FEATURES

OF
ACADEMIC
WRITING
FORMALITY
This reflects your
dignified stance in
your writing as a
member of the
academic community.
FORMALITY
The language you
use requires precision
to make it a
“legitimate” piece of
academic writing.
FORMALITY CAN BE
ACHIEVED THROUGH:
1. Choosing expanded
modal forms over
contracted forms, like
using cannot instead
of can’t.
FORMALITY CAN BE
ACHIEVED THROUGH:
2. Choosing one verb
form over two-word
verbs, such as
damage instead of
mess up.
FORMALITY CAN BE
ACHIEVED THROUGH:
Example:
James added up the
number of affirmative
responses.
Answer: calculate
FORMALITY CAN BE
ACHIEVED THROUGH:
Example:
The order was to call
off the strike
immediately
Answer: cancel
FORMALITY CAN BE
ACHIEVED THROUGH:
Example:
The order was to call
off the strike
immediately.
Answer: cancel
FORMALITY CAN BE
ACHIEVED THROUGH:
Example:
The outnumbered
forces would not give
up.
Answer: surrender
FORMALITY CAN BE
ACHIEVED THROUGH:
3. Choosing expanded
terms over their
abbreviated
equivalents, such as, as
soon as possible instead
of ASAP.
FORMALITY CAN BE
ACHIEVED THROUGH:
Example:
AWOL- absence
without leave
TBA- to be announced
Acad.- Academics
FORMALITY CAN BE
ACHIEVED THROUGH:
4. Avoiding colloquial/
trite/idiomatic
expressions, such as
kind of like, as a
matter of fact.
PRACTICE
Underline the
word/phrases that makes
the sentences informal
and rewrite the sentences
using the appropriate
word. Determine the ways
used to change it to
formal.
PRACTICE

1. I really love scifi

genres.
2. Debbie isn’t here.
3. She found out that
the guy is having an
affair.
PRACTICE

4. I’ll see you around.

5. The researcher
passed out survey
forms to the
respondents.
PRACTICE

6. The culprit has set

up another man for
his crime.
7. I can’t do that!
8. Two out of three
ain’t bad.
PRACTICE

9. The bus runs 30

kph.
10. You win some, you
lose some.
PRACTICE
1. I really love scifi genres.
 I really love science
fiction genres.
 Choosing expanded
terms over abbreviated
equivalents.
PRACTICE

2. Debbie isn’t here.

 Debbie is not here.
 Choosing expanded
modal forms over
contracted forms.
PRACTICE
3. She found out that the
guy is having an affair.
 She discovered that the
guy is having an affair.
 Choosing one verb form
instead of two-word
verbs.
PRACTICE

4. I’ll see you around.

 I will see you
around.
 Choosing expanded
modal forms over
contracted forms.
PRACTICE
5. The researcher passed out
survey forms to the
respondents.
 The researcher passed out
survey forms to the
respondents.
 Choosing one verb form
instead of two-word verbs.
PRACTICE
6. The culprit has set up
another man for his
crime.
 The culprit has framed
another man for his
crime.
 Choosing one verb form
instead of two-word verbs.
PRACTICE

7. I can’t do that!
 I cannot do that!
 Choosing expanded
modal forms over
contracted forms.
PRACTICE

8. Two out of three ain’t

bad.
 Two out of three is
not bad.
 Avoiding
colloquial/trite/idioms
PRACTICE
9. The bus runs 30 kph.
 The bus runs 30
kilometers per hour.
 Choosing expanded
terms over
abbreviated
equivalents.
PRACTICE

10. You win some, you

lose some.
 Sometimes you will
win or you will lose.
 Avoiding
colloquial/trite/idioms
OBJECTIVITY
 Academic writing
requires special
knowledge and use
more complex
language and
objectivity.
OBJECTIVITY
 Written language is
in general objective
rather than
personal.
OBJECTIVITY
 The main emphasis
should be on the
information that you
want to give and the
arguments you want
to make, rather than
you.
OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVED BY:

1. Avoiding the use of

personal pronouns
such as you, I, and
we.
OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVED BY:

Poor example:
You need to conduct
the experiment.
Improved version:
The researchers need
to conduct the
experiment.
OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVED BY:

2. Avoiding rhetorical
questions as it
marks “closeness”
with the reader, and
constantly seeks
his/her attention.
OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVED BY:

Poor Example:
How can these
problems be solved?
Improvised version:
Certain measures
must be discovered to
solve the problems.
OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVED BY:

3. Avoiding emotive
language that
shows biases and
lessens objectivity.
OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVED BY:

Poor Example:
The investigators
were very shocked
to see the outcome
of the tests.
OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVED BY:

Improved Example:
The investigators
did not expect the
results.
PRACTICE

1. You need to form

five members in a
group.
2. What are the
possible causes of
poverty?
PRACTICE
3. I think colonization
has good and bad
effects to the Filipino
people.
4. What are your readers
expectations from
you?
PRACTICE

