Academic+writing


 * Based and adapted from the book "Focus on IELTS" Sue O'Connell **

** Features of Academic Style for your Essays **
-informal words and expressions, for example “telly”, “guy” -abbreviations and contractions, for example they've, i.e, e.g -questions to the reader, for example How shocking is that? -overuse of personals such as personal pronouns “I”, “You”, possessive adjectives “My”, “Our” and the phrases “I think” and “In my opinion” -incomplete sentences, brackets demonstrate (instead of "show") obtain (instead of "get") occur (instead of "happen") purchase (instead of "buy") respond (instead of "reply") conduct (insted of "carry out') locations (instead of "places") previous (instead of "earlier") The North star was used as (**instead of** "People used the North Star as a navigation aid") It is thought that (**instead of** "Scientists think that volcanic eruptions may have destroyed dinosaurs" An exchange of smiles, in a shop or between a parent and child, **for example,** seems to be a simple act. **However,** within those individuals, a smile can have powerful physical and emotional effects **such as** a reduction in stress-related cardiovascular response. **Furthermore,** smiling creates a sense of trust and social wellbeing which spreads outward to others. Smiling may not solve the world’s problems, **but** it is the foundation of something that will outlast them, that is to say, the co-operative basis of human society.
 * 1. Formal language** (avoid using informal words and phrases, for example “telly”, “guys”)
 * What to avoid:**
 * Examples of formal words**
 * 2. Passive constructions**
 * 3. It-constructions**
 * 4. Linkers-words and expressions that help to make your writing more organized and clear to the reader**

Exercises:

 * 1) Formality **

The graph __shows__ a decrease in smoking It is not easy __to get__ research funding Most accidents __happen__ between 8 and 10 pm Textbooks can __be bought__ online We cannot __reply__ to this e-mail The walking school bus __idea__ originated in 1998 The present study was __carried out__ In two rural and two urban __places__ Compared with __earlier__ generations The popularity of camera phones, has made it __more and more tricky__ to prevent people from __taking photos__ of __things__ they __shouldn’t__ record, __e.g__ military equipment. __But__ now __there’s__ a system that can __find out__ any camera phones and __send out__ rays of light __to mess up__ any __pictures__ they take
 * 1. Use more formal words with the same meaning**


 * 2) The passive constructions **


 * 2. Rewrite the following as passive constructions**

People used the North Star as a navigation aid You can even see Venus in the middle of the day They outlawed smoking in public places in 2003 Someone has found a new galaxy circling the Milky Way Researchers repeated the tests a year later They are testing a nasal spray which may cure Alzheimer’s disease


 * 3) It-constructions **


 * 3. Change the following phrases to passive constructions with it**

Most people agree that Scientists think that volcanic eruptions may have destroyed dinosaurs Nowadays we know that exercise can reverse many symptoms of ageing Researchers have found that sun bathing is addictive In the past people used to think that bed rest was goof for people with weak hearts Some people might argue that sending young offenders to jail is counterproductive


 * 4) Linkers **


 * 4. Underline the main linking expressions in the test below.**

There are two fundamental problems of knowledge at the centre of the book. First, we have the problem of induction that is the fact that although we are only able to observe a limited number of events, science nevertheless advances unrestricted universal statements. Second is the problem of demarcation, which demands a separating line between empirical science and non-science. This book makes a major contribution to the philosophy of science and is therefore essential reading for anyone interested in the field.