Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CITY OF MALOLOS, BULACAN
DISTRICT 6
CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO ROSARIO

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET 4.1. ENGLISH 7

Distinguishing Features of Academic Writing

NAME: ______________________________________ SECTION: _______________________

Academic writing is the style of writing that investigates the state of an issue and presents your
position based on the evidence of your research. Academic, or critical, writing is the way you take
part in the academic debate. You weigh up the evidence and arguments of others and contribute
your own.

Different types of academic writing include:

•abstract •explication
•annotated bibliography •literary criticism
•academic journal article •research paper
•book report •essay
•conference paper •textbook
•dissertation •thesis
•research proposal

The following are the main features of academic writing.

1. Formality - Academic writing is relatively formal.

In general, this means that in an essay you should avoid:

a. Colloquial words – a bit, a lot of, sort of
b. Abbreviated or contracted form – can’t, mustn’t, doesn’t.
c. Two-word verbs – bring down, back up.
d. sub-headings, numbering, and bullet-points in formal essays – but use them in reports.
e. asking questions.

2. Complexity - Written language is relatively more complex than spoken language.

3. Precision - In academic writing you need to be precise when you use information, dates, or
figures.

For example:
a. Ferdinand Magellan led a Spanish expedition to the Spice Islands and reached Cebu in 1521.
b. For 333 years, Philippines was under the Spanish colonizers.

4. Objectivity - Written language is in a general objective rather than personal. It, therefore, has
fewer words that refer to the writer or the reader. This means that the main emphasis should be on
the information that you want to give and the arguments you want to make, rather than you.

CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO. ROSARIO

F. Estrella Street, Sto. Rosario, City of Malolos, Bulacan
Tel. No. (044) 305-0262
[email protected]
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CITY OF MALOLOS, BULACAN
DISTRICT 6
CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO ROSARIO

In general, avoid words like "I", "me", or "myself".

A reader will normally assume that any idea not referenced is your own. It is, therefore,
unnecessary to make this explicit.
Do not write:" In my opinion, this is a very interesting study."
Write: "This is a very interesting study."

5. Explicitness - Academic writing is explicit about the relationships in the text. Furthermore, it is
the responsibility of the writer to make it clear to the reader how the various parts of the text are
related. These connections can be made explicit using different signaling words.
In writing an academic paper, sentences and paragraphs must be clear and related to the
intended audience. Using signaling or transition words can make the connections of these
paragraphs explicit.
Academic writing is also explicit in its acknowledgment of the sources of the ideas in the text.

Examples of transition words include:

In addition, and, In contrast, moreover, for this reason, similarly, on the other hand, for example,
but, however
a. It also becomes the subject of leisure for many people for they feel relaxed and distracted from
reality whenever they are playing. However, the issue of gaming addiction is still a question for
some experts because it may pose negative effects on one’s physical and mental health.
b. In addition, some research also suggests that there is a direct relation between violent video
games and aggression.

6. Accuracy - Academic writing uses vocabulary accurately. Most subjects have words with narrow
specific meanings.

7. Organization - Academic writing is well-organized. It flows easily from one section to the next in
a logical fashion. A good place to start is the genre of your text. Once you have decided on the
genre, the structure is easily determined.

8. Hedging – (also called Qualification) In any kind of academic writing you do, it is necessary to
make decisions about your stance on a particular subject, or the strength of the claims you are
making. Different subjects prefer to do this in different ways. A technique common in certain kinds
of academic writing is known by linguists as a ‘hedge’.

Using words like occasionally, a few, can be, might be, seem, tend are a way to qualify
generalizations.
a. If these negative implications will not be resolved immediately, they might lead to bigger
problems and life-threatening cases.
b. Online gaming seems to have beneficial effects according to studies.

CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO. ROSARIO

F. Estrella Street, Sto. Rosario, City of Malolos, Bulacan
Tel. No. (044) 305-0262
[email protected]
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CITY OF MALOLOS, BULACAN
DISTRICT 6
CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO ROSARIO

9. Responsibility - In academic writing, you are responsible for demonstrating an understanding of

the source text. You must also be responsible for and must be able to provide evidence and
justification for, any claims you make. This is done by paraphrasing and summarizing what you
read and acknowledging the source of this information or ideas by a system of citation.

For example:
a. In the study of Dumrique and Castillo (2018) on the impact of online gaming in the academic
performance of university students
b. This is also supported by Garnada (2020) whose research result suggests that online game
addiction does not influence students’ academic attitudes towards study habits, achieving goals,
and academic responsibility.

10. Planning - Academic writing is well planned. It usually takes place after research and
evaluation, according to a specific purpose and plan.

Points to Remember:

•Academic writing displays your confident evaluation of the results of your research. It proves you
have tested the evidence and arguments rather than just accepted them.
•It is balanced writing that gives valid reasons why the ideas of others may be accepted,
dismissed, or treated with caution.
•In this style of writing your voice must be clear. You present the evidence and the argument that
has led you to your conclusion.
•You need to demonstrate critical thinking skills and critical analysis
•Critical writing means you also recognize the limits of your evidence, argument, and conclusion.
•The use of grammar and vocabulary creates a formal style.
•You need to use references to support your ideas.

TASK A. Directions: Write TRUE if the statement is correct or FALSE if it is incorrect.