5. The judges were not

happy with the
performance.
PRACTICE

1. The students need to

perform a group of
five members.
2. There are different
reasons that causes
poverty.
PRACTICE
3. Colonization has
brought good and bad
effects to the Filipino
people.
4. The readers have
some expectations to
every writer.
PRACTICE

5. The judges are

dissatisfied with the
performance.
EXPLICITNESS
 Academic writing
demands the use of
signposts that allows
the readers to trace
the relationships in
the parts of a study.
EXPLICITNESS
Example:
It is apparent that the
government hopes to
provide assistance to the
poor. However, giving
dole outs to the “poorest
of the poor” does not
work in the long term.
EXPLICITNESS
Example:
It is apparent that the
government hopes to
provide assistance to the
poor. However, giving
dole outs to the “poorest
of the poor” does not
work in the long term.
EXPLICITNESS
Example:
A number of MERALCO
consumers trooped to the
City Hall to claim a PHP
500 cash incentive. This is
due to the Supreme Court
ruling over the
overcharges must be
returned to the end users.
EXPLICITNESS
Example:
A number of MERALCO
consumers trooped to the
City Hall to claim a PHP
500 cash incentive. This is
due to the Supreme Court
ruling over the
overcharges must be
returned to the end users.
EXPLICITNESS
Example:
American businesses gain
from a good source of
affordable labor, while towns
and cities are revitalized by
immigrant families who
strengthen communities
through civic participation
and the generation of new
economic activity.
EXPLICITNESS
Example:
American businesses gain
from a good source of
affordable labor, while towns
and cities are revitalized by
immigrant families who
strengthen communities
through civic participation
and the generation of new
economic activity.
PRACTICE
1. MERALCO has been
operating as a business
conglomerate involving
foreign stakeholders and
independent power
producers or IPP. In
addition, MERALCO owns
major IPPs operating in
the region.
PRACTICE
1. MERALCO has been
operating as a business
conglomerate involving
foreign stakeholders and
independent power
producers or IPP. In
addition, MERALCO owns
major IPPs operating in
the region.
PRACTICE
2. The MERALCO issue has led
to disputes between
opposition and
administration senators. For
example, those who have
been labeled as against the
president considered the
issue as the administration’s
way of avoiding the NBN-
ZTE scandal.
PRACTICE
2. The MERALCO issue has led
to disputes between
opposition and
administration senators. For
example, those who have
been labeled as against the
president considered the
issue as the administration’s
way of avoiding the NBN-
ZTE scandal.
PRACTICE
3. The study showed that eighty
percent of the 200
participants involved in the
study were dissatisfied with
the operations of MERALCO.
Similarly, the data revealed
that majority of the
participants were not aware
of the charges imposed on
them by MERALCO.
PRACTICE
3. The study showed that eighty
percent of the 200
participants involved in the
study were dissatisfied with
the operations of MERALCO.
Similarly, the data revealed
that majority of the
participants were not aware
of the charges imposed on
them by MERALCO.
EXPLICITNESS

2. It is explicit in its
acknowledgment of
the sources of the
ideas in the text.
EXPLICITNESS
 Derwing et al. (2002)
conducted their training
with students preparing to
be social workers, but note
that other professionals
who work with non-native
speakers could benefit
from a similar program.
CAUTION

 Academic writing
requires care since
knowledge is built
from proven theories
and concepts.
CAUTION

 Therefore, caution is
needed to avoid
sweeping
generalizations.
CAUTION

Example:
Government officials
are corrupt.
CAUTION

Improved version:
Some government
officials may be
corrupt. (modal
verb)
CAUTION

Improved version:
Corruption is
commonly linked to
some key
government officials.
(adverb)
CAUTION

Improved version:
A number of
government officials
tend to be linked
with cases of
corruption. (verb)
CAUTION

 In academic writing,
caution needs to be
observed in the
following parts of
your paper:
CAUTION
1. When a hypothesis
needs to be tested
2. Drawing conclusions
or predictions from
your findings that
may generalize
certain matters or
may not be conclusive
CAUTION

3. Referencing others’
works to build your
own paper
CAUTION

 Verbs indicating
caution:
tends, suggests,
appear to be, think,
believe, doubt,
indicate
CAUTION
 Recent work on the
religious demography of
Northern Ireland indicates
a separating out of
protestant and catholic,
with the catholic
population drifting
westwards and vice versa.
CAUTION

 Modal verbs:
will, must, would,
may, can, might,
could
CAUTION

 The lives they chose

may seem overly
ascetic and self-
denying to most
women today.
CAUTION

 Adverbs of frequency
often, sometimes,
usually
CAUTION

 There are certainly

cases where this
would seem to have
been the only
possible method of
transmission.
CAUTION

Examine the
following
expressions and
think of ways to
reduce the impact of
utterances.
CAUTION

