BBI2424 ACADEMIC WRITING

SEMESTER 2, 2018-2019

LECTURE NOTES 1
(WEEK 1 – WEEK 2)

Topics:

1. What is Academic Writing?

2. Features of Academic Writing
3. Components of an Academic Text
4. Structure of a Paragraph
1. WHAT IS ACADEMIC WRITING?

Academic writing refers to the style of writing that follows a specific structure and
uses formal academic language. It involves stating writers’ viewpoints objectively
and supporting them using credible evidences and references. Academic writing
demonstrates elements of unity, coherence and adheres to the formal conventions of
punctuation, spelling, grammar, as well as citation and referencing style. Read the
two examples of texts below:

Example of an Academic Text

Over the past decade, an increasing number of epidemiological studies have

linked urban air pollution to increased risk for morbidity and mortality. These
new findings have led to revised air pollution standards for the United States,
and it will probably have similar consequences in other countries around the
world. This new evidence on adverse health effects of air pollution has also
motivated research to identify those groups within the population who may be
at increased risk from exposure to air pollution, for example, infants, persons
with chronic heart and lung disease, and the elderly population.

Example of a Non-academic Text

Many people are getting sick and dying because of air pollution. So, the law
for air pollution in the United States has changed. Other countries may also
change their air pollution law. The group of people who are in danger because
of air pollution are babies, people with serious heart and lung problems, and
old people.

1. Which of the examples above contain lengthy sentences?

2. Which of the examples above use simple everyday words?

3. Which of the examples above is most likely found in academic journals?

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2. FEATURES OF ACADEMIC WRITING

Features Descriptions

Formal structure
Organisation • Introduction - includes thesis statement
• Body - consists of paragraphs with topic sentences and
supporting sentences and details
• Conclusion – has a concluding sentence or paragraph

• Complex and uses a variety of sentence types -

compound, complex, compound-complex sentences
• Language is more formal - no usage of colloquial words
Language and expressions (e.g. boring and stuff), contraction (e.g.
isn’t and doesn’t), phrasal verbs (e.g. go out and show
off), personal pronoun (e.g. I, we, you, us)
• Cohesion across sentences (e.g. use of transition
signals to show relationship between ideas)

• Addresses specific readers

• Has objective that is specific and not personal
Content • Contains precise facts and figures
• Incorporates ideas taken from various sources with
proper in-text citation and referencing

Text • Text types – informative, argumentative, comparison

and contrast, cause and effect

Examples • Academic books

• Research papers or research articles
• Dissertations or thesis
• Literary analysis
• Academic journals
• Lab reports
• Essays

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3. COMPONENTS OF AN ACADEMIC TEXT
An academic essay consists of three major components, which are introductory
paragraph, body paragraphs, and concluding paragraph. The chart below shows
the organisation and components of an academic essay.

ESSAY

I. Introductory paragraph

General statements

Thesis statement

II. Body paragraphs

Paragraph 1

A. Topic sentence
1. Supporting sentence
2. Supporting sentence
3. Supporting sentence
(Concluding sentence)

Paragraph 2
B. Topic sentence
1. Supporting sentence
2. Supporting sentence
3. Supporting sentence
(Concluding sentence)

Paragraph 3
C. Topic sentence
1. Supporting sentence
2. Supporting sentence
3. Supporting sentence
(Concluding sentence)

III. Concluding paragraph

Restatement or summary of the

main points; final comment

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Sample of an Academic Text

Read the following academic text. As you read it, notice the different parts of an
academic text.

In recent years, many people have become increasingly aware of the need
for optimum health. Almost everywhere people turn, whether it is to a newsstand,
television or billboard, information for guarding and improving health bombards
them. Although much of this information is commercially motivated by those eager
to sell vitamins and health supplements, some of the information especially on
regular exercise, merits serious attention. Numerous studies have proven that
regular exercise provides many benefits, and it only needs to be carried out at
least three times a week for thirty minutes. Regular exercise releases tension,
improves appearance, and increases stamina.

The first benefit of regular exercise is the release of tension. Tension builds
in the body because of an over-accumulation of adrenaline produced by stress,
anxiety or fear. Health experts agree that performing calisthenics or participating in
an active sport such as tennis or volleyball for thirty minutes releases tension. If
people swim, jog or ride a bicycle for thirty minutes, they should sleep better at
night and have a better temperament the next day. In addition, after the release of
tension, petty irritations and frustrations should be less troubling. For example,
Roscoe (2010) explains that an employee stressed with work and traffic
congestion, may rush home, argue with the family, and eat excessively. Taking
about thirty minutes to release frustrations through physical exercise could help
him or her avoid this behaviour. Therefore, exercising regularly can eliminate or at
least control tension.

