English for Academic Purposes 1

English for Academic Purposes

​Welcome and Introduction

Welcome to English for Academic and Professional Purposes. For our first lesson, I will be giving you an introduction to English for Academic and Professional Purposes.

First of all, we will begin by differentiating academic and non-academic texts. We'll also be talking about the different types of academic and non-academic texts as well as the different factors that shape academic writing.

Differentiating Text Types

Let's begin by defining what academic texts are. Academic texts are simply characterized as type of texts that are written by professionals in a particular field. So take for example, medical field, education field, and so on and so forth.

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Defining Academic Texts

This type of text is also well-edited and it often takes years to publish. It's not easy to come up with a particular academic text and even to get someone or have a publisher publish it. It is also a kind of text that uses formal language. Similarly, since it is written by professionals in a particular field, more often than not, academic texts contain words and terms that are very specific to that particular field.

Formal Language and Specificity

Sources and References

So take for example, if it's a doctor writing about certain things in the field of medicine, then therefore he or she might be using words and terms that are specific to medicine alone. And people like us, take for example, who are not familiar with the field of medicine, we can consider these terms as unfamiliar to us. Now these words and terms that are specific to a particular field are what we refer to as jargons.

Academic texts also contain lists of sources and references. So what do we mean by that? The information that is presented in a particular academic text, it has to be backed up by or it has to be supported by other references. It has to be validated by other sources. It has to be validated by other references. And more often than not, when you form academic texts, you refer to other sources as well.

Goal of Academic Texts

The main goal of academic texts is basically to advance human understanding in a particular discipline. So there's a particular topic that more often than not, is very unfamiliar to your readers. And as someone who is professional in that particular field, or you have a broad knowledge of that particular topic, then you just want your readers to basically understand what is that particular topic all about or what that concept is all about.

​Challenges for Readers

Next, since academic texts uses formal language, it could be challenging for beginning readers or for novice readers. First and foremost, it uses jargons, so these terms might be unfamiliar to them. And formal language often entails us to use words that are not commonly used during conversation or when reading non-academic texts.

Informative and Argumentative Nature

In nature, academic texts are considered to be something that are informative, meaning it provides information, it gives us new knowledge. Okay, next, it is also characterized as something that is argumentative in nature. And when we say argument, there are points of view that are being discussed, or certain points that are to be discussed. And then of course, it has to be objective as well. Not subjective, but rather objective, meaning there has to be no bias. The information that you are presenting does not need to be biased or leaning towards a particular belief or a particular point of view. It has to always present all sides of the story.

Examples of Academic Texts

Some examples of academic texts include school books and textbooks, the ones that you typically use in school or in the university. Journal articles are also considered to be academic texts and other research proposals and papers. Some other newspapers and magazine articles are considered to be academic texts, particularly if these are broadsheets. Broadsheet newspapers might contain thesis or articles that are academic in nature. And some magazines as well, like National Geographic, science magazines, and so on and so forth. Thesis and dissertations are also considered to be thesis.

• Academic texts are specialized and informative.

• Formal language, field-specific terms, and references.

• Objective presentation of ideas and viewpoints.

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Conclusions

Multiple Choice

Academic texts are written by professionals in any field.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Academic texts are easy to publish and don't take much time to write.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Academic texts use informal language.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Jargons are words and terms that are specific to a particular field.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Academic texts contain a list of sources and references.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

The main goal of academic texts is to entertain readers.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Academic texts use simple language that is easy to understand.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Academic texts are never biased and always present all sides of the story.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

National Geographic and science magazines are examples of non-academic texts.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Thesis and dissertations are not considered academic texts.

• TRUE

• FALSE