Reading
➢ The cognitive process of understanding
a written text/message.
➢ A process that negotiates the meaning
between the text and its reader.
Academic Text
➢ A reading material that provides
information which include concepts
and theories that are related to the
specific discipline.
➢ The process of breaking down ideas
and using deductive reasoning, formal
voice and third person point-of-view.
➢ It makes use of complex jargons to
promote a higher level of
comprehension.
o Examples:
▪ Thesis
▪ Report
▪ Reviews
▪ Research
▪ Dissertation
▪ Position Paper
▪ Critique Paper
▪ Concept Paper
▪ Journal Articles
▪ Conference Paper
PURPOSES OF READING ACADEMIC TEXTS:
• To persuade
• To locate a main idea
• To scan for information
• To argue a specific point
• To identify gaps in existing studies
• To connect new ideas to existing ones
• To gain more pieces of information
• To support a particular writing
assignment
• To deeply understand an existing idea
Text structures
➢ “organized in a specific way”
➢ This structure makes it easier for your
reader to navigate your text and
understand the material better.
THREE-PART ESSAY
✓ Introduction
✓ Body
✓ Conclusion
IMRaD
✓ Introduction
✓ Method
✓ Results
✓ Discussion
Paragraphs
✓ Topic sentence
✓ Supporting sentences
✓ Concluding sentence
Three-part essay
➢ A basic structure that consists of
introduction, body, and conclusion.
o The introduction and the
conclusion must be shorter than
the body.
❖ Introduction
o Introduce your topic
o Place topic in a context
o Provide background info
o Point out the aim of the text
o Suggest what your findings are
o Catch reader’s interest
o Give guide to the text
o How will you fulfill the aim
o Provide thesis statement or
research question
o Explain why the topic is
interesting and important
❖ Body
o It is the main section of your text
and it should also be the longest,
depending on the content.
o The body of the text is where you
as a writer and researcher are
the most active. It is the most
substantial part of the text; this is
where the research or findings
are presented, discussed and
analyzed.
 o This is also where you present your
arguments that support your
thesis or answer your question.
❖ Conclusion
o Evaluate and explain whether or
not you have reached the aim or
solved the problem presented in
the introduction, and how.
Paragraph
o No new material should be
introduced in the conclusion.
IMRaD
❖ Introduction
o Context
o Thesis statement
o Main points
❖ Methods
o This section describes actions to
be taken to investigate a
research problem and the
rationale for the application of
specific procedures or
techniques used to identify,
select, process, and analyze
information applied to
understanding the problem,
thereby, allowing the reader to
critically evaluate a study’s
overall validity and reliability.
o Should be direct, precise, and
always written in past tense.
❖ Results
o where you report the findings of
your study based upon the
methodology you applied to
gather information.
o It should state the findings of the
research arranged in a logical
sequence without bias or
interpretation.
o A section describing results is
particularly necessary if your
paper includes data generated
from your own research.
❖ Discussion
o Purpose: to interpret and
describe the significance of your
findings.
o will always connect to the
introduction by way of the
research questions or hypotheses
you posed and the literature you
reviewed, but the discussion does
not simply repeat or rearrange
the first parts of your paper.
➢ A collection of sentences that deal with
one topic or idea.
➢ Should connect to the main topic.
➢ has three parts: topic sentence, several
supporting sentences, and concluding
sentence.
o Topic sentence
▪ what topic the paragraph
is going to discuss.
o Supporting sentence
▪ give details about the
topic.
o Concluding sentence
▪ summarizes the main
points or restates the topic
sentence in different
words.
➢ EVERY PARAGRAPH SHOULD BE:
o Unified
▪ All of the sentences in a
single paragraph should
be related to a single
controlling idea.
o Clearly related to the thesis
▪ The sentences should all
refer to the central idea, or
thesis, of the paper.
o Coherent
▪ The sentences should be
arranged in a logical
manner and should follow
a definite plan for
development.
o Well-developed
▪ Every idea discussed in the
paragraph should be
adequately explained and
supported through
evidence and details that
work together to explain
 the paragraph’s
controlling idea.
