E A P P : M O D U L E 1
READING
Academic
Te x t
Learning Objectives
1. Differentiate language used in academic texts from various
disciplines.
2. Determine the structure of a specific academic text.
3. Explain the specific ideas contained in various academic texts.
4. Use knowledge of text structure to glean the information he/she
needs.
5. Use various techniques in summarizing a variety of academic
texts.
Direction: Read the passages below. Then, identify whether
What’s In? each passage can be an academic text or non-academic
text. Write A if it is academic and N if it is non-academic.
_____1. Some educators suggest that the distinction between conversational and
academic language is somewhat arbitrary and that it is the situation, community, or
context that is either predominantly social or academic.
_____2. The current study showed that COVID-19 pandemic lockdown affected the
academic performance of most participants with varying degrees.
_____3. In his reverie he remembers how nature marked the season it happened.
_____4. I believe they are the first and last and the closest things I have to say about
my own life.
_____5. The current study showed that the most popular device that students used to
access the online materials was the smart phone followed by laptop, while the least
used tool was the personal computer.
Nature and Characteristics
of an Academic Text
Academic Text • Essay
• Research
An academic text is a written Paper
language that provides • Report
information, which contain ideas • Project
and concepts that are related to • Article
the particular discipline.
• Thesis
• Dissertation
STRUCTURE
The basic structure that is used by an academic
text is consist of three (3) parts introduction, body,
and conclusion which is formal and logical.
STRUCTURE
This kind of structure enables the
reader to follow the argument and
navigate the text. In academic
writing a clear structure and a logical
flow are imperative to a cohesive
text.
T
O This refers to the attitude conveyed
in a piece of writing. The arguments
of others are fairly presented and
N with an appropriate narrative tone.
E
TONE OF AN ACADEMIC TEXT
BIASED
When presenting a position or OR
argument that disagrees with
one’s perspectives, describe the UNBIASE
argument accurately without D
loaded or biased language.
L A N G U A G E
L A N G U A G E
It is important to use unambiguous language.
Clear topic sentences enable a reader to follow your
line of thinking without difficulty.
FORMAL LANGUAGE
THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW
TECHNICAL LANGUAGE
Technical language appropriate to area of study
may also be used, however, it does not mean using
“big words” just for the sake of doing so.
“v”C“CITATION“
Citing sources in the body
of the paper and providing
a list of references as either
footnotes or endnotes is a
very important aspect of an
academic text.
AVOID PLAGIARISM!
It is essential to always
acknowledge the source of any
ideas, research findings, data, or
quoted text that have been used
in a paper as a defense against
allegations of plagiarism.
COMPLEXITY
An academic text addresses
complex issues that require higher-
order thinking skills to comprehend.
Evidence-based
Arguments
What is valued in an academic text is that
opinions are based on a sound
understanding of the pertinent body of
knowledge and academic debates that
exist within, and often external to a
specifi c discipline.
Thesis - Driven
The starting point of an academic text is a
particular perspective, idea or position
applied to the chosen research problem,
such as establishing, proving, or disproving
solutions to the questions posed for the
topic.
Features of
Academic Text
1. Complex
• Written language has no
longer words, it is lexically
more varied vocabulary.
• Written texts are shorter and
the language has more
grammatical complexity,
including more subordinate
clauses and more passives.
2. Formal
Should avoid colloquial words and
expressions
3. Precise
Facts are given accurately and precisely.
3.
4. Precise
Objective
The academic text has fewer
words that emphasize on the
information you want to give and
the arguments you want to make
It mostly use nouns (adjectives),
rather than verbs (adverbs)
5. Explicit
It is the responsibility of
the writer in English to
make it clear to the reader
how the various parts of
the text are related.
6. Accurate
It uses vocabulary
accurately.
Most subjects have words
with narrow specific
meanings.
7. Hedging
It is necessary to make
decisions about your
stance on a particular
subject, or the strength of
the claims you are making.
8. Responsible
You must be responsible
for and must be able to
provide evidence and
justification for any claims
you make.
9. Organize
It is well-organized.
It flows easily from one
section to the next in a
logical fashion.
10 Plan
.
It is well-planned.
It usually takes place
after research and
evaluation, according to
specific purpose and
plan.
Purposes in Reading an
Academic Text
1. To locate a main idea;
2. To scan for information;
3. To identify gaps in existing studies;
4. To connect new ideas to existing ones;
5. To gain more pieces of information;
6. To support a particular writing assignment; and,
7. To deeply understand an existing idea.
Factors to Consider in Writing
Academic Text
1. State critical questions and issues;
2. Provide facts and evidence from credible
sources;
3. Use precise and accurate words while avoiding
jargon;
4. Take an objective point of view;
5. List references; and,
6. Use cautious language
ACADEMIC LANGUAGE
What is Academic Language?
Academic language is the language
needed by students to do the work in
schools.
Students who master academic language
are more likely to be successful in
academic and professional settings.
Examples
• Discipline-specific vocabulary
• Grammar and punctuation
• Applications of rhetorical
conventions and devices that
are typical for a content area
(e.g., essays, lab reports,
discussions of a controversial
issue.)
What is Social Language?
Social language is the set of vocabulary that allows us to
communicate with others in the context of regular daily
conversations.
SOCIAL LANGUAGE ACADEMIC LANGUAGE
• In textbooks, research papers,
• In everyday interactions in conferences in spoken/written
spoken/written form form
• Used in school/work conversations
• For everyday conversation
• Appropriate for written papers,
classwork, homework
• Used to write to friends,
family, or for other social
• Very formal and more
purposes sophisticated in its expressions,
such as words like ''appropriate,''
• Informal, such as words like ''studies,'' ''implementation''
''cool,'' ''guy,'' ''kidding'')
SOCIAL LANGUAGE ACADEMIC LANGUAGE
• Don't use slang.
• Can use slang expressions
• Can be repetitive • Uses a variety of terms
• Can use phrases • Uses sentences
• Sentences don't follow • Sentences begin with
grammar conventions appropriate transitions, like,
necessarily, with phrases like, ''moreover'' or ''in addition'')
''you're hungry?''
ACADEMIC LANGUAGE
1. Formal
It should not sound conversational or
casual. Colloquial, idiomatic, slang or
journalistic expressions should particularly
be avoided. Examples:
Use… Instead…
Consider, monitor Look at
Revise, review Go over
Solve, repair, amend Fix
2. Objective
This means it is unbiased. It should be
based on facts and evidence and are not
influenced by personal feelings.
3. Impersonal
This involves avoiding the personal pronouns
‘I’ and ‘we’.
For example, instead of writing ‘I will show’,
you might write ‘this report will show’.
The second person, ‘you’, is also to be
avoided.
What’s More?
A. Instruction: Write TRUE if the
statement is correct and FALSE if is
not.
1. Students who master academic
language are more likely to be
successful in academic and professional
settings.
2. An academic text makes use of
complex jargons to promote a higher
level of comprehension.
3. Academic text uses words which tones
up claims expressing certainty.
4. Both academic and non-academic
texts can be used to inform.
5. The language used in academic texts
should be conversational.
6. In reading an academic text, it helps
acquire new information.
7. An academic text needs less
concentration and focus because the
terms are simple.
8. It is in academic text that issues are
stated to provoke information discussion.
9. A magazine is an academic text.
10. Academic language should be
objective, precise, impersonal and
formal.
What’s More?
B. Categorize the information based on
their characteristics below by filling in
the table to differentiate academic text
from non-academic text. Copy the
table and write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.
What’s More?
C. Instructions: Using the Venn
diagram, compare and contrast the
characteristics of academic texts from
non-academic texts.