English for Academic and Professional Purposes

LESSON 1

THE DIFFERENCE OF ACADEMIC TEXT AND NON-ACADEMIC TEXT

Academic text is objective, argumentative and informative that is written by professionals or experts in a
particular field. It is aimed at the academic community. Academic text is formal, based on facts and evidence and always
contains citations. The emotions and feelings of the authors are not delivered through them. Academic text is well-
focused, concise, clear, accurate, and well structured. It is based on factual information and evidence, free from
repetition, exaggeration, rhetorical questions and contractions and is always in the third person point of view.

Generally, academic texts debate or provide answers to a specific question in a field. The main purpose of
academic texts is to enhance the reader’s understanding of a specific field.

Types of an Academic Text

1. Descriptive - provide facts or information. The kinds of instructions for a purely descriptive assignment
include: 'identify', 'report', 'record', 'summarize' and 'define'.
 An example would be a summary of an article or a report of the results of an experiment.

2. Analytical - includes descriptive writing, but also requires you to re-organize the facts and information
you describe into categories, groups, parts, types or relationships.

Sometimes, these categories or relationships are already part of the discipline, while in other cases you will create
them specifically for your text. If you’re comparing two theories, you might break your comparison into several parts, for
example: how each theory deals with social context, how each theory deals with language learning, and how each theory
can be used in practice. The kinds of instructions for an analytical assignment include: 'analyze', 'compare', 'contrast',
'relate', and 'examine'.

3. Critical - is common for research, postgraduate and advanced undergraduate writing. It has all the features
of persuasive writing, with the added feature of at least one other point of view. While persuasive writing
requires you to have your own point of view on an issue or topic, critical writing requires you to consider
at least two points of view, including your own.

Examples of critical writing assignments include a critique of a journal article, or a literature review that identifies the
strengths and weaknesses of existing research. The kinds of instructions for critical writing include: 'critique', 'debate',
'disagree' and 'evaluate'.

4. Persuasive - has all the features of analytical writing (that is, information plus re-organizing the
information), with the addition of your own point of view. Most essays are persuasive, and there is a
persuasive element in at least the discussion and conclusion of a research article.

Points of view in academic writing can include an argument, recommendation, and interpretation of findings or
evaluation of the work of others. In persuasive writing, each claim you make needs to be supported by some evidence, for
example a reference to research findings or published sources. The kinds of instructions for a persuasive assignment
include: 'argue', 'evaluate', 'discuss', and 'take a position'.
 Examples of an Academic Text

 Research paper
 Reports
 Book reviews
 Schoolbook/textbook
 Critique papers
 Journal articles

Non-academic text is a writing that is informal and dedicated to a public audience. It is emotional, personal and
subjective without any kind of research involving. Therefore, anyone can write a non-academic text. The language is
informal, casual and may contain slang. The author may not be provided and will not have any credentials listed.

Features of Non-Academic Texts

 Less formal (may idioms, slangs, contractions)

The main purpose of a non-academic text is to entertain readers. They do not contain any citations. The sentences
used are short, and the text may or may not be clear and well-structured.

Examples of Non-academic Text

 Personal journal entries

Now, let’s focus more on the Characteristics of an Academic Text;

1) Structure
2 ) Unlike fiction or
journalistic writing, the overall
structure of an academic text
3) is formal and logical
(Introduction, Body,
Conclusion). It must be
cohesive and
4) possess a logically organized
flow of ideas; this means that
various parts are
5) connected to form a unified
whole.
6 ) Unlike fiction or
journalistic writing, the overall
structure of an academic text
7) is formal and logical
(Introduction, Body,
 Conclusion). It must be
cohesive and
8) possess a logically organized
flow of ideas; this means that
various parts are
9) connected to form a unified
whole.
1 0 ) Unlike fiction
or journalistic writing, the overall
structure of an academic text
11) is formal and logical
(Introduction, Body,
Conclusion). It must be
cohesive and
12) possess a logically organized
flow of ideas; this means that
various parts are
13) connected to form a unified
whole.
1 4 ) Unlike fiction
or journalistic writing, the overall
structure of an academic text
15) is formal and logical
(Introduction, Body,
Conclusion). It must be
cohesive and
16) possess a logically organized
flow of ideas; this means that
various parts are
17) connected to form a unified
whole.
Unlike fiction or journalistic writing, the overall structure of an academic text is formal and logical. It must
be cohesive and possess a logically organized flow of ideas; this means that various parts are connected to
form a unified whole.

Parts of an Academic Text:

Introduction should provide everything the reader needs to know in order to understand your aim as well as
why the aim is important.
 Body consists of paragraphs that describe and develop the topic introduced in the introduction. Here you
weave in references to your course literature and other relevant sources that substantiate and support your statements
and any discussion that you may have.

Conclusion is the summarization what you have done in the text.

2) Tone

The overall tone refers to the attitude conveyed in a piece of writing. The arguments of others are fairly
presented and with an appropriate narrative tone. When presenting a position or argument that disagrees with one’s
perspectives, describe the argument accurately without loaded or biased language.

3) Language

Clear topic sentences enable a reader to follow your line of thinking without difficulty. Formal language and the
third person point-of view should be used. Technical language appropriate to the area of study may also be used;
however it does not mean using “big words” just for the sake of doing so.

4) Audience

This means the people who will read your paper. Some academic writing, such as a term paper or a thesis, is
written for an instructor or a committee of professors. More commonly, a paper is written for colleagues in your field,
other people who study some of the same things you do.

5) Complexity

An academic text addresses complex issues that require higher-order thinking skills to comprehend.

6) Evidence-based argument

What is valued in an academic text is that opinions are based on a sound understanding of the pertinent body
of knowledge and academic debates that exist within, and often external to a specific discipline.

7) Purpose

This means why you are writing, and what effect you hope to have. The most common purpose in academic
writing is to inform some idea or research finding and to persuade readers that your explanation or theory is the correct
one.

8) Thesis-driven

The starting point of an academic text is a particular perspective, idea or position applied to the chosen
research problem, such as establishing, proving, or disproving solutions to the questions posed for the topic.

9) Citation/Reference

Citing sources in the body of the paper and providing a list of references as either footnotes (found at the
bottom of a page) or endnotes (found at the end of a paper) is a very important aspect of an academic text. It is
essential to always acknowledge the source of any ideas, research findings, data, or quoted text that have been used in a
paper as a defense against allegations of plagiarism.
 “Learn until you know everything”

References:

English for Academical and professional purposes-module-1 - english for academic and professional. StuDocu.
(n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2022, from
https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/university-of-san-agustin/bachelor-of-arts-in-communication/english-for-
academical-and-professional-purposes-module-1/17205209

Types of academic writing. (n.d.). The University of Sydney. https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-

What is the Difference Between Academic Text and Non Academic Text. (2021, October 5). Compare the Difference
between Similar Terms. https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-academic-text-and-non-
academic-text/#:~:text=Academic%20texts%20are%20formal%2C%20based