5-step process to paragraph development:
1) Decide on a controlling idea and
create a topic sentence.
2) Explain the controlling idea.
3) Give an example/multiple examples.
4) Explain the example(s).
5) Complete the paragraph’s idea or
transition into the next paragraph.
Text features
Formal Complex
Precise Objective
Explicit Mechanics
Reliable Well-planned
Accurate Well-organized
➢ Formal
o Should avoid colloquial words
and expressions.
➢ Precise
o Facts are given accurately and
precisely.
➢ Complex
o Written language has longer
words, it is lexically denser, and it
has a more varied vocabulary.
o Written texts are shorter, and the
language has more grammatical
complexity, including more
subordinate clauses and more
passives
➢ Objective
o Objective rather than personal
o Has fewer words that refer to the
writer or the reader main
o Emphasis should be on the
information that you want to give
and the arguments you want to
make, rather than you.
➢ Well-organized
o It flows easily from one section to
the next in a logical way.
➢ Explicit
o It is the responsibility of the writer
in English to make it clear to the
reader how the various parts of
the text are related.
➢ Accurate
o Most subjects have words with
narrow specific meanings.
➢ Mechanics
o Academic texts have format to
strictly follow depending on the
set standard of the university.
o Mechanics deals also with
grammar, spelling, and
punctuation marks.
o APA – American Psychological
Association
▪ 6th edition
➢ Reliable
o The text must be able to provide
evidence and justification for,
any claims that the researchers
make.
o It should demonstrate an
understanding of any source
texts you use.
➢ Well-planned
o It should follow the necessary
procedure or step for the
betterment of the study.
Language used in academic texts:
Formal Impersonal Objective
Formal
➢ Choose words precisely and carefully so
that the reader can accurately
understand the concepts within the text.
➢ The tone should not sound
conversational or casual.
➢ You should particularly avoid colloquial,
idiomatic, slang, or journalistic
expressions in favor of precise
vocabulary.
 ➢ Academic text requires that you use full
forms rather than contractions.
Objective
➢ Academic text is based on research
and not on the writer’s own opinion
about a given topic.
➢ It is unbiased – based on facts and
evidence and is not influenced by
personal feelings.
➢ When presenting an argument to the
reader, try to show both sides if you can
and avoid making value judgments.
Impersonal
➢ This involves avoiding the personal
pronouns ‘I’ and ‘we’.
➢ If you need to avoid using the first or
second person, in your writing, here are
some ways of doing it:
o Use passive voice
o Use third person
o Make things rather than people
the subject of sentences
Main idea
➢ Central, or most important, idea in a
paragraph or passage.
➢ It states the purpose and sets the
direction of the paragraph or passage.
➢ May be stated or it may be implied.
➢ Most often found in the first sentence of
the paragraph. However, the main idea
may be found in any sentence of the
paragraph.
➢ May be stated in the first sentence of a
paragraph and then be repeated or
restated at the end of the paragraph.
➢ May be split. The first sentence of a
paragraph may present a point of view,
while the last sentence presents a
contrasting or opposite view.
➢ To find the main idea of any paragraph
or passage, ask these questions:
o 1. Who or what is the paragraph
about?
o 2. What aspect or idea about the
‘who’ or ‘what’ is the author
concerned with?
Thesis statement
➢ It is a sentence that captures your
position on this main idea.
➢ It should tell your reader what the
paper is about and also help guide your
writing and keep your argument
focused.
➢ It sets the stage for the paper by
introducing the reader to the general
subject and lays the groundwork for the
claim.
➢ It is the glue that holds the whole paper
together.
Characteristics of a thesis statement:
➢ It must be on the introduction and it
must be original.
➢ It makes a sound argument that can be
defended.
➢ It is focused and precise.
