ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND
PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES
QUARTER 1 | WEEK 1
Topic Outline:
โ Academic Language Used From Various
Disciplines
โ Academic Text
โ Features
โ Purpose
โ Factors
Academic Language Used From Various
Disciplines
ACADEMIC TEXT
It is a written language that provides
information, which contains ideas and concepts that
are related to the particular discipline. Essay,
Research Paper, Report, Project, Article, Thesis,
and Dissertation are considered as academic texts.
Structure
Introduction - Body - Conclusion
This is a basic structure which is
formal and logical. This kind of structure
enables the reader to follow the argument
and navigate the text. In academic writing a
clear structure and logical flow are
imperative to a cohesive text.
Tone
Refers to the attitude conveyed in a
piece of writing. The arguments of others
are fairly presented and with an appropriate
narrative tone. When presenting a position
or argument that disagrees with oneโs
perspectives, describe the argument
accurately without loaded or biased
language.
Language
Avoid using ambiguous language.
Clear topic sentences enable a reader to
follow your line of thinking without difficulty.
Formal language and the third
person-point-of-view should be used.
Technical language appropriate to the area
of study may also be used, however, it does
not mean using โbig wordsโ just for the sake
of doing so.
Citation
Cite sources in the body of the paper
and provide a list of references as either
footnotes or endnotes. It is essential to
always acknowledge the source of 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 specific
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 AN ACADEMIC TEXT
1. Complex โ 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 โ should avoid colloquial words and
expressions.
1
