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Understanding Academic Language Aspects

The document provides a weekly learning plan for an English for Academic and Professional Purposes course. It outlines the objectives of distinguishing five aspects of academic language, identifying their use in texts, and using them in writing. These aspects include formality, objectivity, explicitness, structure, and caution. Examples are given of each aspect, such as using expanded terms instead of contractions to maintain formality and objectivity. Students are asked to write sample sentences applying the different aspects of academic language.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
27 views5 pages

Understanding Academic Language Aspects

The document provides a weekly learning plan for an English for Academic and Professional Purposes course. It outlines the objectives of distinguishing five aspects of academic language, identifying their use in texts, and using them in writing. These aspects include formality, objectivity, explicitness, structure, and caution. Examples are given of each aspect, such as using expanded terms instead of contractions to maintain formality and objectivity. Students are asked to write sample sentences applying the different aspects of academic language.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

Weekly Learning Plan. Week 2


First Quarter, First Semester, SY 2022-2023
Prepared by Ms. Rojem Mae del Carmen
I. Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the learner will be able to:
a. distinguish the five aspects of academic and professional language;
b. identify the use of these aspects in academic text; and
c. use academic and professional language in writing sentences.

1. Spelling1
● pursue
- to follow a course of activity
- He wants to pursue a career in medicine.
● length
- a measurement of how long something is in size
- The boat was 16 feet in length.
● strength
- physical power/energy
- I didn’t have the strength to get out of bed.
● taught
- the past tense and past participle of teach
- She taught in this school last year.
● thought
- idea/opinion
- His mind was filled with thoughts of revenge.
[Link] Check2
● Use of apostrophes
You use an apostrophe in a contraction (e.g., “there is” to “there’s”) or to show
possession (e.g., “the manager’s pet peeve”). You don’t use one if the “s” is there
simply to make a word a plural.

Wrong: We need to get our sale’s numbers up.


Right: We need to get our sales numbers up.

• Copy the underlined word and place the apostrophe correctly.


1. Mr. Presidents envoy is coming.
2. Its not easy to commute every day.
3. My mothers dish is famous.
4. Theres a band playing outside.
5. Jesus disciples were obedient to him.

● Rewrite the sentences with correct use of apostrophe.


1. The apple’s taste is sour.
2. The apple’s are ripe.
3. I have many coin’s in my pocket.
4. The coin’s value is low.
5. My classmate’s bag was missing.
6. My classmate’s are busy studying.

1 | EAPP WEEK 2
Five Aspects of Professional and Academic Language
a. Formality
b. Objectivity
c. Explicitness
d. Structure
e. Caution

1. FORMALITY– dignified stance in writing


a. Uses expanded modal forms
3Modals in academic writing can change a sentence’s meaning into a prediction,

suggestion, or a question. Modals can also serve a social function to show uncertainty or
politeness. They are especially common in discussion sections of research papers.

CONTRACTED EXPANDED CONTRACTED EXPANDED CONTRACTED EXPANDED

can’t cannot shouldn’t should not mustn’t must not

won’t will not wouldn’t would not couldn’t could not

b. Use expanded terms not contraction


Don’t Do not
We’re We are
There’s There is
It’ll It will

c. Avoid colloquial expressions


4A colloquialism is a word or expression that makes up the informal style of language

that people use in casual conversation. Instead of expressions, be direct to the point.
5Examples:

“Hard to swallow” = difficult to believe


“Up for grabs” = available to anyone
“Knee jerk reaction” = a quick or automatic response
“Head over heels” = in love

2. OBJECTIVITY – Impersonal, social distance is maintained

a. Avoid using personal pronouns


6I, you, he, she, it, we they, me, him, her, us, and them are all personal pronouns.

Personal pronouns are the stunt doubles of grammar; they stand in for the people (and
perhaps animals) who star in our sentences. Instead, specify who are being referred to.
Example: X They discovered new results in their experiment.
The researchers discovered new results in their experiment.

2 | EAPP WEEK 2
b. Avoid rhetorical questions
7A rhetorical question is asked just for effect, or to lay emphasis on some point being

discussed when no real answer is expected. Be direct.


● “Did you hear me?”
● “Ok?”
● “Why not?”
● 'Who wouldn't want to be a millionaire?'
● ‘Do we really want our planet to survive?’

c. Avoid emotive language


8Emotive language is word choice that is used to evoke emotion.

An innocent bystander was murdered in cold blood in Downtown Chicago. The words
“innocent” and “murdered” and the phrase “in cold blood” are the uses of emotive
language in this sentence.

3. EXPLICITNESS – Explicit means fully revealed or expressed. In academic text, the


meaning and relationships of statements should be clear and definite. Therefore, we use
SIGNPOSTS or signal words/transitions to articulate the structure of writing. 9

4. STRUCTURE – Avoid redundancy or repetition in combining ideas.

2 Types of Structuring:

1. Nominalization – These are nouns created from adjectives or verbs. 11It prevents you
from repeating the same verb or other word again and it makes your writing less
personal as the focus will be on an action rather than who did it.
Example: decide - decision argue - argument

She was thinking about all the work she had to do and this made her stressed.
The thought of all the work she had to do made her stressed.

I analysed the data, which revealed the numbers of obese people had increased.
An analysis of the data revealed an increase in obesity.

3 | EAPP WEEK 2
The charity was set up to help blind people.
The charity was set up to help the blind.

