PURPOSE OF A TEXT

  Purpose Example
Reading articles in academic sources serve Describe To describe a topic or Compare and contrast the
different purposes and convey different aspects of the topic position and powers of the
messages. internet.
 
The three main purposes of academic
reading are to: describe, discuss and defend. Discuss To argue the case for two or Discuss the merits of
more positions on an issue students receiving loans
and evaluate these from the industries and
positions, perhaps even scholarships from the
stating the position they government.
support.
 

Defend To put forward a particular “Students should be able to

position on a topic, or to be employed part-time as a
challenge a position given. source of semi-professional
labour”. Discuss.
SEQUENCE OF IDEAS
 As you read an academic text, it is important to understand the sequence of ideas in order
to follow the writer’s argument.
Academic reading passages have a typical general structure with three main sections:
introduction, body and conclusion.

  DESCRIBE DISCUSS DEFEND

Introduction Give background on the topic
Say which of the aspects of the
topic will be described
Body Describe each aspect in turn
with supporting evidence
Conclusion Summarise the description
Give background
Say what the different positions
are (and perhaps give your
view)
Give sub-arguments for each
position with supporting
evidence
Summarise the different
positions (and perhaps
reinforce your view)
Give background
Say what your position is
on the topic
Give sub-arguments for
your position with
supporting evidence
Reinforce your position
Example of
Question-
Purpose of a
text
Example of Question-
Sequence of Ideas