Redacción en Inglés

Académico
Unit 9. Devices to support
information
Grado en Estudios Ingleses
Curso 2018/2019
9. Devices to support information
CONTENTS
1. Definitions
2. Generalisations
3. Examples
4. Visual information
 1. Definitions
• They are usually found in:
– In introductions
– In paragraphs of the main body: specific term
Use in-text citations!
* Do not provide definitions in the conclusion paragraph

• When to use them:

– To clarify specific aspects
– To demonstrate your understanding of a determined
idea, word, etc..
Exercise 1. Identify the terms being defined
 1.1. Types of definitions
1. Use a definition from another writer
- in-text citations must be provided

2. Mention relevant situations

 1.1. Types of definitions
3. Explain a process
 1.1. Types of definitions
4. Use category words: Something is X
Exercise 2. Consider the following essay titles. Identify the
terms that are worth defining in the introductory section
a) Capital punishment has no place in the modern legal
system. Discuss this statement.

b) Compare and contrast these two festivities: Diwali and

Chinese New Year.

c) It is widely believed that as urban areas continue to

expand worldwide, agriculture will not be able to feed
the growing population of cities. Discuss this statement.

d) Given the medical dangers of obesity, state possible

measures so as to reduce its incidence.
Exercise 3. Complete these sentences with a
category word
a) A barometer is a scientific ___ designed to measure
atmospheric pressure.
b) Kidneys are ___ that separate waste fluid from the
blood.
c) A multinational company is a business ___ that
operates in many countries.
d) Reinforced concrete is a building ___ consisting of
cement, sand, aggregate and steel rods.
e) Bullying is a pattern of antisocial ___ found in many
schools.
f) Recycling is a ___ in which materials are used again.
Exercise 4. Provide definitions for the following
terms

a) Brexit is … (use a category word)

b) The European Union is … (use a category word)

c) Alzheimer is … (use an in-text citation)

d) An exam is … (use an in-text citation)

 2. Generalisations
• When to use generalisations:
– To introduce or conclude a topic
– You can also use them throughout your essay
(you can use in-text citations!)
• Why generalisations should be used:
– Simple and easy to understand
• But…
– Avoid using generalisations that cannot be
supported by evidence or research
– Too many generalisations = inaccurate essay
 2. Generalisations
• How can we create generalisations?
1. Using the plural
E.g.: Computers have transformed the way we live
2. Using the singular + definite article (more formal)
E.g.: The computer has transformed the way we live
Use cautious phrases when using
generalisations!
E.g.: Smoking causes lung cancer vs.
Smoking might cause lung cancer
Exercise 5: Identify three generalisations. Where
are the located? Why?
Exercise 6: Think of generalisations on the following
topics
E.g.: fresh fruit – health:
Eating fresh fruit may be important for health.
*Reminder: use cautious phrases
a) Honest judges – respect for the law
b) Adequate sleep – academic success
c) Industrial growth – pollution
d) Cold weather – demand for gas
e) Job satisfaction – interesting work
 3. Examples
• Used to support and illustrate info.:
– Suitable examples strengthen the argument
– They help the reader to understand a point
– They make your writing less theoretical
• Phrases to introduce examples:
For instance, for example (with comma)
Such as, e.g.
Particularly, especially (to give a focus)
A case in point (for single examples)
• Phrases to introduce only one possible example:
In other words, namely, that is to say, i.e.,
Exercise 7. Add a suitable phrase from the box
below to the following sentences to make them
clearer

a) The Roman Empire was a period of autocratic rule.

b) The Indian capital has a thriving commercial centre.
c) Survival rates for the most common type of cancer are
improving.
d) Participation rates in most democracies are in decline.

1. that is to say, fewer people are voting / 2. namely New

Delhi / 3. (27 BC – 476 AD) / 4. (i.e. breast cancer)
Exercise 8. Add a suitable example to each sentence
E.g.: A number of sports have become very profitable due to the
sale of television rights.
E.g.: A number of sports, for instance motor racing, have become
very profitable due to the sale of television rights.

a) Some twentieth-century inventions affected the lives of most

people.
b) Lately many countries have introduced fees for university courses.
c) Various companies have built their reputation on the strength of
one product.
d) Certain countries are frequently affected by earthquakes.
e) Ship canals facilitate world trade.
 4. Visual information
• Academic writing → essential: use of visuals
to support information
• Large quantities of information + visuals =
easy to understand
• Original content → you must acknowledge
them: sources + references
• Different types of visuals → different uses
Line graph

Changes in
time

Table

Statistics
 Bar chart

Comparisons

Pie chart

Proportion
Diagram

Structure

Map

Location
 4. Visual information
Verbs Verbs Verbs =
Rise Fall Remain stable
Increase Decrease No change
Grow Decline Remain steady
Go up to Go down Stay constant
Climb Drop Fluctuate
Boom Reduce Stabilise
Peak Plunge Level off
Level up Plummet
E.g.: The percentage of alcohol intake has decreased.
E.g.: The data provided in Table 1 confirms that there has been a rise
in terms of coffee consumption.
 4. Visual information
Adjectives Adverbs
Sharp Sharply
Rapid Rapidly
Huge Hugely
Dramatic Dramatically
Substantial Substantially
Considerable Considerably
Significant Significantly
Slight Slightly
E.g.:The percentage of students dropping out of high schools has
dramatically increased.
E.g.: Last year, the percentage of students that took part in the Erasmus
programme experienced a significant rise.
Exercise 9. Read the following descriptions, which
one would be the best? Why?
Exercise 10. Make some comments on the graph
below using accurate vocabulary
 4. Visual information
Some conventions: how to mention a figure or
image throughout your text (APA STYLE)
• Word “Figure” + number → any type of
illustration (maps, charts, graphs, photos...)
• Word “Table” + number → numerical values or
text displayed in rows and columns
– E.g.: As it can be appreciated in Figure 1, three out
of six countries have border checks
– E.g.: As shown in Table 3, drug consumption
among teenagers has dramatically increased
 4. Visual information
Some conventions: required information (APA STYLE)
• Word “Figure” + number. + legend + (source)
→ below

Figure 2. Starbucks stores worlwide map

(Smith, 2010, p. 89).

Figure 1. Coffee consumption by country (Smith, 2010, p.76).

 4. Visual information
Some conventions: required information (APA STYLE)
• Word “table” + number + title → above
Note. + source → below

Note. Retrieved from Market Information Digest New Zealand, 2010.

Redacción en Inglés
Académico
Unit 9. Devices to support
information
Grado en Estudios Ingleses
Curso 2018/2019