ACADEMIC ENGLISH III December 10 th 2012. Today Formal verbs in academic papers Introductions and...
Transcript of ACADEMIC ENGLISH III December 10 th 2012. Today Formal verbs in academic papers Introductions and...
ACADEMIC ENGLISH IIIDecember 10th 2012
Today• Formal verbs in academic papers
• Introductions and conclusions
Formal Verbs
Academic writing tends to use more formal verbs than in day-to-day conversation (or informal writing).
This contributes to academic “tone”.
i.e.,
These results show a positive correlation between ice cream and crime rate.
Academic tone: These results indicate a positive correlation between ice cream and crime rate.
Formal Verbs
Academic writing tends to use more formal verbs than in day-to-day conversation (or informal writing).
This contributes to academic “tone”.
i.e.,
Another problem came up when thinking about the best way to build the bridge.
Academic tone: Another problem arose when considering the best way to construct the bridge.
• adapt = modify• arise = occur• carry out = conduct• characterise = have features of• clarify = explain• concentrate on = look at closely• concern with = deal with• demonstrate = show• determine = find• discriminate = distinguish• emphasise = highlight• establish = lay down/found• exhibit = show
• focus on = look at closely• generate = create• hold = be true• identify = pick out• imply = suggest• indicate = show• interact = work together• interpret = explain• manifest = show• overcome = get over• predict = forecast• propose = suggest• prove = turn out• recognise = accept• relate to = link to• supplement = add to• undergo = experience• yield = produce
#2 Solutions• 2a yielded
• 2b arose
• 2c demonstrate
• 2d held
• 2e emphasized
• 2f exhibited
• 2g concerned
• 2h carried out
#3 Solutions• 3a demonstrate
• 3b clarify
• 3c recognised
• 3d discriminate
• 3e focus on
• 3f interpreted
• 3g overcome
• 3h predict
Introduction Paragraph(s)
The introduction should accomplish the following:
- Grab the reader’s attention.
- Indicate the topic of the paper.
- Introduce the topic (background information).
- Clearly state your position (thesis statement).
Ways to begin the introduction
General statement introduction
Quotation introduction
Statistic introduction
Question introduction
Ways to begin the introduction
General statement introduction
Almost every time that you turn on the television you will find a number of shows which are extremely violent.
Many public schools have decided that their students should use uniforms.
In the United States of America the public burning of the flag has become a common sight.
Ways to begin the introductionQuotation introduction
A recent article in Time magazine states, “the viewing of extremely violent television shows is the number one cause of violence in our inner cities” (Jones, 2012: 131).
The Monitor recently conducted a study and concluded that students in public schools where uniforms are mandatory have less problems and perform better academically.
A recent article in The Austin Statesman states that “most Americans are very much against flag burning in public and are in favor of passing a law banning this activity” (Herring, 2011; 87).
Ways to begin the introduction
Statistic introduction
Four out of every five crimes committed in South Korea in the summers of 2009 and 2010 were connected to ice cream (Ahn, 2012).
With 29,650 people for each square kilometer (km2), Mumbai is the most densely populated country in the world (Singh, 2011).
Ways to begin the introduction
Question introduction**
Are you ever bothered by the excessive violence on prime time television?
Do you think that to improve our public school education the students should be required to wear uniforms?
Should United States citizens be permitted to burn the flag in public?
Simple examples
Note: These examples only indicate basic construction.
They are not examples of what you should be doing for Paper 4.
General statement introductionToday smoking is an
issue which is on everybody’s mind. The whole country is divided on this issue. Some people believe that smoking should be banned everywhere while others are not so harsh. However, I believe that tobacco should be outlawed because smoking endangers everyone’s health, pollutes the environment, and drains us of valuable energy.( 57)
Quotation introduction
In The Monitor it was recently stated that smoking is the greatest threat to our health. The whole country is divided on this issue. I believe that tobacco should be outlawed because it endangers everyone’s health; it pollutes the environment, and it drains of valuable resources.
For longer papers…
The introduction may be divided into two paragraphs.
The purpose of the introduction, however, remains the same.
- Grab the reader’s attention.
- Indicate the topic of the paper.
- Introduce the topic (background information).
- Clearly state your position (thesis statement).
Two-Paragraph Introduction
First Paragraph:
- Grab the reader’s attention
- Introduce the topic
&
- Provide background on the topic (context)
This paragraph tends to give general information on the topic, to help the reader better understand your position in paragraph 2.
Forty-five days after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States,
Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act, also known as the “Uniting and
Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and
Obstruct Terrorism” Act, or more simply, the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act was created
with the noble intention of finding and prosecuting international terrorists operating on
American soil; however, the unfortunate consequences of the Act have been drastic.
Many of the Patriot Act’s provisions are in clear violation of the U.S. Constitution—a
document drafted by wise men like Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander
Hamilton, and George Washington in order to protect American rights and freedoms.
