APP 002 : ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

MODULE #1 engagement. But the worst thing that you can do is

to appear untidy. By not showering and properly
“Determining the grooming, you may be rejected by your date, and
Structure of Academic Texts” this is the worst thing that you can do.

“Text structure” refers to how information is

5. Problem and Solution
organized in a passage. The structure of a text can
A problem is described and a response or solution is
change multiple times in a work, and even within a
proposed or explained.
paragraph.
Example: Thousands of people die each year in car
accidents involving drugs or alcohol. Lives Could be
Seven commonly used patterns of organization:
saved if our town adopts a free public taxi service.
By providing such a service, we could prevent
1. Cause and Effect
intoxicated drivers from endangering themselves or
The results of something are explained.
others.
Example: The dodo bird used to roam in large flocks
across America. Interestingly, the dodo wasn’t
6. Sequence/ Process Writing
startled by gunshot. Because of this, frontiersmen
Information is organized in steps or a process is
would kill entire flocks in one sitting. Unable to
explained in the order in which it occurs.
sustain these attacks, the dodo was hunted to
Example: Eating cereal is easy. First, get your cereal
extinction.
from the shelf. Next, pour it in the bowl, add milk,
and stir. Enjoy eating!
2. Chronological
Information in the passage is organized based on
7. Spatial/ Descriptive Writing
time.
Information is organized in order of space (top to
Example: Jack and Jill ran up the hill to fetch a pail
bottom, left to right).
of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and
Example: When you walk into my bedroom, there is
Jill came tumbling after.
a window facing you. To the right of that is a
dresser and television, and on the other side of the
3. Compare and Contrast
window is my bed.
Two or more things are described. Their similarities
and differences are discussed.
Example: Linux and Windows are both operating
systems. Computers use them to run programs.
MODULE #2
Linux is totally free and open source, so users can
“Summarizing and
improve or otherwise modify the source code. Paraphrasing Academic Texts”
Windows is proprietary, so it costs money to use Purpose of summary:
and users are prohibited from altering the source (1.) to help you understand the main points and
code. structure of the author's argument,
(2.) to convey understanding to others,
4. Order of Importance (3.) to present background information quickly, and
Information is expressed as a hierarchy or in (4.) to refer to another writer's ideas in the course
priority. of making your own original statement.
Example: Here are the three worst things that you
cando on a date. First, you could tell jokes that Three important summarization techniques:
aren’t funny and laugh really hard to yourself. This
will make you look bad. Worse though, you could 1. Selection - select major idea, key words and
offend your date. One bad “joke” may cause your phrases, special terms and interpretations
date to lash out at you, hence ruining the presented in the original text
APP 002 : ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES
2. Rejection - remove unnecessary data or the ● Be followed by an “connection” that explains the
specifics. relationship of the evidence to your main point.

3. Substitution - replace long sentences/ Types of thesis statement

phrases with shorter ones. Combine several 1. Direct (stated) Thesis
sentences into one. Outline the main idea and the organization of the
essay for the reader. (has keypoints)
Paraphrase is a restatement and restructuring of Example: The main problems facing South
ideas for the purpose of clarifying the meaning of a American countries are a lack of job opportunities.
text.
2. Indirect (Implied) Thesis Statement
Steps in paraphrasing: Introduce the topic, does not outline the supporting
ideas.
1. Read the original passage several times Example: The important problems facing South
until you understand it fully. Look for American countries today require immediate
synonyms for unfamiliar words. attention.

2. Take note of important details. Components of Thesis Statement

3. Write your paraphrase referring only to your Topic

notes. The general subject of the essay
Example: Teenage Smokers
4. Check your paraphrase against the original
to make sure you have not copied Controlling idea
vocabulary or the sentence structure too Your opinion/belief/view/feeling about the topic
closely. Example:Public health departments need
aggressive promotional campaigns

MODULE #3 Sub-topics
“Stating the Thesis The areas you will focus on to support your idea
Statement and Textual” Example: Damages the lungs, increases the risk of
cancer, raises the chance of heart disease
Thesis statements
– It is a sentence or two that tell/s the reader your Thesis statement
topic and what you say about it Public health departments need to target teenage
e.g. Biological need, social environment, and smokers with aggressive promotional campaigns in
psychological satisfaction are three reasons why order to combat lung damage, cancer, and heart
people take risks. disease among this group.

Textual evidence
– It is an evidence from a text that you can use to
MODULE #4
illustrate your ideas and support your arguments. “Forming Opinions Based on Facts”
All textual evidence should: OPINIONS
- Subjective statements based on a person’s
● Support a specific point beliefs or attitudes.
● Be cited with a page number at the end of the - Opinions are not acceptable as support.
sentence - You must support it with facts if you wish to
express it.
APP 002 : ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES
- an expression of a person’s feelings that - Answers to basic reporter questions
cannot be proven. (5Ws) of who, what, when, where, and
why.
EXAMPLES:
1. Men are better drivers than women. 2. EVALUATIVE
2. The house was painted yesterday. - It gives the writer’s overall judgement of
3. English is an easy language to learn. the work.
- It makes this judgement convincing by
FACTS giving three or more (depending on the
- Objective statements of truths. length of the paper) supporting
- Piece of information used as evidence or as evaluations of selected analytical
support to an opinion. elements of the work being evaluated.
- You must use supporting details (proof) if
you wish to strengthen the validity of the 3. BALANCED
facts presented. - Shows balance by pointing out
- A statement that can be proven true or weaknesses of a work (if the overall
false. judgement is positive, or vice versa)
- By recognizing strong points of a work
EXAMPLES: for which the overall judgement is
1. The world is a sphere. negative.
2. There are many variations of English.
3. Cigarettes are addictive. Parts of a Critique Paper:

