7

English
Quarter 4 – Module 1:
Distinguishing Features of Academic Writing

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Sarah D. Diaz
Editor: Kennet Rey E. Bansil, June D. Cunanan, EPS-I, English
Reviewer: June D. Cunanan, EPS-I, English
Illustrator: Sarah D. Diaz
Layout Artist: Froilan G. Isip
Management Team: SDS Zenia G. Mostoles, EdD, CESO V
ASDS Leonardo C. Canlas, EdD, CESE
ASDS Rowena T. Quiambao, CESE
CID Chief, Celia R. Lacanlale, PhD
SGOD Chief, Arceli S. Lopez, PhD
June D. Cunanan, EPS-I, English
Ruby M. Jimenez, EPS-I, LRMDS

Published by the Department of Education, Schools Division of Pampanga

Office Address: High School Boulevard, Brgy. Lourdes, City of San Fernando,
Pampanga
Telephone No: (045) 435-2728
E-mail Address: [email protected]
Introductory Message
For the Facilitator:

Welcome to the English 7 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Distinguishing

Features of Academic Writing!

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators from public
institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in helping the learners meet the standards
set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming their personal, social, and economic
constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent learning
activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help learners acquire the
needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of the
module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that will
help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module. You also
need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage their own
learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the learners as they do the
tasks included in the module.

For the Learner:

Welcome to the English 7 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Distinguishing

Features of Academic Writing!

Writing is a form of communication that utilizes language to deliver an intended message to

a particular reader within a context. As a form of communication both academic and literary
writing consist of source, content, channel, audience, and context. They differ in their
characteristics and indicators of those elements in practice or operation.
This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for guided
and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to process the
contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.
 What I Need to Know

This module will assist you in encouraging the learners to define academic
writing, identify types of academic writing, distinguish the features of academic
writing, and attain comprehension through the analysis of sample materials.
Please help the learners in sharing their ideas and knowledge from their
experiences so that there will be collaboration and learning will be easy.
Answers are written at the back of this module. Inculcate to the learners the
value of honesty while answering this module.

For the learner

The learner demonstrates understanding of academic writing as clear,

concise, focused, structured and backed up by evidence. Its purpose is to aid the
reader‟s understanding.

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1. define academic writing;
2. identify types of academic writing; and
3. distinguish the features of academic writing (EN7WC-I-c-4.2)

What I Know

A. Put a check ( √ ) if the sentence tells something true about literary writing and
academic writing, and a cross ( X ) if it does not. Write the correct answers on
your answer sheet.

______ 1. Literary writing is often called creative writing due to its inspired,
artistic, and entertaining way of writing.
______ 2. Academic writing is a rigid, procedural, purely to convey, knowledge,
data, and information.
______ 3. Literary writing is orderly organized and follows a formula.
______ 4. Literary and academic writings have the same characteristics and
indicators of the elements in practice and in operation.

______ 5. Both literary and academic writing are forms of communication which
consist of source, content, channel, audience, and context.
B. For number 6-10: Read the following and answer the questions that follow.
Write the letter of the correct answer on your answer sheet.

6. What three words best describe academic writing?

A. talented, stylish, inspiring C. precise, clear, objective
B. decisive, divisive, derisive D. subjective, obscure, vague

7. What are the purposes of academic writing?

A. to settle, negotiate, and inform
B. to defend, challenge, and question
C. to inform, persuade, and argue a specific point
D. to guess, hypothesize, and make conclusions

8. Which type of academic writing would this topic sentence best go with: “My
best friend's freckled face always has a glowing, crooked smile.”
A. persuasive C. expository
B. narrative D. descriptive

9. Which of the following sentences is a narrative?

A. The human body has a higher percentage of water.
B. The best season is fall because of its gorgeous changes.
C. During the mornings, I walk my two dogs around the neighborhood.
D. Extracurricular activities are a great way to hone on students‟ talents.

10. Which type of academic writing is used in this sentence? "You should drink
a glass of milk at each meal to build healthy bones."
A. persuasive C. expository
B. narrative D. descriptive
Lesson
Distinguishing Features of Academic
1 Writing

Writing is a form of communication that utilizes language to deliver an

intended message to readers within a context. Academic writing is a clear, concise,
focused, structured and backed up by evidence. Its purpose is to aid the reader‟s
understanding. It also has a formal tone and style, but it is not complex and does not
require the use of long sentences and complicated vocabulary.

