what is academic writing? academic writing refers to a particular style of expression
TRANSCRIPT
What is academic writing?Academic writing refers to a particular style of
expression.
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- A formal tone
- Use of the third-person rather
than first-person perspective
- Clear focus on the issue or topic
rather than the author’s opinion
- Precise word choice
- Use transitional markers
- Using tentative statement
Characteristics include:
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Conversational & vague terms
Questions
Sentence fragments
Abbreviations & contractions
Personal pronouns
Slang and phrases
Avoid using the following informal usage
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Today being fat is totally bad for your health.
About 30,000 fat people die every year in the
UK and loads more fat people die in the USA.
By 2005 more people will die of being fat than
smoking and it doesn’t have to be this way,
this could easily be prevented, couldn't it?
Why is the following text not a good example of academic style?
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The number of deaths per year
attributable to obesity is roughly 30,000
in the UK and ten times that in the USA,
where obesity is set to overtake
smoking in 2005 as the main
preventable cause of illness and
premature death.
Answer
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Abbreviations and contractions are
informal, and are best avoided in
academic writing. For example:
› ‘Department’ should be used instead of the
abbreviation ‘dept’.
› ‘Is not’ should be used in place of the
contraction ‘isn’t’.
Avoid abbreviations and contractions
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Compare the following:
‘The individual was sentenced for nicking a bike.’
‘The doctor looked kind of worried when he
reviewed the case notes.’
‘The individual was sentenced for stealing a bike’
‘The doctor looked slightly worried when he
reviewed the case notes.’
Avoid slang words and verb phrases
1. In Hong Kong there is one cell phone
for just about every two people.
› “just about” → “nearly”
2. We got encouraging results using
structural bamboo rather than timber.
› “got” → “obtained”
Avoid slang words and verb phrases
3. There has been a lot of interest in how background sounds, such as music, affects an individual’s ability to concentrate.› “a lot of “→ “considerable”
4. Consumer interest in electronic billing and payment is getting bigger and bigger.› “getting bigger and bigger ” → “increasing”
Avoid slang words and verb phrases
Which one is more formal?
› According to some biologists, coming up with
clear proof of the decreasing numbers of
frogs has been difficult.
› According to some biologists, offering clear
proof of the decreasing number of frogs has
been difficult.
Avoid slang words and verb phrases
English often has two or more choices to
express an action or occurrence.
However, there is a tendency for academic
writers to use a single verb whenever
possible.
Why?
Avoid slang words and verb phrases
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This totally changed people’s lives’
› Why is ‘totally’ there?
If it’s a ‘filler’ it can be omitted.
If it’s used for emphasis, a more
appropriate word could be used, for
example ‘significantly’ or
‘fundamentally’
Avoid conversational terms
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Consider the following:
‘The right thing’ would be better expressed as
‘the right action’ or ‘the right procedure’
‘A nice addition to the collection’ would be
better expressed as ‘A popular addition to the
collection’ or ‘A prestigious addition to the
collection’
Avoid vague terms
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In many academic disciplines, writing
in the first person is not acceptable as
it is believed to be too subjective and
personal.
Be Impersonal
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First person sentences use the pronouns
‘I’ and ‘we’. For example:
› We have considered...
› I suggest that...
› I have observed...
These can be transformed into:
(continued)
Writing in the first person
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Consideration has been given to...
The suggestion is made that...
It has been observed that...
Impersonal sentences
Formal Grammar Style
Which do you think is more formal?
Stand to either the left or the right side to indicate your choice.
Remain in the middle if you have absolutely no clue!
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AExport figures won’t improve until the economy is stronger.
BExport figures will not improve until the economy is stronger.
Avoid contractions
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AThe problem has few viable solutions.
BThe problem does not have many viable solutions.
Use formal negative forms
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AThe analysis yielded no new results.
BThe analysis did not yield any new results.
Use formal negative forms
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AThe government did not allocate much funding for the program.
BThe government allocated little funding for the program.
Use formal negative forms
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AThese semiconductors can be used in robots, CD players, and other electronic devices.
BThese semiconductors can be used in robots, CD players, etc.
Avoid run-on expressions like “etc.” or “and so forth”
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AThe results can be seen in Table 1
BYou can see the results in Table 1.
Avoid addressing the reader as “you”
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AWhat can be done to lower costs?
BWe now need to consider how costs may be lowered.
Direct Questions
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AVery little is actually known about the general nature of scientific dishonesty.
BActually, very little is known about the general nature of scientific dishonesty.
Place adverbs within the verb
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AThis model was developed by Krugman originally.
BThis model was originally developed by Krugman.
Place adverbs within the verb
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AIt may be difficult to make a decision about the method that we should use.
BChoosing the proper method may be difficult.
Aim for an efficient use of words.
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AWe have examined the surge of the international students in this school.
BThe surge of the international students in this school have been examined.
The use of “I” &”we”
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Joining words Also, and, so, but, for, or
Comparing words Similarly, in comparison, also
Contrasting words Although, but, on the other hand, despite, even though,
however
Adding information words In addition, moreover, furthermore
Ordering information words Before, since then, consequently, finally, first, after
that, eventually, gradually
Transitional words
Practice!
Look at the practice exercise on the 2nd
page of your handout (Formal Grammar
Style) and take a few minutes to
“formalize” the language.
Possible answers
1. This model can be used to analyze the effects of several parameter changes.
2. Coffee prices have fallen for many reasons.3. The difference between these two approaches to
designing underground subway stations can clearly be seen.
4. To date, no comprehensive study has examined the role of smiling in gaining the initial trusts of individuals.
Possible answers
5. Some studies have concluded that bamboo could be more widely used than it is now as a construction material
6. These special tax laws have been enacted in six mid-western states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, and Minnesota.
7. Little research has been done on the use of oil palm shell as coarse aggregate in the production of concrete.
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Another pair of eyes
Bottom line…. You have to communicate with the marker you do not get to sit
next to them.
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