AW100 ACADEMIC WRITING

LANGUAGE FOCUS: Linking Words

and Phrases
 Linking words and phrases can help a writer
maintain flow and establish clear relationships
between ideas.
Examples:
Subordinators – although, even though, because,
since, while, whereas
Sentence connectors – furthermore, in addition,
moreover, therefore, as a result, consequently, hence,
thus, in other words, that is, in contrast, however, on
the other hand, conversely, for example, for instance,
on the contrary, as a matter of fact, in fact
Phrase linkers – in addition to, despite, in spite of,
because of, due to, as a result of, unlike
General to Specific Texts
 Texts move from broad statements to
narrower ones. However, they often widen out
again in the final sentence. The shape is similar
to that of a glass or cup.
 You produce GS text for:
An answer to an examination question
An opening paragraph of an assignment
A background (or scene-setting) paragraph to an analysis or discussion
How to begin GS texts
A short or extended definition
A contrastive or comparative definition
A generalization or purpose statement
A statement of fact
 
 GENERAL STATEMENTS
General statements can include general statements of fact as well as broad statements made
about a topic that are usually, but not necessarily always true. Here are a few examples:
Individuals in organizations exhibit a wide range of behaviors, from the minimalist who does the
least possible to maintain membership to those who go beyond expectations, engaging in extra-role
behavior to promote the effective operation of the organization or to benefit others.
In the last decade, tremendous strides have been made in the science and technology of organic
light-emitting diodes (OLEDS).
Over the years, interest in economic benefits of meetings tourism has been growing.
 
LANGUAGE FOCUS: The Language of
Defining and Naming
 Writing a definition
A definition sets the boundaries for a word’s meaning.
Some Common Ways to Define in Academic Writing
1. Short definitions or glosses
give information about a term or phrase and are placed within either
parentheses or commas in a sentence; phrasal definitions signaled by such
devices as e.g. or i.e. or phrases such as known as, defined as, and called.
2. Sentence definitions
brief and somewhat similar to a dictionary definition.

3. Extended definitions
longer and more detailed than definitions found in
dictionaries
 FORMAL SENTENCE DEFINITIONS
May be signaled by a single verb phrase or may be expressed using a class term and restrictive clause some
verb phrases include refer to as, is/are known as, is/are defined as
e.g. Dental erosion is defined as a progressive loss of hard dental tissues by a chemical process without
bacterial action.
This variant of the efficiency wage hypothesis is known as the shirking model.
Elements of formal sentence definitions
Term + Class + Distinguishing Detail
e.g. A solar cell is a device that converts the energy of sunlight into electric energy.
Without the use of a dictionary, say a sentence definition by completing
the following patterns below.
Example: A solar cell is a device that converts the energy of sunlight into electric
energy.
 
Term Class Distinguishing Characteristics
Economics which is concerned with basic needs
and which is based on facts of life.

is a piece of which consists of a set of drawers

bedroom and a set of furniture mirror.
furniture

A ringis a piece of
jewelry
 The Grammar of Definitions
1. Deletions
You may reduce the restrictive relative if The
relative clause consists only of the relative pronoun, the
verb to be, and one or more prepositional phrases.

A wharf is a structure that is along a waterfront providing

a place for ships to load and unload passengers and cargo.

A wharf is a structure along a waterfront providing a place

for ships to load and unload passengers and cargo.
 The Grammar of Definitions
2. Change in word or word form
The relative clause contains the verb have. The
relative pronoun and have can both be dropped and
replaced by with.
Informal
A parliament is national governing body which has the
highest level of legislative power within a state.
Formal
A parliament is national governing body with the
highest level of legislative power within a state.
 The Grammar of Definitions
The relative clause contains an active state verb (a verb that
expresses a state or unchanging condition). The relative pronoun
is dropped and the verb is changed to the -ing form (except the
verb to be and have).

Informal
Pollution is a form of contamination that often results from
human activity.
Formal
Pollution is a form of contamination often resulting from
human activity.
 
 Core in Constructing Definitions 

Avoid the following:

Using something
Informal
A solar cell is something that changes sunlight into
electricity.

Formal
A solar cell is a device that changes sunlight into
electricity.
 Core in Constructing Definitions 

Using when and where

Informal
Pollution is when the environment becomes
contaminated as a result of human activity.
Formal
Pollution is a form of environmental
contamination resulting from human activity.
 
DELETION
THANK YOU!