Another benefit of regular exercise is improved appearance. Exercise takes

perhaps a month or longer to show its results in a trimmer and firmer figure. For
instance, research shows that people who are overweight, may be able to burn
away most excess fat and tighten muscles, thereby reshaping the physique
through regular exercise (Centre of Public Health California, 2013). Having
improved muscle tone and even posture, people will wear clothes more attractively
and comfortably. Combined with a well-balanced diet, regular exercise will also
improve skin condition. This improved appearance will provide confidence and
favourably impress others. Thus, regular exercise is beneficial as it will help
towards the betterment of one’s overall appearance.

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 In addition to the self-confidence engendered by an improved appearance,
regular exercise also increases stamina. Regular exercise allows for a stronger and
healthier body and is obviously more capable of working harder and withstand
fatigue. Paisley (2012) states that “a worker who exercises should be able to
complete a forty-hour week at work and still retain enough energy for mowing the
grass, painting the garage or cleaning the windows at home” (p. 87). Similarly, a
student who exercises regularly would be able to attend classes and still find the
energy and stamina to work part-time and accomplish various tasks efficiently.
Hence, improved endurance is one of the benefits of regular exercise.

In conclusion, people can benefit immensely by exercising regularly. Although

easy solutions to the goals of losing weight and achieving an attractive and
energetic body saturate the media, acquiring these benefits is not easy. However,
the rewards are fully worth the effort of regular exercise, which makes people feel
relaxed, look healthy and have adequate strength for strenuous as well as routine
activities.

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COMPONENT 1: INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

An introductory paragraph introduces the topic of the academic text to the reader. It also
provides an overview to the content of the text. It consists of two parts which are general
statements and a thesis statement.

GENERAL STATEMENTS

General statements provide background information of the topic to the reader. It also
attracts readers’ attention to the topic of the text.

Read the introductory paragraph below from the previous text:

1. Based on the general statements, what do you think is the topic of this text?

2. What information can you find in the general statements?

In recent years, many people have become

increasingly aware of the need for optimum health. Almost
everywhere people turn, whether it is to a newsstand,
television or billboard, information for guarding and
improving health bombards them. Although much of this
GENERAL
information is commercially motivated by those eager to
sell vitamins and health supplements, some of the STATEMENTS
information especially on regular exercise, merits serious
attention. Numerous studies have proven that regular
exercise provides many benefits, and it only needs to be
carried out at least three times a week for thirty minutes.
Regular exercise releases tension, improves appearance,
and increases stamina.

THESIS
STATEMENT

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THESIS STATEMENT

A thesis statement states the main ideas that will be discussed in the body paragraphs.
The body paragraphs are written with reference to the thesis statement in the
introductory paragraph. A good thesis statement:

• focuses on a specific aspect of the topic

• may list subtopics of the main topic; sets the pattern for the paragraphs to follow by
indicating the main points that will be developed in the body paragraphs
• often appears as the last sentence of the introductory paragraph

Look at the examples of thesis statements below:

Topic: Advantages of Reading among Adults

Thesis statement 1:
Reading brings many advantages to adults as it can improve concentration,
reduce stress, and provide tranquillity.

➢ This is a well written thesis statement as it provides readers with all the
main points that will be discussed in the body paragraphs. This style of
writing a thesis statement will allow readers to have a clear idea of
what to expect in the body paragraphs.

Thesis statement 2:
There are three advantages of reading for adults.

➢ This thesis statement states the number of advantages that will be

discussed but does not indicate the main points. It is an acceptable
style of writing a thesis statement in academic writing.

Thesis statement 3:
Reading is a popular hobby nowadays.

➢ This thesis statement is too general. It does not provide the specific
aspect of the topic (reading) or the main points that will be discussed in
the body paragraphs. You should avoid writing a thesis statement that
is too general.