2. Passivization– The results of actions are highlighted.

Active (S-TV-DO) Passive (S-LV-C)


Subject - Transitive Verb - Direct Object Subject - Linking Verb - Complement
*Direct Object - Receiver of action *Linking Verbs: am, is, was, are, were

12She robbed the bank. The bank was robbed (by her).

He breaks windows. The windows are broken (by him).

The wine is going to be drunk by


Sally is going to be drinking wine.
Sally.

4. CAUTION– Avoid hasty generalizations and baseless assumptions. Practice research


and fact-checking in presenting your ideas/statements. Use trusted sources or websites
such as: Scholarly, peer-reviewed articles and books; Trade or professional articles or
books; and Magazine articles, books and newspaper articles from well-established
companies

D. Analysis
A. Check which statements describe academic and professional language.

1. uses full forms of words 4. no cliches, redundant words or


colloquialism
2. uses active voice

3. avoids personal pronouns 5. uses credible sources

E. Assessment
Write a sample sentence for each aspect of the academic and professional language. Apply
the aspects in writing your sentences.

1. Expanded Modal forms and terms


2. Avoids colloquial expressions
3. Avoids personal pronouns
4. Avoids emotive language
5. Use of signposts
6. Use of nominalization
7. Use of passivization

4 | EAPP WEEK 2
II. References:

1[Link]
2[Link]

[Link]
3[Link]

tools/modals/#:~:text=In%20academic%20writing%2C%20modal%20verbs,to%20weakest%20fo
r%20each%20function.
4[Link]

colloquialisms-are-used-in-literature-with-examples
5[Link]
6[Link]

pronouns/#:~:text=I%2C%20you%2C%20he%2C%20she,who%20star%20in%20our%20sentence
s
7[Link]

pronouns/#:~:text=I%2C%20you%2C%20he%2C%20she,who%20star%20in%20our%20sentence
s
8[Link]
9[Link]
10[Link]
11[Link]
12[Link]

5 | EAPP WEEK 2

Common questions

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Replacing rhetorical questions with direct statements in professional writing is important because it eliminates ambiguity and focuses on clarity. Rhetorical questions can create confusion about the writer's intent, as they are not meant to elicit responses. Direct statements, on the other hand, provide clear information and assertions, reinforcing the communicative objectives of maintaining a formal and explicit tone that supports the reader's comprehension and the message's precision .

Emphasizing caution in academic writing involves rigorous fact-checking and avoiding hasty generalizations, which is crucial for preventing misinformation. By grounding assertions in well-researched, credible sources and appropriately hedging claims with cautious language, writers reduce potential inaccuracies. This commitment to scholarly precision ensures the dissemination of reliable information and fosters trust in academic discourse by upholding high standards of evidence and reasoning .

Utilizing formality in academic language enhances clarity and professionalism by reducing ambiguity and ensuring that the writing adheres to a dignified tone. Formal language often employs expanded modal forms which clarify predictions, suggestions, or politeness, contributing to a more respectful and precise communication. Moreover, avoiding colloquial expressions reduces the risk of misunderstandings caused by informal language, thus making the text more universally understandable and professionally acceptable .

Passivization is preferred in academic writing when the focus is on the action or the result, rather than on who performed the action. This is particularly useful in scientific writing where the process or findings are more important than the researcher conducting the experiment. By using the passive voice, the emphasis is placed on the event itself, which aligns with the objective and impersonal nature required in scholarly work to ensure that the content rather than the contributor is at the foreground .

Avoiding personal pronouns in academic and professional writing helps maintain objectivity by eliminating the impression of personalization and subjectivity in the discourse. By referring specifically to entities or roles instead of using 'I' or 'we', the writing fosters an impersonal tone that distances the author's personal perspective from the content, thus ensuring that the focus remains on the data or arguments being presented rather than the individual presenting them .

Avoiding emotive language in objective academic writing is significant because it maintains neutrality and precision, ensuring that the analysis remains focused on empirical evidence rather than emotional appeal. Emotive language can inadvertently introduce biases and distract from the logical structure of arguments, undermining the objective presentation of facts. By prioritizing clear and factual language, academic writing upholds the integrity and reliability of its discourse, aligning with scientific standards for impartiality .

Nominalization is significant in structuring academic writing as it enables the transformation of verbs into nouns, shifting the focus from the doer to the action or the process itself. This reduces redundancy and personal bias, emphasizing the analysis or results rather than the individuals involved. For the reader, this technique enhances understanding by concentrating on conceptual clarity and facilitating a more structured and formal discourse flow .

Signposts are critical in enhancing the explicitness of academic texts as they provide clear markers that guide the reader through the argument or narrative. These transitions and connector words elucidate the logical flow and connectivity of ideas, helping to articulate the structure of writing transparently. By making the relationships between different parts of the text explicit, signposts improve the reader's ability to follow and comprehend the author's line of reasoning .

The careful selection of sources is fundamental to reinforcing academic writing credibility by ensuring arguments are supported by reliable, authoritative evidence. Utilizing scholarly, peer-reviewed articles, as well as reputable trade publications and well-established news outlets, provides a foundation of verifiable data and perspectives. This meticulous source selection mitigates the risk of bias and inaccuracies, enhancing the academic text's validity and trustworthiness in the eyes of an informed audience .

The use of colloquial expressions in formal academic writing can significantly undermine clarity and professionalism. Such expressions are typically context-dependent and region-specific, which may lead to misunderstandings among diverse, global audiences. Colloquialisms can render a text less formal and diminish its perceived seriousness, detracting from its academic tone. Avoiding colloquial language ensures that communication remains universally comprehensible and maintains the authoritative voice expected in scholarly work .

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