English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP)

Flashcards covering the definition, structure, features, and vocabulary of academic versus social language based on EAPP lecture notes.

Academic text

A written language that provides information, which contains ideas and concepts that are related to a particular discipline, such as an Essay, Research Paper, Report, Project, Article, Thesis, or Dissertation.

Discipline

A branch of knowledge or academic field, such as mathematics or science.

Basic Structure of Academic Text

Consists of three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion, which are formal and logical to enable the reader to follow the argument.

Tone

The attitude conveyed in a piece of writing where arguments of others are fairly presented accurately without loaded or biased language.

Unambiguous Language

Clear language and topic sentences that allow a reader to follow a line of thinking without difficulty, often using formal language and third person point-of-view.

Citation

The practice of acknowledging the source of ideas, research findings, data, or quoted text in the body of the paper and in a list of references to defend against plagiarism.

Complexity

A feature of academic texts where they address complex issues that require higher-order thinking skills to comprehend.

Thesis Driven

The characteristic of an academic text starting from a particular perspective, idea, or position applied to a research problem to establish, prove, or disprove solutions.

Complex (Grammatical Feature)

A feature where written texts have more grammatical complexity, including more subordinate clauses and more passives.

Formal

A feature of academic text that avoids colloquial words and expressions like 'gonna', 'wanna', 'gotcha', and 'y\'all'.

Precise

A feature of academic writing where facts are given accurately and precisely.

Objective

Writing that has fewer words and emphasizes information and arguments rather than the writer.

Explicit

A feature where it is the writer\'s responsibility to make it clear to the reader how various parts of the text are related.

Accurate

The practice of using vocabulary accurately within a text.

Hedging

The use of cautious or tentative language in academic writing (e.g., using 'may', 'might', 'tend to', 'perhaps') to soften claims, acknowledge potential limitations, and avoid overgeneralizing.

Responsible

The requirement for a writer to provide evidence and justification for any claims they make.

Organized

A text that flows easily from one section to the next in a logical fashion.

Plan

Writing that takes place after research and evaluation, according to a specific purpose and plan.

Academic Language

The language needed by students to do work in schools, including discipline-specific vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, and rhetorical conventions typical for a content area.

Social Language

The set of vocabulary that allows us to communicate with others in the context of regular daily conversations.

Ghosting

A social language term for avoidant behavior.

Binge watch

A social language term for excessive media consumption.

Lit

A social language term for exciting or very good.

Savage

A social language term for aggressive behavior or ruthless.

On fleek

A social language term for perfection or perfectly done.

Flex

A social language term for show off or self presentation.

Go over

Informal vocabulary for 'revise' or 'review'.

Commence / Initiate / Undertake

Formal vocabulary for the informal word 'begin'.

A great deal of / Many

Formal vocabulary for the informal phrase 'a lot of'.

Solve / Repair / Amend

Formal vocabulary for the informal word 'fix'.

Confirm / Determine

Formal vocabulary for the informal phrase 'make sure'.