English for Academic

and Professional
Purposes
 Nature and
TOPIC
Characteristics of
an Academic Text
An academic text is a written
language that provides
information, which contain ideas
and concepts that are related to
the particular discipline.
Essay, Research Paper, Report,
Project, Article, Thesis, and
Dissertation are considered as
academic texts.
Structure
The basic structure that is used by an
academic text is consist of three (3) parts:
introduction, body, and conclusion which is
formal and logical. This kind of structure
enables the reader to follow the argument and
navigate the text. In academic writing a clear
structure and a logical flow are imperative to
a cohesive text.
Tone
This refers to the attitude conveyed in a
piece of writing. The arguments of others
are fairly presented and with an
appropriate narrative tone. When
presenting a position or argument that
disagrees with one’s perspectives,
describe the argument accurately without
loaded or biased language.
Language
It is important to use unambiguous language.
Clear topic sentences enable a reader to
follow your line of thinking without
difficulty. Formal language and the third
person point of-view should be used. Technical
language appropriate to area of study may also
be used, however, it does not mean using “big
words” just for the sake of doing so.
Citation
Citing sources in the body of the paper and
providing a list of references as either
footnotes or endnotes is a very important
aspect of an academic text. It is essential to
always acknowledge the source of any ideas,
research findings, data, or quoted text that
have been used in a paper as a defense against
allegations of plagiarism.
Complexity
An academic text addresses complex
issues that require higher-order
thinking skills to comprehend.
Evidence-based Arguments
What is valued in an academic text is
that opinions are based on a sound
understanding of the pertinent body
of knowledge and academic debates
that exist within, and often external
to a specific discipline.
Thesis-driven
The starting point of an academic
text is a particular perspective,
idea or position applied to the
chosen research problem, such as
establishing, proving, or
disproving solutions to the
questions posed for the topic.
 Features of
TOPIC
Academic Texts
Complex
- Written language has no longer
words, it is lexically 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

Precise
- has fewer words that emphasize on the information
you want to give and the arguments you want to make
- mostly use nouns (adjectives), rather than verbs
(adverbs)
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 accurately
- Most 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.
Organize
- Well-organized.
- It flows easily from one section to the next in a
logical fashion.

Plan
- Well-planned.
- It usually takes place after research and
evaluation, according to specific purpose and
plan.
 Purposes in
TOPIC
Reading an
Academic Text
1.To locate a main idea;
2. To scan for information;
3. To identify gaps in existing studies;
4. To connect new ideas to existing ones;
5. To gain more pieces of information;
6. To support a particular writing
assignment; and,
7. To deeply understand an existing idea.
 Factors to
Consider in
TOPIC
Writing Academic
Text
1.State critical questions and issues;
2. Provide facts and evidence from
credible sources;
3. Use precise and accurate words while
avoiding jargon;
4. Take an objective point of view;
5. List references; and,
6. Use cautious language.
 Academic
TOPIC

Language
Academic language is the language needed by
students to do the work in schools. It includes,
for example, discipline-specific vocabulary,
grammar and punctuation, and applications of
rhetorical conventions and devices that are
typical for a content area (e.g., essays, lab
reports, discussions of a controversial issue.)
Students who master academic language are more
likely to be successful in academic and
professional settings.
Social language is the set of
vocabulary that allows us to
communicate with others in the
context of regular daily
conversations.
Here are some of the differences between social and academic

language includes:
 Characteristics
TOPIC
of Academic
Language
A. Formal
It should not sound conversational or casual.
Colloquial, idiomatic, slang or journalistic
expressions should particularly be avoided.
Examples:
Use… Instead…
Consider, monitor Look at
Revise, review Go over
Solve, repair, amend Fix
B. Objective
- This means it is unbiased. It
should be based on facts and
evidence and are not influenced by
personal feelings.
C. Impersonal
- This involves avoiding the
personal pronouns ‘I’ and ‘we’.
For example, instead of writing ‘I
will show’, you might write ‘this
report will show’. The second
person, ‘you’, is also to be
avoided.