Academic Text and Research Writing Concepts

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the provided lecture transcript, covering key concepts in academic language, text structures, summarizing, paraphrasing, and research methodologies (IMRAD-C).

Academic Text

Written language that provides information containing ideas and concepts related to a particular discipline.

Complexity

A feature of academic text characterized by standard or advanced, sophisticated vocabulary compared to everyday language.

Formality

A feature of academic writing that avoids casual or conversational language in favor of a professional tone.

Precision

A feature of academic language requiring exact or specific language.

Objectivity

A feature of academic text relying on facts or evidence rather than personal opinions or feelings.

Explicitness

A feature of academic text that clearly shows the relationship between ideas and explains things clearly.

Accuracy

A feature of academic text using correct and careful language, including right grammar and terminology.

Hedging

The expression of caution or uncertainty using careful words when not 100% sure about a statement.

Responsibility

A feature of academic writing requiring writers to acknowledge the work of others and avoid plagiarism.

Social Language

Everyday language, either spoken or written to friends or family, that does not necessarily need to follow grammar conventions.

Academic Language

Formal, objective, and impersonal language used in textbooks, research papers, or conferences that begins with appropriate transitions.

Text Structure

The way authors organize their information to help readers focus attention on key concepts and relationships.

Narration

A text structure that narrates an event with characters, setting, conflict, point of view, and plot using descriptive language.

Objective Narration

A type of narration that presents facts fairly.

Subjective Narration

A type of narration that presents personal opinions.

Sequence

A text structure that presents ideas in the exact order in which they happen using sequential language.

Cause and Effect

A text structure that states or explains why things happen or the results of a certain event.

Problem and Solution

A text structure that identifies problems and poses solutions.

Compare and Contrast

A text structure that discusses two ideas to show how they are similar and different.

Definition Text Structure

A text structure describing a topic by listing characteristics, features, and other details.

Standard Definition

A definition that is commonly accepted.

Regulatory Definition

A definition based on laws or policies.

Qualifying Definition

A definition that sets limits for a specific context.

Personal Definition

A definition based on one's own meaning.

Invented Definition

Creating a new meaning for a specific purpose.

Classification

Combining items into categories based on shared characteristics.

Summarizing

Taking larger selections of text and reducing them to bare essentials or key points.

SAAC Method

A summarizing technique whose acronym stands for State, Assign, Action, Complete.

5W 1H

A summarizing technique that relies on six basic questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.

Synopsis

A brief overview of the main plot or context presenting major points in sequence in a condensed form.

Paraphrase

Restating a specific sentence using different words while keeping the exact same meaning.

Literal Paraphrase

A type of paraphrase that replaces vocabulary terms from the original text.

Structural Paraphrase

A type of paraphrase that changes sentence structure as well as the word class of key words.

Alternative Paraphrase

A paraphrase method that first poses questions about the text and then answers them using one's own words after reading.

Introduction (IMRAD-C)

The section of research that provides context and background, identifies the research problem and gap, and states the aim of the study.

Methodology

The section of research explaining how the study was conducted, including research aim, data collection, data analysis, and research design.

Research Design

The overall plan or framework of a study explaining how researchers will investigate the research problem.

Descriptive Research Design

A research design describing characteristics, behaviors, conditions, or experiences of a situation without manipulating variables.

Correlational Research Design

A research design examining whether two or more variables relate to each other.

Experimental Research Design

A research design where the researcher manipulates or introduces a variable and observes the effect on another variable under controlled conditions.

Case Study Research Design

An in-depth investigation of a single person, group, organization, event, or situation.

Phenomenological Research Design

A research design seeking to understand and describe people's lived experiences regarding a particular phenomenon.

Survey

A data-gathering procedure asking questions to people, best for collecting information from many people.

Interview

A data-gathering procedure asking questions directly and recording responses, best for obtaining personal opinions, experiences, and explanations.

FGD (Focus Group Discussion)

A data-gathering method with a small group of people discussing under researcher guidance, best for exploring different perspectives.

Observation

Data collection by systematically watching and recording behaviors or actions to study behavior rather than words.

Document Analysis

A data-gathering method examining existing records, best for school-related or government papers.

Data-Analysis Procedure

The process of organizing, examining, and interpreting collected data to identify patterns, relationships, or meaningful findings.

Quantitative Approach

A research approach using numerical data to measure, identify, compare, or examine variables.

Qualitative Approach

A research approach using non-numerical data such as words, experiences, opinions, and observations to understand phenomena.

Mixed-Methods Approach

A research approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods in one study to provide numerical evidence and deeper understanding.

Results (IMRAD-C)

The section presenting findings after data collection and analysis, using tables, charts, numerical data, percentages, and averages.

Discussion (IMRAD-C)

The section that interprets results, explains what they mean, connects findings to a problem, and identifies implications.

Conclusion (IMRAD-C)

The overall takeaway from research that restates main findings, answers research questions, and presents major implications.

Recommendations (IMRAD-C)

Suggestions provided when findings indicate a need for further research, improved practices, policies, interventions, or additional investigation.