The Patriot Act encroaches on sacred First Amendment rights, which protect free
speech and expression, and Fourth Amendment rights, which protect citizens against
“unwarranted search and seizure” (Justice). The Patriot Act authorizes unethical and
unconstitutional surveillance of American citizens with a negligible improvement in
national security. Free speech, free thinking, and a free American lifestyle cannot
survive in the climate of distrust and constant fear created by the Patriot Act.
Intro paragraph 1
Forty-five days after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States,
Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act, also known as the “Uniting and
Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and
Obstruct Terrorism” Act, or more simply, the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act was created
with the noble intention of finding and prosecuting international terrorists operating on
American soil; however, the unfortunate consequences of the Act have been drastic.
Many of the Patriot Act’s provisions are in clear violation of the U.S. Constitution—a
document drafted by wise men like Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander
Hamilton, and George Washington in order to protect American rights and freedoms.
The Patriot Act encroaches on sacred First Amendment rights, which protect free
speech and expression, and Fourth Amendment rights, which protect citizens against
“unwarranted search and seizure” (Justice). The Patriot Act authorizes unethical and
unconstitutional surveillance of American citizens with a negligible improvement in
national security. Free speech, free thinking, and a free American lifestyle cannot
survive in the climate of distrust and constant fear created by the Patriot Act.
Grabs the reader’s attention & introduces the topic
Forty-five days after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States,
Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act, also known as the “Uniting and
Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and
Obstruct Terrorism” Act, or more simply, the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act was created
with the noble intention of finding and prosecuting international terrorists operating on
American soil; however, the unfortunate consequences of the Act have been drastic.
Many of the Patriot Act’s provisions are in clear violation of the U.S. Constitution—a
document drafted by wise men like Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander
Hamilton, and George Washington in order to protect American rights and freedoms.
The Patriot Act encroaches on sacred First Amendment rights, which protect free
speech and expression, and Fourth Amendment rights, which protect citizens against
“unwarranted search and seizure” (Justice). The Patriot Act authorizes unethical and
unconstitutional surveillance of American citizens with a negligible improvement in
national security. Free speech, free thinking, and a free American lifestyle cannot
survive in the climate of distrust and constant fear created by the Patriot Act.
Provides background info on the Patriot Act’s violations of the U.S. Constitution
Two-Paragraph Introduction
Second Paragraph:
- Provide more specific information that leads into the thesis statement.
The great American patriot Robert F. Kennedy once said in his famous “Day of Affirmation
Address” that the first and most critical element of “individual liberty is the freedom of speech; the
right to express and communicate ideas, to set oneself apart from the dumb beasts of field and
forest . . .” Modern American politicians and lawmakers, it seems, have lost sight of the important
ideals that Kennedy spoke about and upon which this country was founded—ideals like civil rights,
personal freedom, and the right to privacy. No longer can a newspaper editor publish an article that
is critical of the government—even if it is legal—without fear that Big Brother may begin to survey
his every thought and action. This may very well be the most frightening aspect of the Patriot Act:
the fact that the Act allows the government to spy on any of its citizens, not just the “bad” ones. The
Patriot Act does not demand sufficient proof that alleged “suspects” are engaged in criminal activity
before authorizing government surveillance. Even upstanding American citizens can become
targets of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) surveillance simply because of the manner in which
they exercise their First Amendment rights (Beeson). Simply put, the Patriot Act fails to secure
American liberties; in reality, the Act exposes Americans to potential abuses of power by creating
an environment that encourages government corruption, secrecy, fraud and discrimination while
using “national security” as a pretense for violating basic Constitutional rights like privacy and free
speech. As the century drags on, it is becoming painfully obvious that the Patriot Act has actually
moved the United States further away from an ideal democratic society since its passage in
October of 2001.
Intro paragraph 2
The great American patriot Robert F. Kennedy once said in his famous “Day of Affirmation
Address” that the first and most critical element of “individual liberty is the freedom of speech; the
right to express and communicate ideas, to set oneself apart from the dumb beasts of field and
forest . . .” Modern American politicians and lawmakers, it seems, have lost sight of the important
ideals that Kennedy spoke about and upon which this country was founded—ideals like civil rights,
personal freedom, and the right to privacy. No longer can a newspaper editor publish an article that
is critical of the government—even if it is legal—without fear that Big Brother may begin to survey
his every thought and action. This may very well be the most frightening aspect of the Patriot Act:
the fact that the Act allows the government to spy on any of its citizens, not just the “bad” ones. The
Patriot Act does not demand sufficient proof that alleged “suspects” are engaged in criminal activity
before authorizing government surveillance. Even upstanding American citizens can become
targets of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) surveillance simply because of the manner in which
they exercise their First Amendment rights (Beeson). Simply put, the Patriot Act fails to secure
American liberties; in reality, the Act exposes Americans to potential abuses of power by creating
an environment that encourages government corruption, secrecy, fraud and discrimination while
using “national security” as a pretense for violating basic Constitutional rights like privacy and free
speech. As the century drags on, it is becoming painfully obvious that the Patriot Act has actually
moved the United States further away from an ideal democratic society since its passage in
October of 2001.
