What is an Academic Text? C.

The most specific information, describing the

scope and structure of your paper.
Academic text is defined as critical, objective,
specialized texts written by experts or professionals The Body. It develops the question, “What
in a given field using formal language. This means is the topic about?”. It may elaborate directly on
that academic texts are based on facts with solid the topic sentence by giving definitions,
basis. Academic writing, therefore, is generally classifications, explanations, contrasts, examples
quite formal, objective (impersonal) and technical. and evidence. This is considered as the heart of
It is formal by avoiding casual or conversational the essay because it expounds the specific ideas
language, such as contractions or informal for the readers to have a better understanding of
vocabulary. It is impersonal and objective by the topic. It usually is the largest part of the
avoiding direct reference to people or feelings, and essay.
instead emphasizing objects, facts and ideas. It is
technical by using vocabulary specific to the Conclusion. The conclusion is closely
discipline. To be a good academic writer, you will related to the introduction and is often described
need to learn the specific styles and structures for as its ‘mirror image’. This means that if the
your discipline, as well as for each individual writing introduction begins with general information and
task. Some examples of academic writing are as ends with specific information, the conclusion
follows: moves in the opposite direction. The conclusion
Literary Analysis: A literary analysis usually begins by briefly summarizing the main
essay examines, evaluates, and makes an scope or structure of the paper, confirms the
argument about a literary work. As its name topic that was given in the introduction, ends with
suggests, a literary analysis essay goes beyond a more general statement about how this topic
mere summarization. It requires careful close relates to its context. This may take the form of
reading of one or multiple texts and often focuses an evaluation of the importance of the topic,
on a specific characteristic, theme, or motif. implications for future research or a
Research Paper: A research paper uses recommendation about theory or practice.
outside information to support a thesis or make
an argument. Research papers are written in all The IMRaD Structure
disciplines and may be evaluative, analytical, or The sections of the IMRaD structure are
critical in nature. Common research sources Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion.
include data, primary sources (e.g., historical The Introduction usually depicts the background
records), and secondary sources (e.g., peer- of the topic and the central focus of the study.
reviewed scholarly articles). Writing a research The Methodology lets your readers know your
paper involves synthesizing this external data collection methods, research instrument
information with your own ideas. employed, sample size and so on. Results and
Dissertation: A dissertation (or thesis) is Discussion states the brief summary of the key
a document submitted at the conclusion of a findings or the results of your study.
Ph.D. program. The dissertation is a book-length
summarization of the doctoral candidate’s Eight Main Language Features of Academic
research. Writing
Based on the examples, it can be said
that in academic reading, full concentration and 1. Complexity
comprehension are required for you to Written language is relatively more complex than
understand the key ideas, information, themes, spoken language. Written texts are lexically dense
or arguments of the text. compared to spoken language - they have
Academic papers may be done as a part proportionately more lexical words than
of a class, in a program of study, or for grammatical words. Written texts are shorter and
publication in an academic journal or scholarly have longer, more complex words and phrases.
book of articles around a theme, by different They have more noun-based phrases, more
authors. nominalizations, and more lexical variation.
Structure is an important feature of Example:
academic writing. A well-structured text enables the Spoken Written
reader to follow the argument and navigate the text. Whenever I had visited Every previous visit
In academic writing a clear structure and a logical there before, I had had left me with a
flow are imperative to a cohesive text. These are the ended up feeling that it sense of the futility of
two common structures of academic texts that you would be futile if I tried further action on my
need to learn which depends on the type of to do anything more. part.
assignment you are required: the three-part essay Because the technology Improvements in
structure and the IMRaD structure. has improved it is less technology have
risky than it used to be reduced the risks and
The Three-Part Essay Structure when you install them high costs associated
at the same time, and it with simultaneous
The three-part essay structure is a basic does not cost so much installation.
structure that consists of introduction, body either.
and conclusion. The introduction and the Source:
conclusion should be shorter than the body of the http://www.uefap.com/writing/feature/complex_intr
text. For shorter essays, one or two paragraphs o.htm
for each of these sections can be appropriate. For
longer texts or theses, they may be several pages 2. Formality
long. Academic writing is relatively formal. In general,
Introduction. Its purpose is to clearly tell this means that you should AVOID:
the reader the topic, purpose and structure of the a. colloquial words and expressions: stuff, a lot,
paper. As a rough guide, an introduction might be thing
between 10 and 20 percent of the length of the b. abbreviated forms: can’t, doesn’t, shouldn’t
whole paper and has three main parts: c. two-word verbs: put off, bring up
A. The most general information, such as d. subheadings, numbering, and bullet points
background and/or definitions. e. asking questions
B. The core of the introduction, where you show
the overall topic, purpose, your point of view, 3. Precision
hypotheses and/or research questions In academic writing, you need to be precise when
(depending on what kind of paper it is). you use information, dates, or figures. Do not use
 “a lot of people” when you can say “50 million Adverbs of Frequency
people.” ▪will ▪must ▪would ▪often ▪sometimes
▪usually
4. Objectivity ▪might ▪could ▪may
Written language is, in general, objective rather
than personal. It, therefore, has fewer words that Modal Adverbs
refer to the writer or the reader. This means that ▪certainly ▪definitely ▪clearly
the main emphasis should be on the information ▪probably
that you want to give and the arguments you want ▪possibly ▪perhaps ▪conceivably
to make. For that reason, academic writing tends
to use nouns (and adjectives), rather than verbs Modal Adjectives
(and adverbs). ▪certain ▪definite ▪clear ▪probable
▪possible
A. In general, avoid words like I, me, myself
A reader will normally assume that any idea Modal Nouns
not referenced is your own. It is, therefore, ▪assumption ▪possibility ▪probability
unnecessary to make this explicit.
That clauses
Don’t write: In my opinion, this is a very ▪It could be the case that… ▪It might be suggested
interesting study. that…
Write: This is a very interesting study. ▪There is every hope that…
Avoid “you” to refer to the reader or people in
general.
8. Responsibility
Don’t write: “You can easily forget how In academic writing, you must be responsible for
different life was 50 years ago.” and must be able to provide evidence and
Write: “It is easy to forget how difficult life was justification for any claims you make. You are also
50 years ago.” responsible for demonstrating an understanding of
any source texts you use. This is done by
5. Explicitness paraphrasing, summarizing what you have read,
Academic writing is explicit about the relationships and acknowledging the source of these information
in the text. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of or ideas by a system of citations.
the writer in English to make clear to the reader (Source:http://www.uefap.com/writing/feature/
how the various parts of the text are related. These featfram.htm)
connections can be made explicit by the use of
different signaling words. Common Text Structures
Academic writing is explicit in several ways. It is As mentioned in the introduction, text structure
explicit in its signposting of the organization of the refers to how a text is organized in a passage. Having
ideas in the text. As a writer of academic English, it the knowledge and ability to recognize the structure of
is your responsibility to make it clear to your a text can greatly increase learners’ comprehension.
reader how various parts of the text is related. The following are the six basic structures that are
commonly found in textbooks and/or academic texts.
These connections can be made by the use of
different signaling words. 1. Compare-Contrast Structure. This type of text
structure examines the similarities and differences
6. Accuracy between two or more people, events, concepts,
Academic writing uses vocabulary accurately. Most and ideas.
subjects have words with narrow specific
meanings. In academic writing, you need to be 2. Cause-Effect Structure. This structure presents
accurate in your use of vocabulary. the causal relationship between a specific event,
 Do not confuse, for example, “phonetics” and idea, or concept and the events, ideas or concept
“phonology” or “grammar” with “syntax”. that follow. It organizes details based on the cause,
 Choose the correct word, for example, “meeting,” the reason, and the result of consequences of a
“assembly,” “gathering,” or “conference”. certain phenomenon. This structure may discuss
 or from: “money,” “cash,” “currency,” “capital,” or both the causes and effects, the causes only, or the
“funds” effects only.