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COMPONENT 2: BODY PARAGRAPHS

A paragraph in the body of an academic text contains the discussion of the main points
mentioned in the thesis statement. This is where the topic is developed using facts,
examples, and other details. A body paragraph consists of a clear topic sentence with
reference to the thesis statement, relevant supporting points and supporting details, and
also a concluding sentence. Below is the structure of a body paragraph:

TOPIC SENTENCE

- states the topic and controlling idea

of the paragraph

SUPPORTING SENTENCES
BODY PARAGRAPH
- provide explanation, examples and
- consists of three parts
details of the topic

CONCLUDING SENTENCE

- summarises the main points of the

paragraph or restates the topic
sentence in different words

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 Below is an example of an academic paragraph and its components.

Transition signals to
show the connection TOPIC
between ideas
SENTENCE
The first benefit of regular exercise is the release of tension.
Tension builds in the body because of an over-accumulation of adrenaline
produced by stress, anxiety or fear. Health experts agree that performing
calisthenics or participating in an active sport such as tennis or volleyball for
thirty minutes releases tension. If people swim, jog or ride a bicycle for thirty
minutes, they should sleep better at night and have a better temperament the SUPPORTING
next day. In addition, after the release of tension, petty irritations and SENTENCES
frustrations should be less troubling. For example, Roscoe (2010) explains
that an employee stressed with work and traffic congestion, may rush home,
argue with the family, and eat excessively. Taking about thirty minutes to
release frustrations through physical exercise could help him or her avoid this
behaviour. Therefore, exercising regularly can eliminate or at least control Reporting verb used
tension. to introduce
borrowed
CONCLUDING information
SENTENCE

Paraphrase/ summary (supporting In-text citation:

detail):
Author’s surname
Ideas from a credible source and year of
expressed in your own words publication
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4. STRUCTURE OF A PARAGRAPH

TOPIC SENTENCE

A topic sentence indicates the main idea of a paragraph. It provides an introduction

and focus for each paragraph. A good topic sentence:

• must be a complete sentence; not fragment

• has a clear topic and controlling idea
• usually appears in the first sentence of the paragraph
• begins with transition signals such as first, second, finally
• uses keywords or phrases from the thesis statement to indicate the part of the
thesis that will be discussed

Example 1

a) Firstly, social media can negatively affect face-to-face communication.

TOPIC CONTROLLING IDEA

b) Next, social media can also cause mental distress among its users.

TOPIC CONTROLLING IDEA

Example 2

c) Understanding tourists’ behaviour is one of the ways to promote tourism.

CONTROLLING IDEA TOPIC

d) Researching tourists’ demand is another way to market a tourist destination.

CONTROLLING IDEA TOPIC

TOPIC T TOTHDHDFNBFDNDFBBBD TOPIC

PICTTYYY

OPIC 10
Example 3
Writing Topic Sentences with reference to the Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement:

Overscheduled lifestyles, changes in family structure, and emphasis on individualism

are three reasons for the generation gap between younger and older people.

Explanation:

This thesis statement tells us that the topic of the text is the gap between younger
and older people and the focus is the causes of this gap.

We also know that the first paragraph of the text will discuss how overscheduled
lifestyles affect the generation gap between younger and older people.

The second paragraph will discuss the changes in family structure and how it affects
family relationships, while the third paragraph will discuss how individualism can
create a difference between generations.

To establish the connection between the thesis statement and the paragraphs of the
text, the following topic sentences are used.

Topic Sentence 1:
Overscheduled lifestyles is one reason why younger and older people become
isolated from each other.

Topic Sentence 2:
Another reason for the generation gap between younger and older people is the
change in family structure from extended families to nuclear families.

Topic Sentence 3:
The third cause of the generation gap between younger and older people is
emphasis on individualism.

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EXERCISE 1
Read the thesis statements below. For each thesis statement, decide if it is a good
thesis statement. If not, rewrite the thesis statement according to the qualities of a
good thesis statement.

Topic: The Benefits of Using Technology in the Classroom

1. These days technology is widely used in many fields.

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

2. The use of technology in the classroom has many benefits.

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

3. The usage of technology in the classroom improves knowledge retention,

encourages individual learning, and enhances classroom engagement.

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

4. There are three benefits of using technology in the classroom.

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

5. Cool Math, Edmodo, and Fun Brain are some examples of the many education
technology tools that can be used to enhance classroom learning.

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

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EXERCISE 2
Read the thesis statement and topic sentences in each question. For each topic
sentence, decide if it is a good topic sentence. If not, rewrite the topic sentence
according to the qualities of a good topic sentence.

1. Thesis Statement:
Exposure to violence, an inadequate rating system, and too little parental
supervision are three reasons why children should not play video games.