What’s In

Choose the letter of the correct answers. Write your answers on your answer
sheet.
1. It is a discussion in which a few persons (panel) carry on a conversation in
front of an audience who can also participate by asking important questions
and the experts answer them and clarify the points.
A. panel discussion C. discussion forum
B. question & answer D. public forum

2. It is used in educational institutions to provide factual and conceptual

knowledge and clarification of certain theories and principles.
A. discussion forum C. question & answer
B. educational panel discussion D. public forum

3. These are designed to elicit prior knowledge and to check comprehension

and they often focus on the form or meaning of language structures and
items.
A. display questions C. open-ended/divergent questions
B. referential questions D. closed/convergent questions

4. It is used to provide factual information regarding current problems and

determine social values.
A. educational panel discussion C. public forum
B. discussion forum D. public panel discussion

5. It is a situation or meeting in which people can talk about a problem or matter

especially of public interest in a public place.
A. discussion forum C. public forum
B. question & answer D. pane
 What’s New

Read and analyze the academic text below. Then, answer the questions that
follow. Write your answer on your answer sheet.

Many people, especially young people, go all day without eating breakfast.
Many people think that it isn't important, or that they don't have time for it, and so
they skip breakfast. Before going to their activities, I believe that everyone should
eat breakfast.
You must understand that breakfast is the most important meal of the day
and skipping it will have negative implications for your wellbeing, education, and
defense system. It is preferable to get up early and eat a healthy breakfast than to
rush to classes.

Process Questions:

1. What is the text all about?

______________________________________________________
2. What type of academic text is used?
______________________________________________________
3. Cite words that define what type of academic text is used?
______________________________________________________

What is It

What is academic writing?

Academic writing employs formal, traditional, and impersonal language. This

can be seen in persuasive and insightful articles, as well as academic papers. It is
rigid and procedural, with the main purpose of transmitting knowledge, data, and
information. It's clean, well-organized, and follows a set of rules. It is needed. It can
be mastered by anyone.
According to a study, academic writing is one of the most challenging skills for
students to master. These issues arise from a lack of knowledge of any of the
following:
  Structure of academic writing
 Purpose and different types of academic writing
 Plagiarism
 Research methods

Academic writing is meant to be fair or unbiased. A text for academic

purposes must be based on facts and evidence. Academic writing looks for
objectivity, but not everything you read is true.
Sometimes authors will pick and choose specific research that supports their
points of view without examining all the evidence. You need to be a critical reader
and evaluate a piece of writing.
 Did the author have facts and research from credible sources?
 Did the author look at more than one side?
 What was that author‟s purpose?
Learn how to analyze academic texts, and you‟ll be a much better researcher
and writer.
In academic writing, remember that you need to:
a. brainstorm with yourself, or with a partner writer, to sift through your
insights,
b. state your argument in the first part of your essay,
c. outline your ideas before you start writing,
d. research your materials for support of your stand or argument,
e. begin with a strong statement or introduction, and
f. end with a full closure or summary of your presentation.

It is important for you to learn how to write academically. This format teaches
you how to think logically and concisely in order to express complicated concepts in
a well-organized manner. It enables you to demonstrate that you have in-depth
knowledge of a particular subject.

Structure of Academic Writing

An academic paper has 3 different sections such as:

1. Introduction - plays an important role in giving the reader a quick overview
of your subject. The following elements must be addressed in the introduction
section:
 It should provide background about the topic
 It must include all the subtopics that will be discussed
 It may include a relevant quote
 It may contain a question that connects the audience easily.
 2. Main Body - longest portion of the paper and can have many subtopics in it.
It is a place where the author wants to talk about their chosen subject in
depth. The authors should talk about each subject in detail they have
described in the introduction section. Images and infographics that are
relevant to the message can be included here to help readers understand it
better. The body section should be divided into different paragraphs and
properly organized so that the readers can easily understand the subject.

3. Conclusion - the final part of an academic paper. Any of the following

elements can be included in this section:

 This part can be used to summarize all the main points that have been
discussed throughout the blog or the Academic paper
 Authors can put a question to the reader to keep them engaging
 Authors can share a brief information about their next paper. This will
help the readers to know about their upcoming publications.
 Ask the readers to send their feedback about how they find reading
your research paper. This will help the author to connect with their
readers strongly.
 Encourage your readers to share your research work within their
circles, so that the authors will get more readers.

Types of Academic Writing

Academic writing involves (4) major types of writing. They are as follows:
1. Descriptive is one of the most basic types of writing. It is distinguished by
definitions of artifacts, locations, people, and so on. Authors must define an
experience, a character, or anything else in this type. The writers must use
proper writing structure in this type of writing so that the readers can not only
understand but also imagine what they are describing.
Example:
The sunset filled the sky with a deep red flame, setting the clouds ablaze.

