Academic texts and structure

EAPP ESTRADA

ACADEMIC TEXT

Academic means in relation to the academe and/or education which is the source of knowledge, new learning, skills, values, and habits.

An academic text is basically anything that is used in the schools or classrooms. further references.

DESCRIPTIVE

Provides facts and information

Identify, report, record, summarize and define

ANALYTICAL

Organize facts and information into categories, groups, parts, types , or relationships.

Analyze, compare, contrast, relate, examine

PERSUASIVE

Includes argument,

recommendation, interpretation, or evaluation of the work of others with the addition of your own point of view.

Needs to be supported by evidence.

Argue, evaluate, discuss, take a position.

CRITICAL

Requires you to consider at least two points of view including your own

Critique, debate, disagree, and evaluate

ACADEMIC WRITING

It is clear, concise, focused, structured and backed up by evidence. Its purpose is to aid the reader’s understanding.

It has a formal tone and style, but it is not complex and does not require the use of long sentences and complicated vocabulary.

( Wilson, 2022)

The purpose of academic writing is to search for truth. That sounds fluffy and philosophical, but it simply means that academic writing is where we go to learn about the world we live in—about what is true, how things came to be, and how we know” –

Professional Text

Forms of communication written in the workplace with the intent to accomplish a goal, be it an increase in sales, the dissemination of a certain policy, or the launch of a new product.

Examples: Business letter, Email, Memo, press release, resume writing, etc.

TEXTBOOKS

designed to help the learners. It is in vary in style, tone, and level depending on their audience.

STUDENT ESSAYS

vary in length and formality, but they usually contain three sections: introduction, main body, and conclusion.

THESIS OR DISSERTATIONS

you will probably write longer texts at college and post-college levels. Thesis typically contains 10,000 to 20,000 words at baccalaureate and master’s levels and dissertation typically contains 60,000 to 80,000 words at doctor’s levels.

RESEARCH ARTICLES

written

mainly for a specific audience-researchers, academics, and postgraduate students.

CASE STUDIES

may be found in any discipline, though they are most common in discipline such as business, sociology, and law. They are primarily descriptive.

REPORTS

The purpose of it is to describe what happened and discuss and evaluate its importance. Reports are found in various disciplines, like science, law, and medicine.

STRUCTURE OF ACADEMIC TEXTS

refers to how information is organized in a passage. The structure of a text can change many times in a work and even within a paragraph. The structure of an academic text will depend on the purpose of the text, there are two common text structure of academic text: three-part essay ( introduction , body and conclusion ) and the IMRaD.

IMRAD TEXT STRUCTURE

IS SHORT FOR INTRODUCTION, METHOD, RESULTS, AND DISCUSSION.

Description

This type of text structure features a detailed description of something to give the reader a mental picture.

Eg. Communication is a method of exchanging ideas or information with one another. This term comes from the Latin term, communicare, meaning exchanging of ideas.

Cause and Effect

This structure presents the causal relationship between a specific event, idea, or concept and the events, ideas, or concept that follow.

Eg. A person who widens his vocabulary by reading and improve his speaking thru practice may improve his chances of communicating effectively.

Comparison/ Contrast

This type of text examines the similarities and differences between two or more people, events, concepts, ideas, etc.

Eg. Communication may be expressed through speaking and writing. Both are considered productive skills because they allow production of sounds and symbols. However, they differ in terms of how they are being carried out by people.

Order/ Sequence

This text structure gives readers a chronological of events or a list of steps in a procedure.

Eg. In order to become an effective communicator, one has to consider the following: first, you need to become a wide reader; then, you need to expose yourself in an environment where communication is practiced and third, you need to practice.

Problem- Solution

This type of structure sets up a problem or problems, explains the solution, and then discusses the effects of the solution.

Eg. If a person is shy in communicating, one has to look for ways on how he or she can motivate himself / herself to boost his/her confidence and find ways to improve through reading, writing and practicing the language.