Lesson 1: The Nature of Academic

Texts PARAGRAPHS
Academic Text is a reading material that provides
information, which includes concepts and theories that are A paragraph is a collection of sentences that deals with one
related to the specific discipline. It the process of breaking topic or idea. A new paragraph usually signals the start of
down ideas & using deductive reasoning, formal voice, and a new concept in a text. academic texts are organized in
third person POV. It is typically formal, clearly structured, a specific way; they have a clear structure making them
has introduction, body and conclusion. It includes easier for readers to navigate through the text and
information from credible sources which are, in turn, understand the material better.
properly cited. It also includes list of references used in
developing the academic paper. Structure of a three-part essay

Structures of Academic Texts: Structuring Paragraphs Knowing the structure of an essay can help a reader
comprehend the text. Paragraph development and the
One of the essential features of academic writing is text
three-part essay are broken into the following parts:
structure. If you know how to identify the structure of the
introduction, body, and conclusion.
text, you can better understand and follow the flow of
ideas.
• Topic sentence/ Introduction - presents the main point
Aspects of Academic and Professional Language of the paragraph
FORMALITY • Supporting sentences/ Body - support the main idea of
• Choosing expanded modal forms over contracted forms. the paragraph
- can’t -> cannot don’t -> do not • Transitional sentence/ Conclusion - paves the way to
• Choosing one verb forms over 2-word verbs the next idea in the next paragraph. It closes out the
- mess up -> damage cut down -> reduce main idea by summing up the main idea. The conclusion
• Choosing expanded terms over its abbreviated should not have the exact same thesis statement as the
equivalents one in the introduction. It is best to reword it in the
- ASAP -> as soon as possible conclusion.
- FYI -> for your information
• Avoiding colloquial / trite / idiomatic expressions What is Academic English
- kid, cool, nice, kind of like, as a matter of fact It is a variety of English language that we use for research.
It is an effective academic writing, which demonstrates
OBJECTIVITY
clear critical thinking, and the ability to make the
• Avoid using personal pronouns such as You, I, and We.
arguments stronger by supporting them with evidences. It
- Ex. It’s pretty obvious from the result that we got from
must be clear, coherent, and it follows a process. Academic
the survey that only few people know what
Writing is used to answer research questions.
cardiovascular diseases is.
• Avoid rhetorical questions in academic writing.
Why is it important to study Academic English?
- Are you kidding me?
English is a Lingua Franca (the most universal language);
- Who wouldn't want to be a millionaire?
the Language of Knowledge Exchange. English is the
- Do you want to be a failure for the rest of your life?
leading language for the dissemination of academic
• Avoiding emotive language that shows biases.
knowledge. To help us become prepared for the
- An innocent bystander was murdered in cold blood in
globalization of our education system.
Tondo.
EXPLICITNESS Purposes in reading an Academic Text?
• There should be clarity to locate the main idea
- use appropriate signposting strategies (transition words) to scan for information
to trace the relationship of the paragraphs to identify gaps in existing studies
- Ex. however, this is due to the, this resulted in to connect new ideas to existing ones
to support a particular writing assignment
CAUTION
to deeply understand an existing idea
• Take caution when drawing conclusions or predictions
from your findings which may generalize certain groups
Some examples of Academic Texts:
or may not be too conclusive.
Conference Papers Articles/ Journals
• Take caution when referencing others’ work to build your
Reviews Position paper
own paper.
Theses/ Dissertations Reaction papers
- VERBS INDICATING CAUTION: tends, suggests, appear to
Project proposal Research report
be, think, believe, doubt, indicate
Literature reviews Book reviews
- MODAL VERBS: will, must, would, may, can, might, could
Coursework Library research
- ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY: often, sometimes, usually
Academic essays
- MODIFIERS: quite, rather, fairly

1 English for Academic and Professional Purposes Vanessa Sacurom

 Lesson 1: Academic Text
Patterns of development Classification
The process of explaining by dividing or grouping it into
Illustration / Description types of categories. It refers to the sorting or arrangement
Goes into details about a specific object, person, or of subjects (persons, places, things, ideas) into groups or
location, in order to firmly set its appearance. (What does categories according to their common or shared
it look like? What are its characteristics?) characteristics. The purpose is to clearly define something
1. Has a clear focus and sense of purpose. and place it in a group according to some basis or rule.
2. Uses sensory details and precise words
3. Presents details in a logical order
Varieties of Description:
1. Objective - looks into factual and scientific
characteristics of what is being described as objectively
as possible. The writer stays away from emotional
impressions or responses and instead, describes the scene Comparison & Contrast
as it is. Organizes ideas based on how events, places, people,
things, & concepts that are similar to, or different from one
another.
• SIDE – BY – SIDE
Involves discussing both items based on each point of
comparison.
• SEPARATELY
Involves describing one item first followed by the
second item.

2. Subjective - the author would normally use this to “paint

a picture” of how he/she sees a character, or how it wants
the reader to see a character. It is also used in a literary
discourse when there is stereotyped image can be
attributed to a person, place, or an event.
Process Analysis
It discusses the steps taken in a given process. Process
refers to a series of actions or steps toward a specific end.

IMRaD
Most academic texts in the sciences adhere to the model
called IMRAD. IMRaD aims to discuss the research topic at
Definition hand, with the intention of explaining the topic and its
It explains not just what something means or is, but also, intended purpose.
what something does, what something is used for, & what Introduction
something looks like etc. ● Contains the context of the study and address what the
Parts of definition study will entail
1. the term, concept, or subject to be defined ● Can include the background of the study rather than an
2. the general class where it belongs; introduction
3. the characteristics that differentiate it from the other ● Should include the aim(s) of the study
members of its parts. ● Includes explanation of research aims and research
questions were fulfilled or answered
Types of definition ● methods used to collect data and ways to analyze the
EXTENSIVE Definition - an expansion of the intensive said data
definition into a paragraph - amplified into a paragraph ● the research design for the entire study
using one or more methods of paragraph ● Objectively presents results from the data collected and
development. analyzed
INTENSIVE Definition - includes the term to be defined, the ● Data can be presented in charts, figures, and tables
class to which the term belongs, and the characteristic(s) ● Reminds readers of the topic of the study
that make it different from the other members in the same ● Analyzes and discusses presented results
class or species.
a. Use the relative pronoun that to introduce the
distinguishing characteristic.