7. Hedging 3. Order/Sequence Structure. Sequential order, or

In any kind of academic writing you do, it is process writing as it is sometimes called, is when
necessary to make decisions about your stance on information in a passage is organized by the order
a particular subject or the strength of the claims in which it occurs. This method of organizing text is
you are making. Different subjects prefer to do this generally used for instructions or directions, but it
in different ways. Linguists know a technique can also be used to explain processes in nature or
common in certain kinds of academic writing as a society, such as how a president is elected.
“hedge”. It is often believed that
academic writing, particularly scientific writing, is 4. Description Structure. This structure resembles
factual, simply to convey facts and information. an outline. Each section opens with its main idea,
However, it is now recognized that an important then elaborates on it, sometimes dividing the
feature of academic writing is the concept of elaboration into subsections. It features a detailed
cautious language, often called “hedging” or description of something to give the reader a
“vague language.” mental picture.

Language used in hedging: 5. Problem-Solution Structure. It is a structure

Introductory Verbs that organizes ideas into problems and proposed
▪seem ▪tend ▪look like ▪appear to be solutions. The problem section usually includes the
▪suggest what, who, when, where, why, and how of the
▪indicate ▪think ▪believe ▪doubt problem. The other part then presents the major
▪be sure effects of the problem and the possible solutions to
Certain Lexical Verbs address it, as well as the steps in implementing the
▪believe ▪assume ▪suggest solution. Note down these arts when you encounter
a problem-solution text.
Certain Modal Verbs
6. Question – Answer Structure. This text
structure starts by posing a question then goes on
to answer that question.