LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS – WEEK 1

4TH QUARTER: ENGLISH GRADE 7

Name: ______________________________________ Date:_________________________

Grade and Section: ____________________________ Score: ________________________

After reading this learning activity sheet, you should be able to distinguish the features of academic
writing. (EN7WC-I-c-4.2)
Specifically, you should also be able to:
a. describe what is academic writing;
b. identify the different features or characteristics of academic writing; and
c. appreciate the unique features of academic writing as compared to creative writing or any other types
of writing.

ACTIVITY 1: Draw a smiley face ( ) if the item is an example of an academic

writing, or put a sad face ( ) if it is not.
_________1. Poem ________6. abstract report _________11. research paper
_________2. Textbook ________7. news article _________12. idiomatic expression
_________3. thesis ________8. nursery rhyme _________13. novel
_________4. short play ________9. movie script _________14. myth or legend
_________5. song lyrics ________10. Riddle _________15. personal diary

FEATURES OF 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 5. Abstract
2. Research paper 6. Thesis
3. Journals 7. News Articles
4. Conference paper

Features of Academic Writing

1. Formality is using formal language rather than everyday common language.

It is achieved through:
1.1 Choosing expanded forms over contracted forms.
Poor examples Improved
can’t cannot
doesn’t does not
won’t will not
I’ve I have
Sentence: The policy does not permit illegal dealings.
1.2 Choosing one verb form over two-word verbs.
Poor examples Improved
mess up damage
brought up raised
give back return
Sentence: The business sectors raised the questions of excluding tax payment from the dialogue.

1.3 Avoiding colloquial/trite/idiomatic expressions

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 Examples of colloquial/trite/idiomatic expressions
“stuff” “thing”
“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 of (instead of a lot of) pressure to conform to a certain
physical shape.
1.4 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.
Poor example Improved
1. We need to conduct the experiment. The researchers need to conduct the experiment.

2. You can easily forget how different life was 50 It is easy to forget how different life was 50 years
years ago. ago.
2.2 Avoiding rhetorical questions.

Poor example Improved

1. How can these problems be solved? Certain measures must be discovered to solve
problems.
2.3 Avoiding “emotive language” that shows biases.

Poor example Improved

1. The investigators were very shocked to see the The investigators did not expect the result.
outcome of the tests.

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:
3.1 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, because
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.

3.2 Citing/acknowledging sources of ideas

Example:
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 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:
3.1 Using 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
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…

e.g. It is important to develop…

e.g. It is useful to study…

Sentence NOT observing caution Sentence observing caution

1. The commitment to some of the social and It may be said that the commitment to some of the
economic concepts was less strong than it is social and economic concepts was less strong than it is
now. now.

2. Nowadays the urinary symptoms are of a Nowadays the urinary symptoms seem to be of a lesser
lesser order. order.

ACTIVITY 2: EXPANDED OVER CONTRACTED

Directions: Rewrite the following sentences by expanding the underlined contracted words.
_______1. We hadn’t played their team before.
_______2. They weren’t afraid to play our team.
_______3. The crowd mustn’t forget to applaud both teams.
_______4. Winning isn’t everything.
_______5. We aren’t giving up.
_______6. Our class couldn’t decide on a mascot.
_______7. Mr. Reyes doesn’t like snakes.
_______8. We didn’t want to have a dog.
_______9. Our school colors aren’t black and gold.
_______10. Our class didn’t have any good ideas.
ACTIVITY 3: 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.
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_______1. You should cite the sources you use properly.
_______2. You should avoid using different signaling words.
_______3. You should avoid emotive language that shows biases.
_______4. You should place the main emphasis on the information.
_______5. You should make use of idiomatic expressions more often.
_______6. You should use slang words (e.g. wanna, gonna, fab).
_______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).

ACTIVITY 4: 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. Number 1 is already done for you.

Sentence Feature of Academic Writing Evidence

1. Consequently, the development

of suicide prevention initiatives Using different signaling
Explicitness
has become a global public health words.
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.

ACTIVITY 5: Read the statements below and answer the questions that follow.

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 observe 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 to find the cure for the virus.
1. Which of the above statements observe good academic writing?
2. What feature of academic writing is used?