Structure of academic texts from various academic disciplines| English for Academic & Prof.Purposes

Teachinglearning English

22 Aug 202005:22

Summary

TLDRThis educational video script focuses on guiding students through the fundamentals of academic writing. It defines academic text as formal, objective, and specialized writing by experts in a field. The script emphasizes the importance of structure in academic texts, comparing it to building a house with a solid foundation. It outlines the basic three-part essay structure—introduction, body, and conclusion—and introduces the IMRAD structure common in research papers. The video also touches on various academic disciplines and their relevance to writing style and content, encouraging students to understand the conventions specific to their field for effective academic communication.

Takeaways

📘 Academic text is defined as critical, objective, specialized text written by experts or professionals using formal language.
📝 The use of formal language in academic writing differs from daily conversations, avoiding contractions and informal vocabulary.
🔍 Academic writing is objective, based on facts rather than opinions, and technical, utilizing specific terminology for different disciplines.
🏗️ Good academic writing requires understanding the specific styles and structures relevant to one's discipline, similar to building a well-structured house.
📈 The basic structure of an academic text includes the three-part essay structure: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.
📑 For longer texts or theses, the IMRAD structure is commonly used, which stands for Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.
🤔 The Introduction section of an academic paper should pose the question being studied, while the Methods section explains how the study was conducted.
📊 The Results section reports the findings of the study, and the Discussion interprets what these findings mean.
🎓 Academic disciplines have their own focus, and understanding the conventions and content specific to each discipline is crucial for relevant writing.
🧠 Major academic disciplines include Business, Humanities, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Social Sciences, each with its branches.
💬 The video encourages students to share their thoughts on the usefulness of learning the structure of academic text in the comment section.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?
-The main focus of the video script is to educate students about academic text, its structure, and the importance of understanding the specific styles and structures relevant to different academic disciplines.
What is the definition of academic text according to the script?
-Academic text is defined as critical, objective, specialized text written by experts or professionals in a given field using formal language.
Why is it important to use formal language in academic writing?
-Formal language is important in academic writing because it differentiates it from daily conversations, ensuring the text is professional, precise, and free from contractions or informal vocabulary.
What is the significance of being objective in academic writing?
-Being objective in academic writing is significant as it ensures that the text is based on facts rather than opinions, maintaining the credibility and reliability of the information presented.
How does the script describe the structure of a well-organized academic text?
-The script describes a well-organized academic text as having a solid foundation and being logically and organized, often following the three-part essay structure of introduction, body, and conclusion.
What are the three basic parts of an essay structure mentioned in the script?
-The three basic parts of an essay structure mentioned are the introduction, body, and conclusion.
What does the acronym IMRAD stand for in the context of academic writing?
-In the context of academic writing, IMRAD stands for Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion, which is a common structure for research papers.
What is the purpose of the IMRAD structure in a research paper?
-The purpose of the IMRAD structure is to provide a clear and logical framework for presenting research, making it easier for readers to follow the argument and understand the findings.
Why is it necessary to know the specific academic disciplines when writing academic texts?
-Knowing the specific academic disciplines is necessary because each discipline has its own conventions and content focus, which helps in making the writing output more relevant and appropriate for the field.
What are some examples of academic disciplines mentioned in the script?
-Examples of academic disciplines mentioned in the script include Business, Humanities, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Social Sciences.
How can students enhance their understanding of academic text structures?
-Students can enhance their understanding of academic text structures by learning the conventions and content focus of each discipline, and by practicing writing within the context of those disciplines.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Academic Text Structure

This paragraph introduces the concept of academic text, emphasizing its critical, objective, and specialized nature written by experts using formal language. It distinguishes academic writing from daily conversations by highlighting the use of formal language without contractions or informal vocabulary. The paragraph also explains the importance of understanding the specific styles and structures relevant to one's discipline for effective academic writing. The three-part essay structure—introduction, body, and conclusion—is discussed, along with the IMRAD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) commonly used in research papers. The paragraph concludes by encouraging students to learn about the basic structure of academic texts and the specific focus of different academic disciplines.

05:01

🤓 Understanding Academic Disciplines and Writing Relevance

The second paragraph delves into the importance of recognizing various academic disciplines and their relevance to academic writing. It invites students to identify academic disciplines they may be familiar with from their studies. The paragraph introduces a playful element by asking students to guess jumbled academic disciplines, which include Business, Humanities, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Social Sciences. It underscores the significance of knowing the conventions and content of each discipline to enhance the relevance and quality of one's writing. The paragraph concludes by prompting students to share their thoughts on the usefulness of the academic text structure in the comment section, encouraging ongoing discussion and learning.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Academic Text

Academic text refers to critical, objective, specialized writing produced by experts or professionals in a field, using formal language. It is characterized by its absence of contractions and informal vocabulary, and its reliance on factual information rather than personal opinions. In the video, the concept of academic text is central to understanding the structure and style necessary for effective communication in scholarly writing.

💡Formal Language

Formal language is a style of communication that is characterized by its precision, absence of contractions, and use of standard vocabulary. It is the language of choice in academic texts, as it conveys seriousness and professionalism. The script emphasizes the importance of using formal language to distinguish academic writing from everyday conversation.

💡Objective

The term 'objective' in the context of the video refers to writing that is based on facts and evidence, rather than personal beliefs or opinions. This is a key aspect of academic texts, as it ensures that the information presented is reliable and verifiable. The script discusses the importance of objectivity in maintaining the credibility of academic work.

💡Technical

Technical language consists of specialized terms and phrases that are specific to a particular discipline or field. In the video, it is mentioned that academic texts are technical because they incorporate jargon that is understood within a specific community of practice. For example, the term 'virus' would have different connotations in information technology versus a science context.

💡Structure

Structure in academic writing refers to the organization of ideas and information in a logical and coherent manner. The script discusses the importance of a well-structured text, which includes a solid foundation and clear progression from one point to the next, facilitating the reader's understanding of the argument presented.

💡Three-Part Essay Structure

The three-part essay structure is a common organizational framework in academic writing, consisting of an introduction, body, and conclusion. The script explains that this structure helps to logically present information, with the introduction setting the stage, the body developing the argument, and the conclusion summarizing the findings. It is a fundamental concept in the video's discussion on academic text composition.

💡IMRAD Structure

IMRAD is an acronym for Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion, which is a specific structure often used in research papers and theses. The video script introduces IMRAD as a basic framework for structuring academic texts, particularly in research contexts, where each section serves a distinct purpose in presenting and analyzing the study's findings.

💡Academic Disciplines

Academic disciplines are defined areas of study, each with its own methodologies, theories, and practices. The video script lists several disciplines, such as business, humanities, natural and applied sciences, and social sciences, emphasizing the need to understand the conventions and content specific to each one to write relevant academic texts.

💡Business Discipline

The business discipline is one of the academic fields discussed in the video, typically encompassing studies related to commerce, management, and economics. It is an example of an academic discipline that has its own specific language and conventions, which are important for students to learn in order to write effectively within that field.

💡Humanities

Humanities is an academic discipline that includes the study of human culture through subjects like history, literature, philosophy, and the arts. The script mentions humanities as one of the disciplines that students might encounter, each with its own unique approach to academic writing and research.

💡Natural and Applied Sciences

Natural and applied sciences represent a broad academic discipline that includes the study of the natural world and the application of scientific principles to practical problems. In the script, this discipline is highlighted as having its own specialized terminology and writing conventions, which are crucial for academic texts in these fields.

💡Social Sciences

Social sciences are academic disciplines that focus on understanding society and social behavior. The video script includes social sciences as one of the areas of study that students should be familiar with, noting the importance of adhering to the specific academic conventions of this field when writing.

Highlights

Introduction to the importance of learning about academic text structure for various disciplines.

Definition of academic text as critical, objective, and specialized writing using formal language.

Explanation of the difference between formal language and daily conversations in academic writing.

Importance of using the correct terminology for specific disciplines in academic writing.

The analogy of academic writing to building a house, emphasizing the need for a solid foundation and structure.

Description of the basic three-part essay structure: introduction, body, and conclusion.

Explanation of the IMRAD structure commonly used in research papers.

Details on the IMRAD components: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.

The significance of the introduction in posing the research question.

How the methods section describes the approach to the study.

The role of the results section in presenting the findings of the study.

The discussion section's purpose in interpreting the findings and their implications.

Introduction to the concept of academic disciplines and their relevance to writing.

Listing of major academic disciplines: Business, Humanities, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Social Sciences.

The necessity of understanding the conventions and content of each academic discipline for relevant writing.

Invitation for students to share their thoughts on the usefulness of learning academic text structures.

Closing remarks encouraging continued learning and a promise to see students in the next session.