ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

LESSON 1 THE STRUCTURE OF THE ACADEMIC TEXT

ACADEMIC TEXTS

Essay Paper Report Project

Article Thesis Dissertations

What is an Academic Text?

An academic text is a written language that provides information, which contain ideas and concepts
that are related to the particular discipline. Below are the examples:

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Sample Structure and Description Example line
Academic Text

1. Essay - Introduction Example: taken from the text titled

argumentative - gives the reader with “Getting Married to Writing”
text, usually a clear idea of the emphasis
short (1,500 to Surviving a marriage may perhaps be one of
and purpose of the writing
6,000 the most laudable feats in the world. Before a
words). - It also provides the person marries, he or she experiences mostly
background of the argument, jubilation and excitement whenever he or she
presents the theoretical imagines himself or herself basking in the
viewpoints, language, etc. promise of a life with a significant other. But at
that will be used, and the moment a person recites the marital vows,
describes how the writing will he or she becomes forever bound with his or
be structured. her spouse in a relationship accompanied by
enumerable ordeals.
 Body Example: taken from the text titled
- Where the essay's argument, “Getting Married to Writing”
concepts and outcomes
are established and For this reason, I guess that married life, in
discussed. all its ups and downs, is the best metaphor to
describe my experience with writing. In my
innocent mind, I had always romanticized the
idea of being a writer. I used to think that
writers are inexhaustible fountains of
knowledge who thrive in the comforts of their
air-conditioned offices, wielding knowledge at
fingertips.

Conclusion Example: taken from the text titled

- Should not have any new “Getting Married to Writing”
facts or ideas, but rather
function as a brief repetition of At this point, I know that my relationship
the key arguments and facts with writing will grow even more as I embark
that have been treated in the on new professional challenges. The key to a
essay successful life in writing, however, does not lie
in talent alone, but more so in commitment.

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Sample Structure Description
Academic Text

2. Research Title - Gives information and description of

Paper the subject matter of the research. - It must
contain keywords to predict the content and
- longer essay
tone of the research paper.
involving library
- It must be SHORT, INFORMATIVE,
research
made up of only 15 to 20 WORDS.
(3,000 to
6,000 words). - It must NOT be in a sentence, not all
capitalized, and not negative in tone. -
Jargons and acronyms are a big NONO to
research title writing.
Abstract - Concisely discusses the essential
aspects of your paper such as the
Background of the Study, Objectives,
Significance, Research Design, data
collection techniques, data analysis method,
discussions of the findings, scope,
conclusions.
- Giving 100- to 150- word discussions
of the salient parts of the research paper.

Introduction - Explains the background of the

Research Problem.
- States a set of specific Research
Questions, and of Optional hypotheses or
assumptions.
- The purpose of this section is to let
the readers see the connection of the
purposes of your research questions not only
with the current world condition, but also with
theoretical principles that underlie your topic
and other aspects of your research.

Method - Explains the types and sources of

data as well as the method you used in
collecting and analyzing the data you have
gathered.
- Enables the readers to determine
how objective and ethical you were in
conducting the research and how

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possible it could be for them to replicate your
research study for validation purposes.
 Findings, Discussion and - Present as finding of your study
Conclusion those that you have analyzed and
commented on. This can be done by means
of graphical presentation, statistical method,
or written discussion.
- Findings resulting from thematically
or theoretically gathered and analyzed data
with the capacity of leading you to a valid
conclusion are explained in this section.
- Any conclusions stated in this part of
the paper derive their validity or truthfulness
from factual or logically determined data.

Recommendations - To broaden the readers’ knowledge and

understanding of the area covered by the
research, recommend or let the readers
positively consider some activities they can
possibly do to extend, modify, replicate, or
validate the findings of your research work.

References - Follow a standard documentary style.

Alphabetize, identify, and list down in this
section all sources of knowledge you used in
carrying out your study.

Appendix - This contains copies of table,

questionnaires, interview rates, observation
checklist, and other materials that are
indispensable or necessary in completing
your research study.

Sample Structure/Parts Description

Academic Text

3. Research Title, Author, Abstract, - Descriptive information that lets readers

Article Keywords search for an article.

Introduction - What is the context for this project?

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- an essay - How does it fit in with other research on
written to be the topic?
published in - What is the research questions?
 scientific Methods - What did the author(s) do to answer the
journals. research question?

Results - What was the answer to the question? - This

is often shown in tables and figures.

Discussion/Conclusion - What is the significance of this project?

- How does it fit in with what else is
known about the topic?

References - Materials the author(s) cited when writing this

paper.

Accessed: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-structure-of-research-papers-article

Sample Structure/Parts Description

Academic Text

4.Dissertation Cover page This is a first page that reveals most crucial data
- long essay to audience, such as your name, where you study
involving study and for which department you are writing, name of
and research your supervisor, and of course title.
(6,000 to 2,000
words).
Acknowledgments This is structure section where you can express
your gratitude to all who supported, helped,
encouraged you during writing.

