ACADEMIC ENGLISH IIIClass 26

June 12, 2013

TodayAcademic Writing (language)

Work on Paper 4

Academic WritingAcademic writing:

- precise- formal or semi-formal- objective

Example:

A lot of people think that the weather is getting worse.They say that this has been going on for quite a long time.I think that they are quite right. Research has shown that we now get storms etc all the time.

Academic WritingAcademic writing:

- Aim is to present information as clearlyand accurately as possible.

Example:

A lot of people think that the weather is getting worse.They say that this has been going on for quite a long time.I think that they are quite right. Research has shown that we now get storms etc all the time.

Academic Writing Passage ProblemA lot of people think… Imprecise – how many is ‘a lot’?

…the weather… Imprecise – ‘weather’ is a short term concept

…getting worse… Informal

They say… Imprecise pronoun

…going on… Informal phrasal verb

…quite a long time. Imprecise – how long is this?

I think… Informal - personal pronoun

Research… Vague – whose research?

…we now get… Informal

…storms, etc… vague

…all the time. Overgeneralized

Academic WritingA lot of people think that the weather is getting worse.They say that this has been going on for quite a long time.I think that they are quite right. Research has shown that we now get storms etc all the time.

Re-written:

Experts widely believe that the climate is deteriorating. Climatologists claim that this process has been continuing for nearly 100 years. McKinley (1997) appears to support this belief, demonstrating a 55% increase in the frequency of severe winter gales since 1905.

Tips for Academic Style1. Avoid idioms or colloquial vocabulary.

i.e., “dad”, “guy”.

Instead, use standard English

“father”, “man”

Tips for Academic Style2. Be as precise as possible when discussing facts or figures.

Avoid phrases such as “about a hundred years ago”or “thousands of years ago”

If you must estimate numbers, use “approximately” not “about”

“approximately one hundred years ago…”

Tips for Academic Style3. Avoid adverbs that show your personal attitude/opinion.

i.e., “luckily”, “thankfully”, “happily”, “regrettably”

Tips for Academic Style4. Do not use contractions.

Don’t do not

Can’t cannot

Note: Possessives are not contractions.

i.e., The school’s projector.

Tips for Academic Style5. Avoid these words:

“like” for introducing examples.

Alternative: “such as, …” “for instance, …”

“thing” and its combinations (i.e., “something” “nothing”)

Alternative: “factor” “issue” “aspect”

Tips for Academic Style5. Avoid these words:

“lots of”

Alternative: “a significant number” “a considerable number”“a considerable amount”

“little/big”

Alternative: “small” “large”

Tips for Academic Style5. Avoid these words:

“get” phrases, such as “get better” “get worse”.

Alternative: “improve” “deteriorate”

“good/bad” these are too simplistic

Alternative: “positive/negative”i.e., The changes had several positive aspects.

Tips for Academic Style6. When writing lists, avoid “etc.” “and so on”.

Instead, insert “and” before the final item in the list.

i.e, Finding employment requires motivation, strong work ethic, and a positive attitude.

Tips for Academic Style7. Avoid two-word verbs (phrasal verbs) IF there is a suitable synonym.

i.e., “go on”, “bring up”.

“continue”, “raise”

Tips for Academic Style - ExamplesSadly, serious crime like murder is going up.

Serious crime, such as murder, is increasing.

You can’t always trust the numbers in that report.

The figures in that report are not reliable.

The second thing is that most kids in that district will become criminals.

The second factor is that the majority of children in that district may become criminals.

Tips for Academic Style - ExamplesI think that there’s a big risk of more strikes, disorder, etc.

There appears to be a significant risk of further strikes and disorders.

A few years ago they allowed women to vote.

Women were enfranchised in 1994.

Regrettably, the inflation in Russia led to increased poverty, illness and so on.

The Russian inflation led to poverty and disease.

Tips for Academic Style - ExamplesSome time soon they will find a vaccine for malaria.

A malaria vaccine may be discovered in the next 10 years.

Academic Writing Style – further examples

These examples are taken from: Uni Learning - http://unilearning.uow.edu.au

Specific Words

Academic Writing Style – further examples

Phrasal verbs

Academic Writing Style – further examples

Specific vocabulary in descriptions

Avoiding “really”, “very”