explores.

• The STYLE includes all the properties of a well-written

paragraph –
organization, unity,
coherence and cohesion,
language used, and
mechanics.
 FEATURES OF ACADEMIC
TEXTS

• Formality - Academic writing uses formal

language rather than slang or informal
language.

• Objectivity - Written language could provide

more explicit or objective purpose of
communication.
 FEATURES OF ACADEMIC
TEXTS

• Complexity - Through written language,

complex ideas could be simplified using a
simple language or commonly used
idioms that are understandable to a
specific target audience.

• Precision - In academic writing, facts and

figures could be quoted from exact
sources for further reference.
Language Use in Academic Text
 Academic Language
"Words and syntactic structures that students are likely to encounter in
textbooks and tests, but not in everyday, spoken English." (Strategic Education
Research Partnership, 2010)

"Language that students must comprehend to access the concepts associated

with a particular discipline (e.g., mathematics, science, social science) and use to
demonstrate their understanding of those concepts." (Anstrom, et al., 2010)
 use cautious, considered
language in an effort to be as exact as they can in
their analysis. Academic Language
• Academic language represents
the language demands of school.
• It includes the language used in
textbooks, in classrooms, on
tests, and in each discipline.
What is the difference between
social language and academic
language?

Social language is the simple, informal language

we use when talking face to face with family
members, and friends.

Academic language is the language of academic

disciplines, of texts and literature, and of extended,
reasoned discourse. We use it to describe and
comprehend complex ideas, process higher-order
thinking, and understand abstract concepts.
Academic Language is...
It avoids casual or conversational
Formal language, such as colloquial, idiomatic
expression, slang, and contraction.

It avoids direct reference to people

Objective or feelings and instead emphasizing
objects, facts, and ideas.

It uses vocabulary specific to the

Technical discipline.
Formal
Choose formal vocabulary.
a bit somewhat

not enough insufficient

Avoid contractions.
didn't did not

Avoid emotional language.

terrible problematic
wonderful helpful

Use cautious evaluations.

wrong less convincing

proof strong evidence

Objective
Emphasize ideas, instead of people and feelings.

"I believe the model is valid, "These findings indicate that

based on these findings..." the model is valid."

Avoid evaluative words that are based on non-technical

judgments and feelings.
amazing valid

disappointment did not demonstrate

Avoid intense or emotional evaluative language.

"Parents who smoke are "Secondhand smoke has
obviously abusing their harmful effects on
children." children's health."
Objective
Show caution about your views, or to allow room
for others to disagree.
"There is evidence to support
"I think secondhand smoke the possibility that
causes cancer." secondhand smoke increases
the risk of cancer."

Find credible sources, who support your point of

view, and refer to them in your writing.
"As Halliday (1973) argues,
"Language is, in my view,
language is intrinsically
clearly something social."
social."
Technical
Develop a large vocabulary for the concepts specific to
the discipline or specialization you’re writing for.
Be careful about the meaning of technical terms.
Use the key categories and relationships in your
discipline, that is, the way information and ideas are
organized into groups.
 Why is academic language important?
Without knowledge of academic English, individuals may not only be excluded
from participation in an educated society but also prohibited from helping
transform it.

"Acquisition of academic vocabulary and grammar is also necessary to advance

students’ knowledge of and ability to use everyday vocabulary and grammar."
(Scarcella, 2003)
Structure of Academic Texts
Text Structure A clear structure and a logical flow
are imperative to a cohesive text.
A well-structured text enables the
reader to follow the argument and
navigate the text.
The Three-Part Essay
Structure
• The introduction and the conclusion should be
shorter than the body of the text.
• For shorter essays, one or two paragraphs for
each of these sections can be appropriate.
• For longer texts or theses, they may be several
pages long.
 Introduction
• The goal of introduction is to let the readers know the topic of the
paper and what points will be made about the topic.
The introduction may define, give
examples, or provide information about
“Juvenile Delinquency”
which will allow readers to better understand
the arguments you will discuss about the topic.
 Introduction
• The thesis statement tells reader the specific purpose or main argument of your paper.

There are three positive This situation has both positive

aspects of this situation. and negative effects on the
development of society, the
control of population, and the
effects of stress.
 Introduction
• As a rough guide, an introduction might be between 10 and 20 percent of the length.
• This can be achieved by taking introduction from "general" to "specific."