2. Expository - requires the writer to investigate an idea, gather and review

evidence supporting the idea, and discuss the idea. This writing style is
similar to persuasive writing. The expository form, on the other hand, is
shorter in duration than the persuasive style of writing. The writer's goal in
this style is to explain the topic to the reader.
Example:
COVID-19 is a serious global infectious disease outbreak with nearly
550,000 cases and around 25,000 deaths worldwide. It is part of a family of
viruses called coronaviruses that infect both animals and people. This
particular one originated in China at the end of 2019, in the city of Wuhan,
 which has 11 million residents. In the past two decades coronavirus outbreaks
have caused global concern, including one in 2003 with the Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and more recently in 2012 with the Middle
East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

3. Persuasive is one of the most difficult forms of academic writing to master

because this type of writing requires detailed analysis. Writers must conduct
research on a topic, form an opinion about it, produce evidence to back up
their claims, and explain the subject to the reader. This style of writing has
the following structure:
 Write an introduction with a clearly defined thesis statement
 Write body section with evidential support
 Conclusion.
Example:
Marijuana should be legalized. We are putting too many people in prison
and spending too much money to detain them for non-violent crimes.

4. Narrative is one of the most traditional academic writing styles. The writer
must narrate or say a story in this format. The writer must capture the
reader's attention when writing a narrative assignment. It is not required for
the writer to follow to any specific format when writing in this style; however, it
is recommended that the writer provide an introduction, a body, and a
conclusion section.
Example:
When my phone rang, and it was Mom telling me Dad had a heart
attack. He didn’t make it. I felt as though the perfectly carpeted floors had
dropped out from under me. Now that I’ve come out the other side, I realize
Dad left me with a hefty stack of teachings. Here are three ideals I know he
would’ve liked for me to embrace.

Features of Academic Writing

1. Complexity: In comparison to spoken language, written language is more
complicated. More grammatical complexity is present in this form of writing.
Complex sentences require the use of a greater number of grammatical
structures. Ideas and sentence structures can be complex when writing in this
form.

2. Formality: Academic writing is more formal than other types of writing. Avoid
using colloquial language and expressions in this form of writing. The
language and expressions used here are formal.

3. Organization: Academic writing should have a clear which often derives from
the genre e.g. Introduction, Method Results and Discussion for a report:
 Introduction (with thesis), body paragraphs (with topic sentences), and
conclusion (for an essay). Careful planning is essential.

4. Objectivity: Rather than explaining yourself, the main focus of academic

writing should be on providing knowledge about the topic that you want to
share with your audience. As a result, nouns would be used more often than
verbs in academic writing.

5. Precision: To ensure that the reader understands the context, academic

writing should use simple and precise/accurate words. The purpose of this
writing is to provide readers with accurate and up-to-date information. This
involves the use of technological means (i.e. subject-specific vocabulary).

Differences from other Writing

 Most academic writing uses the third-person point of view (she, he, her, him,
they, them). This approach is meant to make academic writing sound
objective.
 Includes Academic Vocabulary. It‟s important to understand these words and
use them correctly.
 Includes Research, Citations, and References. Academic writing must have
research from the sources such as books, studies, and journal articles.

What’s More

Independent Activity 1

Identify each example of writing as Academic (AW) and Non-Academic

(NAW). Write the letter of the correct answer on your answer sheet.
_____ 1. Social Letters _____ 6. E-mail messages
_____ 2. Essays _____ 7. Articles
_____ 3. Poetry _____ 8. Social Media Content
_____ 4. Reports _____ 9. Newspaper
_____ 5. Personal Opinion _____ 10. Case Study
Independent Assessment 1

A. Write examples of an academic texts. Then, identify the type and the
purpose. Write your answers on your answer sheet.

Text 1
“It was a cold grey day in late November. The weather had changed
overnight, when a backing wind brought a granite sky and a muzzling rain with it,
and although it was now only a little after two o'clock in the afternoon the pallor of
a winter evening seemed to have closed upon the hills, cloaking them in mist.”
1. Type of Academic Writing: ______________________________
2. Purpose: ____________________________________________

Text 2
When I was about sixteen years old, I wanted to buy albums from my favorite
bands, but I did not have any money. My parents were not the type of people to
give money to me out of nowhere, or even for work done at home. I had to find
work in order to purchase the music I wanted.
1. Type of Academic Writing: ______________________________
2. Purpose: ____________________________________________

