Lesson 1: Academic Language Used in Various Disciplines

Nature and Characteristics of an Academic Text

Academic texts provide information and are related to specific
fields of study (e.g., essays, research papers, reports, theses).
They follow a structure: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.
Key Features of Academic Texts:
1. Complexity: Contains longer and lexically varied vocabulary, with
more subordinate clauses and passive constructions.
2. Formality: Avoids conversational or casual language. Colloquial
expressions, idioms, and slang should not be used.
3. Precision: Facts are given accurately and clearly.
4. Objectivity: Less focus on personal feelings, more focus on facts
and arguments. Uses more nouns and adjectives than verbs and
adverbs.
5. Explicitness: The writer must clearly link ideas and sections,
helping the reader understand relationships between concepts.
6. Accuracy: Uses the right words, especially technical terms specific
to the discipline.
7. Hedging: Expresses certainty or uncertainty carefully, avoiding
overstatements.
8. Responsibility: Cites sources appropriately and provides evidence
for claims.
9. Organization: Follows a logical structure and is well-organized.
Academic Language vs. Social Language
Academic Language: Formal, used in schools, research, and
professional environments (e.g., research papers, textbooks).
Social Language: Informal, used in everyday conversations (e.g.,
with friends, family).
Key Differences:
Academic language avoids slang, uses varied vocabulary, and
follows strict grammar rules. Social language can be repetitive and
use slang.
Lesson 2: Text Structure
Text Structure: Refers to how information is organized in
a text. Understanding the structure helps readers
comprehend and retain information.
Common Text Structures:
1. Narrative: Tells a story with characters, settings,
conflicts, and resolutions.
2. Chronological/Sequence: Presents events or steps in
order.
3. Cause and Effect: Explains reasons for something
happening and the results.
4. Problem-Solution: Identifies a problem and proposes
solutions.
5. Compare and Contrast: Discusses similarities and
differences between two or more things.
6. Definition or Description: Defines a term or describes
a topic by listing characteristics.
Importance of Text Structure:
Helps organize information in the reader’s mind.
Makes it easier to identify key details and concepts.
Enhances the ability to summarize and recall
important information.
Signal Words for Text Structures:
Cause and Effect: “because,” “therefore,” “as a
result.”
Compare and Contrast: “similarly,” “on the other
hand,” “likewise.”
Chronological: “first,” “next,” “finally.”
Lesson 3: Techniques in Summarizing a Variety of Academic
Texts
Summarizing: Reducing a text to its essential ideas while
maintaining key points. Summarizing helps readers understand
the core message without unnecessary details.
Basic Rules for Summarizing:
1. Delete unimportant or redundant information.
2. Use general terms for lists (e.g., "fruits" instead of "apples,
bananas, oranges").
3. Use your own words when writing summaries.
Summarizing Techniques:
1. Somebody Wanted But So:
Somebody: Who is the text about?
Wanted: What did they want?
But: What was the problem?
So: How was the problem solved?
2. SAAC Method:
S: State the title of the text.
A: Assign the author’s name.
A: Action (what is the author doing? e.g., explaining,
arguing).
C: Complete the summary with main ideas.
3. 5 W's and 1 H:
Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. Answering these
helps identify the main points of a text.
4. First-Then-Finally:
Summarize events in order: First what happened, Then key
details, and Finally the conclusion.
5. Give Me the Gist: Summarize a text by providing the main
idea in just a few sentences, like telling a friend what the story
is about.
Lesson 1: Thesis Statement and Outline
Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is the controlling idea that you develop in
your paper.
It is usually located at the end of the introduction and can be
one to three sentences long.
Key Elements of a Thesis Statement:
1. Topic: The subject of your paper.
2. Argument/Claim: This expresses your stand or opinion. For an
argumentative paper, it shows your position. For a research or
explanatory paper, it indicates the purpose.
3. Evidence: Support for your argument or claim.
Example 1 (Argumentative Paper):
Topic: The Harry Potter book series
Argument: Stole many fantastical elements from The Lord of
the Rings.
Evidence: Giant spiders, dangerous hooded undead creatures,
and a wise mentor.