General It should begin by providing your reader a general understanding of the overall topic.

Narrowing The middle of the introduction should narrow down main point by stating the topic

Specific Finally, direct your reader to your thesis statement clearly.

 Body
• This is where the evidence gathered from your research is presented
to support the writer's interpretations and views of the issues.

What is the topic about?

This is considered as the heart of the essay, because it expounds the
specific ideas by giving definitions, classifications, explanations,
contrasts, examples, and evidence.
"While it has long been convenient to ignore how small changes may have a
compounding positive effect on slowing climate change, it is vital to consider
the extent to which measures such as eliminating single-use plastics truly
provide meaningful help."

Point 1
Topic sentence
Supporting details: explanation, example, evidence
Conclusion

Point 2
Topic sentence
Supporting details: explanation, example, evidence
Conclusion

Point 3
Topic sentence
Supporting details: explanation, example, evidence
Conclusion
 Conclusion
• This part reminds the readers of the main points of your paper and
summarizes the “take away” or significance of the conversation.

"Mirror image"
If the introduction begins with general information and ends with
specific information, the conclusion moves in the opposite direction.
 Conclusion
• This can be achieved by taking conclusion from "specific" to "general."

Specific Begin with your rephrased thesis statement to remind your reader of the point of your paper.

Narrowing Summarize the points you made in your paper and show how they support your argument.

Tell your reader what the significance of your argument might be.
General
Basic Structure
Introduction
Thesis Statement

Body
Topic statement
Supporting details
Conclusion

Conclusion
 The IMRaD Structure
• “IMRaD” format refers to a paper that is structured
by four main sections: Introduction, Methods,
Results, and Discussion.

• This format is often used for lab reports as well as

for reporting any planned, systematic research in
the social sciences, natural sciences, or engineering
and computer sciences.
• provides research question
• explains the significance
• review of background or known
information on topic

• describes methods for gathering

information
• explains sources of information, both
primary and secondary

• describes what you found out from your

research.
• develops each point thoroughly, as this
is the main section of your research
paper

• explains the significance of your findings

• describes how they support your thesis
• discusses limitations of your research
 Examples of
Academic Text
 • a standard work for a particular
branch of study;
Textbook • design to help the learner;
• vary in style, tone, and level
depending on their audience.
 • a short literary composition on a
particular theme or subject, usually
in prose and generally analytic,
Essay speculative, or interpretative.
• vary in length and formality
• citation of resources

Three-Part Essay I. Introduction

II. Body
Structure III. Conclusion
 I. Introduction
II. Background of the Study
IMRaD Structure III. RRL
IV. Methodology
V. Results & Discussion
VI. Recommendation & Conclusion

Thesis & Dissertation

• A long period of reading, research, and reflection.
 • reports the result of original
research, assesses its contribution to
Research the body of knowledge in a given
area.
Articles • normally published in a journal
• written mainly for specialist
audiences

I. Introduction
II. Background of the Study
IMRaD Structure III. RRL
IV. Methodology
V. Results & Discussion
VI. Recommendation & Conclusion
 I. Introduction

IMRaD Structure
II. Background of the Study
III. Evaluation of the case
IV. Proposed solution
V. Recommendations

• is a report about a person, group,

or situation that has been studied
Case Study • most common disciplines such as
business, sociology and law
 • written account of something that

Reports one has observed, heard, done or

investigated
• describe what happened and discuss
and evaluate its importance

I. Context
II. Introduction
IMRaD Structure III.Methodology
IV. Findings
V. Discussion/Evaluation
VI. Conclusion
An academic text is a critical, objective, specialized reading material that provides
information about concepts and theories that are related to a specific discipline. It is
usually written by experts or professionals in the given field.

The following are considered as academic texts: Research Papers, Conference Papers,
Feasibility Studies, Theses/Dissertations, Reviews, Essays, Academic Journals, Reports.

Academic Language refers to the oral, written, auditory, and visual language
proficiency required to learn effectively in schools and academic programs.

The structure of an academic text is essential in making the text clear and organized.
Examples of structure of an academic text include: Three-Part Essay Structure and
IMRaD Structure.