研究生学术英语写作教程Unit 1 Understanding Academic.doc

Unit 1 Understanding Academic English Objectives:- Learn the purpose of this course- Get to understand different voices that people often use in their communication- Understand features of academic English- Build your learning ability via the Internet- Meet your teacher and new classmatesContents- Teachers introduction- Reading and discussion: Hows your voice?- Language focus: word choice, and structural complexity- Writing practice: understanding different styles- Rewriting practice: consolidating academic English writing skills- Classroom extension: Internet survey on features of academic English 1. Reading Activity 1.1 Pre-reading Task Do you know how to write a paper with an academic voice? Most Chinese students use only the casual voice for their daily life purposes, which does not fit the academic writing style. When you can learn to use an academic voice and a formal writing style, you will gain authority and respect for yourself as a researcher as well as a research writer. Read the following three texts with different kinds of voice and tell what they differ in. 1.2 Reading PassageHOWS YOUR VOICE?Casual Voice Hey, dude, no way you can sit here!Huzzah! We won! We beat em! Ha! Blue Vampires. They think theyre so great. We showed em. Go Aardvarks!Yuck! I hate broccoli with those nasty, stinkin mushrooms. Why do we gotta have these things again, man?!www, we gotta cancel the party cause its totally raining like crazy!Sweeeet! I love those Indiana Jones movies! Theyre awesome with the whip and the bugs and stuff. Everyone loves those flicks!Consultative Voice Youre not allowed to sit in this area, because its a safety concern.Im so glad for our team, the great Fighting Aardvarks, and now together we celebrate this victory. Id prefer not to have this particular vegetable again, if its possible. Does anyone really enjoy this combination of mushrooms and broccoli?Its possible that our party might have to be postponed or canceled because of the bad weather thats threaten- ing our location. Indiana Jones films are really very popular with your age group. Critics cant decide why such an old character is so appealing. Academic Voice This area must be kept clear for foot traffic.The Fighting Aardvarks claimed victory over the Blue Vampires in the final round tonight. Both teams competed well and the fans are enthusiastic.Very few people enjoy this broccoli and mushroom dish. Therefore, it will not be served again within this calendar year, or the servers will be killed.Due to the inclement weather, the Annual Tattoo Party will not take place this Thursday at Finster Park. The planning committee will reschedule the event and release information as soon as possible. Hollywood is perplexed at the reasons that Indiana Jones is so favored by such young audiences. The answer remains a mystery.1.3 Reading Comprehension1.3.1 Do you know in which situation these voices are appropriately used? And why?VoiceFor what purposesCasualConsultative Academic 1.3.2 Read the passage carefully again and decide the differences among them. Casual voiceConsultative voiceAcademic voice2 Language Focus2.1 Word ChoiceAcademic voice can be well expressed by choosing words. Here are some words to acquire:poignant, provocative compelling, striking proposal, objection insight, discourse investigate, disapprove Here are some words to avoid. very, just truly, suchfortunately, frankly, turn down, look into go, get 2.1.1 Can you match the formal and informal words and phrases?Verify ExamineDemonstrateIntendInvestigateSurvive, penetrateDiscoverEliminateConclusionNumerous, myriadTry to find outLook at carefullyMake sure something is trueShowGet rid of Get through itMeanLook into A lot of End2.2 Structural complexitySyntax is the technical word that is used to describe sentence structure. It is extremely important that well-arranged sentences carry an academic voice, whereas choppy, simple sentences sound oral and colloquial. Sentences that are too short and poorly connected can be irritating to read. Conversely, sentences that are too long and rambling are difficult to follow and are likely to be confusing. Use a sentence length that allows your thoughts to flow clearly. Rewrite the following sentences into a text with well-ordered sentences and structural complexity. A conjunction connects words, phrases, or clauses. It indicates the relationship between the elements. These elements connect. We often find the following thing. In only one single sentence a conjunction contains one or more ideas. These ideas may be equal or unequal in importance. Ideas are equal, and we call them coordinate ideas. For example, John studies electronics. Helen studies Computing. These two sentences can become a compound sentence. It shows the relationship between the two ideas. We want to maintain the equality of the ideas. We call the clauses in the new sentence coordinate clauses. 3. Writing Practice3.1 Understanding different stylesRead the following texts and decide where they come from. 1At AT & Bell Laboratories infrared lasers are being used to capture live microbes. Working like optical tweezers, the pressure of the laser light traps minute objects in its focus point. Researchers are using the device to move around viruses bacteria, and other cells they are study under the microscope. After several hours, however, the focus light will heat up the microbes to a boiling point. _2All we ask is that you spend two hours of your time attending a Barratt Sales presentation. There, youll discover the benefits of timeshare. At Barratt we call it Holiday Ownership because thats why it really is. Youll be under no obligation to purchase, but we think you may be tempted. _3There were only two Americans stopping at the hotel. They did not know any of the people they passed on the stairs on their way to and from their room. Their room was on the second floor facing the sea. It also faced the public garden and the war monument. There were big palms and green benches in the public garden. In the good weather there was always an artist with his easel. Artists liked the way the palms grew and the bright colors of the hotels facing the gardens and the sea.4Although many studies have already been done, more studies are needed to determine the effects of microcomputer-assisted instruction in various teaching situations. _5The parents of a seven-year-old Australian boy woke to find a giant python crushing and trying to swallow him. The incident occurred in Cairns, Queensland and the boys mother, Mrs. Dryden said: “it was like a horror movie. It was a hot night. He suddenly started screaming. We rushed to the bedroom to find a huge snake trying to strangle him. ” Mrs. Dryden and her husband, Peter, tried to stab the creature with knives, but the python bit the boy several times before escaping. _3.2. Choosing appropriate styles Now you are going to write an essay in class for your teachers assignments. Which of the following sentences you would like to use for your writing?1. He couldnt finish his work in the time given. 2. The first set of results were compiled and presented by the other group of students. 3. I would like to focus on the following areas of research: 4. They argued that this methodology was unreliable.5. In addition, the data was used to focus on the following hypothesis. 6. I enjoyed my English class with you and am having a good experience this semester. 7. At about twelve pm on August 21, 1984, she told us, I came out of the kitchen to toss out some water. 8. We, at any rate, will continue to keep an open mind. 9. Is the menu at that the French restaurant giving you trouble? Then you might need the Voice, a hand-held computer that translates spoken English into French, Spanish, German or Italian. 10. There is an emerging consensus that a concerted effort on a national level will be required to capture the glittering prizes that a new technology offers.No.Y/NReason(s) for your decision 12345678910 3.3. Rewriting PracticeRewrite the following passage into an academic one. Why are there so many jams on the roads these days? One thing is that publictransportation like trains, buses, etc., is so dear. A long time ago cars cost a lot but now, unfortunately, theyve got a lot cheaper. Another thing is that driving is a lot nicer than waiting for a bus. The trouble is that if everyone buys