English for Academic and Professional Purposes

1
The Structures of Academic Texts

Module 006- The Structures of Academic Texts

Knowledge in the structures of academic text is a vital tool that equips

learners function effectively in communication. This module describes
the factual structure of academic text. The Grammar Builder section
provides activities and discussion on the Present Perfect Continuous and
Present Perfect Tense.

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

a. examine in detail the way a factual structure text works;
b. presents information clearly in writing a factual structure text;
c. construct sentences using the present perfect tense and present
continuous tense correctly.

The Factual – Report Structure

Also similar to thesis structure but with no problem or argument presented.
Example of this type are factual reports used for research such as topics
taken from the websites, and newspaper reports. It include facts and
figures. A particular topic must be discussed in an objective manner with
examples to support opinions.

Component of Factual – Report Structure

I – Introduction – contains the main subject presented in the first
paragraph of a web page, a short report or other text.
II – Body - contains several paragraphs which provide explanatory
details about the thesis statement.
III – Conclusion – the final summary of the subject .

The factual report structure may look like a thesis structure because the
later may also contains factual reports. However, a factual report offers
only facts with no arguments. It only presents information and its
sources.

Course Module
 Example:

Introduction presents
the fact.

Body of the text explains

the main idea in the
introduction. Facts are
used as evidences.

Conclusion presents
additional facts as a
summary.

Grammar Builder: The Present Perfect Continuous and the Present Perfect
Tense

The present perfect continuous tense describes actions or situations that

developed in the past and have continued in the moment of speaking. This
tense often implies that the action or situation will continue in the future.
Without time expressions, the present perfect continuous refers to a general
activity that began in the past and has continued to the present.

The present perfect tense describes actions that developed in the past
and that have continued in the future. It refers to actions or situations that
occurred at an unspecified time in the past.
 English for Academic and Professional Purposes
3
The Structures of Academic Texts

Table 1: Comparison of Present Perfect Tense and Present Continuous

tense.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present Perfect Continuous Tense is formed by using:
Has + +
Have been Verb +ing

USES Examples Notes

Actions and situations that
began in the past and have
continued to the present.
How long have you been
studying English?
I’ve been studying English for
six years.
My brother has been taking
English since he was in high
school.
Lately, he has been
complaining about his class.
Time expressions used with
this tense include for + period
of time,
Since + beginning of time,
All morning, lately, until now,
up to now

Present Perfect Tense

Present Perfect Tense is formed by using:
Has + verb (past participle)
have

Uses Examples Notes

With for, since and other time
expressions
We’ ve worked hard for Time expressions that give this
several weeks. meaning of the present perfect
tense include for, since, so far,
I have studied a lot since the
till nor, to date, up to now.
beginning of the semester
Our African neighbor hasn’t
stayed here for very long.

Course Module
 You have learned from this lesson that the standard format for essays is
the three-part structure consisting of introduction, body and conclusion. The
topic to be discussed is presented in the introduction. Following after the
introduction is the body, which is the main part of the text. The last part of
the essay is the conclusion where the argument is summed up and
conclusions are drawn.
Also, this module presented to you the distinction between the present
perfect continuous tense and the present perfect tense.

Glossary
Fact - A statement that can be proven on the basis of valid information from
a reliable source.
Factual Report – A text that presents only factual information with no
arguments.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense - Refers to a general activity that began
in the past and has continued to the present.
Present Perfect Tense - Describes actions that developed in the past
and that have continued in the future. It refers to actions or situations that
occurred at an unspecified time in the past.

References:

Book

Larsen- Freeman, D. (2006) The Grammar Book. Thomson Asian Edition.

Singapore

Online Supplementary Reading Materials

Writing for College.

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~jewel001/CollegeWriting/WRITEREAD/HowToR
ead.htm#Structures

An Editorial article by Joeann I. Marso.

http://www. slideshare/editorial writing . Retrieved August 9, 2016

Online Video Resources