ALS Session 9

• Academic Language Skills
• HBO
• Studiejaar 1

Academic Language Skills

Week 9

At the end of this lesson, you...

1. Will have reviewed effective thesis statements and introductions --> are able to write an effective thesis statement and introduction

2. Will have discussed (in)formal and Dunglish --> are able to avoid Dunglish and use formal English

3. Will have completed a midterm test --> are able to use everything you've learned so far to write a successful essay

What could be improved about the following statement?

This essay will tell about the benefits of learning a languages on Duolingo for three important reasons. Because Duolingo is not so expensive it is easy to use and finally it is useful.

ed.ted.com

Why does the phrase “a cordial reception” evoke more posh or formal associations than “a hearty welcome” and what does this have to do with how the English language evolved?

Afterthoughts...

1) Why does the phrase “a cordial reception” evoke more posh or formal associations than “a hearty welcome” and what does this have to do with how the English language evolved?

What other language you know has formal/informal register? Give an example of a language + item(s)!

Know your audience and adapt!

An important part of developing your writing skills is to improve and enhance your level of formality in word choice.

For example, when writing for academic purposes, avoid words like “maybe” and “really” or “more or less”

Which words could you use instead of “maybe” and “really” or “more or less”?

Communication issues...

Here’s a typical example: The word eventueel in Dutch means potentially and not eventually, which is uiteindelijk in Dutch. This mistake caused a row between the Scottish and Belgian football associations when the Belgian football association invited delegates from various associations over for the “eventual qualification of the Belgian national football team” before the play-offs against Scotland started. While the Scottish federation accused the Belgians of sheer arrogance, the Belgian association had actually meant to hold the event after a “possible qualification.”

Pitfalls

‘Do you have good contact with him?’

Makes you think about physical contact! It should be ‘Do you get on well with him’

We were with 5 people in the meeting’

This sounds as if there were 6 in total. It should be ‘There were 5 of us in the meeting.”

‘Where are you thinking of / Where are you laughing about?’

Should be ‘What are you thinking of/laughing about? ”

‘I know him for 5 years.’

It should be ‘I have known him for 5 years.’

‘If he would have worked harder, he had succeeded.’

It should be ‘If he had worked harder, he would have succeeded.

Midterm Test!

Individually

On paper

Finish early? Work on your essay

--> By now you should have a topic, thesis statement, outline and sources. You should start writing your paragraphs

What have you learned today?