Quarter 4 - Week 1

Distinguish features of academic

writing

Republic of the Philippines

Department of
Education REGION V
Schools Division Office of Masbate

English 7 Quarter 4 Week 1: Learning Activity Sheet Number 1

Distinguish features of academic writing

Jefrey R. Alcovendas - Writer
Name of Student:
____________________________________________________ Grade level:
_____________________________________________ Date:
____________________________

I. Introductory Concept
In this Learning Activity Sheet (LAS), you will understand the purpose of academic
writing – a writing that features right language structure, clear association of written
context and appropriate academic writing designs that will help you become excellent
writers.

This LAS introduces one important skill to have mastery in composing a text- to
distinguish features of academic writing. You will engage in various exercises to
develop competencies in writing compositions at your own pace and time.

Before accomplishing the activities in this LAS, here are some key concepts and brief
discussion that you need to know:

Academic Writing

⮚ A formal style of writing that exhibits information to represent a clear

understanding of a specific subject.
⮚ Also called scholarly writing, it is a nonfiction produced as part of
academic work, including reports or research.
 ⮚ It is linear, which means it has one central point or theme with every part
contributing to the main line of argument, without digressions or
repetitions.

Features of Academic Writing

1. Formality
⮚ Academic writing is relatively formal, it should avoid colloquial words and
expressions.

Example: colloquial words: “stuff”, “a lot of”, “thing”, “sort of”

abbreviated forms: “can’t”, “doesn’t”
two word verbs: “put off”, “bring up”

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Republic of the Philippines

Department of
Education REGION V
Schools Division Office of Masbate

2. Complexity
⮚ Academic writing additionally features more linguistic variations. It has
longer words, lexically more dense and has more varied vocabulary.

Example:
Informal: “Terrorism has changed once peaceful US cities.”
Academic: “The cities in the US had once been peaceful, but they altered
when people became brutal.”
 3.

Objectivity
⮚ Academic writing emphasizes on the information that the writer wants to
give and the arguments he wants to make.

Example:
Don’t write: “In my opinion, this is a very interesting study.”
Write: “This is a very interesting study.”

4. Hedging
⮚ In academic writing, you have to inform decisions about your posture on a
specific subject, or the strength of the arguments you are using.

Example:
To qualify statements, use tentative language such as “may”, “it
is possible that”, “appears to”.

5. Precision
⮚ In academic writing, facts and figures are given precisely.

Example:
Don’t write: “The Coalition has been destroying the country for about a
century”.
Write: The Coalition was formed in 1923, some 24 years ago, and have
a conservative ideology”.
6. Accuracy
⮚ Academic writing uses vocabulary accurately.

Example:
You have to pick or use words depending on its purpose – “money”,
“cash”, “currency”, “capital” or “funds”

7. Responsibility
⮚ In academic writing, an author must be responsible and must provide
evidence and justification for any claims that he has made.

Example:
Paraphrasing what you read and acknowledging the source

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Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION V
Schools Division Office of Masbate

8. Planning
⮚ Academic writing is well planned. It usually takes place after research and
evaluation, according to a specific purpose and plan.

Example:
Read the question, think about the subject, go to the library, find the
books, make notes, record details, organize, write, revise, proofread,
produce the final draft and check everything
 II.

Learning Skills from the MELCs

Upon completion of this LAS, it is expected that you will be able to:

▪ Distinguish features of academic writing (EN7WC-I-c-4.2)

III. Learning Activities

(for remediation)

Activity 1
T Double
Trouble!
DIRECTIONS: Rewrite the sentences, replacing the informal two word verb with
more formal equivalent that are found in the box below.

1. A primary education system was set up throughout Ireland as early as 1831.

2. This will cut down the amount of drug required and so the cost of treatment.
3. The material amenities of life have gone up in Western society. 4. Thus, he
should have looked into how the patient has coped previously. 5. The
aggregate of outstanding balances went up and down quite violently. 6. They
did not easily accept or put up with differences in others. 7. Dieters often feel
that they should totally get rid of high-fat and high-sugar foods.
8. The press reflected the living culture of the people; it could influence opinion
 and reinforce existing attitudes but it did not come up with new forms of
entertainment.
9. Discussion of the outcome of experiments that have used this method will be
put off until Chapter 7.
10.My high-school friend signed up for three years with the army so he could put
away enough money to go to university and study law.
Postponed eliminate save

Reduce fluctuated create tolerate

Established investigated increased

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Republic of the Philippines

Department of
Education REGION V
Schools Division Office of Masbate

(For enrichment)

Activity 1

Formal vs Informal
DIRECTIONS: Complete the table below by filling in the formal to informal words and

vice versa.
Formal Informal

seem

climb

help

cease

commence

use

decrease

demonstrate

depart

tell
(For remediation)

Activity 2
Pause
and Clause!
DIRECTION: Rewrite the following sentences using the relative pronoun given.

