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1. English for Academic and
Professional Purposes
WEEK2-Developing Skills in Academic Reading

4. Reading is significant in learning the language for academic purposes. It is the primary
means for learning whether the goal is to perform better in any academic tasks or to
acquire linguistic abilities. Most jobs demand the ability to read, understand, and evaluate
memorandums, letters, forms, and reports. In academic settings, various purposes of
reading come into play but most often, students read for general comprehension and learn
more information. This module will help you read intensively – to go beyond facts and
ideas. It will introduce reading skills which will be useful not only in your school work but
throughout your life. Furthermore, this module will provide you reading tips that are specific
for particular text types and for the purposes you may have.

5. What you read:
You may be expected to read a wide range of texts that include the course
reading pack, lecture slides, books, journal articles, internet articles,
newspapers, research reports, literature reviews, case studies and strategic
plans.

6. Why you read :
You may read to: prepare for lectures and assignments, review information
addressed in lectures, conduct research for assignments, or revise for exams.

7. What reading abilities you need:
Beyond being able to simply understand texts, you will need to critique
them, evaluate them, compare and contrast them, and apply the information
you find useful from them.

8. At the end of this module, you will be able to :
a. point out the kind of reading strategy used in a given task,
b. scan a text to locate specific information,
c. construct sentences using simple present tense and present progressive
tense .
d. identify the correct verb form in present and present continuous tense.

9. Techniques in Academic Reading
What is reading? Experts in reading provided definition of reading in many
ways. Bernhardt (1991) defines reading as “ an interactive and socio-
cognitive process involving a text, a reader, and a social context within which
the activity takes place”. The reader constructs meaning through the written
text that represents a language. In the process of reading, “there is a
transaction between the reader and the text which involves the reader’s act
on interpreting the text. The interpretation is influenced by the reader’s
experiences, language and cultural background as well as the reader’s
purpose for reading” (Hudelson 1994).

10. William Gray (1950) , known as the Father of Reading, defines
reading as a four step process:
1. Perception of the word
2. Comprehension of its meaning
3. Reaction to the meaning in terms of prior knowledge
4. Integration of the idea into one’s background of experience.
The definitions of reading provided by different experts center around the
process and purpose in making meaning from a written text.

11. Strategies In Academic Reading
1. Efficient Reading Academic texts generally conform to a set structure, are written in a
formal, academic way, and contain specific language from your discipline area. Most academic
writing contains some or all of the following depending on whether they are textbooks, journal
articles, in research articles, review articles:
Executive Summary or Abstract Table of Contents Introduction or Background
Title
Headings Sub-headings Findings/Discussion of Findings o Results of research
meanings, implications Tables,
Diagrams, Visual Support o Condensed, visual information Concluding Paragraph
Recommendations Reference List

12. The 4s-System for Efficient Academic Reading
A. Skimming
Nutall (1996) the necessary information. Skimming is used when the reader
Wishes to get a general impression of an article of a book.
Needs to know the general idea or ideas of a particular passage
Wants to remember the main points in a selection already read just before an exam.
Gets updates about the current events from a newspaper
Gets informed through business and travel brochure

13. B. Scanning
Another fast way by which the reader goes over the printed page. This skill is
looking for specific information or fact without necessarily reading
everything in the text. Usually, the reader skips over some parts of a text
without understanding them.

14. Scanning is used when the reader
Goes over a selection rapidly using the writer’s tools such as title, subtitles, italics, etc. until reaching
the passage which contains the information sought. Once the specific information is found, the readers
stops reading.
Needs a name, date, location, or any specific detail that will answer a question in mind.
Examples of scanning techniques:
Looking for a phone number in a telephone directory
A google search list on the internet
A plane boarding schedule
A conference guide

15. C. Selecting - Using both scanning and skimming to decide what to read
more closely.
D. Studying - is also reading in detail and paying close attention to the main
points the reader wants to learn.

16. 2. Critical Reading
Critical reading is an active reading , also called detailed reading. The reader
reads carefully and makes a variety of comments about the text being read.
Critical reading requires concentration to understand the text combined with
scanning and skimming. It is a kind of reading that involves the reader to
respond to a text, whether in writing, speaking , answering a test, or
presenting a report.

17. Techniques required in critical reading:
a. Highlighting , marking the text, and underlining keywords and phrases.
b. Assigning keywords including brief comments about important points.
c. Recording questions when reading and making it as prompts for follow -
up works.
d. Summarizing the text to check for understanding

18. 3. Drawing Conclusions
A reading strategy done after reading. It involves the use of visual clues, titles
and illustrations to understand something indirectly stated in the text. It flows
from reading information, gathering of facts, evaluating data or details in
order to make judgment. This technique is used in content areas, problem-
solving, social interactions and research. Although in research, this is the final
and most important part of the process.

19. Ways in drawing out valid conclusions:
Deductive process or top –down approach presents information from general to
specific. It starts from reading a text, then uses the background information to
understand a text. It involves prediction and inference on the basis of facts,
propositions and expectations.
Inductive process or bottom – up approach begins from accurate information or
observation, then perceives a particular pattern, then formulate tentative hypothesis
and ends up with general conclusion.

20. The Simple Present Tense and The Present Continuous
Tense
A – The Simple Present Tense Uses:
To describe actions or situations that do not change frequently
To describes habits or routines,
To express opinions or to make general statement or facts.
Can also be used to refer to the future.

23. B - The Present Continuous Tense
Describes actions or situations in progress at the moment of
speaking.
Also called present progressive tense.
Is formed by using the verb BE in present tense and the main verb
with –ing.
Example: The team leader is suggesting a unique solution.

26. Add – s or –es to the base form of the verb for Simple Present Tense in
singular number. No –s or –es for plural forms – present tense.
The Present Progressive Tense is formed by using : Is (singular) Are (plural)
+ Verb - ing Am ( subject I)