Assignment 1

Academic Style

1. In the same way that recipes or DJs use a particular style and form of language, academic writing usually follow a particular style. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:

* Be tentative: there are few things in the world that are cleary either right or wrong, all or nothing. Beliefs may be challenged and changed. Research is never definitely right in all cases, and therefore academics are cautious when they present their findings. Use phrases like:
• suggests that
• there is a tendency for
• it would seem that
• probable
• the majority of

* Be precise and specific: it is important not to assume that other people know what you are writing about. When you really know your subject you have to be able to explain the main terms and ideas to someone that is not familiar with the area you are studying.

* Use formal language: Academic writing is quite different from chatting with friends. You are expected to use a more formal type of language. You have to:
• avoid slang eg. cool, and language that is too casual like the paper was pretty awful. Say instead that it was poorly researched or unsubstantiated.
• use full forms rather than abbreviations eg does not, should have, instead of doesn’t,
should’ve, it’s.
• consider the making of noun structures (nominalisation) rather than wordy verb
structures
eg: “The rapid increase in crime was causing concern among the police” is more formal
than ”Crime was increasing rapidly and the police were becoming concerned.”

* Use impersonal language: in some subject areas you are expected to avoid the pronoun "I". But at the same time you have to make own statements. This is quite easy, as every statement in your academic writing that is not attributed to someone else, is assumed to be yours. Hence, if you do not quote or refer to someone else, people will know it is your own opinion.

* Use powerful reporting words: to be even more clear and persuasive when you are including other peoples research you could use a more precise reporting word. Eg Malin (2007) concedes that instead of Malin says that. Concedes carries the extra meaning of that Malin is a serious source. Other powerful reporting words: describe, contend, examine, state, disagree, observe, assert, support, claim, dispute, suggest, purport, persuade, dismiss, refute, propose etc.

2. Formal text:
The inequity in the distribution
of wealth in Australia is yet another
indicator of Australia's lack of egalitarianism.

Informal text:
Because only a few people have most
of the money and power in Australia,
I conclude that it is not an equal society.

In the formal text we find that the vocabulary is more complex, eg words like inequity and egalitarianism, instead of not an equal society, wealth instead of money and power.
The pronoun I is used in the informal text.

3. Formal text:
A student was exchanging words with
her tutor, Mrs. Johnson, when suddenly
a great many robins appeared in front
of them. Apparantely someone had invited
them in by opening a window during
a lecture in science.

Informal text:
A kid was chatting with her teacher Mary
when a lot of birds came flying into the room.
We found out that someone had opened a
window in science class and they just flew in.