Highlights: Wk 6 Sess 1_L01

Warm up exercise

Word building

The word in capitals at the end of each of the following sentences can be used to form a word that fits suitably in the blank space. Fill each blank in this way.

Example:

You can always rely on Barbara. She is very dependable. DEPEND

dependable: adjective

Word building

disability

noun

Basically

adverb

adjective

artistic

Word building

unreasonable

adjective

actions

noun

applicable

adjective

bloodshot

Word building

comparatively

adverb

adjective

confidential

continually

adverb

disobedience

noun

Word building

classifying

non-finite verb

adjective

indefensible

adjective

mistaken

noun

imprisonment

Word building

partially

adverb

disqualified

verb

widespread

adjective

precision

noun

Word building

adjective

headstrong

determined to do what she likes (slightly critical)

Recap

• Assignment 1: Final check
• Module 1
• Characteristics of Academic Writing

• Oral presentation today:
• Rae: Medical Blunders
• Sajip: Landfill problems

Recap

Oral presentation coming Friday:

• Chris
• Qeuie

Writing purpose and intended audience

Please bear in mind that academic writing is:

• clear
• concise
• focused
• structured and
• supported by evidence

Writing purpose and intended audience

The purpose of academic writing is:

• to aid readers' understanding

It has a formal tone and style but is not complex and does not require the use of long sentences and complicated vocabulary.

Writing purpose and intended audience

Writers write to convey messages through their writing.

When they write, they usually have their targeted audience in mind. Therefore, how much background information should be given, what tone and style and jargon terms should be used, and whether definitions should be provided have to be considered.

Writing purpose and intended audience

In Activity 2.1, you are going to listen to a dialogue about the differences between general writing and academic writing. Try to complete the table by filling in the gaps.

This exercise tries to show you how the audience can affect the purpose, the tone, the style, the language and so on in an author's writing.

Writing purpose and intended audience

solid evidence

entertain

understanding

Writing purpose and intended audience

academia

lay audience

impersonal

impressionistic

Writing purpose and intended audience

academic language

colloquialisms

avoid

objective

subjective

Writing purpose and intended audience

rigid

coherent

logical

points

materials

Writing purpose and intended audience

knowledge

experiences

citations

support arguments

referenced

research papers

articles

Writing purpose and intended audience

Summary

Non-academic writing

• no specific rules to follow when communicating and conveying your message and ideas

Academic writing

• more structured
• adhere to specific rules in terms of what you are writing and who you are writing for

Scanning

• another rapid reading technique
• search for something specific in the text
• usually have questions in mind and read to find the answer, ignoring unrelated information

Scanning

Activity 1.7 (P. 18)

Answer the following questions by scanning Text 1.1 for the specific information.

Scanning

1. Which academic subject did Harry Mou originally wish to study?

Social work: paragraph 5

When he applied to universities, he had put down the undergraduate programmes in social work as his first choice ... all six rejected him.

Scanning

2. What did he end up studying?

Sociology: paragraph 1

Harry Mou Kat-yan is a second-year sociology student ...

Scanning

3. What proportion of students at ESF schools are of Chinese heritage?

46%: paragraph 16

Chinese is the largest ethnic group in ESF schools, constituting 46 per cent of all students.

Scanning

4. Name the four school curricula mentioned in the article.

i. HKDSE ii. IB iii. AP iv. GCSE: paragraph 15

While local schools prepare their students for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) ... as the IB programme ... Advanced Placement (AP) tests, or the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams.