Reading Academic Texts

Examples of Academic Texts

Academic Description
Texts
Articles Published in scholarly journals, this type of academic texts
offers results of research and development that can either
impact the academic community or provide relevance to
nation-building.
Conference These are papers presented in scholastic conferences, and
papers may be revised as articles for possible publication in scholarly
journals.
Reviews These provide evaluation or reviews of works published in
scholarly journals.
Theses, These are personal researches written by a candidate for a
Dissertations college or university degree.
 Structure of Academic Texts

 Academic texts are typically formal. They have a clearly

structured introduction, body, and conclusion.
 They also include information from credible sources
which are, in turn, property cited.
 They also include a list of references used in developing
the academic paper.
Three-part Essay Structure
Three-part Essay Structure
 Introduction

 The introduction should end with a thesis

statement that states the main claim of the
essay.
 An effective thesis statement should stake
specific and original claim about the topic.
 Body

- Supports the thesis statement.

- use TEAR paragraph
- Topic sentence
- Evidence
- Analysis of evidence
- Relate back thesis
 Body

A. MAIN TOPIC
A. SUB TOPIC
T
E
A
R
B. SUB TOPIC
T
E
A
R
Body
 Conclusion

- generally have three main parts:

(1) Restatement of the thesis
(2) Review of the main points made (or topics
covered) in the body
(3) Explanation of the papers relevance,
significance, and importance
Conclusion
 Content and Style of Academic Texts

 Academic texts include concepts and theories that are

related to the specific discipline they explore.
- They state critical questions and issues.
- They provide facts and evidence from credible sources.
- They use precise and accurate words while avoiding
jargon and colloquial expressions.
 Content and Style of Academic Texts

- They take an objective point of view and avoid being

personal and subjective.
- They list references.
- They use hedging or cautious language to tone down
their claims.
Language of Academic Text
Language of Academic Text
Language of Academic Text
1. AVOID
CONTRACTIONS
2. AVOID PHRASAL VERBS
3. AVOID INFORMAL
LANGUAGE
In summary…
 Critical Reading Strategies

 Reading academic texts requires focus and

understanding.
 Critical reading involves scrutinizing any information that
you read or hear.
 It is an active process of discovery because when you
read critically, your are not just receiving information but
also making an interaction with the writer.
 Ramage, Bean, and Johnson (2006) identified
the following requirements in critical thinking:

 The ability to pose problematic questions

 The ability to analyze a problem in all its dimension
 The ability to find, gather, and interpret data, facts, and other
information relevant to the problem.
 The ability to imagine alternative solutions to the problem
 The ability to analyze competing approaches and answers
 The ability to write an effective argument justifying your
choice while acknowledging counter-arguments.
 Before Reading

 Determine which type of academic text you are reading.

 Determine and establish your purpose for reading.
 Identify the author’s purpose for writing.
 Predict or infer the main idea or argument based on title.
 State what you already know and you want to learn about
the topic.
 Check the reference list.
 Use a concept map or a graphic organizer to note ideas.
 During Reading

 Annotate what you read.

- Write on the text. You can underline, encircle, or
highlight words, phrases, or sentences that contain
important details, or you can write marginal notes asking
questions or commenting on the ideas of the writer.
During Reading
During Reading
 During Reading

 Outline the text.

- You need to identify the main points of the writer as
well as the supporting points of his/her stand.
Thesis Statement: ________________________________
Topic Sentence:
Supporting details:
Conclusion:______________-
 During Reading

 Summarize the text.

Get the main points and write its gist in your own words.
 Evaluate the text.
 After Reading

 Reflect on what you learned.

 React on some parts of the text through writing.
 Discuss some parts of the texts.
 Link the main idea of the text to what you already know.
 Reading Strategies

 SQ3R
S Q R R R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review)
 KWL

What you already know… What do you want to What you have learned…
know…