Academic Writing

1. AW100 ACADEMIC WRITING

3. LANGUAGE FOCUS: Linking Words and Ph
ases

4. Linking words and phrases can help a writer
maintain flow and establish clear relationships betwee
n ideas.
Examples:
Subordinators – although, even though, because, si
nce, while, whereas
Sentence connectors – furthermore, in addition,
moreover, therefore, as a result, consequently, hence,
thus, in other words, that is, in contrast, however, on t
he other hand, conversely, for example, for instance, o
n 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

6. General to Specific Texts

7. Texts move from broad statements to narr
ower ones. However, they often widen out agai
n in the final sentence. The shape is similar to t
hat of a glass or cup.

8. You produce GS text for:
An answer to an examination question
An opening paragraph of an assignment
A background (or scene-setting) paragraph to a
n 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

9. GENERAL STATEMENTS
General statements can include general statements of fa
ct as well as broad statements made about a topic that are usuall
y, but not necessarily always true. Here are a few examples:
Individuals in organizations exhibit a wide range of behavi
ors, from the minimalist who does the least possible to maintai
n membership to those who go beyond expectations, engaging i
n extra-role behavior to promote the effective operation of the o
rganization or to benefit others.
In the last decade, tremendous strides have been made in th
e science and technology of organic light-emitting diodes (OLE
DS).
Over the years, interest in economic benefits of meetings tou
rism has been growing.

10. LANGUAGE FOCUS: The Language of
Defining and Naming

11. Writing a definition
A definition sets the boundaries for a wor
d’s meaning.
Some Common Ways to Define in Academ
ic Writing
1. Short definitions or glosses
give information about a term or phrase an
d are placed within either parentheses or comma
s in a sentence; phrasal definitions signaled by su
ch devices as e.g. or i.e. or phrases such as kno
wn as, defined as, and called.

12. 2. Sentence definitions
brief and somewhat similar to a dictio
nary definition.
3. Extended definitions
longer and more detailed than definiti
ons found in dictionaries

13. FORMAL SENTENCE DEFINITIONS
May be signaled by a single verb phrase or may be express
ed using a class term and restrictive clause some verb phra
ses include refer to as, is/are known as, is/are defi
ned as
e.g. Dental erosion is defined as a progressive loss of h
ard 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 sun
light into electric energy.

14. Without the use of a dictionary, say a sentence definitio
n by completing the following patterns below.
Example: A solar cell is a device that converts the energy of sun
light 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 ring is a piece of
jewelry

15. The Grammar of Definitions
1. Deletions
You may reduce the restrictive relative if Th
e relative clause consists only of the relative pronoun, th
e verb to be, and one or more prepositional phrases.
A wharf is a structure that is along a waterfront providi
ng a place for ships to load and unload passengers and c
argo.
A wharf is a structure along a waterfront providing a pla
ce for ships to load and unload passengers and cargo.

16. The Grammar of Definitions
2. Change in word or word form
The relative clause contains the verb have. The rel
ative pronoun and have can both be dropped and replac
ed by with.
Informal
A parliament is national governing body which has th
e highest level of legislative power within a state.
Formal
A parliament is national governing body with the highe
st level of legislative power within a state.

17. The Grammar of Definitions
The relative clause contains an active state verb (a
verb that expresses a state or unchanging condition). Th
e 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 f
rom human activity.

18. Core in Constructing Definitions
Avoid the following:
Using something
Informal
A solar cell is something that changes sunlight i
nto electricity.
Formal
A solar cell is a device that changes sunlight into
electricity.

19. Core in Constructing Definitions
Using when and where
Informal
Pollution is when the environment becomes con
taminated as a result of human activity.
Formal
Pollution is a form of environmental contamina
tion resulting from human activity.

20. DELETION

22. THANK YOU!