Text 3
School is not only for learning from books, it‟s about learning about
yourself. As you grow and change, throughout your formative years, you learn so
much about your own style and personality. But that freedom of expression is
taken away when uniforms are instilled in schools. According to a study by
Pearson in Time magazine, school uniforms stunted the personal growth of more
than 70% of youth. When freedom of expression is taken away, it‟s hard for
adolescents to truly develop a sense of self.
1. Type of Academic Writing: ______________________________
2. Purpose: ____________________________________________

Text 4
Having stretch marks can lower the self-esteem of people. It is often seen
as something ugly, or at least unaesthetic. That is why countless people type in
“how to get rid of stretch marks” in internet search engines to discover how to
solve this issue. In this essay, we will focus on practical ways of making stretch
marks disappear by various methods: consuming more Vitamin A, using a sugar
scrub, employing aloe vera, taking hyaluronic acid through capsules, and
applying coconut oil.
1. Type of Academic Writing: ______________________________
2. Purpose: ____________________________________________
 Text 5
Mandatory minimum sentences are one of the worst forms of
discrimination. Because judges need to have a minimum sentence, they hand
down sentences that don‟t completely fit the crime. Someone that commits a
minor crime receives a harsh punishment despite circumstances. For example, a
man steals to try to feed his starving child and gets sentenced to the minimum
requirement despite his circumstances.
1. Type of Academic Writing: ______________________________
2. Purpose: ____________________________________________

B. Place the following features of academic writing on its appropriate

column. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

- Formal Writing
- Use of exact words
- Pure information
- To inform
- Book reports, written reports, tables and charts, letters, notes

ACADEMIC WRITING

Format

Use of Words

Purpose

Content

Example

Independent Activity 2

Match the following features of academic writing with their meanings. Write the letter
of the correct answer on your answer sheet.
Column A Column B
_____ 1. Complexity A. It uses simple and precise words to provide
readers with accurate and up-to-date
information.
_____ 2. Formality B. Nouns should be used more often than
verbs in academic writing
 _____ 3. Organization C. Introduction (with thesis), body
paragraphs (with topic sentences), and
conclusion (for an essay)
_____ 4. Objectivity D. Avoid using colloquial language and
expressions in academic writing
_____ 5. Precision E. It requires the use of a greater number of
grammatical structures

Independent Assessment 2
Read and analyze the following academic text. Then, answer the given questions.
Write your answer on your answer sheet.
With more than four million learners already signed up for the next school year,
the Department of Education has announced that parents can still register their children
until the end of May.
Around 4.3M learners in Kindergarten, Grade 1, 7, and 11 were able to register
for School Year 2021-2022 before the official early registration period ended. The
Department has decided to extend the campaign until the end of this month.
“We will continue to accept early registrants until the end of May to give you more
time to register,” explained Undersecretary for Planning, and Human Resource and
Organizational Development Jesus Mateo.
During the Early Registration campaign this whole month of April, the Department
tallied 933,073 kindergarten, 1,502,900 Grade 1, 1,069,856 Grade 7, and 809,217
Grade 11 learners for a total of 4,315,046.
CALABARZON recorded the highest number of registered learners at 437,561,
followed by Central Visayas (395,830) and Western Visayas (365,361), according to the
May 6 monitoring report.
“We are very happy with the outcome of our early registration. It surpasses our
expectations when it comes to the number of learners and parents willing to start or
continue their studies. Amidst the current situation, this only shows how important
education is to our stakeholders,” Secretary of Education Leonor Magtolis Briones said.
For the safety of learners, parents, and personnel, the Department has conducted
its early registration by utilizing communication platforms like Facebook chats, text
messaging, and drop-boxes in schools or barangays.
“Achieving 92% within the period compared to last year, for us, is already a great
achievement. This is despite the challenges like restrictions and internet connection
issues of parents,” Usec. Mateo noted.
https://www.deped.gov.ph/2021/05/06/deped-to-accept-early-enrollees-for-sy-2021-2022-until-may/ May 6, 2021

1. What type of academic writing is used in the text?

_________________________________________________________________
2. What is the purpose of the text?
_________________________________________________________________
3. What feature of academic writing is exemplified in the following statements?
_________________________________________________________________
 What I Have Learned

Complete the graphic organizer below by supplying the appropriate ideas. Do this in
your answer sheet.

1. ___________________

2. ____________ TYPES 3. ______________

4. _______ 5. _______ DESCRIPTIVE 6. _______ 8. _______ FORMALITY

MAIN BODY 7. _______ NARRATIVE ORGANIZATION 9. _______

10. ______

What I Can Do

Write a five to six-sentence paragraph about the challenges you experienced in

modular distance learning. Do this on your answer sheet.