_________1. Academic writing is also considered critical writing.

_________2. The purpose of academic writing is to entertain rather than to inform.
_________3. Formal use of language should be evident in writing a critical paper.
_________4. There is no need to use references in supporting one’s ideas.
_________5. Writing an academic paper means you must be subjective in your topic.
_________6. You need to be precise in facts and dates in writing a critical paper.
_________7. Hedging is a technique common in certain kinds of academic writing.
_________8. Academic writing should be well-organized.
_________9. Writers of critical papers are not required to present evidence of their claim.
_________10. Academic writing requires research.

CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO. ROSARIO

F. Estrella Street, Sto. Rosario, City of Malolos, Bulacan
Tel. No. (044) 305-0262
[email protected]
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CITY OF MALOLOS, BULACAN
DISTRICT 6
CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO ROSARIO

TASK B. Directions: Replace the underlined words with more appropriate and formal equivalent.
Choose your answer from the word pool.

____________________1. Filipinos always show resiliency during challenging times.

____________________2. The President tells the people about the current situation of our
nation.
____________________3. The unemployed workers are hoping for a chance to get a stable job.
____________________4. People who are working online are still lucky to have means of
earnings.
____________________5. The authorities always keep on reminding the people to follow the
health protocol again and again.

opportunity repeatedly demonstrate informs fortunate

TASK C. Directions: Write True if the statement is correct or False if it is not.

_________1. Academic writing adheres to the formal, objective, impersonal, and technical style of
writing.
_________2. Using personal pronouns in academic writing can be used.
_________3. Colloquialisms or informal expressions are allowed in academic writing.
_________4. Phrasal verbs are not acceptable in academic writing.
_________5. Idiomatic expressions can be used in academic writing.

TASK D. Directions: Choose the example of academic writing in each number. Encircle your
answer.
1. Personal Journal Conference Paper Reader Response Writing
2. Article Memoirs Auto Biography
3. Letter E-mails Dissertation
4. Thesis Text Message Short Stories
5. Poem Song Term Paper

CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO. ROSARIO

F. Estrella Street, Sto. Rosario, City of Malolos, Bulacan
Tel. No. (044) 305-0262
[email protected]
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CITY OF MALOLOS, BULACAN
DISTRICT 6
CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO ROSARIO

TASK E: Matching Informal Vocabulary to Its Formal Vocabulary

Directions: Match the INFORMAL VOCABULARY from nos. 1-9 to the FORMAL VOCABULARY
choices provided on the right. Choose the letter of your answer on the space before each number.

_____ 1. Look at a. Consider, monitor, analyze

_____ 2. Go over b. Revise, review
_____ 3. Show c. Demonstrate, indicate, illustrate
_____ 4. Begin d. Satisfactory, positive, favorable
_____ 5. A lot of e. A great deal of, many, an abundance of
_____ 7. Somewhat f. Fairly, quite
_____ 8. Fix g. Solve, repair, amend
_____ 9. Make sure h. confirm, determine, verify

TASK F: These are some ways of limiting the use of I and We in Academic Writing. Match the
option from the list provided.

_____1. I surveyed the literature and a. The question of … was researched…

discovered… b. A standard graphical representation was
_____2. We used a standard graphical used…
representation to… c. A survey of the literature revealed that…
_____3. We researched the question of …

TASK G: The following eight sentences are written in an informal or subjective style. Select an
option from below to replace the bold text with Formal and Objective Academic Language

_____ 1. It’s so obvious that people, were given jobs just because they were male or female. I
don’t think that is an acceptable approach and is even against the law.
a. It appears
b. It is ridiculous
c. I am outraged

_____ 2. It is so obvious that people were given jobs just because they were male or female. I
don’t think that is an acceptable approach and is even against the law.
a. I got the job
b. Positions were assigned to people
c. People got jobs

_____ 3. It is so obvious that people were given jobs just because they were male or female. I
don’t think that is an acceptable approach and is even against the law.
a. On the basis of gender
b. Based on sex
c. Just because of their looks

CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO. ROSARIO

F. Estrella Street, Sto. Rosario, City of Malolos, Bulacan
Tel. No. (044) 305-0262
[email protected]
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CITY OF MALOLOS, BULACAN
DISTRICT 6
CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO ROSARIO

_____ 4. It is so obvious that people were given jobs just because they were male or female. I
don’t think that is against the law.
a. This raises serious concerns
b. I am appalled
c. This is terrible

_____ 5. It is outrageous that so many women drink when they’re pregnant.

a. Studies have revealed
b. It is ridiculous
c. I believe that

_____ 6. It is outrageous that so many women drink when they’re pregnant.

a. Many
b. Heaps of
c. Lots of

_____ 7. It is outrageous that so many women drink when they are pregnant.
a. Have a drink
b. Consume alcohol
c. Get tipsy

_____ 8. It’s outrageous that so many women drink when they’re pregnant.
a. During their pregnancy
b. When expecting
c. When preggy

‘Let all you do be done in love.’

-1 Corinthians 16:14

CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO. ROSARIO

F. Estrella Street, Sto. Rosario, City of Malolos, Bulacan
Tel. No. (044) 305-0262
[email protected]
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CITY OF MALOLOS, BULACAN
DISTRICT 6
CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO ROSARIO

CITY OF MALOLOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL – STO. ROSARIO

F. Estrella Street, Sto. Rosario, City of Malolos, Bulacan
Tel. No. (044) 305-0262
[email protected]