Topic Sentence 1:
Children in the United States love to play video games.

Is the topic sentence appropriate? If not, what is the problem?

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence 2:
Inadequate rating system for evaluating video games is another reason why
children should avoid video games.

Is the topic sentence appropriate? If not, what is the problem?

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence 3:
Next, there is too little parental supervision.

Is the topic sentence appropriate? If not, what is the problem?

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

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2. Thesis Statement:
Social media in today’s society allows people to stay connected, to keep
abreast with the latest news, and to communicate across borders.

Topic Sentence 1:
Social media allows people to stay connected.

Is the topic sentence appropriate? If not, what is the problem?

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence 2:
The second advantage is that people are able to keep abreast with the latest
news around the world.

Is the topic sentence appropriate? If not, what is the problem?

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence 3:
Is a communication tool.

Is the topic sentence appropriate? If not, what is the problem?

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

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EXERCISE 3
Write an appropriate topic sentence for each of the paragraphs below.

1.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Assistive technology can be used to increase, maintain or improve the capabilities of
students with disabilities. For example, expert tutoring software presents instruction
in small, sequential steps, at varying levels of difficulty, and students can use the
software independently while working at their own pace. In addition, assistive
technology also includes computer programmes and tablet applications that provide
text-to-speech and speech-to-text application, word prediction capabilities and
graphic organisers to assist in speech and language learning. Hence, advances in
technology such as assistive technology provide disabled students with the
opportunity to learn and develop new skills.

2.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Students who study abroad stand a chance to get better jobs when they return to
their home country. This is because their qualifications and experiences may allow
them to get jobs that are higher paid, and they have a better chance in getting a
promotion quickly. Another advantage of studying abroad is the independence
students’ gain being in a foreign country. For example, students have to cope with
the challenges of living alone and meeting new people from different cultures. This
will enable them to become more confident in their lives and relationships with
others. Thus, studying abroad is a very rewarding and beneficial experience for
students.

3.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
After-school programmes such as sports and games, art and music activities,
internships in local area businesses and professional organisations as well as
volunteer activities in the community would help engage teens in worthwhile pursuits
outside of school hours. More job opportunities for teens, especially those funded by
state and local programmes, would offer income for teens as well as work for the
community. Outreach to families through schools, community organisations and
places of worship would help promote inter-generational activities that could improve
family ties, helping teens to work on their problems at the family level instead of
taking them to the streets. Therefore, the problem of teen gang violence can be
eliminated with the combined effort of the community via numerous programmes.
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SUPPORTING SENTENCES AND SUPPORTING DETAILS

Supporting Sentences
Supporting sentences explain and develop the idea expressed in the topic sentence.
These sentences must represent the writer’s point of view and voice.

EXERCISE 4
Read the topic sentences below. Write three supporting sentences that could be
included in the paragraph.

1. Topic Sentence:

Participating in recreational activities brings many benefits to students.

Supporting Sentence 1:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Supporting Sentence 2:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Supporting Sentence 3:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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2. Topic Sentence:

The main reason for unemployment among fresh graduates is the lack of
communication skills.

Supporting Sentence 1:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Supporting Sentence 2:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Supporting Sentence 3:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

3. Topic sentence:

One of the ways to promote Green Living is through awareness campaigns.

Supporting Sentence 1:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Supporting Sentence 2:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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Supporting Sentence 3:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Supporting Details
There are several kinds of supporting details, such as examples, facts, statistics, and
quotations. These supporting details are usually taken from other sources i.e.
journals, books, and credible online sources.

Supporting details further develop the supporting sentences. They also add to the
validity of the main idea expressed in the topic sentence. This information, however,
must be carefully documented using proper citation methods and referencing
convention to avoid plagiarism. You will learn further about citation and referencing
in Lecture Notes 2.

EXERCISE 5
Read the paragraphs below. Underline the supporting details and decide whether
they are examples, facts, statistics or quotations.

1. Wildlife tourism also has an implication on physiological changes in animals

subject to disturbance. Since animals are a regular subject to wildlife watching
activities, it gives an unpleasant impact to their behavioural responses. Getting too
close to animals can result in adverse effects on wildlife, even if they are not
apparent to the observer. Some animals may flee, others may be stressed and have
physiological responses. For example, animals in the Northern Territory in high
visitation areas have become accustomed to human presence, and visitors may
enjoy passive interactions with these animals through wildlife watching and
photography (Gross, 2012). This can cause prolonged stress in animals which may
lead to a decrease in weight, reduction in breeding success and increased
vulnerability to disease.