Opinions can be based on facts or emotions and Introduction

sometimes they are meant to deliberately mislead Typically, the introduction is short (less than 10% of
others. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the the word length) and you should:
author’s purpose and choice of language. ● Name the work being reviewed;
Sometimes, the author let the facts speak for ● The date it was created;
themselves. ● Name of the author/creator.
● Describe the main argument or purpose of
MODULE #5 the work.
● Explain the context in which the work was
“ Describing the Content and Structure
created.
of the Critique/Reaction Paper and
● Have a concluding sentence that clues what
Using Appropriate Critical Approaches in
your evaluation of the work will be. For
Writing a Critique”
instance, it may indicate whether it is a
Critique Paper positive, negative, or mixed evaluation.
A formal analysis and evaluation of a text,
production, or performance, etc. Summary
-either one's own (a self-critique) or someone else's. Briefly summarize the main points and objectively
describe how the creator portrays these by using
CONTENT OF THE CRITIQUE/REACTION PAPER techniques, styles, media, characters or symbols.

1. ACCURATE Critical evaluation

- It provides an accurate description of Should give a systematic and detailed assessment
the work being evaluated by giving its of the different elements of the work, evaluating
summary and/or background details. how well the creator was able to achieve the
purpose through these.
APP 002 : ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES
For example: you would assess the plot structure,
characterization and setting of a novel. A critical ● A statement indicating the overall
evaluation does not simply highlight negative evaluation of the work.
impressions. It should deconstruct the work and
identify both strengths and weaknesses. It should ● A summary of the key reasons, identified
examine the work and evaluate its success, in light during the critical evaluation, why this
of its purpose. evaluation was formed.

Examples of key critical questions that could help ● In some circumstances, recommendations
your assessment include: for improvement on the work may be
appropriate.
● Who is the creator? Is the work presented
objectively or subjectively? In a Reference list make sure to Include all
resources cited in your critique (Check with your
● What are the aims of the work? Were the teacher for which referencing style to use).
aims achieved?
CRITICAL APPROACHES
● What techniques, styles, media were used in 1. Formalism
the work? Are they effective in portraying ● Formalist Criticism emphasizes the form of
the purpose? a literary work to determine its meaning;
● focusing on literary elements and how they
● What assumptions underlie the work? Do work to create meaning.
they affect its validity?
2. Psychoanalytic
● What types of evidence or persuasion are ● Emphasizes the process of introspection, or
used? Has evidence been interpreted fairly? looking into the past experiences and latent
desires.
● How is the work structured? Does it favour a ● In order to understand the rationale of
particular interpretation or point of view? Is human behavior.
it effective?
He identified three sections of the human psyche,
● Does the work enhance understanding of namely:
key ideas or theories? Does the work ○ Id - Place of deepest secret desires of
engage (or fail to engage) with key humans.
concepts or other works in its discipline? ○ Ego - Informs humans on how to act in
a socially acceptable manner.
- The evaluation is written in formal academic ○ Superego - Represents people’s
style and logically presented. unselfish tendencies.
- For shorter critiques, you may discuss the ● Through a psychoanalytic approach, we try
strengths of the works, and then the to look into either the author’s psychological
weaknesses. state with their possible motivation/reasons
- In longer critiques, you may wish to discuss why the characters behave the way they do.
the positive and negative of each key
critical question in individual paragraphs. 3. Feminism
● Concerned with the role, position, and
Conclusion influence of women in a literary text.
This is usually a very brief paragraph, which
includes:
APP 002 : ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES
● Asserts that most “literature” throughout ● Literary criticism is the art or practice of
time has been written by men, for men. judging and commenting on the qualities
and character of literary works.
● Examines the way that the female
consciousness is depicted by both male and MODULE #6
female writers. “Understanding the Nature of Concept
Paper”
Four Basic Principles of Feminist Criticism:
● Western civilization is patriarchal. CONCEPT PAPER
● The concepts of gender are mainly cultural ● In-depth analysis of any idea, situation, or
ideas created by patriarchal societies. practice. It can be on anything that you find
● Patriarchal ideals pervade “literature.” significant:
● Most “literature” through time has been ○ It can be a feeling (What is
gender-biased. self-esteem?)
○ A cultural practice (What is Filipino
4. Lesbian/Gay/Queer Criticism Time?)
● Examines how certain works display fear of ○ A belief (What is transmigration?)
the unknown, especially homophobia, of the ○ A situation (What is same-sex
fear of the LGBTQ community, which leads marriage?)
to repression, example:
● Examines the ‘what-ness’ or nature of
○ A particular text may show certain something.
homoerotic tendencies, or a strong
sexual desire for a member of the same ● It is important to connect theory (can be
sex, but is repressed because such found in many academic papers) and
ideas are deemed as taboo by the experience (day-to-day observation) in
society in general. making a concept paper.
PURPOSE OF WRITING A CONCEPT PAPER
● Also, it promulgates the idea that gender is ● Provides in-depth discussion of a topic.
performance.
● Can be used in obtaining funding for a
● That gender is not something that is innate project.
in us, but is something that we constantly
do. To borrow Simone de Beauvoir’s words: ● Act as an instructional tool from an existing
“One is not born, but rather becomes, a project.
woman.”
5. Marxism ● Provide guidance for implementing a
● Marxist Criticism emphasizes economic and program.
social conditions.
● Discuss best practices, philosophies and
● It examines literature to see how it reflects other related issues.
the way in which dominant groups
(typically, the majority) exploit the
subordinate groups (typically, the minority);
or the way in which people become
alienated from one another through power,
money, and politics.