2 English for Academic and Professional Purposes Vanessa Sacurom

 Lesson 1: Academic Texts
To facilitate the discussion in IMRad, the following guide Tips In Writing Academic Texts
questions can be used: • Be clear with the assignment or prompt.
- What do the results mean? • Analyze the context of writing.
- How do they relate / relay to prior research? • Have a clear purpose and audience in mind.
- What are the relative similarities or differences of the • Make your thesis evident.
previous research to the current research? • Stay focused on the topic; eliminate unnecessary details.
- How did your chosen method(s) affect the results? • Read some academic texts that use similar rhetorical
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the study? pattern to the one you are writing.
- How are the results important to future developments? • Avoid wordiness and redundancies.
- What kind of future research is needed in the field? • Use brainstorming strategies to overcome writer’s block.
The conclusion should not have the exact same thesis • Edit and proofread your work
statement as the one in the introduction. It is best to • Use quotations sparingly. Paraphrase information as
reword it in the conclusion. There 3 variables in much as possible.
determining how we should write: topic, audience, and • Avoid using an imperative tone.
purpose of writing. • Avoid excessive font effects such as too much use of
boldface, underlines, and italics.
Academic writing allows us to give contributions to
• Be consistent with the type of English you use.
ongoing issues, and it gives individuals a greater voice in
• Plan wisely. Allot ample time in preparing your writing
reaching a greater audience. As a general rule, religious
texts & newspapers are not considered academic sources. assignment.
Wikipedia is not a credible source because this website can
be altered by anyone. No matter the discipline, academic Example:
DO
writing should always make use of credible sources.
Washburne’s assertion that the human child is complex
The Academic Disciplines and therefore cannot be programmed with the complete
Discipline includes an understanding of past approaches, structure at birth (1907) supports the claim that his
the use of a particular method for understanding, the use development cannot be hurried and must be allowed to
of certain specialized vocabulary, an understanding of progress accordingly.
what commonly counts as evidence. Each of the disciplines
and its branches have distinct communities that make use DON’T
The claim that a child’s development must be allowed to
of their own vocabularies, styles, and modes of
progress accordingly is supported by Washburne’s
communication. While they might all follow a basic format
and guidelines, their application differs per discipline. assertion: “Some children develop earlier than others , but
too early development is to be regretted… Fiske has proved
Different disciplines also tend to get their data and to us that the reason why the human young is so far more
evidence from varying research methods. For example, helpless and dependent than the young of any other
how professors in the branch of literature collect their data species is because the activities of the human race have
would typically be different from how researchers in become so many, so widely varied, and so complex, that
biology collect theirs. social scientists might have to they could not fix themselves in the nervous structure
conduct surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and before birth.”
the like.
DO
The objectives presented in this introduction are
instrumental to the analysis of the results in the second
experiment.
DON’T
Remember the objectives presented in this introduction, as
these are instrumental in the analysis of the results in the
second experiment.

Example: DO
• Business: Which methods of recycling can help cut Harper Lee’s book, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” clearly
down costs in the production of goods? illustrates the struggle “colored” people underwent during
• Humanities: What recyclable materials can best be the early 20th century and how racial inequality proved
used for sculpting? detrimental to the achievement of justice.
• Natural and Applied Sciences: Which recyclable DON’T
materials can be used to create an emergency life Harper Lee’s book, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” clearly
vest? illustrates the struggle “colored” people underwent during
• Social Sciences: How can recycling be promoted the early 20th century and how racial inequality proved
better in middle to lower class families? detrimental to the achievement of justice.

3 English for Academic and Professional Purposes Vanessa Sacurom

 Lesson 2: CRITICAL READING
Critical reading ● Outline the text. identify the main points of the writer &
Involves scrutinizing any information that you read or hear. list them down. You can just write in bullets & numbers.
“read not to contradict & confute; nor to believe & take for
granted; nor to find talk & discourse; but to weigh & ● Summarize the text. After getting the main point, write it
consider.” - Francis Bacon, The Essays in your own words. This will test how much you understood
It means not easily believing in information offered to you the text & help you evaluate it critically.
by a text. It is the ability to analyze a problem in all its
dimensions – to define its key terms, causes, understand ● Evaluate the text. This is the most challenging part in
its history. The ability to find, gather, interpret data, facts, critical reading. You question the author’s purpose &
& other information relevant to the problem. It requires intentions, and the claims. There is another important skill
readers to use their critical thinking skills to question both that a critical reader must learn – HOW TO SPOT FLAWS IN
the text they are reading and their manner of REASONING.
understanding the text they are reading.
To read critically, take note of the following:
It’s an active process because when you read, you are not
just receiving information, but also making an interaction ● Put yourself in the mindset of the intended audience
with the writer. Interaction happens when you question of the text to identify the author’s purpose.
the writer’s claims and assertions & when you comment on ● Be open-minded about whatever you are reading and
the writer’s ideas. Critical reading is a more active way of evaluate the text without any biases.
reading a text. ● Consider the title as it may provide a clue to the author’s
goals or viewpoint.
3 Steps In Critical Reading ● Read slowly, as it may help you connect with the text
more.
1. reading to analyze ● Use additional references, such as dictionaries and
- requires a reader to break down the whole text into parts. encyclopedias, to give you more information on parts you
Breaking the text down into parts ensures that your critical don't understand.
thinking skills are engaged in analyzing the argument of the ● Take notes, highlight, and interact with the text as
author. comfortably as you can, for these can be helpful in
understanding the author's concepts.
2. reading to interpret
attempt to understand the ideas and sentences. Be aware What is Reading Comprehension?
of the following contexts for maximum comprehension:
● the text’s cultural background Reading comprehension skills separates the "passive"
● the historical facts surrounding it unskilled reader from the "active" readers. Skilled readers
● the author’s life experiences don't just read, they interact with the text. There is inner
● the debates within the discipline during a significant time Monologue – inner speech or inner voice when you read
period critically.
● the intellectual debates of contemporary times.
Benefits of Good Reading Comprehension
3. reading to evaluate
- allows you to make judgements about the text for the • Reading comprehension skills increase the
following values: intellectual or cognitive value, aesthetic pleasure and effectiveness of reading.
value, moral value, and/or practical value. • Strong reading comprehension skills help in all the
other subjects and in the personal and professional
Critical reading requires the reader to do the following: lives.
● Form judgments about the text. • All the tests you take in elementary, middle, and
● Analyze, interpret, and evaluate the text while reading. high school are geared towards determining if you
● Question what the text does and means. are at your reading grade level and/or college
● Challenge assumptions of the text by questioning its ready.
argument and interpreting the meaning in context.
● Describe, interpret, and evaluate in response to the text. “Critical reading is an active process of discovery.”
-Gary Goshgarian
Ways to help you become a critical reader:
● Annotate what you read. Highlight important details
indicating your questions on the text itself, utilize the
margins for your own notes, and underline the concepts
that you find important.

4 English for Academic and Professional Purposes Vanessa Sacurom

 Lesson 3: Thesis Statements and Outlining
THESIS STATEMENT WRITING A STRONG THESIS STATEMENT:

The thesis statement is a single sentence usually found in Example 1

the introductory paragraph of a paper that states the main Topic: Should the SOGIE Bill be passed in the Philippines?
idea and position of the writer. It is the main idea that will • A thesis statement will be required for this kind of
dictate the purpose and flow of your arguments in the rest question since it is asking you to take a stand on a
of your paper. particular issue.
• Simple thesis statement: “I believe the SOGIE Bill should
Academic writing is often persuasive in nature, similar to be passed.”
delivering a speech. When we write an academic or • Improved thesis statement: “I believe the SOGIE Bill
research paper, our goal is primarily to convince our should be passed because it ensures that all basic
readers to consider our stand. It could be to prove that a human rights are available to all people, regardless of
certain scientific hypothesis is correct, to show the effects sexual orientation or gender expression.”
of global warming, to back up a text’s political message,
and more. To be able to convince someone of our stand, Example 2
we have to be able to define it concretely and completely • If the instruction given to you for an assignment is to
first. To do this, we need to write a clear thesis statement. “report on the state of traffic in Davao City”, it is highly
likely that you will not need a thesis statement for the
CHARACTERISTICS OF A THESIS STATEMENT: assignment. Reporting on something is just a matter of
• It shows where you stand regarding the subject matter presenting the facts and details related to the topic,
you are discussing. without necessarily defending a stand or side about it.
• It tells the reader what they can expect from the rest of • Possible thesis statement: A possible solution to the
your paper. traffic situation in Davao City is to set up carpooling
• It directly answers a question posed to you. systems in the most densely populated communities
• It makes a claim that can be disputed. among large company buildings.
• It is a single sentence near the start of your paper that
presents your argument to the readers. When reviewing your first draft and thesis statement,
• The rest of your paper then contains evidence that will evaluate using the following questions:
help back up your thesis statement in order to persuade • Am I answering the question?
others to take your stand. - Review any arguments and see if they work toward
answering the question.
When receiving assignments that require you to submit a • Have I taken a position that can possibly be disputed by
paragraph, an essay, or a paper, make sure to understand others?
the instructions carefully. If you are asked to analyze, - Your thesis has to be persuasive & yet open to
interpret, compare and contrast, show causes and effects, opposition. If it is simply stating a fact or facts that
or choose a side or stand on an issue, then more often than people cannot disagree with or argue against, then
not you will need to write a thesis statement for your it is likely that you are only writing a summary and
assignment. The body of your paper should then support not an argument.
and defend your thesis. • Is my thesis statement specific enough?
- If your thesis statement is too general, it will not
HOW TO WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT have a strong argument. Avoid using vague words
such as good or successful and try being more
Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do upon specific. What makes the work “good”? What
receiving an assignment or task. A thesis must be the result specifically proves something is “successful”?
of a long process of thinking and planning. Before you can • Does my thesis statement pass the “So what?” test?
develop any kind of thesis, you must first do your research - provide a deeper relationship, or connect to a more
on the topic. What matters is that you can find substantial relevant issue.
evidence to support a more concrete thesis, even if you • Does the rest of my essay specifically and concretely
had to adjust from time to time. support my thesis statement?
- Sometimes, in your research, you uncover things
Make your thesis statement as specific as possible by doing that will change your own perspective or widen
the following: your perspective on a certain topic, and it is
• expressing just one major idea perfectly acceptable to modify your thesis
• naming the topic and asserting something specific about statement to reflect your newfound knowledge.
it • Does my thesis statement pass the “how and why?”
• stating your position or opinion about the issue test?
- Add a supporting statement that will clarify your
It’s okay if your thesis and your arguments might need position and strengthen your point right from the
adjustments along the way. start.

5 English for Academic and Professional Purposes Vanessa Sacurom

 Lesson 3: Thesis Statements and Outlining
Example Topic 1 OUTLINING ACADEMIC TEXTS
Is the use of metal straws instead of plastic straws helpful
in saving the environment? Outline acts like a blueprint for the text. Outlining is a tool
for organizing ideas. It helps writers categorize the main
If you write a thesis statement based on stock knowledge points of the topic, organize the paragraphs to make sense,
and without initial research, you might be inclined to write: and ensure that the paragraphs are fully developed.
Using metal straws instead of plastic straws is an Reading academic texts requires critical thinking skills. One
effective way to reduce the amount of waste in the country. way to see the text broken down visually is through an
outline. It may be used by writers while in the prewriting
It is a thesis statement with a clear stand, however stage, and also as a post-reading activity. A well-written
remember to avoid vague words like “effective.” Research outline has: a thesis statement, the main idea for each
why it is effective and add it to your thesis statement. Then, paragraph, the evidence and supporting details for each
during your research, you could find evidence that shows paragraph.
your initial working thesis should be modified. You can still
change your thesis to be more concrete and also more A decimal outline uses numbers as labels while an
supported by the evidence you’ve found. alphanumeric outline uses both letters and numbers as
labels.
Improved thesis statement:
Metal straws are a band-aid solution to the
problem of global warming because in mass- producing
metal straws for people to use, large companies continue
to emit dangerous amounts of CO2 into the environment.

In your research, you’ve found a more significant issue to

connect to the use of metal straws and have found
convincing evidence on it, and so you’ve shifted the
direction of your thesis statement. You’ve also made your
thesis statement more specific, and you have made your Four Principles of Outlining
stance clearer in the process. • Coordination - Requires ideas of the same relevance
• Subordination - Shows minor details under their
Example 2: respective major details
Quarantine and social distancing are effective in fighting • Division - No cluster should contain only one item
COVID-19 because they flatten the curve. • Parallel Construction - Each cluster uses the same
structure & format. Words are parallel or using the
It is important to take note that you should avoid using same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas
jargon or language that is field specific to the topic or have the same level of importance.
discipline, as this will make it unclear for your readers.
While the thesis statement makes a clear stand, its TOPIC OUTLINE
reasoning could be unclear to readers who are not familiar - only phrases and main ideas are used
with the term “flattening the curve.” - wording is parallel to one another.
- headings and subheadings should be divided into or
Improved thesis statement: more parts
Quarantine and social distancing are effective in
fighting COVID-19 because they slow down the rate at
which people get infected with the virus.

The jargon used earlier is replaced with a much clearer

statement that can be backed up by data and also disputed.
Technical language and jargon can be used in the different
parts of the paper, as long as they are relevant and
explained to the readers.

A working thesis means that the thesis statement is still

open to change. It can be changed to fit the evidence you
have found in your research or return to looking for more
sources that could support your thesis statement.

6 English for Academic and Professional Purposes Vanessa Sacurom

 Lesson 3: Thesis Statements and Outlining
Example of Topic Outline: SENTENCE OUTLINE
Sentences are used in this type of outline, wording is
Thesis statement: Blended learning has its advantages,
parallel to one another, and headings and subheadings
especially in senior high school.
should be divided into two or more parts.

I. Flexibility of blended learning Example of Sentence Outline:

A. Learner sets his or her own time Thesis statement: The local teenage pregnancy rate is a
B. Learner does work anytime and anywhere problem which needs to be addressed.
C. Learner chooses how he or her learns I. Teenage pregnancy worldwide has lowered throughout
II. Convenience of blended learning the years.
D. No face-to-face with teachers and students A. The rate of teenage pregnancies has dropped in the
E. Multiple materials presented for learners last decade.
F. Offline mode can be utilized when necessary B. Statistics have shown the drop is significant in the
III. Efficiency of blended learning United States.
G. Learning adjusted to learner’s pace C. The statistics show that there is an improvement and
H. Chances for follow-up after own learning more awareness about the issue.
I. Allows reflective learning from learner II. Why did the number of teenage pregnancies drop?
A. It may be a sign that there is a shift of thinking
Thesis statement: Research has proven to be greatly between generations.
beneficial to skills development and problem-solving. B. Further research can be done, which aims to examine
why the rates have dropped.
I. Skills developed C. Though sex education is not legal in the country, there
A. Reading and writing skills is a possibility that teenagers are more aware of the
B. Critical thinking skills consequences of premarital sex.
C. Research skills III. What are the recommendations for the issue?
II. Knowledge expanded A. The issue is being addressed internationally.
A. More learnings B. The Philippines should be more proactive in helping
B. Less ignorance about global matters prevent teenage pregnancies.
C. Obvious global progress C. These recommendations should be addressed as
III. More solutions soon as possible to help protect women and their
A. Smaller research gap children.
B. More viable, everyday solutions
C. Application of said solutions I. What is globalization?
A. Globalization is the process by which businesses or other
Thesis statement: There should be more effective organizations develop international influence or start
marketing strategies for STEM education worldwide. operating on an international scale.
B. Globalization has several advantages.
I. What is STEM education C. Globalization has disadvantages.
A. Descriptions of STEM education 1. There may be an exploitation of developing countries.
B. Benefits of STEM education 2. There is a chance of cultural homogenization.
C. How STEM is marketed in education II. Generation Z has a “woke” culture, which hinders
II. STEM at the local level certain core aspects of globalization.
A. Impact of STEM in PH setting A. As a whole, Generation Z does not support the
B. Prominent Filipinos in STEM exploitation of countries.
C. STEM’s role in PH progress B. The internet allows more communication amongst
III. STEM at the global level Generation Z.
A. Impact of STEM in the global setting C. Social media presence may counter globalization.
B. Prominent people in STEM 2. It may lead to more “keyboard warriors” against the
C. STEM helping the world progress exploitation of countries.
III. As globalization has a direct impact on the
environment, there may be more initiatives to protect the
environment.
A. The responses of Generation Z to natural disasters is
overwhelming.
B. Generation Z wants to support the protection of the
environment.
C. Generation Z should reach a compromise between the
needs of the times and their own feelings about how to
best preserve the environment.

7 English for Academic and Professional Purposes Vanessa Sacurom

 Lesson 4: Writing a Summary
IMRad OUTLINE Writing a summary is like picking out what we need from a
supermarket. When we do our research for our academic
Can utilize either a topic or sentence outline. for IMRaD papers, we come across sources like journal entries or
Introduction, it should have the specific research problem. articles that contain information that is vital to our needs.
The Methodology should contain design, participants, Still, we don’t usually need to use every single part of the
environment, instrumentation, and data analysis. Results text. We’ll only need the most crucial information. (Critical
should have specific data for each research problem reading) We can go back more quickly to the important
presented in the introduction. The discussion should parts of the text if we first write a summary of it.
contain main idea, analysis, and conclusions of results. The
outline must be complete no matter the format of the Preparing to Write a Summary
research.
Summarizing a text is distilling its essential concepts in a
Example of IMRad outline: paragraph or two. Summary is a shorter and more
condensed form of a text, and this is a good practice to
Research Topic: Factors that students consider when follow when conducting research or studying. The goals of
choosing a senior high school a summary are to reproduce the key ideas of a text and to
express them with precise and specific language. A proper
I. Introduction summary can be used to help you return to pertinent
1. Background of the study information you might need for your academic writing.
A. Different factors for choosing a school
B. Factors considered in foreign literature Two Goals of Summarizing:
C. Factors considered in local literature • to reproduce the key ideas and points of a text, and
II. Framework • to express these concepts and ideas with precise
2. Statement of the Problem and specific language.
A. What are the factors which students consider
when enrolling in a SHS? When writing a summary, it is not enough to rely on the
B. Which is the most significant factor for newly author’s words, as you must still deliver the author’s points
enrolled grade 11 students? without the language becoming too general. You must also
C. Which factor was the most prominent per be ready to make decisions about which parts to include
academic strand for newly grade 11 students? and which parts to exclude in your summary. Take note
III. Methodology what is your purpose for summarizing the text, and your
1. Descriptive Research own view on what is essential in the text.
A. Stratified Random Sampling for Grade 11 students
B. A private school in Manila Two techniques you can use in order to prepare for writing
C. Survey a summary:
D. Confirmatory factor analysis Previewing
IV. Results It is a strategy that readers use to recall prior knowledge
A. Results for SOP 1 and set a purpose for reading. Set your goals in reading any
B. Results for SOP 2 academic text early on, especially when you plan to
C. Results for SOP 3 summarize it later on for research or study purposes. This
V. Discussion will allow you to be more focused and to pay more
A. Significant results attention to the parts of the text that are important for
B. Impact on private high schools your purposes. Before you read a text in earnest, try the
C. Impact on future researchers previewing technique first to better orient yourself to what
you need from the text you are about to dive into.
What does “parallelism” mean in outlines? Parallelism is
when the headings and/or subheadings follow the same Skimming and scanning
structure, such as the number of words or the parts of Both use rapid eye movement and keywords to move
speech utilized. quickly through text for slightly different purposes.
What should be found in the Discussion part of the IMRaD Skimming is reading rapidly in order to get a general
outline? The discussion part should include the relevance overview of the material. Scanning is reading rapidly in
and significant findings of the results. It should also include order to find specific facts. The difference between
how there is an impact on the various benefactors of the Skimming and scanning: Skimming is Looking for the
study. general idea while scanning is Looking for specific details.
How can missing an essential part of the IMRaD outline
delay the writing process? In that event, he or she may
have to stop writing and go back to collecting information
and reorganizing the paper.

8 English for Academic and Professional Purposes Vanessa Sacurom

 Lesson 4: Writing a Summary
When to use scanning and when to use skimming? 5. DO A MORE FOCUSED READING OF THE TEXT - Be more
mindful of what you might have missed in your skimming
Before putting any effort into studying a document,
and try to understand them thoroughly. Finally, return to
practicing skimming can be a good hand in previewing.
the beginning and do a more focused reading of the text.
Skimming can’t guarantee you all the important points.
Be more mindful of what you might have missed in your
Scanning is important to locate the correct answer for the
skimming and try to understand them thoroughly.
given questions. However, the combination of skimming
and scanning is even much greater. It’s like an insurance for
What is included in a Summary?
your fast reading: you read quicker but you don’t miss out
Include the title and the name of the author in your first
on anything important.
sentence. The first few sentences of your summary should
contain the author’s thesis so it is easier to recall what the
Steps you can follow for previewing:
key points of the text are. Make sure to maintain the
1. Don’t skip the title! It is usually written to orient the
subsections and keep information with similar ideas close
reader and provide a hint as to what the central
together. Avoid opinions or personal responses in your
concepts of the text will be.
summaries.
2. Consider the subject matter: Have you read about this
topic before? What prior information about it do you
Often, longer articles are divided into subsections to
already have, or what can you guess?
organize information. Make sure to maintain the
3. Who is the author of the text? Is additional information
subsections and keep information with similar ideas close
about the author available in any part of the text? What
together. Omit minor details and ideas that are not central
do you already know about him or her?
to the text. However, be careful in omitting too much and
4. Where was this text originally published? Who might
warping the author’s original intention. In general, omit
be the audience for this kind of text? What could the
specific examples unless they are integral to the author’s
audience expect to find in the text?
argument. If the purpose of the example is to provide
5. When was this text originally published? Is there a
clarification, then it can be omitted. Try writing the first
connection between the time period it was written in
draft of your summary without looking back at the text as
and the field of study it was published in? Were there
you write to avoid plagiarism.
any important events or significant trends during the
time the text was written or published?
Example of an excerpt:
6. What seems to be the general progression of ideas in
Students frequently overuse direct quotation in
the chapter titles or headings that section the article?
taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the
Chapter titles and headings that divide the section.
final research paper. Probably only about 10% of your final
7. Why has your professor assigned this text? Where
manuscript should appear as a directly quoted matter.
does it fit into the course or subject as a whole? What
Therefore, you should thrive to limit the amount of exact
sort of facts and ideas are you expected to remember
transcribing of the source material while taking notes.
from this reading?
Lester,James D. Writing Research Papers.2nd ed. (1976)
When reading an academic text, carefully read its abstract
An acceptable Summary:
and discussion, and examine its graphs, if any. An abstract
According to Lester (1976), students should take just a few
is a concise summary of an academic text It contains the
notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the
research questions, methods, and results, as it is presented
amount of quoted material in a research paper.
before the actual or other parts of a thesis or even a
research article. It serves two main purposes: To help
potential readers determine the relevance of your paper
for their own research. It also aims to communicate your
key findings to those who don't have time to read the
whole paper.

Steps you can take when Skimming:

1. PREVIEW - Make use of previewing techniques.
2. INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH - Carefully read the
introductory paragraph and try to predict its direction. Try
to predict the direction of the coming explanations, In this summary, the author and the title of the text are
arguments, and examples. already present in the first sentence. The thesis is also
3. READ THE FIRST SENTENCES IN EACH PARAGRAPHS - In immediately given, providing a clear guide on how the rest
between the opening and closing sentences, keep your of the summary can be written. It provides an overview of
eyes moving. Your goal is to take in the overarching what else the original text might be talking about. The
concepts and overall picture or pattern of the text. summary then talks about the important details in the text,
4. CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH - What might the author’s excluding any additional examples and personal opinions.
overall purpose be?

9 English for Academic and Professional Purposes Vanessa Sacurom

 Lesson 5: Paraphrasing
Techniques in Summarizing Texts Paraphrasing
When a writer has to summarize ideas, it goes through the
process of funneling out ideas and details to get the final Is a restatement of a text, passage, or work articulating the
product. When a writer needs to make a summary, he or meaning in another form. It does not require you to quote
she must be willing to omit ideas and change the wording from the source text. The paraphrase relays the
but still keep the text’s central contents. The writer must information from the source text in your own words. It
consider the purpose or function of the summarized text. leads the readers to the source of the information.
Utilize different paraphrasing techniques to avoid directly
quoting the text too often. When to Paraphrase
• Use a paraphrase with short texts with one or two
Summarizing IMRaD and Research sentences or a paragraph with five sentences.
• Use a paraphrase when you want to minimize direct
Summarizing research usually occurs in the last chapter of quotation
a thesis or dissertation. The research abstract also includes • Use a paraphrase when you want to rewrite the author’s
an overview or summary. It should explain the research words using your own without changing the meaning of
question, procedure (what was done and why), as well as the source text.
major results. It is placed ins a section titled “Summary of
the Study.” The research’s statements of the problem, Kinds of Paraphrasing
methodologies, results, and analysis are summarized
before giving the conclusions and recommendations. The Change of Parts of Speech
abstract contains the research questions, methods, and The main parts of speech are noun, pronoun, adjective,
results, as it is presented before the actual or other parts determiner, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and
of a thesis or even a research article. Why did you do the interjection. Parts of speech are categories assigned to
study? What did you do? What did you find? What does it words according to their functions in a sentence. Identify
all mean? which words can be changed, whether it is from a noun to
a verb, adjective to an adverb, and/or vice versa.

ORIGINAL: Wake up with determination, go to bed with

satisfaction.
PARAPHRASED: Wake up determined, go to bed satisfied.

Change of Structure
The structure of the sentence is changed to reflect the
writer’s interpretation of the source text.

ORIGINAL: Ms. Jen will be teaching English next semester.

PARAPHRASED: Next semester, English subject will be
taught by Ms. Jen.

Clause Reduction
Clauses are reduced or changed to phrases to lessen
What can be used when changing the language of confusion and interruption and make the sentences
summarized texts? simpler.
Synonyms and informal definitions can be used. ORIGINAL: Marsupials are endemic to Australia, and many
of their species are considered to be endangered species.
PARAPHRASED: Many species of marsupials endemic to
What is one way to determine which details should be Australia are endangered species.
included in a summary?
A reader should find out if the details support the overall Synonym Replacement
thesis statement or if they are sub details for the Changing the words in the sentence to similar words or
supporting details. synonyms. Check if the original and paraphrased sentences
are similar in meaning.
Why should all the parts of IMRaD be included in the ORIGINAL: The harder you work for something, the
summary or abstract? greater you’ll feel when you achieve it.
All parts of the research study must be included for the PARAPHRASED: The harder you work for your goal, the
readers to still have a general idea about the context of the better you’ll feel when it is accomplished.
problem, the research questions, the methods to collect
data to answer the research questions, and significant These kinds of paraphrasing may be applied in a
results, as they are all aligned with one another. paraphrased text simultaneously.

10 English for Academic and Professional Purposes Vanessa Sacurom

 Lesson 5: Paraphrasing
Plagiarism
Example 1 Source Text:
John Ward and Simon Danseker were household names in Is claiming ownership of material that is NOT your own.
England. The two pirates served as mercenaries on Turkish
Kinds of Plagiarism
ships that ransacked trading ships from Christian nations
1. Word-for-word or verbatim plagiarism also known as
like England, Spain, and France. In this printed account,
“copy-paste plagiarism”
English traders aboard the ship Charity watched with
- This happens when a researcher copies another
horror as a Turkish ship, captained by John Ward, overtook
person’s work word-for-word or verbatim without
a French ship on the high seas.
proper citation of the author(s)
- Ex. Original: “The measure of intelligence is the
Paraphrased Text:
ability to change.” ― Albert Einstein
John Ward and Simon Danseker were famous pirates
- Plagiarized: The measure of intelligence is the ability to
aboard Turkish ships who were known as persons who were
change.
hired to kill. They were also known to rummage English,
2. Word order plagiarism happens when a writer change
Spanish, and French ships. It was once said that people
some of the words of the author(s) by looking at the
aboard the ship called Charity saw John Ward catch a
synonyms of the words and replacing or rearranging
French ship on the ocean.
them to make the text look as if it were their own
- Ex. Original: “The measure of intelligence is the
Example 2 Source Text:
ability to change.” ― Albert Einstein
Quick, timely, and engaging popular literature was in
- Plagiarized: The ability to change is the measure of
increasingly high demand in seventeenth-century England.
intelligence.
Printers and booksellers were competing against each
3. Idea plagiarism happens when a writer paraphrases the
other for readership, so they had to be able to produce lots
work of another in his or her own writing but does not
of texts quite quickly and pique a customer’s interest in
properly cite or attribute the idea to the author(s)
buying one with an eye-catching image.
- Ex. Original: “The measure of intelligence is the
ability to change.” ― Albert Einstein
Paraphrased Text:
- Plagiarized: Your ability to change says a lot about your
Seventeenth-century England was excited about relevant
intelligence.
and engaging popular literature. Most printers and
booksellers competed against one another through the use
Example: SOURCE
of interesting images so they could sell more texts to their
Because the intracellular concentration of potassium ions
customers and produce more materials faster.
is relatively high, potassium ions tend to diffuse out of the
cell (Martini and Bartholomew, 1997).
PARAPHRASE 1
The high intracellular concentration of potassium ions is
relatively high, resulting in K’s tendency to diffuse out of
the cell (Martini and Bartholomew, 1997).
Although it has proper citation, it did not provide
substantial changes to consider it a good paraphrase.
Notice that the writer interchanged the first two sentences
from the source text. Also, the writer changed the names
of the elements to their chemical symbols to make it seem
like the paragraph is paraphrased properly. But, if you
compare this with the source text, the phrasing and words
from the source text and the writer are the same.
Tips for Paraphrasing
Example: SOURCE
Because the intracellular concentration of potassium ions
• Do not change technical terms and proper nouns.
is relatively high, potassium ions tend to diffuse out of the
• Cite your sources accordingly when you paraphrase cell (Martini and Bartholomew, 1997).
material.
• The lengths of the two sentences or passages should be PARAPHRASE 2
the same, more or less. The concentration gradient of potassium ions inside the
• The meaning of the sentences should stay the same. cell is high, and this causes these ions to move towards
intercellular space (Martini and Bartholomew, 1997).
The writer in Paraphrase 2 did not change the important
concepts of the source text. The writer explained the process
of the movement of potassium ions in the cell membrane in
his or her own words based on what she understood from
the source text.

11 English for Academic and Professional Purposes Vanessa Sacurom

 Lesson 5: Paraphrasing
Quoting Since we are using the APA guidelines, you must follow
these rules:
Quoting involves taking what the author said and repeating
If you want to insert your own words inside a quotation,
it word-for-word. This method is usually used for phrases
put them in square brackets ( [ ] ).
or short sentences. Quoting is used with shorter phrases or
For example:
sentences. It is recommended when you want to make
“The activities in the [midyear] workshop were
sure the original idea of the author is introduced as is.
informative,” according to the teacher.
Paraphrasing is effective for longer sentences or a group of
sentences. Paraphrasing is suitable for elaborating on the
If you want to change the capitalization of the word in a
author’s main idea by explaining it in your own words.
quotation, use square brackets.
Example of Quoting: For example:
“Darwin, it was believed, had simply discovered a new law The teacher stated that “[t]he activities in the workshop
of nature designed by God” (van Wyhe, 2011). “Was were informative.”
Charles Darwin an Atheist?”
(https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/was-charles- If you want in the middle of a quotation, use ellipse to
darwin-an-atheist) remove words (. . .).
For example:
In the example, the words were lifted directly from the
“The activities . . . were informative,” according to the
author’s essay, but they were placed within quotation
teacher.
marks. Then, the original author was credited using the
APA citation style.
If you want to emphasize something in a quotation, place
the words in italics, and state that the emphasis is your
When to Quote?
own.
We quote if the author’s words already convey a powerful For example:
meaning. If you think you can no longer word the “The activities . . . were informative [emphasis added],”
information any better or simpler or if you want to according to the teacher.
introduce the author’s stand using his or her own words
then it is best to quote. If you want to show concrete 3. E-Explain. Mention the author’s full or last name, any
evidence to support your claims, highlight a particularly significant or necessary background information, and a
striking sentence the author wrote, or if you want to make signal verb. Include what is the message of the quote?
sure your readers know the words are not your own, then What does the quote add to the points that I am trying to
we use quoting. Forgetting any of the elements of quoting make? Why is it important that I use this quote? What am
could result in plagiarism. I trying to prove with this quote?
How to Quote? Example
In their essay, “Filling in the Blanks,” Morris and Carmichael
1. I-Introduce. To introduce a quotation in your writing, (2019) said that “[b]otany and painting were favored
make sure to mention the author’s full or last name, any pursuits of gentlemen and women in [the 1600s],” so many
significant or necessary background information, and a botany books had pictures that readers could paint.
signal verb.
2. C-Cite. Follow the expected format when you are In the example, the author and title of the essay were
quoting. The copied text should be enclosed in introduced immediately. The signal verb used was “said.”
quotation marks and should follow its original The quotation followed the correct citation format, and
capitalization and punctuation marks. APA style what followed was a phrase to support and explain the idea
citations are added in the body of a research paper or of the quote.
project and references are added to the last page. An
APA in-text citation includes only three items shown QUOTING
below. Take a look at how MLA format is also cited. ~ is used with shorter phrases or sentences.
American Psychological Association Format ~recommended when you want to make sure the original
Last, F. N. (Year, Month, Date Published). Article title. idea of the author is introduced as is.
Retrieved from URL
Example: PARAPHRASING
Satalkar, B. (2010, July 15). Water aerobics. Retrieved ~ is effective for longer sentences or a group of sentences.
Modern Language Association Format ~suitable for elaborating on the author’s main idea by
from http://www.buzzle.com
Last, First M. Book. City: Publisher, Year Published. explaining it in your own words.
Print.
James, Henry. The Ambassadors. Rockville: Serenity, Paraphrasing and quoting are often used together.
2009. Print
Use paraphrased sentences after a quotation to reinforce
Last name, First name middle name. “Specific page or
the author’s ideas with your own words and insights.
Article Title.” Name of Website. Publisher, date of
publication. Date you viewed it. <url>

12 English for Academic and Professional Purposes Vanessa Sacurom

 Lesson 6: The REACTION Paper and REVIEW Paper
Reaction paper Structure of a reaction paper
It is the response of a writer about another piece of work. INTRODUCTION (around 5% of the paper)
CRITICAL assessments, analyses, or evaluation of works, This includes thesis statement, which contains the reaction
not just summaries. They are not mere opinions but uses of the writer. It contains the title of the book/article/work,
proofs and logical reasoning for comments. These pieces of writer’s name, and thesis statement / Main assessment of
work can include books, research papers and articles, the material.
television shows, and films.
REVIEW / CRITIQUE (around 75% of the paper)
Aims to discuss a piece of work, evaluate its merit, and Appropriateness of methodology to support the
recommend to others. It involves skills in critical thinking arguments.
and recognizing arguments.
SUMMARY (around 10% of the paper)
Examples: scholarly work (Academic books, articles), work
Three main ideas to support the thesis statement of the
of art (Performance art, play, dance, sports, film, exhibits,
writer. It contains the objective or purpose, methods used
designs), Industrial design (Furniture design, Fashion
(if applicable), major findings, claims, ideas, or messages.
design), graphic designs (Poster, Billboard, Commercials,
Digital media) CONCLUSION (around 10% of the paper)
Summarizes the thesis statement and main points of the
Modern iterations of the reaction paper, Marikit Tara Alto
reaction paper. Reinforcement of main assessment,
Uychoco
comparison to a similar work, and your recommendation
trip advisor post movie review
of the material (if you liked it)
gadget review travel review
restaurant review editorials Your conclusion should focus on whether the work held
position papers your interest, whether the work annoyed or excited you.
essays that discuss a social phenomenon or a common You can also include whether the work prompted you to
experience raise questions for the author, or if the work led you to
some realizations, and reminded you of other materials
Difference between reaction and reflection paper:
that you have read, viewed or listened to in the past
A reaction paper ranges in length from 250 words to 750
words. Critique should not be connected to cynicism or Review Paper
pessimism. *cynicism – cynical beliefs : that people are
The function of review paper is to describe the current
generally selfish and dishonest. A reaction paper allows
state of the research topic or area. It aims to summarize
students to share their feelings and expresses how the
the scope of a research topic or area. The review paper
students interpret a particular material. On the other hand,
reviews recent progress on a particular topic. It also
Reflection paper focuses on what the students learned
presents concepts and research about a topic without the
about a topic, and their opinions about it.
evaluative judgement of the writer, and summarizes
Features of a reaction paper current knowledge of the research area.
- title and author of work
• Introduction: background of the study with concepts
- highlights of the main points
presented.
- direct quotes for illustration of points
• Body: studies and evidence presented with synthesis of
- objective and factual approach to the summary
the findings.
Questions to ask for the reaction: • Conclusion: summarizes main points of the paper &
• How is the main idea of the text related to concepts that presents recommendations to address research gaps.
you are familiar with and have previously been discussed?
• How does the work relate to any present-day problems? 1. Be genuine. A balanced, unbiased critique is more
• How is the material related to personal life experiences, helpful than an overly nice or harsh one. Strike a balance
feelings, and ideas? between being so nice that you will only say positive things
• Evaluate the merit of the work: What is the value, and being so harsh that you will only point out the
accuracy, completeness, and organization of the work? negatives of the work.
• Would you recommend this work to other people? 2. Avoid being brutal. Being honest and being brutal are
not the same thing. Express hard truths without being rude
Make sure to use speculative verbs to show that your or malicious about them.
interpretation is just an interpretation. Presume that the 3. Do not be too timid. Praise and criticism are equally
reader has not yet seen the material you are reviewing but important. Holding out on criticism to avoid hurting the
do not spoil key events. Describe the material using visual feelings of others does not do them any favors.
descriptive terms to help your audience visualize it; refrain 4. Be aware of the original work’s genre and intended
from being vague. Focus your conclusion on whether the audience. if the material being reviewed used casual
work hold your interest, annoy or excite you, prompt you language for a modern short story, then it is appropriate
to raise questions, lead you to some realizations, and for its audience, or if it used formal language for a casual
remind you of other materials. viewing, then it is ineffective for its purpose.
which ones do not.
Ex: if the material being reviewed used casual language for
a modern short story, then it is appropriate for its
13 English for Academic and Professional
audience, orPurposes
if it used formal language forVanessa
a casualSacurom
viewing,