ACADEMIC WRITING Factors of communication

Academic 1. TOPIC – What do you want to discuss in your

article?
 He purchased several notebooks. 2. ROLE – Who am I as a writer?
 Effective writing presents ideas in such a way 3. AUDIENCE – Who is reading this piece? What
that readers can clearly grasp the writer’s knowledge do they need to have?
intended meaning. 4. PURPOSE – Why am I writing this piece in the
 According to a study by Smith, students that first place?
use cell phones in class are more easily
distracted than those who do not. So, cell
phone use should not be allowed in the INSTRUCTIONAL STRUCTURES OF ACADEMIC
classroom. WRITING
Not Academic 1. Definition/Elucidation
 He bought a couple of things.  It explains the nature of something.
 I think that writing good means taking your  It describes the thing being defined
ideas and writing them so that other people and/or cites examples of it.
can get your meaning. Some language cues:
 My friend and I like to text in class, but
sometimes we miss what the teacher says i. The verb “is/are”
while we are texting! Sometimes, the stuff we ii. “For example,”
miss is on the test and I score poorly. iii. Words that refer to likeness (such
as, appears to be, refers to, etc.)
iv. “is defined as.”
What is Academic Writing? Sample text:
Academic writing involves Global communication is the term used to describe
 using formal vocabulary and more ways to connect, share, relate and mobilize across
complex grammar geographic, political, economic, social and cultural
 using the work of others as evidence to divides. It redefines soft and hard power as well as
support the writer’s point of view information power and diplomacy in ways not
considered by traditional theories of international
relations.
One important characteristic of academic writing…

“Writer’s ideas are all clearly connected”

2. Description
 It gives concrete details about
appearance, characteristics, and
Tips when writing
actions.
 Write with a clear purpose in mind
Some language cues:
 Plan before writing
 Identify and follow patterns used by good i. Adjectives that describe:
writers (Size, Color, Shape, Texture &
Numbers)
 ii. Adverbs that qualify action
(Evenly, roughly, consistently)
Sample text:
From the outside, the house was tall and thin, made
from large dark grey stones. Climber Plants grew
up the house winding around the drainpipes. The
windows rattled from the wind.
The women’s liberation movement originated in the
1960s and was popularized by authors such as
Simone de Beauvoir. As a consequence of this, new
legislation emerged, granting women equal rights to
men in many fields, in particular employment.
Because of feminist ideas, men have taken up roles
which were previously seen as being for women
only, most importantly those related to child rearing.

3. Recount of A Sequence 5. Problem-solution

 It is a chronological narration of a  It starts off with a negative situation
historical period, a sequential description (problem) and ends with a positive
of a process or a procedure. situation (a solution).

Some language cues: Some language cues are:

i. First, Second, Third… i. “The problem/dilemma is”

ii. While, meanwhile, finally ii. “If/then”
iii. Now, Before, Then, After iii. “An answer to”
iv. other expressions of time duration iv. “So that”
describing the steps in a process or
Sample text:
procedure
There are certain things which students can do if
Sample text:
they suffer from exam anxiety. To begin with, they
Break four eggs in a bowl and beat for about 5 should get a good night’s sleep the day before the
minutes or until the white is evenly mixed with the exam. If they sleep well, they will be able to
yolk. Next, pour 1 small can of condensed milk and ½ concentrate and do well in the exam. If not, this will
small can of evaporated milk into the bowl and mix... cause more stress and anxiety. The second effective
solution is to change their poor study habits. If they
start to study one day before the exam, this will
4. Cause-effect cause worry and stress. However, if they change
 It presents why a situation is obtained. such habits and start to study regularly, this will give
them confidence…
 Logically, the cause comes before the
result, in academic writing it is the effect
that is usually presented first.
6. Comparison and Contrast
Some language cues:  Analyzes two subjects by either
i. So that comparing them, contrasting them, or
ii. Due to both.
iii. As a result  Comparison = Similarities
iv. Accordingly  Contrast = Differences

Sample text: Some language cues are:

The main reasons behind the increase of women in i. On the other hand
the workplace are women's liberation and feminism. ii. Unless
 iii. Compared to Some language cues are:
iv. In contrast
i. There are several types of
v. However
ii. Another kind
Sample text: iii. An example of
iv. Divided into
Computers can be used to communicate easily, for
example via email. Similarly, the mobile phone is a Sample text:
convenient tool for communication. Both computers
Plato, an old Greek philosopher describes three
and mobile phones can be used to communicate
types of love in his book the Banquet. All of these
easily with other people. Just like the computer, the
classifications of love do happen in the human world,
mobile phone can be used to communicate easily
although every single person shows how they differ
with other people. The computer is similar to the
greatly in his or her life. In that Greek language, love
mobile phone in the way it can be used for easy
can be classified as eros, philos, or agape.
communication.

9. Thesis-evidence
7. Enumeration
 It serves the purpose of arguing a
 It is a listing of parts, of characteristics,
point/position or interpretation.
of examples.
 It may appear as a numbered list or Two ways of organizing Thesis-Evidence text:
bulleted text.
i. Deductively - a general
Some language cues are: statement or thesis followed by
supporting details
i. First, Second, Third
ii. Inductively – details are given first
ii. In addition
from which an inference or thesis is
Sample text: drawn.

Reasons for growth of cities are as follows:

1. Growth of factories in cities.

2. Establishments of schools that offer better
education in cities.
3. Building of places of leisure and
entertainment.

Sample text:
8. Classification
Zoos should be banned because animals need to
 It presents groupings, types, classes,
remain in the wild, zoos cannot provide natural
categories, and sub-categories that
experiences for animals, and animals in zoos get sick
constitute a concept. Presented in
and die.
hierarchical order.
 Examples: Types of personalities, and
Species of animals
Give INSTRUCTION

a. Recount of a sequence
b. Description
c. Enumeration
d. Problem-solution

Give EXPLANATION

a. Definition/Elucidation
b. Description
c. Enumeration
d. Cause-effect
e. Compare and Contrast

ARGUE A POINT

a. Thesis-evidence

TO CONVEY INFORMATION

All of the instructional structures of academic writing