Supporting detail type: ____________________

2. For many working adults, online education has greatly enhanced the
opportunity to take classes and complete their studies. Research indicates that
although most online students successfully complete their degree programme, about
forty percent of them fail in their studies (Bates, 2010). Most online students pursue
their study online because they realise the many advantages of online education;
nevertheless, it can be a major issue if students do not put in sufficient effort and
time in completing their studies. In most cases, students can access their course at
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anytime from anywhere. This means that parents, working students and
professionals on the move have the option of attending classes no matter how hectic
their work schedule. Students only need a computer and Internet access to take
online classes.

Supporting detail type: ____________________

3. All languages change over time and vary from place to place. "Language is
subject to change and is not caused by unnecessary sloppiness, laziness or
ignorance" (Aitchison, 1981, p.67). Languages may change as a result of social or
political pressures such as invasion, colonisation, and immigration. Language also
changes very subtly whenever speakers come into contact with each other. No two
individuals speak identically; people from different geographical places clearly speak
differently, but even within the same small community there are variations according
to a speaker’s age, gender, ethnicity as well as social and educational background.
Through interactions with different speakers, new words, expressions, and
pronunciations are integrated into speech.

Supporting detail type: ____________________

4. One vital step in protecting the environment is by reducing the use of plastic
bags. Plastic bags cost the city of San Francisco 17 cents each to handle once
discarded. Over the state, California spends about 25 million dollars sending plastic
bags to landfills each year, and another 8.5 million dollars to remove littered bags
from streets. While a grocer pays next to nothing for plastic bags and gives them to
customers at no charge, the follow-on cost to society is much higher. If customers
can be trained to bring their own reusable bags every time they shop, this will lead to
a reduction in one of the major polluting items in the environment. Paper bags are
biodegradable and make a good option to reduce the use of plastic bags (Society for
the Environment, 2013). Grocery stores and other retail stores should be actively
discouraged from giving out plastic bags. There are numerous and various incentive
systems employed in some cities around the world in reducing the use of plastic
bags to conserve the environment.

Supporting detail type: ____________________

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CONCLUDING SENTENCE

A concluding sentence is the last sentence of a paragraph. It either restates the main
idea of the paragraph by repeating the topic sentence in different words or
summarises the main points of the paragraph. A concluding sentence begins with
suitable transition signals such as therefore, hence, and thus.

EXERCISE 6
Write a suitable concluding sentence for each of the following paragraphs.

1. The changes in roles of nurses through a university education have affected

their practice and their image among the community. Previously they were seen as
the doctor’s helper. “A good nurse was disciplined, sober, humble, obedient, and
never complained about her work” (Stevens, 2012, p.202). Currently, the roles of
nurses as part of a team of health professionals have also expanded as a result of
university education. For example, nurses are required to explore different facets of
health and develop more specialised knowledge, giving them the ability to
collaborate effectively (Duffy et al., 2011). They also have had a more influential role
in diagnosis, treatment and prevention. This is due to the stronger theory base that is
taught at universities. __________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. People need to continuously adjust their habits to bring an end to climate

change. Simple changes, like recycling and turning off the lights when leaving a
room is a good place to start, but it cannot stop there. For example, when people are
out shopping, they should carefully evaluate their purchases and buy fewer items.
When people buy things they do not need, the things quickly end up in the landfill,
which is a waste of resources. It is also important to look for ways to further reduce
consumption at home. For example, paper towels could easily be replaced with cloth
rags. People can also look for ways to minimise their use of other valuable resources
by shifting their daily habits towards more sustainable practices such as taking
shorter showers, eating less meat, and walking to nearby locations rather than
driving. _____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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3. Choosing a college or university can be difficult for high school students. The
most difficult part is finding a university that prepares them well for their future
career. In order to get a good job, the curriculum that is taught must be thorough and
up-to-date. In addition, the educators must be highly qualified and respected in their
fields. Another difficulty in choosing a university or college is affordability. Students
need to be able to pay not only the tuition fees but also the living expenses.
Fortunately, some institutions might be able to offer scholarships if students cannot
afford the fees. Of course, a good location is also very important when choosing a
college or university. The environment should be safe and quiet to facilitate studying.
Moreover, there should be opportunities near the college or university for part-time
jobs or internships to provide some work experience for students.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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