Day Four: Academic Style

("The Throes of Creation" by Leonid Pasternak. Retrieved from (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Leonid_Pasternak_-_The_Passion_of_creation.jpg)

Today we will finish our discussion of essay and paragraph structure and discuss the characteristics of academic tone. This will be the last class we will spend discussing the essay format. Our schedule for upcoming classes will be: 

1. Writing Reviews
2. Writing Reports
3. Writing Letters
4. Writing Proposals 

But today's class will finish our discussion of last week's topics and discuss how to write with a sufficiently academic tone (for tasks like the CAE essay). An outline for today's class can be found below:

Day Four: Cohesion, Coherence and Academic Tone

Objectives: Students will be able to...

1. Explain the difference between coherence and cohesion in EAP writing
2. Explain how the concepts of thesis statements and topic sentences promote coherence in EAP writing
3. Explain how the PIE-C technique can be used to write coherent paragraphs. 
4. Explain two differences between formal (academic) style and informal style
5. Demonstrate understanding of one technique used to make their writing more academic 
6. Apply the lessons learned in class to their out-of-class writing

I. Intro to the Class

How are you? How are things? What's new? Has anyone done anything interesting since our last class? How are your other classes going? 

II. Vocabulary Quiz 

I hope you studied! Mwahahaha! 

III. Speaking Warm-Ups and Mini-Presentations

Today, we will be giving short presentations to review the material found on this PPT.  You will be put into groups using the almighty GROUP RANDOMIZER and asked to create short, impromptu presentations that explain the concepts discussed last week. But first, each student will be asked to recite a tongue-twister from the list below: 

1. The thirty-three thankful thieves thought that they thanked the other thirty-three thieves throughout Thursday. 
2. She stood upon the balcony, inexplicably mimicking him hiccupping and amicably welcoming him in 
3. Thirty thirsty, thundering thoroughbreds thumped Mr. Thurber last Thursday 
4. She sat upon a slitted sheet, upon a slitted sheet she sat

After each student has completed the warm-up, we will move on to the mini-presentations. The topic will be given in class by the instructor.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/T-shirt_without_side-sewing.png

IV. Academic Style 

We will begin by reviewing a short presentation that offers some tips and techniques on how to make the tone of your writing more academic. Be sure to take notes as we review the presentation. After we finish discussing the presentation, you will be asked to work with a partner to complete a short, "academic style" workshop. 

V. Academic Style Mini-Presentations

If there is time, you will be asked to get into groups once more and prepare one more short presentation on one of the four categories of techniques used to promote academic style that we discussed today. 

1. Group One -> Using Formal Language
2. Group Two -> Being Concise & Precise 
3. Group Three -> Using Impersonal Language
4. Group Four -> Being Cautious 

Your presentations should include the following information: 

• Definition(s) of the major term(s)
• Examples
• Why this technique promotes academic style
• Any personal experience your group members have in using this technique

Homework: Don't forget to check the "Homework Tracker" for this week's homework.