1、Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,20121Academic WritingFor Medical StudentsWorkshop for academic writing,SUMC,20122Outline of the workshopA.An overview of the features of academic writing from the perspective of linguisticsB.An introduction to a typical research articleC.A focus on abstractWorkshop
2、 for academic writing,SUMC,20123A.Features of Academic WritingnObjective:to inform rather than entertain nLinear:one central point or theme with every part contributing to the main line of argument,without digressions or repetitions.nThe standard written form of the language Workshop for academic wr
3、iting,SUMC,201248 Central Features1.Complexity 2.Formality 3.Precision 4.Objectivity 5.Explicitness 6.Accuracy 7.Hedging 8.Responsibility Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,201251.Complexity nWritten language:more complex than spoken language.nWhats the difference then?Workshop for academic writing,
4、SUMC,20126Ex.A1(distribute the job in dif.Groups)SpokenWritten3(a)Its very common that antibiotics have been overused in medical practice nowadays.(12)3(b)Abuse of antibiotics has become a wide-spread practice in the current medical atmosphere.(13)4(a)To be healthy,one of the things you need to do i
5、s to stay mentally healthy.Thats why many people exercise.(21)4(b)Another part of the definition of health is mental health,which is one of the aspects that makes people exercise.(20)5(a)So far we can not fully understand why more black people tend to suffer from heart failure.(17)5(b)The reason for
6、 the greater propensity for heart failure among blacks is not fully understood.(15)6(a)Why do fewer young men suffering from high blood pressure fail to receive treatment?One possible reason is that it is difficult for them to have the access to medical care.(31)6(b)The reasons for low rates of trea
7、tment for hypertension among young adults may include barriers in access to medical care.(20)Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,20127Ex.A1(distribute the job in dif.Groups)SpokenWritten3(a)Its very common that antibiotics have been overused in medical practice nowadays.(12)3(b)Abuse of antibiotics h
8、as become a wide-spread practice in the current medical atmosphere.(13)4(a)To be healthy,one of the things you need to do is to stay mentally healthy.Thats why many people exercise.(21)4(b)Another part of the definition of health is mental health,which is one of the aspects that makes people exercis
9、e.(20)5(a)So far we can not fully understand why more black people tend to suffer from heart failure.(17)5(b)The reason for the greater propensity for heart failure among blacks is not fully understood.(15)6(a)Why do fewer young men suffering from high blood pressure fail to receive treatment?One po
10、ssible reason is that it is difficult for them to get medical care.(28)6(b)The reasons for low rates of treatment for hypertension among young adults may include barriers in access to medical care.(20)Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,20128The complexity of written languagelonger wordslexically mor
11、e dense more varied vocabularyusing more noun-based phrases than verb-based phrases.shorter more grammatically complex,including more subordinate clauses and more passives.Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,20129More examples from medical textbooksnEx.A2:Underline verbs in text 2(a)that are transfor
12、med into nouns in text 2(b).Spoke texts:shorter sentences,longer texts,asking questions and answering them Nominalization produces more academic textsWorkshop for academic writing,SUMC,201210Ex.A3:nPassive voice in the case history.Focus of writing:the patients and their physical conditions,not the
13、doctors or nurses.Coherent Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,201211nIn general this means in an essay that you should avoid:colloquial words and expressions;stuff,a lot of,thing,sort of,abbreviated forms:cant,doesnt,shouldnt two word verbs:put off,bring up“sub-headings,numbering and bullet-points i
14、n formal essays-but use them in reports.asking questions2.Formality There is often a choice in English between a two word verb and a single verb.The two word verbs are normally less formal.Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,201212Ex.A4:Rewrite the following sentences,replacing the informal two-word
15、verb with a more formal equivalent.1.A primary education system was set up throughout Ireland as early as 18312.This will cut down the amount of drug required and so the cost of treatment.3.Dieters often feel that they should totally get rid of high-fat and high-sugar foods.4.Discussion of the outco