Abstract Briefly describe your topic, what you did, what for,
which methods were used and what was achieved
here.

Table of contents Dissertation structure involves chapters instead of

more usual sections. Mention each chapter, its
title and its subtopics along with page numbers.
Appendix should be present as well. Make sure
that page numbers in the table correspond to
those in the text, as it is common problem that
requires constant re-printing.

Tables It is a complex work, so it is likely to involve figures

and tables.

Glossary It is optional. It depends on complexity of research,

so clarify whether it should be a

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 part of structure with your supervisor. Make an
alphabetical list of complex terms that common
audience will not be able to understand and
provide concise explanations about their meaning.

Introduction Dissertation introduction is where you explain your

topic and its relevance. It should feature research
objectives, the ways to achieve them, as well as
their overall and individual significance — for
example, their meaning for target population.

Literature review It is a backbone of structure. First, pick only

credible sources, those that will be truly useful in
research, but do not make a mistake by just
summarizing them. Evaluate them critically by
pointing out their strengths, weaknesses, as well
as objectives.

Methodology Dissertation methodology structure is not difficult

but it has to be detailed. Write how you conducted
your research in particular so everyone could see
for themselves whether it is valid and trustworthy.
Include type of research (for example, qualitative
or quantitative, which are most common kinds),
how data were collected
(questionnaires, physical interviews, etc.), what
methods and tools were used.

Results What did the obtained data indicate? How did it

support/refute your hypotheses? Include some
graphs here so audience could see what you
achieved.

Conclusion and Were your hypotheses confirmed? What does it

discussion mean in terms of this topic now? Provide
recommendations and admit limitations of your
work that future research could address.
Conclude by emphasizing your study relevance.

Reference list Depending on style (APA, Oxford, MLA, etc.), list

all sources you have mentioned in text at least
once.

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 Appendix This normally includes survey questions or
interviews’ transcripts. Mention parts that helped
in composing research but which are not enough
to include them into main text. Detailed figures
could also be present here.

Accessed: https://uk.edubirdie.com/blog/dissertation-structure

Sample Structure/Parts Description

Academic Text

5.Thesis Abstract Write this last. It is an overview of your whole

- completed over thesis, and is between 200-300 words.
a number of
years. Offers an
original Introduction Usually longer than an abstract, and provides
contribution to the following:
the research
area. (20,000  background to the topic;
words).  brief review of current knowledge (Can
include literature review in some schools);
 indicates gap in knowledge, states aim of
your research and how it fits into the gap;
 can include hypotheses; can include an
outline of the following chapters.

Literature review Often part of the Introduction, but can be a

separate section. It is an evaluation of previous
research on your topic, where you show that
there is a gap in the knowledge that your
research will attempt to fill. The key word here
is evaluation.

Methods Often the easiest part of the thesis to write.

Outlines which method you chose and why
(your methodology); what, when, where, how
and why you did what you did to get your
results.

Results Results contain the facts of your research.

Often you will include a brief comment on the
significance of key results, with the expectation
that more generalized comments about results
will be made in the Discussion section.

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 Discussion The Discussion should also relate your specific
results to previous research or theory. You
should point out what the limitations were of
your study, and note any questions that remain
unanswered.

Conclusions This is where you emphasize that your

research aims/objectives have been achieved.

Accessed: https://student.unsw.edu.au/thesis-structure

Sample Structure/Parts Description

Academic Text

6. Technical Letter of Transmittal

Report: Title Page - report title
- describes - your name
process,
progress and - submission date
results of the Executive Summary - overview of subject matter
scientific
research
- methods of analysis
- findings
- recommendations
Table of Contents - list of numbered sections in report and their
page numbers

Introduction - terms of reference outline of report’s structure

Body - headings and sub-headings which reflect the

contents of each section

Conclusion - states the major inferences that can be drawn

from the discussion

Recommendations - indicates any further work that needs to be

done or identifies the alternative you think best
solves or improves the problem

Reference lists - list of reference material consulted during

research for report

Appendix - information that supports your analysis but is

not essential to its explanation

Accessed from: https://unilearning.uow.edu.au/report/3b.html

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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.

Let us see now how well do you know about the structure of an academic text. Below is the
activity that you are going to do.

What’s More
Activity 1.1
Instruction: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if is not.

_______1. One of the purposes of reading an academic text is to look for a specific
information.
_______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. Academic text helps fill existing gaps between information.
_______5. An academic text observes a format.
_______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. Critique paper is
classified as an academic text.
(Accessed from: https://www.slideshare.net/jellianerosedinorog/academic-text-styleand-structure)

Key to answers on page 193

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What I Have Learned
 Authors organize their information intentionally in an organized pattern called text structures.
Common text structures include introduction, body, and conclusion. It is important to
understand text structure to empower you as a reader.