Thesis Statement:
"The Harry Potter book series borrowed many elements from The
Lord of the Rings, including giant spiders, undead creatures, and a
wise mentor figure."
Example 2 (Research/Explanatory Paper):
Topic: Cheese
Argument: Has health benefits.
Evidence: Provides calcium for bones and teeth, promotes
good gut bacteria, and protein for cell repair.
Thesis Statement:
"Research shows that cheese has health benefits, such as
providing calcium for bones, promoting gut health, and offering
protein for cell repair."
Outline
An outline helps organize ideas in a logical manner, breaking
them down into main ideas, subtopics, and supporting details.
It can be either a topic outline (words/phrases) or a sentence
outline (full sentences).
Basic Outline Structure:
1. Main Ideas: Represented by Roman Numerals (I, II, III...).
2. Subtopics: Represented by capital letters (A, B, C...).
3. Supporting Details: Represented by Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3...).
Example Outline:
Benjamin Franklin – Scientist and Inventor
I. Experiments with Electricity
A. Studied the nature of electricity
B. Discovered that lightning equals electricity
C. Invented the lightning rod
II. Other Scientific Work
A. Inventions
1. Bifocal glasses
2. Franklin stove
3. Daylight saving time
B. Scientific Studies
1. Charted the Gulf Stream
2. Studied soil improvement
Guidelines for Writing an Outline:
1. Title should be placed at the top center.
2. Each level of the outline must have at least two items (I and II, A and B, 1
and 2).
3. Indent new levels and make sure all items of the same kind line up with
each other.
4. Capitalize the first letter of each item.
5. You do not need to include terms like “Introduction,” “Body,” or
“Conclusion” as part of the outline.
Sample Activities
Create a Thesis Statement:
Topic: Education is important.
Supports: Helps one get a better job, makes a person more
interesting, and makes one more informed.
Thesis Statement:
"Education is vital because it helps individuals secure better-paying jobs,
makes them more interesting, and allows them to become more
informed citizens."
Organize an Outline:
Topic: The Writing Process
I. Pre-Writing
A. Generate Ideas
B. Define Topic
C. Organize Ideas
II. Writing the First Draft
A. Write Topic Sentence
B. Develop Supporting Details
C. Write Conclusion
III. Editing and Revising
A. Proofread
B. Review and Evaluate
IV. Writing the Final Draft
V. Publishing
Lesson 1: Objective Assessment
Key Concepts:
Opinions vs. Facts: Opinions are your personal views, while facts are
objective truths that support your opinions.
Importance of Supporting Opinions: Opinions must be backed up by
factual evidence to make them credible and valid.
Steps in Objective Assessment:
1. Formulate Opinions: Write down your views on a particular issue.
2. Research Facts: Find factual information from reliable sources to support
your opinions.
3. Organize Ideas: Present your opinions and supporting facts in a clear and
organized manner.
4. Write and Review: Ensure your writing is logical and error-free.
Lesson 2: Approaches in Literary Criticism
Approaches in Literary Criticism:
1. Formalist Criticism:
Focuses on the form, style, structure, and imagery of the
text itself.
Analyzes how these elements work together to create
meaning.
2. Gender Criticism:
Examines how sexual identity influences the creation
and reception of literary works.
Includes feminist criticism, which analyzes how
literature reflects patriarchal values.
3. Historical Criticism:
Investigates the historical, social, and cultural context in
which a literary work was produced.
Seeks to understand the impact of the work on its
original audience.
4. Reader-Response Criticism:
Emphasizes the reader’s personal reaction to a text.
Argues that meaning is created through the interaction
between the reader and the text.
5.Media Criticism:
Analyzes the biases in media representation and how it
affects public perception.
Evaluates whether the media is impartial or pushing a
specific viewpoint.
6.Marxist Criticism:
Focuses on the political and economic elements of a text.
Evaluates how literature reflects class struggles, power
dynamics, and societal roles.
7.Structuralism:
Examines underlying structures in literature, such as
myths, symbols, and archetypes, to reveal deeper
meanings.
Using Critical Approaches: When analyzing a text, select an
appropriate approach to guide your critique. For example, use
feminist criticism to explore gender roles in a novel, or historical
criticism to evaluate the cultural context of a literary work.