Leads into the central idea of the paper (leads into the thesis statement).
The great American patriot Robert F. Kennedy once said in his famous “Day of Affirmation
Address” that the first and most critical element of “individual liberty is the freedom of speech; the
right to express and communicate ideas, to set oneself apart from the dumb beasts of field and
forest . . .” Modern American politicians and lawmakers, it seems, have lost sight of the important
ideals that Kennedy spoke about and upon which this country was founded—ideals like civil rights,
personal freedom, and the right to privacy. No longer can a newspaper editor publish an article that
is critical of the government—even if it is legal—without fear that Big Brother may begin to survey
his every thought and action. This may very well be the most frightening aspect of the Patriot Act:
the fact that the Act allows the government to spy on any of its citizens, not just the “bad” ones. The
Patriot Act does not demand sufficient proof that alleged “suspects” are engaged in criminal activity
before authorizing government surveillance. Even upstanding American citizens can become
targets of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) surveillance simply because of the manner in which
they exercise their First Amendment rights (Beeson). Simply put, the Patriot Act fails to secure
American liberties; in reality, the Act exposes Americans to potential abuses of power by creating
an environment that encourages government corruption, secrecy, fraud and discrimination while
using “national security” as a pretense for violating basic Constitutional rights like privacy and free
speech. As the century drags on, it is becoming painfully obvious that the Patriot Act has actually
moved the United States further away from an ideal democratic society since its passage in
October of 2001.
Thesis statement
The Conclusion: Goal
Signal the conclusion
Summarize your position
Provide a logical, meaningful ending to the paper
Remember:
Never introduce new information (a new point) in your conclusion.
The Conclusion: Structure- Signal the conclusion (statement)
- Restate your position
- Main reasons/factors supporting your position (summary)
- Reinforce thesis statement
- Provide prediction or recommendations (based on the information in your paper).
Topic: Workplace diversity in Australia
Based on interviews with managers and staff in six organisations (public and commercial), this report examines these three problem areas, and shows that many of the difficulties faced by both natives and migrants in the workforce are caused by a lack of awareness of, and training in, intercultural communication.
It is clear, therefore, that not only do employees have to be trained for working in the Australian
multicultural workplace, but managers also need to be trained. Managers must ensure that effective in-
house training programs are provided for migrant workers, so that they become more familiar with the
English language, Australian communication norms and the Australian work culture. In addition,
Australian native English speakers need to be made aware of the differing cultural values of their
workmates; particularly the different forms of non-verbal communication used by other cultures.
Furthermore, all employees must be provided with clear and detailed guidelines about company
expectations. The interviews with managers and staff reveal that a majority of managers must also
have training in cross cultural communication and in managing a culturally diverse workplace. Above all,
in order to minimise communication problems and to maintain an atmosphere of tolerance,
understanding and cooperation in the multicultural workplace, managers need to have an effective
knowledge about their employees, to understand how their social conditioning affects their beliefs about
work and to have the communication skills to develop confidence and self-esteem among diverse work
groups. The culturally diverse Australian workplace may never be completely free of communication
problems, however, further studies to identify potential problems and solutions, as well as better training
in cross cultural communication for managers and employees, should result in a much more
understanding and cooperative environment.
It is clear, therefore, that not only do employees have
to be trained for working in the Australian multicultural
workplace, but managers also need to be trained.
- Signals the conclusion.
- Links to previous information (Body)
- Indicates the paper’s main topic.
Managers must ensure that effective in-house training programs are provided for
migrant workers, so that they become more familiar with the English language,
Australian communication norms and the Australian work culture. In addition,
Australian native English speakers need to be made aware of the differing
cultural values of their workmates; particularly the different forms of non-verbal
communication used by other cultures. Furthermore, all employees must be
provided with clear and detailed guidelines about company expectations.
- Summarizes the main points of the essay.
The interviews with managers and staff reveal that a
majority of managers must also have training in cross
cultural communication and in managing a culturally diverse
workplace.
- Refers back to the thesis statement.
- Identifies a key finding.
Above all, in order to minimise communication problems and
to maintain an atmosphere of tolerance, understanding and
cooperation in the multicultural workplace, managers need
to have an effective knowledge about their employees, to
understand how their social conditioning affects their beliefs
about work and to have the communication skills to develop
confidence and self-esteem among diverse work groups.
- Gives an important recommendation.
The culturally diverse Australian workplace may never be
completely free of communication problems, however,
further studies to identify potential problems and solutions,
as well as better training in cross cultural communication for
managers and employees, should result in a much more
understanding and cooperative environment.
- Suggests future trends and makes a final recommendation
for future studies.
Final Journal Entry
A critical review of your work in Academic English 3 Journal.
Read your previous entries and in one or two paragraphs, write about your progress through this course; what you have done well and what you need to do to improve.
Due: Friday (1:30 p.m.)
You can collect your journal any time next week.