Rubrics for evaluating the paragraph

Categories Score
Content (The sentences are related to the topic) – 5 points
Organization of Ideas (The paragraph shows a logical
arrangement of ideas) – 3 points
Mechanics of Writing (All rules in capitalization, spelling, grammar,
etc. are observed)– 2 points
TOTAL
 Assessment

Identify the feature of academic writing referred to in the following descriptions. Write
the letters of the correct answers on your answer sheet.

1. Written language is relatively more complicated than spoken language. You

are expected to use more complex sentences than simple ones. Use linkers
like „because, as, since, though, although, whereas, etc. (Complexity)
2. In general, this means that in an essay you should avoid colloquial words and
expressions. Think about the tone of your writing and make simple changes
to phrases. (Formality)
3. Academic writing is well-organized. It flows easily from one section to the
next in a logical fashion. (Organization)
4. Written language is not personal. This means that the main emphasis should
be on the information that you want to give and the arguments you want to
make, rather than you. (Objectivity)
5. In academic writing, facts and figures are given accurately. Language needs
to be specific too. Avoid using general terms like „good, bad, simple, etc.‟
(Precision)

Additional Activities

Cut-out at least three (3) different types of academic writing texts from various
printed or online sources. Then, classify each as to type and purpose. List down also
two main features of the text and underline the parts / sentences that support your
answer. Do this in your answer sheet.
 WHAT I KNOW WHAT’S IN
A. 1. / B. 6. C 1. D
2. / 7. C 2. B
3. X 8. D 3. C
4. X 9. C 4. A
5. / 10. A 5. B
WHAT’S NEW
1. Breakfast is the most important meal of
the day
2. Persuasive
3. I believe
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED
1. ACADEMIC WRITING 6. EXPOSITORY
WHAT’S MORE:
2. STRUCTURE 7. PERSUASIVE
INDEPENDENT ACTIVITY 1
3. FEATURES 8. COMPLEXITY
1. NAW 6. NAW
4. INTRODUCTION 9. OBJECTIVITY
2. AW 7. AW
5. CONCLUSION 10. PRECISION
3. NAW 8. NAW
4. AW 9. AW
5. NAW 10. AW
WHAT I CAN DO
INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT 1
Rubrics for evaluating the paragraph
A. - Answers may vary
Categories Score B.
Content (The sentences are related to ACADEMIC WRITING
the topic) – 5 points Format - Formal Writing
Organization of Ideas (The paragraph
shows a logical arrangement of ideas) Use of
– 3 points - Use of exact words
Words
Mechanics of Writing (All rules in
capitalization, spelling, grammar, etc. Purpose - To inform
are observed)– 2 points
Content - Pure information
TOTAL
Example - Book reports, written reports,
tables and charts, letters, notes
ASSESSMENT
1. A INDEPENDENT ACTIVITY 2
2. B 1. E
3. B 2. D
4. C 3. C
5. A 4. B
5. A
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
1. Complexity
2. Formality INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT 2
3. Organization 1. Expository
4. Objectivity 2. to explain/to inform
5. Precision
3. complexity, formality, organization,
objectivity and precision
Answer Key
References
English Learner’s Material 7

Discovery’s Education Puzzlemaker

http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/WordSearchSetupForm.asp

Literary and Academic Writing, Retrieved from

https://www.slideshare.net/tinalynganitano/literaryandacademicwriting-grade-
7?qid=69dccaa2-dfa2-4113-baf4-19dcb7ede802&v=&b=&from_search=1

Academic and Literary Writing, Retrieved from

https://www.slideshare.net/jareleny/literary-vs-academic-writing-64862279?qid=69dccaa2-
dfa2-4113-baf4-19dcb7ede802&v=&b=&from_search=2

Palomar, L. A. & Pimentel, K.R.P. (2016). Interactive 7. Philippines: Jemma, Inc.

Differences Between Technical & Creative Writing, Retrieved from

https://www.academia.edu/36195139/DIFFERENCE_BETWEEN_TECHNICAL_AND_CREATIVE
_WRITING_BASED_ON_TECHNICAL_WRITING_CREATIVE_WRITING

What is Academic Writing? What You Need to Know by Suzanne Davis | Jul 3, 2019 | Academic
Writing Skills, College and Graduate School
https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/what-is-academic-writing/

Features of Academic Writing

https://www.eapfoundation.com/infographics/writing/what/

7 Academic Writing Essentials: Skills You Need To Master Today! https://blog.simpliv.com/7-

academic-writing-essentials-skills-you-need-to-master-today/

DepEd to accept early enrollees for SY 2021-2022 until May

https://www.deped.gov.ph/2021/05/06/deped-to-accept-early-enrollees-for-sy-2021-2022-
until-may/