16、me of experiments that have used this method will be put off until Chapter 7.5.These exercises can easily be incorporated into an exercise routine,with each done again a number of times.6.This was before he had read the guidelines on how to carry out the research.establishedreduceeliminatepostponedr
17、epeatedconductWorkshop for academic writing,SUMC,2012133.Precision nIn academic writing you need to be precise when you use information,dates or figures.Do not use a lot of people when you can say 50 million people.Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,201214e.g.nAlthough the duodenum is a mere 12 inch
18、es in comparison with the 8 feet of the jejunum and 12 feet of the ileum,an amazing number of processes occur here.(New Medical English,p.25)Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,2012154.Objectivity nThe basic nature of academic study and academic writing-Nobody really wants to know what you think or b
19、elieve.They want to know what you have studied and learned and how this has led you to your various conclusions.nIn general,avoid words like I,me,myself.nAvoid you to refer to the reader or people in general.Exception:In some social scientific writing,these pronouns are accepted to emphasize the par
20、ticipation of the researcher as a humanistic one,esp.when the research is related with the emotions and feelings of the researcher and the researched.Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,201216Ex.A5 nMost people take drug overdoses because they find that its difficult to sort out their problems clearl
21、y.Thats why you should treat your patients in a clear way.That means you should treat your patients in a way that helps them to tell the difference between their problems and find ways to deal with them.nMost overdoses are taken when individuals are finding it difficult to sort out their life proble
22、ms in a clear way.For this reason,the approach to treatment must,above all else,be a clear one;that is,one which helps the patient separate out each of his problems and plan ways of dealing with them.Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,2012175.Explicitness nAcademic writing is explicit in several way
23、s.1.It is explicit in its signposting of the organization of the ideas in the text through the usage of different signaling words,e.g.because,however,in addition,etc.(e.g.2 in handout)2.It is explicit in its acknowledgment of the sources of the ideas in the text.If you know the source of the ideas y
24、ou are presenting,acknowledge it.(e.g.1 in handout)ldifferent ways of citation in academic writing:reporting and direct quotationPlagiarism is taken very seriously in international academia.Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,2012186.Accuracy nBe accurate in your use of vocabulary.nE.g.B：呵呵，所以刚才说查文献啊
25、，阅读文献可能就是 看得比较多，可是真正要来写的话A：写的话更难了B：更难了A：你像这个，我记得有一个，我们讲一个骨头肿型 劈开，劈开之后有一个内侧屏障，比如说一个内侧 一个外侧，内侧屏障我就想怎么来表达呢，我想 mediate、inside、interior，当时我想写得挺好，后来我想想不行，要把它改成inner。Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,2012197.HedgingnAn important feature of academic writing:the concept of cautious language,often called hed
26、ging or vague language.i.e.,it is necessary to make decisions about your stance on a particular subject,or the strength of the claims you are making.ne.g.3nEx.A6Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,2012208.Responsibility nBe responsible for demonstrating an understanding of the source text(citation an
27、d references).nBe able to provide evidence and justification for,any claims you make.Paraphrasing and summarizing skills in academic writing.The skills of:ExplainingReasoningArguing Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,201221End of the introduction of features of academic writingnMiss Lai:research art
28、iclenMiss Yu:abstractWorkshop for academic writing,SUMC,201222Summing upnThe products of Academic writing:objective,formal,precise,accurate,explicit,cautiousWorkshop for academic writing,SUMC,201223The process of academic writing:AbstractIntroductionResearch methodsResearch resultsDiscussionsConclusionRecursiveZigzagAnxiousFrustratedDepressed Crazy Workshop for academic writing,SUMC,201224Useful resources to develop academic writing skillsnMedical writing:http:/ Medical Writing Association:http:/www.amwa.org/default.asp?id=254 nPostgraduate Medical Journal:BMJ journalThank you!Happy New Year!
