Academic writing

1. Name:________________________________________ Date:____________
Yr. & Section: _________________ Rating:___________
QUARTER 4 MODULE 1
WORKSHEET No.1
Most Essential Learning Competency:
Distinguish the features of academic writing.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to
1. describe academic writing
2. identify the different features or characteristics of academic writing
3. apply the unique features of academic writing.
Presentation/Discussion:
What is academic writing?
Academic writing is a formal style of writing. Its general purpose is to present information in
order to display a clear understanding of a particular subject.
The following are some examples of documents where academic writing is used:
1. Books 3. Abstract 5. News article 7. Conference paper
2. Thesis 4. Journals 6. Research paper
FEATURES OF ACADEMIC WRITING
1.FORMALITY is using formal language rather than everyday common language . It is achieved
through :
Choosing expanded form over contracted forms.
Examples: can’t = cannot
doesn’t = does not
won’t = will not
I’ve = I have
b.Choosing one verb form over two -word verbs

2. Examples:
Mess up = damage
Brought up = raised
Give back= return
c. Avoiding colloquial/trite/idiomatic expressions.
Examples of colloquial/trite/idiomatic expressions:
“Stuff” “things”
“a lot of” “you know what I mean”
“sort of” “kind of like”
“ It’s raining cats and dogs”
Sentence:
With women, there is a great deal (instead of a lot of) pleasure to conform to certain physical
change.
d.choosing expanded terms over their abbreviated equivalents.
4 Choosing expanded terms over their abbreviated equivalents.
Poor examples Improved
ASAP as soon as possible
romcom romantic comedy
Sentence:
The government wants it done as soon as possible.
2. Objectivity means that the writing must be impersonal. The main emphasis
should be on the presented information and/or arguments rather
than what you think about the issue.
It is achieved through:
2.1 Avoiding the use of personal pronouns such as you, I and we.
1. We need to conduct the experiment. (Wrong)
The researchers need to conduct the experiment. (Correct)

3. 2. You can easily forget how different life was 50 years ago.(Wrong)
It is easy to forget how different life was 50 years ago. (Correct}
2.2 Avoiding rhetorical questions.
1. How can these problems be solved?
Certain measures must be discovered to solve problems.
2.3 Avoiding “emotive language” that shows biases.
1. The investigators were very shocked to see the outcome of the tests. (Wrong)
The investigators did not expect the result.(Correct)
3. Explicitness is the responsibility of the writer in English to make it clear to the
reader how the various parts of the text are related.
It is achieved through:
a.Using different signaling words
Comparison/similar ideas  Similarly, in the same way
Contrast/opposite ideas  But, however, on the contrary Cause and
effect  Consequently, as a result, beca
Sentence:
One should notify any change of address to the Bonds and Stocks Office.Similarly, savings
certificates should be re-registered with the Post Office.
b.Citing/acknowledging sources of ideas
Example:
Suicide is a serious public health issue (Mann et al, 2005).
4. Caution is an important feature of academic writing which is the concept of
cautious language, often called “hedging” or “vague language”.
Caution is needed to avoid sweeping generalizations.It is achieved through:
4.1Using devices such as modal verbs, adverbs, or verbs
Examples:
Modal verbs would, may, can, might, should
Adverbs of frequency often, sometimes, usually
Verbs tend, suggest, think, believe, doubt

4. Other devices:
Modal adverbs e.g. certainly, definitely, clearly, probably, possibly,
perhaps
Modal adjectives e.g. certain, definite, clear, probable, possible
Modal nouns e.g. assumption, possibility, probability
That clauses e.g. It could be the case that…
e.g. It might be suggested that…
e.g. There is every hope that…
To-clause + adjective
e.g. It may be possible to obtain sufficient…
e.g. It is important to develop an active…
e.g. It is useful to study possible…
Sentence NOT observing caution Sentence observing caution
1. The commitment to some of the social and 1. It may be said that thecommitment
economic concepts was less strong than to some of the social and economic
it is now. concepts was less strong than it is now.
2. Nowadays the urinary 2.Nowadays the urinary symptoms seem
symptoms are of a lesser order. to be of a lesser order.
Activity 1: EXPANDED OVER CONTRACTED
Directions: In your English activity notebook, rewrite the following sentences by
expanding the underlined contracted words.
1. We aren’t giving up.
2. Winning isn’t everything.
3. We didn’t want to have a dog.
4. Mr. Reyes doesn’t like snake.
5. We hadn’t played their team before.
6. They weren’t afraid to play our team.
7. Our class didn’t have any good ideas.colors aren’t

5. 8. Our class couldn’t decide on a mascot.
9. Our school colors aren't black and gold.
10.The crowd mustn’t forget to applaud both teams.
What I Have Learned
This time, let us check your ability on using the features of academic writing.
Activity 2: WATCH OUT!
Directions: Put a check () if the sentence observes the features of academic writing
or put an ( ×) if it does not. Write your answers in your English activity notebook.
. You should cite the sources you use properly.
2. You should avoid using different signaling words.
3. You should use slang words (e.g. wanna, gonna, fab).
4. You should avoid emotive language that shows biases.
5. You should place the main emphasis on the information.
6. You should make use of idiomatic expressions more often.
7. You should not demonstrate your understanding of the source material.
8. You should justify your position and provide evidence for the claims you make.
9. You should use one word verbs (e.g. educate) rather than phrasal verbs (e.g.
bring up).
10. Simpler words are preferable than complex words (e.g. make is better than
produce or manufacture).
What I Can Do
Activity 3: COMPLETE ME
Directions: The table below is composed of sentences that are examples of academic writing.
Some of the words are underlined for you to analyze what feature of academic writing it
indicates, and give evidence that proves your point. Copy and complete the table in your paper.
Number 1 is already done for you.
Sentence Feature of Academic Writing Evidence
1. Consequently, the development of Explicitness Using different
suicide prevention initiatives has signaling words
become a global public health

6. priority.
2. Staying at home during this
pandemic probably stops the spreading
of COVID 19.
3. The President did not expect about the
fast spreading of the virus.
4. Young people should obey the
government health protocols.
5. This issue has been raised by many
scientists.
Assessment
A. Directions: Read the statements below and answer the questions that follow.
For items 1, 3, 5, & 7 choose only the letter of the answer. For items 2, 4, 6, &
8 identify what feature of academic writing is used.
A. The patient needs to be rushed to the hospital ASAP.
B. The patient needs to be rushed to the hospital as soon as possible.
1. Which of the above statements observes good academic writing?
2. What feature of academic writing is used?
A. The researchers need to conduct an experiment to find the cure for the virus.
B. We need to conduct an experiment tofind the cure for the virus
3. Which of the above statements observes good academic writing?
4. What feature of academic writing is used?
A. The coronavirus is transmitted through droplets from one infected individualto another.
B. According to the study conducted by the World Health Organization, coronavirus is
transmitted through droplets from one infected individual to another.
5.Which of the above statements observes good academic writing?
6. What feature of academic writing is used?
A. During this time, issues about non-communicable disease are of less importance.
B. During this time, issues about non-communicable diseases seem to be of less importance.

7. 7. Which of the above statements observes good academic writing?
8. What feature of academic writing is used.
B. Directions: Read the selection below and answer the questions that follows.
Test Anxiety
(1) Test anxiety is normally understood as a form of debilitating anxiety,
although how it is measured varies. Certain measures must be discovered in order
to address the problem.
(2) Evidence points to the fact that in general, test anxiety lowers performance
slightly. During that time, some studies have reported that test anxiety does not
lead to lower results. However, these findings are not likely to be true for all
students.
(3) Evidence points to the fact that in general, there is a possibility that test
anxiety lowers performance slightly. This relationship has been studied well for
over sixty years.
(4) While the question of anxiety has been studied for many years, researchers
need to further conduct the study as soon as possible in order to address the issue.
Test anxiety is of special interest to educators and students.
Source: examples.com/education/academic-essay-examples.html
9. Which paragraph can you find the academic writing feature of formality?
10. Copy the sentence that supports your answer.
11.Which paragraph can you find the academic writing feature of objectivity?
12.Copy the sentence that supports your answer.
13.Which paragraph can you find the academic writing feature of explicitness?
14.Copy the sentence that supports your answer.
15.Which paragraph can you find the academic writing feature of caution?
16.Copy the sentence that supports your answer.

8. Activity 4: THINK IT OVER
Directions: Copy the table below that has columns of the four features of academic writing.
Then, read the news article entitled “How the Philippines is Fighting COVID-19” by Anna
Malindog-Uy dated July 5, 2020. Pick out the word/s or sentences that are indicators of the
Features of Academic Writing and write them in the column where they belong.
How The Philippines Is Fighting COVID-19
After more than three months of hard lockdowns, the Philippines is now trying to ease
quarantine restrictions for its economy to bounce back. While the focus is on saving lives and
looking after the health and well-being of every Filipino developing economies like the
Philippines with a population of around 109 million people – a high percentage of which come
from hand-to-mouth households – simply cannot afford the use of containment measures like
hard lockdowns for the entire country indefinitely. Hence, the government has considered
steps to safety and gradually reopen the economy. As the Philippines reopens its economy by
easing out restrictions after successful lockdowns, it has experienced a reversed trend in the
number of COVID-19 positive cases. The number of deaths has been reduced to single-digit,
while the number of positive cases has increased significantly to three-digit.This reversal is
somewhat expected because more people are now back on the streets. One of the contributing
factors to the rise in COVID-19 positive cases is the influx of returning Overseas FilipinoWorkers
(OFWs), of which some have tested positive upon arrival in the Philippines. For instance, as of
July 2, out of the 99,353 returning OFWs, 2,424 were confirmed as being Covid-19 positive.
Source: https://theaseanpost.com/article/how-Philippines.fighting-covid-19?amp
Formality Objectivity Explicitness Caution
Prepared by:
Mrs. Cynthia E. Sabalberino
English Dept.,San Jose High School,QC