Academic Text

→ Academic Texts are usually written by

professions who specialize in a specific field
(Mid-Michigan College, 2020)
→ usually clear, direct to the point, has a
particular structure and always supported
by evidences.
→ written using formal language and style.

Types of Academic Text

TEXT TYPE DESCRIPTION

Journal long academic text that involves personal

Article research written by a candidate for a
university degree Academic Texts Non- Academic Texts

Conference condenses the main points of a source Intended The audience belongs to meant for mass
Paper academic text Audience a specific field consumption; no specific
audience
Thesis / written by scholars/and or experts in a
Dissertation particular field; contains latest research; peer- Language Used The language used is The language used may be
reviewed formal and follows a informal/casual as it may
specific set of contain slang terms, as the
condenses the main points of a source vocabulary items, given readers do not necessarily
Summary
academic text and includes additional that the audience belong to a specific field
explanation and opinion about the source text belongs to a specific
field

Essay published in a proceeding after a scientific

gathering where it was presented orally; Writing Style The writing style is The text written using
includes a fixed review schedule concise, direct to the literary language and may
point and is objective in be subjective in nature
nature
Annotation has various purposes, e.g. to describe,
compare, contrast, persuade (for or against),
defend, etc. Citation/s The authors and sources The authors and sources
and ALWAYS recognized may not always be
recognized

Purpose of Reading Academic Texts

Non- Academic Text
✓ to get information (facts, data, etc.)
→ quickly accomplished and can be written by ✓ to understand ideas or theories
virtually anyone ✓ to understand author’s viewpoints
→ for mass consumption and not limited to a ✓ to support your own views (using citations)
specific audience
→ informal and may contain slang × to be entertained
→ authors may/may not be recognized × as a hobby
→ usually not peer-reviewed × to kill time
× to read for fun
Features of Academic Texts
Comparison and Contrast Network Tree
→ These features a re being followed by
academic writers to ease understanding, Cause and Effect Series of Events
summarizing, and paraphrasing academic
Problem and Solution Semantic (Cognitive
texts
Mapping)

Text Structures Study Guides based on text

patters
→ Organization of information within a written
text.

Types of Text Structure Format of Academic Texts

A. External structures Essay Format
→ the way the text is physically
presented; (font, highlight, etc.) → Introduction (Attention Getter,
o preface Explanation of Purpose, and Credibility)
o table of contents → Body (Transition, Topic Sentences, and
o appendixes Thesis Statement)
o bibliography → Conclusion (Thesis Restatement, Summary
o indexes Ideas, and Closure/Conclusion)
o title page
o dedication IMRAD Format
o
External Text Structure within a chapter → Introduction (WHY?)
o Introduction → LIT Review
o Summary → Method (HOW?)
o Headings
→ Results (WHAT?)
o Graphs
→ Discussion (SO WHAT?)
o Charts
→ Conclusion
o Illustrations
o Guide Questions

B. Internal structures
Language of Academic Texts
→ the way the actual content is
developed through organizational
1. Achieving Formality
patterns of development → should not appear casual or
conversational.
→ avoid the use of colloquial,
Internal Text Patterns Graphic Organizers idiomatic, slang, or journalistic
and Signal Words in terms when writing academic
Text Structures texts.

Description or Definition Comparison and Contrast 2. Writing Objectively

Matrix
→ Avoid the use of pronoun “I” or
“we”.
Sequence/Time Problem and Solution
Outline → The use of Passive Voice is
preferred over Active Voice.