Academic writing 14th June Written and

							       Academic writing



               What is academic writing?
    Written and Presented by Steven Murray
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 Academic writing course at the BC in Taipei
• What is suitable and appropriate IELTS / academic writing?

• How to analyse questions and brainstorm ideas?

• How to organise our ideas logically?

• How to write academic introductions and conclusions?

• How to write effective thesis statements and topic sentences?

• How to structure paragraphs using topic sentences, main points
  and supporting details?

• How to use signalling words or such as furthermore, consequently
  and however?

• How to write balanced and persuasive essays?                       2




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            Academic style


                Writing in an academic style – Using
                 formal, impersonal, objective and
                        precise vocabulary.
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Do you think that the style of writing included in this
paragraph is suitable for an academic composition
written for your IELTS exam of for a British University?

         A lot of people think the weather is getting
         worse. They say it has been going on for quite a
         long time. I think they are right because we now
         get storms etc all the time.


Actually, there are no grammar errors but there
are many examples of poor academic style.
Can you identify any of them?

Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   4




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A lot of people think ...
This is imprecise as the question that the reader will most
likely ask is how many is a lot.
Can you think of any more suitable academic phrases?




Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   5




 What is the difference between a lot of people think
 and the phrases below?

 •    A significant / considerable number of people believe that ...
 •    A significant / considerable number of
 •    scientists / experts believe that ...
 •    It is widely believed that ...
 •    It is generally accepted that ...




 These phrases are both more precise and formal.
Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   6




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…the weather is getting worse.
Again this is imprecise as weather is used for day to day events.
In addition, getting worse could be changed into a more formal
lexical item.

Can you think of a more academic alternative to the phrase above?




Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   7




 What is the difference between the weather is
 getting worse and…

 • …the climate is deteriorating worldwide?




 This phrase is both more precise and formal.
Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   8




                                                                                        4
They say that this has been going on for quite a long time.

Do you know what is wrong with the style of this sentence?


They say… This is imprecise as we do not know who says. In addition,
pronouns such as they are often avoided in more formal written
compositions as they is often considered to be subjective and informal.

… quite a long time. This is also imprecise as it does not tell us how
long.




Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.    9




 What is the difference between they say this has
 been going on for quite a long time and …


  • A significant number of climatic experts consider
    that this process has been continuing for over 100
    years.




 This sentence is more objective, precise and formal.
Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   10




                                                                                         5
 I think that they are quite right.

 Do you know what is wrong with the style of this sentence?

I think… This is an informal personal statement that expresses the
writer’s subjective belief.

They are… This is imprecise as we still do not do not know who they
are. In addition, remember that they is often avoided in more formal
written compositions as it is often considered to be subjective and
informal.

Can you think of a more academic alternative?




Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   11




 What is the difference between I think they are
 quite right and …


  • These opinions are supported by an analysis of the
    results of the latest research which shows that
    major storms are occurring with increasing levels
    of frequency.




 This sentence is more objective, precise and formal.
Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   12




                                                                                         6
Research has shown that we now get storms etc all the
time.
Do you know what’s wrong with the style of this sentence?

…we… Subject pronouns are often avoided in formal compositions
as these are generally considered informal.

… storms etc. This is also imprecise as we do not know what etc refers to

… all the time. This is over-generalised and therefore not actually true.

Can you think of a more academic alternative?




Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   13




 What is the difference between research has shown
 that we now get storms etc all the time and …

  • For example, in Europe in 2003, countries,
    such as France, Germany and the United
    Kingdom experienced an above average
    number of extreme winter storms.




 This sentence is more objective, precise and formal.
Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   14




                                                                                         7
                  Here is the original paragraph.

  • A lot of people think the weather is getting
    worse. They say it has been going on for
    quite a long time. I think they are right
    because we now get storms etc all the time.




 Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   15




              Here is the academic alternative.
• A significant number of scientists hold the opinion
  that climatic conditions are deteriorating
  worldwide and consider that this process has been
  continuing for over 100 years. These opinions are
  supported by an analysis of the results of the latest
  research which shows that major storms are
  occurring with increasing levels of frequency. For
  instance, in Europe in 2003, countries, such as
  France, Germany and the United Kingdom
  experienced an above average number of extreme
  winter storms.


 Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   16




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Now work together with your partner
 in order to complete the handout.




Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   17




    Identify the examples of poor academic style. Can
         you write a more academic alternative?

 • These days a lot of kids are starting school early.
   Years ago, they began at five, but now it’s normal
   to start at four or younger. Why is this? One thing
   is that mums need to get back to work. Is it good
   for kids? People have studied this and says that
   early schooling causes social problems like
   stealing, drug-taking etc. I think he’s right and we
   should pay mums to stay at home.

Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   18




                                                                                         9
 How does your composition compare with the
            model answer below?
 • These days a significant number of children are starting school at
   the age of four or less, whereas thirty years ago five was the
   normal age. It can be argued that one of the reasons for this change
   is that mothers often need to rejoin the labour force in order to
   supplement their families resources. When considering whether
   this development is beneficial for children, Porter (2003) notes
   that earlier school attendance can often lead to social problems
   such as vandalism, theft and drug taking. Both the research of
   Harrison (2005) and Speeding (2006) supports this view with
   Speeding, consequently, arguing that the state should subsidise
   mothers to stay at home with their children.

Modified from Academic writing – A practical guide for students – Stephen Bailey.   19




                               Contact details
 • Please contact www.britishcouncil.org.tw
   for general enquiries.

 • steven.murray@britishcouncil.org.tw




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