(2/11) Day 12: Academic Style II

Lesson Objectives:

• Identify common informal grammatical structures (e.g. not...any) and practice converting to more formal language.
• Identify inappropriate grammatical and lexical structures in discussing data and convert to appropriate language structures.

Part I: Grammar Test: Academic Style (25 min)
(Materials from Swales & Feak, 2004, p.18-24).
Without looking at the answer in your handout, click on and complete the following worksheet: Academic Style by identifying the informality of the sentence and trying to correct it. We will go over the answers together.

Work together to identify and rewrite the sentences in Part II of the worksheet. We will go over potential answers together as a class.

The "key" to this activity is posted HERE, please DON'T click on this link until directed to do so.



Part II: Discussing Data (20 min)
(Materials from Swales & Feak, 2004, p. 119-123)

Questions for Discussion:

1. What do you think are the most common verbs used to discuss charts or graphs (e.g. data)?
2. What tense (or common grammar) do you use when you talk about data (charts,graphs) in your papers? 
3. What is the difference between: "The data shows...." and "The data shows that..."?

Now, look to Table 7 and Table 8. Notice that the use of the present tense and passive voice are common in data commentary. Can you think of another common language feature used to introduce data?
Hold discussion on "As-Clauses" in data reference.

We will then hold a discussion on Indicative (no that) verbs versus Informative (that) verbs in reference to data commentary.

We will end with a quick "quiz" on appropriate use of prepositions when discussing data [Task 6].


Homework:  Diagnostic Analysis Paper (2/18)