English for Academic

and Professional
Purposes
By: Charmaine C. Asuncion
 Academic writing
Is a process that starts with:
Posing a question
Problematizing a concept
Evaluating an opinion, and ends in
answering the question or questions posed
Clarifying the problem, and / or arguing
for a stand.
 Academic writing specific
purpose:

To inform
To argue a specific point
To persuade
 Specific audience:

Your teacher (for the most part)

Your peers (who will read and
evaluate your work)
The academic community(that
may also read your work)
 Difference between academic
writing from a personal narrative or
a creative essay, or a legal
document:

The knowledge of the writer is

assumed to be greater than that of
the readers
The assumption is that your audience
is composed of people who are
knowledgeable on the subject that
you are writing about; thus you have
to demonstrate a thorough
understanding of your subject at
hand.
Academic writing is thinking; you
cannot jut write anything that comes
to your mind.
You have to abide by the set rules
and practices in writing.
You have to write in a language that
is appropriate and formal but not too
pretentious.
You also have to consider the
knowledge and background of your
audience.
You have to make sure that you can
back up your statement with a strong
and valid evidence.
It requires deliberate, thorough, and
careful thought and that is why it
involves research.
Purpose:
The purpose of writing is to engage
the readers.
You are not just expected to inform
or to persuade but you are also
expected to engage the readers in
a conversation by giving them ideas
and points to evaluate and question.
You have to make sure that your
purpose (i.e., to react to an issue or an
event, to convince readers to take your
side) is clear and that your language,
style and tone are appropriate to
convey your purpose to your target
readers.
 Know your audience
Your audience is varied, make sure that
when you write, you keep the readers in
mind.
Your audience will determine the
language of your paper.
Assignment output: