Hedging

in Academic Writing

Task 1
Read the following essay topic then answer the questions below:
Some people think that girls and boys should be educated together. Others think it is
better for them to be educated apart. Discuss and evaluate each of these viewpoints.
1. Should you give your own opinion in the essay? How do you know?
..........................................................................................................
2. Should you consider other opinions in the essay? How do you know?
..........................................................................................................
Task 2
Now read the following sentences taken from student answers to the essay topic above,
and then answer the questions below.

It is better for girls and boys to be educated together because it can better help them to
understand things from the point of view of the opposite sex.

It may reasonably be argued that it is better for girls and boys to be educated together
because it can better help them to understand things from the point of view of the
opposite sex.

It seems reasonable to argue that it is better for girls and boys to be educated together
because it can better help them to understand things from the point of view of the
opposite sex.

It has been argued by theorists such as Satoshi (2013) that it is better for girls and boys
to be educated together because it can better help them to understand things from the
point of view of the opposite sex.

1. What is the function (purpose) of the underlined phrases in bold?
..........................................................................................................
2. Why could this technique be useful in academic writing?
..........................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................
3. What sort of language do the phrases contain?
Task 3
Phrases like the underlined ones in bold, used to make an opinion less direct or less
certain, are called hedging expressions.

The following are some more examples from different academic disciplines:

It may/might be that a cure is never found for cancer.
It seems that the evidence is inconclusive as to whether the provision of education on
how malaria is spread can actually reduce the number of cases of malarial infection.
It is/seems plausible/probable/likely that Marshall Plan aid had a considerable positive
effect on postwar Europe.
It would seem implausible/improbable/unlikely that typhoid could ever be completely
eradicated.
It could/may/might reasonably/plausibly/feasibly be argued that it is not commercially
viable to continue extracting oil in the North Caspian Basin.

The sentences below are taken from a student’s essay about materialistic versus spiritual
attitudes. Make them more suitable for academic writing by using some of the hedging
phrases above. You may also want to make some of the vocabulary more formal.

a. I think that people are more materialistic today than in the past because nowadays
luxury cars and holidays are very popular.
..........................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................
b. Some people say that a materialistic attitude is wrong and that we should take a more
spiritual attitude towards everyday life.
..........................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................
c. It is completely incorrect to say that material things like cars, houses and clothes are the
most important things in our lives.
..........................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................
Phrases for hedging opinions
Now write three more statements about this topic. Again, practise using hedging phrases.
1.
2.
3.

Task 4
Below are three of the sentences from tasks 2 and 3, but in two different versions, each
with further details added. For each sentence, what differences in meaning do these
details create?

1a. It has been argued by theorists such as Satoshi (2013) that it is better for girls and
boys to be educated together because it can better help them to understand things from
the point of view of the opposite sex. Indeed, there is considerable empirical evidence for
this viewpoint.

1b. It has been argued by theorists such as Satoshi (2013) that it is better for girls and
boys to be educated together because it can better help them to understand things from
the point of view of the opposite sex. However, there is little if any evidence to support
this position.

2a. It would seem improbable that typhoid could ever be completely eradicated. This is
the position taken by Smith (2012), among others, who states ...

2b. Although it would seem improbable that typhoid could ever be completely
eradicated, substantial progress in hygiene and sanitation continues to be made across
the developing world, raising hopes that ...

3a. It may reasonably be argued that it is not commercially viable to continue extracting
oil in the North Caspian Basin. This is borne out by the decision of certain major oil
companies to cease extraction in 2014.

3b. It might reasonably be argued that it is not commercially viable to continue extracting
oil in the North Caspian Basin, yet exploration and drilling continue regardless.


Phrases for hedging opinions
Look again at the sentences above and highlight the words or phrases which lead to the
differences in meaning.
Which are used to imply agreement and which are used to imply criticism?

Task 5
Choose an evaluative or discussion-based essay topic from your own discipline and write a
short response (around 250 words). Alternatively, research and write a response to the
essay topic from task 1.
Use hedging expressions to:
· avoid sounding overly confident
· indicate whether you agree or disagree with other writers’ opinions
· make clear your stance (= position/opinion) on the issue.


















Summarising a research study

Warmer:
Discuss the following questions: Would you prefer to:
- eat one large meal every three days or eat three smaller meals every day?
- buy expensive front-row seats at sports matches once a year or buy cheaper seats
twice a year?

Task 1
Now read the following summary of a research study:
Research suggests that spending leisure time on regular yet modest activities leads to
greater long-term happiness than spending it on more occasional but more luxurious or
extravagant ones (Martin, 2008).
Do you agree or disagree? Justify your opinion.

Task 2
Descriptions of research studies in academic papers or assignments often have a similar
structure.
Study parts 1–3 below. What function does each part have?
(1) In one experiment, two separate groups of 12 participants each were asked to do an
activity over the course of three days. (2) One group was given a tasty buffet lunch on the
second day only. The second group was given the same food and drink, but at regular
intervals across the three-day period. (3) Once the activity was over the second group
reported feeling an average of 23% happier about the experience than the first group
(Laird, 2008).
1) .........................................................................................................................................
2) .........................................................................................................................................
3) .........................................................................................................................................

© www.teachitelt.com 2014 21387 Page 1 of 3




Summarising a research study Rearrange the parts below to make a paragraph
summarising a piece of research.
Although the fans who bought the expensive tickets enjoyed their individual games (an
average of 14%) more, those with the cheaper seats were able to attend games twice as
often and at the end of the two-year period rated their sports-watching experiences an
average of 21% better.
In another study, 437 sports fans, each with a £1,200 annual budget for watching live
sports, were surveyed over a two-year period.
They also rated their overall happiness as being 7% better across the same time period
(Donald, 1999).
One group always bought expensive front-row seats for sports events they attended
while another group bought the cheaper seats which were less comfortable and had a
less clear view.

Correct order: .................................................................................................................
Task 4
Write a summary of a research project connected with your own field of study.
Begin by summarising the research method, move on to describe the method in more
detail, and then describe the results. Put the reference at the end.