structure and features of academic text

English for

Academic Purposes

EAP

 focuses instruction on skills required to perform in an English-speaking academic context across core subject areas generally encountered in a university setting

Structure of academic texts

three-part essay structure the reader is introduced to the topic that

will be discussed and to the argument that will be presented

the discussion/analysis is carried out and the results are presented

the argument is summed up and conclusions are drawn

introduction

to provide the reader with a clear idea of the focus and aim of the text

 the topic of the essay/article will be presented in the introduction,

often accompanied by a thesis statement (the claim that the writer wishes to make)

introduction

provides the context/background of the argument

introduces the theoretical perspectives, terminology, etc. that will be used

explains how the writing will be organised

Body

where the essay's (or article's) argument, ideas and results are developed and discussed

conclusion

should not contain any new facts or ideas, but rather function as a brief restatement of the main arguments and facts that have been treated in the essay

Academic Writing process that starts with:

Posing a questionProblematizing a conceptEvaluating an opinionAnswering the question/questions posed orClarifying the problem orArguing for a stand

Purposes

to inform

to argue a specific point

to persuade

Features of

Academic Texts

COMPLEX

Written language has longer words, it is lexically more dense and it has a more varied vocabulary.

Written texts are shorter and the language has more grammatical complexity, including more subordinate clauses and more passives.

FORMAL

should avoid colloquial words and expressions

PRECISE

Facts are given accurately and precisely

OBJECTIVE

objective rather than personalhas fewer words that refer to

the writer or the readermain emphasis should be on the

information that you want to give and the arguments you want to make, rather than you

EXPLICIT

it is the responsibility of the writer in English to make it clear to the reader how the various parts of the text are related

ACCURATE

 uses vocabulary accuratelymost subjects have words with

narrow specific meanings

HEDGING

it is necessary to make decisions about your stance on a particular subject, or the strength of the claims you are making

RESPONSIBLE

you must be responsible for, and must be able to provide evidence and justification for, any claims you make.

You are also responsible for demonstrating an understanding of any source texts you use