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Open In-Sessional Language Support Grammar and Vocabulary

ACADEMIC VOCABULARY: AN OVERVIEW

You will naturally learn the specialised vocabulary of your subject while you are studying. So, it is left for you to learn the more general academic vocabulary used for discussing ideas and research in both speech and writing. This is vital as they are far more frequently used than specialist words and will allow you to understand texts more easily and express yourself more clearly. The following exercises deal with academic vocabulary that is common to all subjects and provides suggestions on how to approach learning them in a systematic way.

ACADEMIC ENGLISH AND EVERYDAY ENGLISH-WORDS WITH MULTIPLE MEANINGS Many words in academic English are the same as everyday vocabulary, but they are often also used with a slightly different meaning, which may be specialised. Look at the examples below.

everyday or academic use Standards of discipline in schools have declined.

meaning

academic use

meaning

ability to control oneself or other people draw a line under it

Nanotechnology is a relatively new discipline.

area of study

Underline your family name on the form.

The research underlines the importance of international trade agreements.

gives emphasis to

Therefore, it is vital that you use a good, monolingual dictionary in order to clarify and check the meanings of words and start to build up your own bank of useful academic vocabulary which will be useful on your course of study. Only by consulting a monolingual dictionary and keeping a vocabulary notebook will you be able to start to recognise words with multiple meanings; if you read the whole sentence that the word is contained in, this should enable you to understand the broader context and therefore the meaning of the individual piece of vocabulary.

Open In-Sessional Language Support - Grammar and Vocabulary

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Open In-Sessional Language Support Grammar and Vocabulary

EXERCISE 1 Each word in the box can be used in two ways, one an everyday way, the other a typically academic way. Complete each pair of sentences using the same word for both sentences and making any necessary grammatical changes.

generate

turn

solid

confirm

identify

underline

character

pose

nature

focus

A She loves to ____________ for photographs in front of her fabulous house. B The events _____________ a threat to stability in the region. A It was difficult to ____________ the camera on the flower as it was so small. B We should ____________ our attention on the most important issues. A I called the airline and ____________ my reservation. B The data __________ my hypothesis that animal lovers enjoy better health. A The power plant ____________electricity for the whole region. B The issue always ____________ a great deal of debate among academics. A The murderer was ___________ from fingerprints discovered at the scene. B In this theory of history, progress is closely __________ with technology. A She became interested in ___________ conservation. B The first lecture in the series was on the ______________ of human communication. A Jim is a very interesting ____________. I hope you meet him. B The book attempts to explain the fundamental ___________ of social life. A I saw her ______________ to her husband and whisper something in his ear. B Let us now _____________ to the subject of town planning. A He always ___________ every new word when hes reading. B The study ____________ the fact that very little research exists.

10 A The liquid became ___________ as the temperature was lowered. B The study lacks _____________ evidence and therefore its conclusions are doubtful.

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Open In-Sessional Language Support Grammar and Vocabulary

WORDS USED INSTEAD OF MORE EVERYDAY WORDS IN AN ACADEMIC CONTEXT In writing in particular, academics use many expressions which are neutral but they also use formal expressions which are not common in everyday language. Knowing the difference between a formal and informal expression is important. However, everyday verbs and expressions may be used in spoken academic styles and lectures. Learn to understand such language when you hear it but be careful not to use it in written assignments or essays. Academic verb append conceive contradict concur convene demonstrate denote negate perceive reside trigger utilise Everyday verb add (at the end) think up go against agree meet show be a sign of, stand for make useless, wipe out see lie, live cause use Academic words the converse crucial likewise notwithstanding somewhat thereby whereby Everyday synonym the opposite very important similarly despite this rather in this way by which (method)

EXERCISE 2 Use the vocabulary from the table above to rewrite this paragraph on page 4 in a more formal academic style.

The study was initially thought up in order to validate a new method of enquiry by which genetic information could be used to predict disease. Our work goes against the findings of Hill (2001): indeed it would appear to show the opposite of what he claimed. We see our work as presenting a rather different view of genetic factors which cause disease. Despite this , our work does not wipe out Hills as his studies served the very important purpose of devising symbols to stand for certain tendencies, in this way, facilitating further research. We hope that Hill will similarly find our work to be valid and that when international researchers meet next April, they will agree that much of value lies in both our and Hills studies. Our results are added at the end.

http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/editing-writing-topics/128077-academic-words.html

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Open In-Sessional Language Support Grammar and Vocabulary

The study was initially _______________ in order to validate a new method of enquiry by _______________genetic information could be _______________ to predict disease. Our work _______________ the findings of Hill (2001): indeed it would appear to _______________ the _______________of what he claimed. We _______________our work as presenting a _______________different view of genetic factors which _______________disease. _______________, our work does not _______________ Hills as his studies served the _______________purpose of devising symbols to _______________certain tendencies, _______________ , facilitating further research. We hope that Hill will _______________ find our work to be valid and that when international researchers _______________next April, they will _______________ that much of value _______________ in both our and Hills studies. Our results are _______________.

Vocabulary notes

Materials : McCarthy, M, ODell (2002) English vocabulary in Use Advanced. Cambridge. CUP McCarthy, M, ODell (2008) Academic Vocabulary in Use. Cambridge. CUP.

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Teachers notes

Open In-Sessional Language Support Grammar and Vocabulary

ACADEMIC ENGLISH AND EVERYDAY ENGLISH-WORDS WITH MULTIPLE MEANINGS Many words in academic English are the same as everyday vocabulary, but they are often also used with a slightly different meaning, which may be specialised. Look at the examples below. everyday or academic use Standards of discipline in schools have declined. meaning academic use meaning

ability to control oneself or other people draw a line under it

Nanotechnology is a relatively new discipline.

area of study

Underline your family name on the form.

The research underlines the importance of international trade agreements.

gives emphasis to

EXERCISE 1 1. pose 6. nature 2. focus 7. character 3. confirmed 8. turn 4. generates 9. undelines 5. identified 10. solid

WORDS USED INSTEAD OF MORE EVERYDAY WORDS IN AN ACADEMIC CONTEXT

Academic verb append conceive contradict concur convene demonstrate denote negate perceive reside trigger utilise

Everyday verb add (at the end) think up go against agree meet show be a sign of, stand for make useless, wipe out see lie, live cause use

Academic words the converse crucial likewise notwithstanding somewhat thereby whereby

Everyday synonym the opposite very important similarly despite this rather in this way by which (method)

Open In-Sessional Language Support - Grammar and Vocabulary

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Open In-Sessional Language Support Grammar and Vocabulary

EXERCISE 2 Use the vocabulary from the table above to rewrite this paragraph in a more formal academic style.

The study was initially conceived in order to validate a new method of enquiry whereby genetic information could be utilized to predict disease. Our work contradicts the findings of Hill (2001): indeed it would appear to demonstrate the converse of what he claimed. We perceive our work as presenting a somewhat different view of genetic factors which trigger disease. Notwithstanding, our work does not negate Hills as his studies served the crucial purpose of devising symbols to denote certain tendencies, thereby facilitating further research. We hope that Hill will likewise find our work to be valid and that when international researchers convene next April, they will concur that much of value resides in both our and Hills studies. Our results are appended.

http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/editing-writing-topics/128077-academic-words.html

Materials : McCarthy, M, ODell (2002) English vocabulary in Use Advanced. Cambridge. CUP McCarthy, M, ODell (2008) Academic Vocabulary in Use. Cambridge. CUP.

Open In-Sessional Language Support - Grammar and Vocabulary

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Open In-Sessional Language Support Grammar and Vocabulary

OHP

The study was initially conceived in order to validate a new method of enquiry whereby genetic information could be utilized to predict disease. Our work contradicts the findings of Hill (2001): indeed it would appear to demonstrate the converse of what he claimed. We perceive our work as presenting a somewhat different view of genetic factors which trigger disease. Notwithstanding, our work does not negate Hills as his studies served the crucial purpose of devising symbols to denote certain tendencies, thereby facilitating further research. We hope that Hill will likewise find our work to be valid and that when international researchers convene next April, they will concur that much of value resides in both our and Hills studies. Our results are appended.

Open In-Sessional Language Support - Grammar and Vocabulary

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