Example: There are several factors. These factors help to prolong this period.
(which) Answer: There are several factors which help to prolong this period.

1. The only really important biography was that of George V by Harold Nicolson.
It had been published in 1952. (which)
2. It was this government. This government ruled Britain until May 1940. (which)
3. We have now learned something: This harmony could be interrupted by the
actions of nations very distant from our shores. (that)
4. There is no reason for something: Action should be conditioned to a definite
scientific proof. (why)
5. A group in Palawan, the Filipino island with the country’s most extensive
rainforests, has taken on the wealthy logger. The logger’s concession covers
61 percent of Palawan’s forests. (whose)

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Republic of the Philippines

Department of
Education REGION V
Schools Division Office of Masbate

(For enrichment)

Activity 2
Passives
Overload!
DIRECTIONS: Rewrite these sentences. Instead of using ‘people’, ‘somebody’, or

‘they’, write a passive sentence with an appropriate verb form.

Example: We can solve the problem.

Answer: The problem can be solved.

1. Someone had reported the theft to the police.

2. Someone has given P1,000,000. to the charity.
3. Someone will demonstrate the program to the students.
4. People are destroying large areas of forest every day.
5. Somebody has bought the land next to the university.
6. Someone explained the procedure to me.
7. People expect better results soon.
8. Students should send their complaints to the head of the department.
9. They should have finished the library by the time you arrive.
10.I hope they will have completed all the marking by tomorrow.

IV. Answer Key

Activity 1: (Remediation)

1. A primary education system was established throughout Ireland as early as

1831.
2. This will reduce the amount of drug required and so the cost of treatment.
 3. The material amenities of life have increased in Western society. 4. Thus,
he should have investigated how the patient has coped previously. 5. The
aggregate of outstanding balances fluctuated quite violently. 6. They did not
easily accept or tolerate differences in others.
7. Dieters often feel that they should totally eliminate high-fat and high-sugar
foods.
8. The press reflected the living culture of the people; it could influence opinion
and reinforce existing attitudes but it did not create new forms of
entertainment.
9. Discussion of the outcome of experiments that have used this method will be
postponed until Chapter 7.
10.My high-school friend signed up for three years with the army so he could
save enough money to go to university and study law.

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Republic of the Philippines

Department of
Education REGION V
Schools Division Office of Masbate

Activity 1: (Enrichment)
Formal Informal

appear seem

ascend climb

assist help

cease stop

commence begin

consume use

decrease shorten

demonstrate show

depart go

inform tell
 Activity
2:

(Remediation)

1. The only really important biography was that of George V by Harold Nicolson,
which had been published in 1952.
2. It was this government which ruled Britain until May 1940.
3. We have now learned that this harmony could be interrupted by the actions of
nations very distant from our shores.
4. There is no reason why action should be conditioned to a definite scientific
proof.
5. A group in Palawan, the Filipino island with the country’s most extensive
rainforests, has taken on the wealthy logger whose concession covers 61
percent of Palawan’s forests.

Activity 2: (Enrichment)

1. The theft had been reported to the police.

2. P1,000,000 has been given to the charity.
3. The program will be demonstrated to the students.
4. Large areas of forest are being destroyed every day.
5. The land next to the university has been bought.
6. The procedure was explained to me.
7. Better results are expected soon.
8. Complaints should be sent to the head of the department.
9. The library should be finished by the time you arrive.
10.I hope the marking will all have been completed by tomorrow.
 Page|7

Republic of the Philippines

Department of
Education REGION V
Schools Division Office of Masbate

VI. References

http://www.uefap.com
http://www.jcu.edu.au
http://paperown.com
http://

students.unimelb.edu.au
http://my.sunderland.ac.uk
FleuncyComwithCon.youtube
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