How to write a good thesis statement:
➢ Make a thesis question
➢ Brainstorm answers
➢ Pick a thesis answer
➢ Make a thesis answer roadmap
Tips in writing a thesis statement:
➢ Know your topic
➢ Limit your topic
➢ Brainstorm and connect your ideas
Graphic organizer
➢ keeps the words but arranges them on
a page visually, so we better
understand how concepts are related.
➢ Examples:
o Venn diagram – comparison &
contrast
o Narration
o Fishbone diagram – cause and
effect
o Process
Principles of organization
➢ Chronological order (time)
➢ Climactic order (importance)
➢ Topical order (topic)
Outlining passive voice from an active
voice and vice versa.
➢ A form of graphic organizer in words
3) Reduction of clauses
and patterns.
• Paraphrases reduce the number
➢ A plan for or a summary of a writing
of clauses in a sentence, which
project or speech.
can be interruptive or confusing,
➢ Are usually in the form of a list divided
by incorporating the phrases into
into headings and subheading that
the sentence.
distinguish main points from supporting
4) Synonym replacement
points.
• It is the simplest form of
➢ May be either informal or formal.
paraphrasing: replacing words
Paraphrasing with similar words.

➢ Restating text giving the meaning in In paraphrasing, one must…

another form. It involves expressing a
✓ Align the representation with your own
passage from the source material into
style by using synonyms of certain words
your own words.
and phrases.
➢ A manner of presenting texts by altering
✓ Ensure that the author’s intention is not
certain words and phrases of a source
changed as this may express an
while ensuring that the paraphrase that
incorrect interpretation of the source
the paraphrase reflects proper
ideas.
understanding of the source.
✓ Use quotation marks if you intend to
Things to observe in paraphrasing: retain key concepts or phrases.
✓ Use paraphrasing as an alternative to
1) The meaning conveyed in the the abundant usage of direct quotes in
paraphrased material should be the your writing.
same that of the original source.
2) The length should be the same or almost Annotating
the same.
➢ Any action that deliberately interacts
3) The structure is different from that of the
with a text to enhance the reader's
source.
understanding of, recall of, and
4) Technical terms or generally accepted
reaction to the text.
terms may be retained.
➢ It usually involves highlighting or
5) The source is indicated in the
underlining key pieces of text and
paraphrase.
making notes in the margins of the text.
4 TYPES OF PARAPHRASING:
Annotating strategies:
1) Change of parts of speech
❖ Include a key or legend on your paper
• Parts of speech ranging from
that indicates what each marking is for
verbs and nouns to adjectives
and use a different marking for each
and adverbs are replaced with
type of information.
new parts of speech in this type
❖ Consider using different colors for
of paraphrasing.
different types of reactions to the text.
2) Change of structure
❖ Dedicate different tasks to each margin.
• The change in sentence structure
Use one margin to make an outline of
can be used to reflect the writer’s
the text (thesis statement, description,
interpretation of the original
definition #1) and summarize main
quote, sometimes creating a
ideas. Use the other margin to note your
 thoughts, questions, and reactions to Abstract
the text.
➢ Brief summary of a research article,
Summarizing thesis, review, conference proceeding,
or any in-depth analysis of a particular
➢ A skill of shortening the original text while
subject or discipline.
still providing the major points.
➢ It is often used to help the reader
Summarizing refers to providing an
quickly ascertain the paper's purpose.
abridged version of a narrative.
➢ Acts as the point-of-entry for any given
➢ Rewordings of original statements.
academic paper or patent application.
➢ Summaries are brief and selective.
➢ 250-300-word paragraph that provides
➢ Summaries report main points in a
readers with a quick overview of a
shortened version of the original.
research.
➢ Involves expressing the main idea(s) in
your own words, attributing it to the What does a good abstract do?
original source.