1. He has halitosis.
2. You need to eat this
to be healthy.
3. The different steps
taken led to their
failure.
STRUCTURE
 Sentences need to be
constructed in such a
way that they show a
level of complexity
that reflects
sophistication of an
academic writer.
STRUCTURE

 In combining ideas
effectively, you need
to avoid redundancy
and make sure that
the ideas are packed
effectively.
STRUCTURE
 The earthquake caused
loss of life.
 The earthquake caused
massive property
damage.
 The earthquake
changed the landscape
of the village.
STRUCTURE

 The earthquake was a

disaster that caused
loss of life, property
damage, and
permanent changes in
the landscape.
STRUCTURE

 Nominalization
the verbs are made
central as they
denote action
STRUCTURE

 example
The company
created software to
manage the
transactions
successfully.
STRUCTURE

 The creation of
software to manage
transactions was a
success.
STRUCTURE (EXAMP
 The president
announced a three-
day holiday this
September .
STRUCTURE

 The president’s
announcement of a
three-day holiday for
September was
released. (answer)
STRUCTURE

 The mall distributed

several free items to
consumers in the
hope to boost sales.
STRUCTURE

 Distribution of free
items for consumers
was done in the hope
to boost sales.
(answer)
STRUCTURE

 Passive construction
The results of
actions are
highlighted.
STRUCTURE

 Passive construction
The researcher
conducted
experiments to
validate the
hypothesis.
STRUCTURE

 Passive construction
Experiments were
conducted to
validate the
hypothesis.
STRUCTURE

 An engineer built
saltwater lamp to
help communities
with no electricity.
STRUCTURE

 A saltwater lamp
was built to help
communities with no
electricity.
STRUCTURE

 Several scientists
conducted
experiment to
examine the effects
of algae on
biodiversity.
STRUCTURE

 An experiment was
conducted to
examine the effects
of algae on
biodiversity.
PRACTICE ON NOMINALIZATION

 The temperature of
the planet is rising
as a result of global
warming.
PRACTICE ON NOMINALIZATION

 The rise of the

planet’s temperature
is a result of global
warming.
PRACTICE ON NOMINALIZATION

 The business report

indicates that sales
figures are down
10% on last month,
is worrying.
PRACTICE ON NOMINALIZATION

 The indication of the

business report that
sales figures are
down 10% on last
month is worrying.
PRACTICE ON NOMINALIZATION
 Change the word in
bold type into a noun.
If there are two
sentences in the
verbalized form, join
them together to
create one sentence.
PRACTICE ON NOMINALIZATION

 Blended learning
divides students.
Some accept the
newer style of
teaching, while
others reject it.
PRACTICE ON NOMINALIZATION

 Acceptance and
rejection of newer
styles of learning,
such as blended
learning, divides
students.
PRACTICE ON NOMINALIZATION

 Intercultural theory is
very relevant to the
business world. It’s
relevance is
illustrated in
Chapter 3 of this book.
PRACTICE ON NOMINALIZATION

 Chapter 3 of this book

is an illustration of
the relevance of
intercultural theory
on the business world.
PRACTICE ON NOMINALIZATION

 Scientists deduced
that the vaccine was
also having a positive
effect on reducing the
spread of HIV, which
caused sales to rise.
PRACTICE ON NOMINALIZATION

 Scientists’ deductions
regarding the
vaccine’s positive
effect on reducing the
spread of HIV caused
a rise in sales.
PRACTICE ON PASSIVATION

 I gathered the data

through online
survey.
PRACTICE ON PASSIVATION

 Data was gathered

through an online
survey.
PRACTICE ON PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION

 We recorded
measurements at 9
am every day for
three week.
PRACTICE ON PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION

 The measurements
were recorded at 9
am every day for
three weeks.
EVALUATION

 It is using formal
language to show
dignified stance and
avoid using
colloquialism.
EVALUATION

 It requires special
knowledge and use
of a more complex
language. This
should be
impersonal.
EVALUATION

 It is using signaling
words to show the
relationship of two
or more ideas.
EVALUATION

 It is using signaling
words to show the
relationship of two
or more ideas like
similarly, in
addition to.
EVALUATION

 It is used to avoid
sweeping
generalizations and
misleading ideas.
EVALUATION

 The sentences are

constructed in a way
that shows
complexity and
sophistication.
EVALUATION

 Write sentence/s
with the use of
however, in addition
to and while. (2
points each)
EVALUATION
 The government’s deal with
the public transport company
was not successful.
 The government’s deal with
the public transport company
will cause delays in projects.
 The government’s deal with
public transport company
will result in unsatisfied
citizens.
REFERENCES

 Academic Writing (Phoenix Book)

 www.uefap/writing/feature/hedge.html

 www.uefap/writing/feature/objectiv.html

 www.uefap/writing/feature/explicit.html

 www.uefap/writing/feature/intro.html

 www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/critical-
reading.html
 Aeo.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/Files/Nominalization/Nom%2
0LOC.html
 www.scribbr.com/academic-writing/passive-voice/