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LESSON ONE:
WHAT IS ACADEMIC TEXT?
Academic text is defined as critical, objective, specialized texts written by experts or professionals in a
given field using formal language.
An academic text is a written language that provides information, which contain ideas and concepts that
are related to the particular discipline. Essay, Literary analysis, Research Paper, Report, Project, Article,
Thesis, and Dissertation are considered as academic texts.
Nature and Characteristics of an Academic Text
1. STRUCTURE- the basic structure that is used by an academic text is consist of three (3) parts-
essay structure (introduction, body, and conclusion) and the IMRAD structure which is formal
and logical. This kind of structure enables the reader to follow the argument and navigate the
text.
STUCTURE OF ACADEMIC TEXT

The three-part essay structure is a basic structure that consists of introduction, body and conclusion.
The introduction and the conclusion should be shorter than the body of the text.
Introduction. Its purpose is to clearly tell the reader the topic, purpose and structure of the paper.
As a rough guide, an introduction might be between 10 and 20 percent of the length of the whole
paper and has three main parts:
A. The most general information, such as background and/or definitions.

B. The core of the introduction, where you show the overall topic, purpose, your point of
view, hypotheses and/or research questions (depending on what kind of paper it is).
C. The most specific information, describing the scope and structure of your paper.
The Body. It develops the question, “What is the topic about?”. It may elaborate directly on the
topic sentence by giving definitions, classifications, explanations, contrasts, examples and evidence.
This is considered as the heart of the essay because it expounds the specific ideas for the readers to
have a better understanding of the topic. It usually is the largest part of the essay.
Conclusion. The conclusion is closely related to the introduction and is often described as its ‘mirror
image’. The conclusion usually begins by briefly summarizing the main scope or structure of the paper,
confirms the topic that was given in the introduction, ends with a more general statement about how
this topic relates to its context.
The IMRaD Structure

The sections of the IMRaD structure are Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion.
 Introduction usually depicts the background of the topic and the central focus of the study.
 Methodology lets your readers know your data collection methods, research instrument
employed, sample size and so on.
 Results and Discussion states the brief summary of the key findings or the results of your
study.
2. TONE- This refers to the attitude conveyed in a piece of writing. The arguments of others are
fairly presented and with an appropriate narrative tone.
3. LANGUAGE- Clear topic sentences enable a reader to follow your line of thinking without
difficulty. Formal language and the third person point of-view should be used.
4. CITATION- Citing sources in the body of the paper and providing a list of references as either
footnotes or endnotes is a very important aspect of an academic text.
5. COMPLEXITY- An academic text addresses complex issues that require higher-order thinking
skills to comprehend.
6. EVIDENCE-BASED ARGUMENTS- What is valued in an academic text is that opinions are
based on a sound understanding of the pertinent body of knowledge and academic debates
that exist within, and often external to a specific discipline.
7. THESIS-DRIVEN- The starting point of an academic text is a particular perspective, idea or
position applied to the chosen research problem, such as establishing, proving, or disproving
solutions to the questions posed for the topic.
LESSON TWO:
What is an Academic Language?
Academic language represents the language demands of school (academics). Academic

language includes language used in textbooks, in classrooms, on tests, and in each discipline. It is
different in vocabulary and structure from the everyday spoken English of social interactions. Each
type of communication (both academic and social) has its purpose, and neither is superior to the
other.
Academic writing is generally quite formal, objective (impersonal) and technical as illustrated in the
diagram below.
 It is formal by avoiding casual or conversational language, such as contractions or informal

vocabulary.
 It is impersonal and objective by avoiding direct reference to people or feelings, and instead
emphasizing objects, facts and ideas.
 It is technical by using vocabulary specific to the discipline.

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LESSON ONE:

WHAT IS ACADEMIC TEXT?

STUCTURE OF ACADEMIC TEXT

A. The most general information, such as background and/or definitions.

The IMRaD Structure

What is an Academic Language?

Academic language represents the language demands of school (academics). Academic

 It is formal by avoiding casual or conversational language, such as contractions or informal

 It is technical by using vocabulary specific to the discipline.

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