✓ Sparks interest in your project
➢ Summaries are significantly shorter than
✓ Provides a concise description of your
a paraphrase because they consider a
research project
broader overview of the source
✓ States in a clear and simple way the
material.
main points of your project
2 AIMS OF A SUMMARY: ✓ Stands alone
✓ Targets your specific audience
1) to reproduce the overarching ideas in a
text, identifying the general concepts 2 TYPES OF ABSTRACT
that run through the entire piece
➢ Descriptive abstract
2) to express these overarching ideas using
o 100-200 words in length; indicates
precise, specific language
the type of information found in
7 METHODS TO SUMMARIZE: the paper; explains the purpose,
objective, and methods of the
1) Include the title and identify the author
paper but omit the results and
in your first sentence.
conclusion
2) The first sentence or two of your
o More suitable for shorter papers
summary should contain the author’s
and articles
thesis stated in your own words.
➢ Informative abstract
3) Divide the article into sections, then
o 1 paragraph to 1 page in length
write a sentence or two to cover the key
o a truncated version of your paper
ideas in each section.
that summarizes every aspect of
4) Omit ideas that are not really central to
the study, including the results;
the text.
acts as a “surrogate” for the
5) In general, omit minor details and
research itself, standing in for the
specific examples.
larger paper.
6) Avoid writing opinions or personal
o apply to lengthier and more
responses in your summaries.
technical research.
7) Be careful not to plagiarize the author’s
o Contents:
words.
▪ Purpose
▪ Important specifics
▪ Conclusions or results
▪ Recommendations or
implications
7 STEPS TO PREPARE AN INFORMATIVE ABSTRACT
1) Read through the material completely
to get a general idea of its content.
2) Re-read the material as often.
3) Organize the information you have
gathered into an initial rough draft.
4) Read through your rough draft and
delete whatever information you can.
5) Put the edited version into your own
words.
6) Don’t include remarks that repeatedly
call attention to the fact that you are
writing a summary.
7) Identify the source you’ve just
summarized.
How to structure your abstract
• Identify your purpose and motivation for
doing this research
• Explain the specific problem that you
are addressing
• Discuss your approach; include
methods and materials
• Summarize your results
• State your conclusion
Elements of an abstract
• Focus of the paper
o It states, defines, or describes
what the paper is all about.
• Scope of the paper
o The parameters of your paper
are described. This is also
expressed in the form of the
objective or purpose.
• Method used
o It highlights what and how you
did your research.
• Results of the study
o The salient results are underscore
in the abstract. These constitute
the most important answers to
your specific research questions.
• Implications of these results or main
conclusion
o This is the penultimate element of
your abstract. At this juncture you
present the most significant
implication and conclusion of
your study.
• Main Recommendation
o Present your most important
recommendation which has
logically resulted from your results
and discussion
Writing style (abstract)
✓ Use active voice
✓ Use concise but complete sentences
✓ Use past tense
Formatting (abstract)
✓ Single paragraph, no indentions
✓ Abstract page is after title page
✓ The word “abstract” is at the center,
double space between the heading
and abstract
Fact
➢ Statement that tells what actually
happened; can be proven true or false
Opinion
➢ Statement that tells an attitude of
judgment; cannot be proven true or
false
3 KINDS OF FACTS
1) Proven facts
o Statements which are proven
and accepted as true by
everyone
2) Probable facts
o Statements which seem
reasonable to be true, but you
are not able to prove yourself
3) Probable lies
o Statements which may seem to
be untrue on the surface, but
which might just be true
3 KINDS OF OPINIONS

1) Verifiable opinion 2) Dicto simpliciter

o Conclusions which can be - Treating a GENERAL RULE as the
verified (shown to be true) or UNIVERSAL TRUTH
shown to be false 3) Post hoc
2) Expert opinions - From the Latin phrase "post hoc,
o Experts give their opinion on an ergo propter hoc," which
issue, based on their special translates as "after this; therefore,
knowledge of facts because of this"
3) Personal opinions - Pointing to something as the
o Conclusions someone reaches cause of effect of something
based partly from facts and 4) Appeal to pity
partly from what they already - MAKING PEOPLE FEEL SORRY
believe instead of presenting a logical
reason
Language for facts
5) Poisoning the well
✓ Confirms - Intending to discredit or ridicule a
✓ Discovered person or an idea by presenting
✓ According to unanticipated information
✓ Demonstrated 6) Appeal to bandwagon
- Mentality that "since everyone is
Language for opinions doing it/believes in it/likes it, you
✓ Claimed should too"
✓ View Critique paper
✓ Argues
✓ Suspect ➢ a genre of academic writing that briefly
summarizes and critically evaluates a
Bias work or concept.
