LECTURE #1

LEARNING COMPETENCIES:
 The learner defines an academic text
 The learner determines the structure of a specific academic text

READING ACADEMIC TEXT

 An academic text is a reading material that provides information which include concepts and theories
that are related to the specific discipline.
 An academic text is a product of communication or piece of language used for academic purposes or in
relation to academic courses (subjects).

Structure of an Academic Text

 Introduction
 Body
 Conclusion

- INTRODUCTION - ABSTRACT

- BODY - BODY

-CONCLUSION - CONCLUSION

 A paragraph is a set of related sentences having only one idea embodied in a topic sentence.
 Parts of Paragraph
 Topic sentence- The sentence that contains the thesis or main idea of a paragraph.
 Supporting sentence- The sentence that develops or supports the thesis or main idea of a
paragraph.

Purposes in reading an Academic Text

 To locate a main idea
 To scan for information
 To identify gaps in existing studies
 To connect new ideas to existing ones
 To gain more pieces of information
 To support a particular writing assignment
 To deeply understand an existing idea

Common styles in writing an Academic Text

 State critical questions and issues
 Provide facts and evidence from credible sources
 Use precise and accurate words while avoiding jargon
 Take an objective point of view
 List references
 Use cautious language
LECTURE #2

LEARNING COMPETENCY:
 The learner differentiates language used in academic text from various discipline.

LANGUAGE USED IN ACADEMIC TEXTS

JARGON- the language of a certain profession or occupation

Kind of Jargon Meanings Examples

Medicalese Language of doctors; terms Osteoporosis, scoliosis, leukemia, meningococcemia,
used in the field of medicine dysmenorrhea, peptic ulcer, antacid, insomnia,
vasectomy, rhinoplasty

Legalese Language of lawyers; terms Criminologist, penology, habeas corpus, corpus

used in the field of law delicto, illegitimate, sub judice, jus soli, bona fide,
plaintiff, defendant, complainant

Journalese Language of journalists, Yellow journalism, payola, blue penciling, lead, beat,
terms used in the field of streamer, byline, editiorializing, libel, layout artist,
journalism/newspapering classified ads

Commercialese/ Language of businessmen; Expenditure, revenue, purchasing power,

Mercantilese terms used in the field of merchandising, ultimate consumer, bad order, ceiling
commerce and industry. price, accrual, collateral, liabilities

Technicalese Language of technocrats, Halogen, kinetic energy, centrifugal force,

terms used in the field of aerodynamics, hydrostatics, barometer, solar energy,
science and technology acceleration, altitude, electron,

Diplomatese Language of diplomats; Attaché, ambassador of goodwill, courtesy call,

terms used in the field of extradition, deportee, diplomatic corps, state visit,
foreign service consulate, immigration, press briefing

Teacherese Language of teachers; terms Normal distribution curve, feeble-mindedness, special

used in the field of education, open university, teaching strategy,
education assessment, classroom performance

Motherese Language of mothers; terms Baby talk, breast-feeding, feeding bottles, baby sitter,
used in parenting weaning, toddlers, disposable diapers, special
children, temper tantrums

Telegraphese Language of texters; terms Ur, low batt, txtmsg, sms, cp, re, http, www, wifi, hifi,
used in telegraphy/ texting asl, sop, asap, emo, lipo, demo, chemo, con-ass,
concon, ob-gyne

Computerese Language of computer Kilobyte, octal, system, debugging, love bug,

specialists; terms used in programming, flow chart, website designer,
information technology cybercrime, database, memory, chatting
LECTURE #3

LEARNING COMPETENCIES
 The learner explains the specific ideas contained in various academic texts.
 The learner uses knowledge to text structure to glean information he/ she needs.

THESIS STATEMENTS AND FORMS OF DISCOURSE

THESIS STATEMENT- a controlling idea in the form of a declarative sentence.

DISCOURSE- is defined in linguistics as “any stretch of language larger than a sentence, whether spoken or
written, and having logically consistent and unified structure. (Collins & Hollo, 2000)

FORMS OF DISCOURSE MEANINGS EXAMPLES

Exposition A form of discourse that serves to explain or A research paper on the causes
inform; it appeals to the intellect. and effects of global warming;
an article on child labor and
child abuse.

Description A form of discourse that serves to describe A student’s description of his

or state the qualities or characteristics of
something/ someone; it appeals to the
senses (visual- sight; tactile/ tactual- touch;
auditory- hearing; olfactory- smell;
gustatory- taste; kinesthetic- movement;
and thermal-heat)
ideal teacher; a writer’s
description of a locale he has
recently visited; a descriptive
article on a festive celebration of
a town’s patron saint.

Narration A form of discourse that serves to narrate or A narrative account of a

tell a story; it appeals to the emotions. student’s near-depth
experience; a fictive story about
an encounter with a
supernatural being

Argumentation A form of discourse that serves to argue (to
cite reasons for or against a proposition) or
to persuade (to let the audience change his
mind (to convince) and /or take an action
(to actuate).
An essay expounding on the
retention or
cancellation/cessation of the
Visiting Forces Agreement; a
commercial advertisement (print
ad) endorsing a student’s
“manufactured” product.