English for Academic and Professional Purposes

Introduction

• Overview of the course: English for academic and professional purposes.
• Today's lesson will cover:
  • Differentiation between academic and non-academic texts.
  • Types of academic and non-academic texts.
  • Factors shaping academic writing.

Academic Texts

Definition

• Academic texts are:
  • Written by professionals in a specific field (e.g., medical, education).
  • Well-edited and often take years to publish.
  • Utilize formal language and specific jargon.
  • Contain lists of sources and references.
  • Aim to advance human understanding in a discipline.

Characteristics

• Informative: Provides new knowledge.
• Argumentative: Discusses various points of view.
• Objective: Free from bias, presenting all sides of a topic.

Examples

• School textbooks, journal articles, research proposals, dissertations.
• Broadsheet newspapers and certain magazines (e.g., National Geographic).

Types of Academic Texts

1. Descriptive Texts

   • Provide facts and information.
   • Keywords: identify, report, record, summarize, define.

2. Analytical Texts

   • Organize information into categories and themes.
   • Keywords: analyze, compare, contrast, relate, examine.

3. Persuasive Texts

   • Present arguments, recommendations, and interpretations.
   • Support your own viewpoint with evidence.
   • Keywords: argue, evaluate, discuss, take a position.

4. Critical Texts

   • Consider at least two points of view.
   • May have an argumentative nature.
   • Keywords: critique, debate, disagree, evaluate.

Non-Academic Texts

Definition

• Written for the general public; easily understood by all.
• Published quickly; can be written by anyone.
• Does not typically involve extensive research or references.

Characteristics

• Use informal and conversational language.
• May include slang; lacks the formality of academic texts.
• Often subjective and may contain bias.
• More personal and emotional in nature.

Examples

• Blog posts, fiction books, personal letters, diaries.

Differentiating Academic and Non-Academic Texts

• Structure: Academic is structured, non-academic is more freeform.
• Purpose: Academic aims to inform and educate; non-academic aims to entertain or express emotion.
• Tone: Academic is formal; non-academic is informal.

Factors Shaping Academic Writing

1. Audience

   • Understand who will read the text; influences writing style and content.

2. Purpose

   • Define the objective of the writing; guides structure and content.

3. Organization

   • Arrange ideas logically based on the purpose.

4. Style

   • Determine the level of formality appropriate for the audience.

5. Flow

   • Ensure smooth transitions between ideas to maintain coherence.

6. Presentation

   • Final revisions and formatting are crucial before publishing.

Conclusion

• Academic writing is complex and requires careful consideration of various factors.
• Importance of revision and proper presentation for effective communication.

Sources and References

• Presenter acknowledged sources used in the lecture.