香港中文大学物理系暑期夏令营PPT.1

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Clarity is more important than “sounding academic” or
Source: /Portals/30/Files/presentations/Academic%20Writing%20blitz%20fall%2009.ppt
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Formal vs. Informal Style
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• • • The actor of the verb is hidden, so is responsibility Usually requires a “to be” construction Find yourself asking “by whom or what”?
Poland was invaded in 1939, thus initiating the Second World War.
Not only did they prefer the easier passage, but they also found it ‘more stimulating’ and ‘more interesting’.
In answering the question, ‘Does one author seem to have a better organized mind?’, three-quarters said, ‘Yes, Smith’.
B) We could better evaluate how those with learning disorders respond to treatment if we could standardize an index that accurately describes how they behave.
Source: /Portals/30/Files/presentations/Academic%20Writing%20blitz%20fall%2009.ppt
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Clarity is more important than “sounding academic”
Source: /Portals/30/Files/presentations/Academic%20Writing%20blitz%20fall%2009.ppt
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Passive vs. Active Voice
Passive voice, when overused, is weak
Source: /Portals/30/Files/presentations/Academic%20Writing%20blitz%20fall%2009.ppt
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Formal vs. Informal Style
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But it can be useful, if your topic doesn’t require a specific acting agent
Insulin was first discovered in 1921 at the University of Toronto and is still the only treatment available for diabetes.
Which do you prefer?
A) Better evaluation of responses to treatment modalities depends on the standardization of an index allowing accurate description of learning behavior disorders.
A majority of the scientists who filled out the questionnaire perceived Smith's version as more impressive, more credible, and more worthy of esteem than the Brown version.
Academic Writing
Comments, evaluates, analyses Subject-specific vocabulary „I‟ as observer and commentator Information comes from sources and references Evidence and arguments
A) The inequity in the distribution of wealth in Australia is yet another indicator of Australia's lack of egalitarianism. In 1995, 20% of the Australian population owned 72.2% of Australia's wealth with the top 50% owning 92.1% (Raskall, 1998: 287). Such a significant skew in the distribution of wealth indicates that, at least in terms of economics, there is an established class system in Australia. McGregor (1988) argues that Australian society can be categorized into three levels: the Upper, Middle and Working classes.
Source: /Portals/30/Files/presentations/Academic%20Writing%20blitz%20fall%2009.ppt
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Differences Between Academic and Personal Writing
Personal Writing
Tells personal experience Non-technical vocabulary „I‟ at the centre Information comes from the writer‟s experience Personal views and feelings
Essays Laboratory reports Research proposals Personal statements Presentations Reflective journals
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Characteristics of academic writing
Never use a long word where a short one will suffice. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
George Orwell, “Politics of Language”
Clarity Objective •Impersonal, usually formal Unity •Focus on one topic only Coherence •Achieved by consistent use of terms
Free form of writing
Follow conventions for citations
Adapted from Crème P & Lea M, Writing at University, Buckingham, OUP, 1997, p. 105
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Types of Academic Writing
• A survey designed at the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) offered two different ways of writing up the same piece of scientific information. The two authors were given neutral names, "Smith" and "Brown". • Read the two texts in Task 2 and discuss with your group. Choose your preferred text and give reasons.
Academic Writing for Scie
Approaching Academic Writing
• Who are you writing for? • What are you trying to say? • How are you going to say it effectively?
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What can you tell?
69.5% of the scientists who responded to the questionnaire ‘preferred’ Smith's version.
In all, 1580 scientists gave their views.
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Purposes of Academic Writing
Advance knowledge in a particular field Replication Rational inquiry Ways to verify scholars’ claims Scientific method (techniques for investigating phenomena) Develop, test theories on how the world works