➢ Person’s prejudice against or favoritism ➢ a critique which is mostly written by an
for something expert in the field with a technical
comprehension; and is objective in
Fallacy nature
➢ Beliefs not based on logic Article review
TYPES OF FALLACIES ➢ a review can be compiled by anyone
and can consists of a subjective opinion
Hasty generalization appeal to pity
of a work.
Dicto simpliciter poisoning the well
Critique vs. Critic
Post hoc appeal to bandwagon
✓ Critique (verb or noun)
o refers to evaluating and
1) Hasty generalization analyzing something, identifying
- One generalizes from a sample both its good points and its bad
that is either too small or too points
special to be representative of a ✓ Critic (noun)
population. o a person who judges or
- Making a conclusion based on evaluates something
limited cases or examples.
PURPOSE OF WRITING CRITIQUES
• a knowledge of the work’s subject or
related works
• an understanding of the work’s purpose,
intended audience, development of
argument, structure of evidence or
creative style
• a recognition of the strengths and
weaknesses of the work.
Critique writing helps to develop higher order
thinking skills.
Create Combining parts to make a
new whole
Evaluate Judging the value of
information or ideas
Analyze Breaking down information into
component parts
Apply Applying the facts, rules,
concepts, and ideas
Understand Understanding what the facts
mean
Remember Recognizing and recalling
facts
CLOSE READING should be done before writing
a critique.
Close reading
➢ a thoughtful, critical analysis of a text
o Focus: significant details or
important information patterns
o Target: to develop a deep,
precise understanding of the
text’s form, craft, meanings, etc.
This activity includes the following:
✓ Using short passages and excerpts
✓ Focusing on the text itself Re-reading
deliberately
✓ Reading with a pencil or highlighter
✓ Noticing things that are confusing
✓ Discussing the text with others
o Think-Pair Share or Turn and Talk
frequently
o Small groups and whole class
✓ Responding to text-dependent question
FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN CLOSE READING
1) Vocabulary
a. Academic and domain-specific
terms
b. Tier 2 vocabulary
2) Syntax
a. Coherence
b. Unity
c. Audience appropriateness
3) Text structures
a. Description
b. Compare and contrast
c. Temporal sequence
d. Cause and effect
e. Problem and solution
Close reading routine
• 1st read – key ideas and details
• 2nd read – craft and structure
• 3rd read – integration of knowledge and
ideas
How to write a critique paper
• Study the work under discussion
• Make notes on key parts of the work.
• Develop an understanding of the main
argument or purpose being expressed in
the work.
• Consider how the work relates to a
broader issue or context.
The purpose of an evaluation is to gauge the
usefulness or impact of a work in a particular
field.
Elements of a critique paper
Introduction – 10% of the paper only
Body – 75-80% of the entire paper
Conclusion – 10-15% of the paper
✓ Introduction
o Citation of the article goes on
top
o Name of the work
o Describe the main argument
o Explain the context
o Signposts what your evaluation of
the work will be
✓ Body: summary
o Shorter than the critical
evaluation

✓ Body: critical evaluation

o Should give a systematic and
detailed assessment
o Should deconstruct the work and
identify both strengths and
weaknesses
✓ Conclusion
o Overall evaluation
o Summary of the key reasons
o Recommendations for
improvement