English for Academic Research: Writing Exercises

Structure of the book, self–study, and classroom use......Page 5
Language and ‘facts’ used in this book......Page 6
Focus on readability......Page 7
A note for teachers......Page 8
Contents......Page 10
Section 1:: Punctuation and spelling......Page 15
1.1 commas: reducing number of......Page 16
1.2 commas: adding......Page 17
1.3 semicolons: replacing......Page 18
1.4 brackets: removing......Page 19
1.5 hyphens: adding......Page 20
1.6 hyphens: deciding where needed......Page 21
1.7 initial capitalization: in titles......Page 22
1.8 initial capitalization: in main text......Page 23
1.9 various punctuation issues: 1......Page 24
1.10 various punctuation issues: 2......Page 25
1.11 spelling......Page 26
Section 2:: Word order......Page 27
2.1 choosing the best subject to put at the beginning of the phrase......Page 28
2.2 putting the key words first......Page 30
2.3 avoiding beginning the sentence with it is: 1......Page 31
2.4 avoiding beginning the sentence with it is: 2......Page 32
2.5 choosing the best word order to help the reader: 1......Page 33
2.6 choosing the best word order to help the reader: 2......Page 36
2.7 choosing the best word order to help the reader: 3......Page 38
2.8 shifting the parts of the phrase to achieve optimal order: 1......Page 39
2.9 shifting the parts of the phrase to achieve optimal order: 2......Page 40
2.10 shifting the parts of the phrase to achieve optimal order: 3......Page 42
2.11 shifting the parts of the phrase to achieve optimal order: 4......Page 43
2.12 reducing the number of commas and parts of the sentence......Page 44
2.13 putting sentences into the correct order......Page 45
2.14 typical mistakes......Page 46
Section 3:: Writing short sentences and paragraphs......Page 47
3.1 dividing up long sentences: 1......Page 48
3.2 dividing up long sentences: 2......Page 50
3.3 dividing up long paragraphs 1......Page 52
3.4 dividing up long paragraphs 2......Page 54
3.5 dividing up long paragraphs 3......Page 56
3.6 dividing up long paragraphs 4......Page 57
3.7 putting paragraphs into their most logical order......Page 59
3.10 writing short sentences: 3......Page 60
Section 4:: Link words: connecting phrases and sentences together......Page 61
4.1 linking sentences and paragraphs......Page 62
4.2 deleting unnecessary link words......Page 63
4.3 deciding when link words are necessary......Page 64
4.4 choosing best link word......Page 65
4.5 reducing the length of link words / phrases......Page 66
4.6 shifting the position of link words expressing consequences......Page 67
4.7 using link words to give additional neutral information......Page 68
4.8 using link words to give additional positive information......Page 69
4.9 using link words to give additional negative information......Page 70
4.10 making contrasts......Page 71
4.11 making evaluations......Page 72
4.12 connecting sentences by repetition of key word or a derivation of the key word......Page 73
4.13 describing processes......Page 74
4.15 describing effects and consequences......Page 75
4.16 making contrasts, concessions, qualifications, reservations, rejections......Page 76
4.17 outlining solutions to problems......Page 77
4.18 outlining a time sequence......Page 79
4.19 explaining figures and tables: making comparisons......Page 80
4.21 making evaluations and drawing conclusions: 2......Page 81
Section 5:: Being concise and removing redundancy......Page 82
5.1 removing individual redundant words......Page 83
5.2 removing several redundant words: 1......Page 84
5.3 removing several redundant words: 2......Page 86
5.4 reducing the word count: titles......Page 88
5.5 replacing several words with one preposition or adverb......Page 89
5.6 replacing several words with one adverb......Page 90
5.7 replacing several words with one word......Page 91
5.8 replacing a verb + noun construction with a single verb: 1......Page 92
5.9 identifying verb and noun clauses......Page 93
5.10 replacing a verb + noun construction with a single verb: 2......Page 95
5.11 replacing a noun phrase with a verb or can: 1......Page 96
5.12 replacing a noun phrase with a verb or can: 2......Page 97
5.13 replacing nouns with verbs in titles of papers......Page 98
5.14 identifying whether link words could be deleted......Page 99
5.15 deleting unnecessary link words: 1......Page 100
5.16 deleting unnecessary link words: 2......Page 101
5.17 deleting unnecessary link words: 3......Page 102
5.18 unnecessary use of we and one: 1......Page 103
5.19 unnecessary use of we and one: 2......Page 104
5.21 avoiding redundancy in references to figures, tables etc.......Page 105
5.22 rewriting unnecessarily long sentences: 1......Page 106
5.23 rewriting unnecessarily long sentences: 2......Page 107
5.24 rewriting unnecessarily long sentences: 3......Page 109
5.25 reducing length of an abstract......Page 110
5.26 reducing length of an introduction......Page 111
5.27 reducing the length of the outline of the structure......Page 112
5.28 reducing the length of the review of the literature: 1......Page 113
5.29 reducing the length of the review of the literature: 2......Page 114
5.31 reducing the length of the conclusions section......Page 115
5.32 reducing the length of the acknowledgements......Page 116
Section 6:: Ambiguity and political correctness......Page 117
6.1 repetition of words to aid reader’s understanding: 1......Page 118
6.2 repetition of words to aid reader’s understanding: 2......Page 119
6.3 avoiding ambiguity due to use of - ing form: 1......Page 120
6.4 avoiding ambiguity due to use of - ing form: 2......Page 121
6.5 disambiguating sentences: 1......Page 122
6.6 disambiguating sentences: 2......Page 124
6.7 pronouns and political correctness......Page 125
6.8 non-use of masculine terms for generic situations: 1......Page 126
6.10 non-use of masculine terms for generic situations: 3......Page 127
Section 7:: Paraphrasing and avoiding plagiarism......Page 128
7.1 deciding what is acceptable to cut and paste......Page 129
7.2 quoting statistics......Page 130
7.3 paraphrasing by changing the parts of speech......Page 131
7.4 paraphrasing by changing nouns into verbs......Page 132
7.5 paraphrasing by changing the parts of speech and word order: 1......Page 134
7.6 paraphrasing by changing the parts of speech and word order: 2......Page 135
7.7 fi nding synonyms: verbs 1......Page 136
7.8 fi nding synonyms: verbs 2......Page 137
7.9 fi nding synonyms: verbs 3......Page 138
7.10 fi nding synonyms: nouns 1......Page 139
7.11 fi nding synonyms: nouns 2......Page 140
7.12 fi nding synonyms: adjectives......Page 141
7.13 fi nding synonyms: adverbs and prepositions 1......Page 142
7.14 fi nding synonyms: adverbs and prepositions 2......Page 143
7.15 paraphrasing by changing word order......Page 144
7.16 replacing we with the passive form......Page 145
7.17 making a summary: 1......Page 147
7.18 making a summary: 2......Page 148
7.20 making a summary: 4......Page 149
Section 8:: Defining, comparing, evaluating and highlighting......Page 150
8.1 writing definitions 1......Page 151
8.3 writing definitions 3......Page 152
8.4 making generalizations......Page 153
8.5 confirming other authors’ evidence......Page 154
8.6 stating how a finding is important......Page 155
8.7 highlighting why your method, findings, results etc. are important......Page 157
8.8 highlighting your findings......Page 158
8.9 comparing the literature......Page 159
8.10 comparing contrasting views......Page 162
8.11 comparing your methodology with other authors’ methodologies......Page 163
8.12 comparing data in a table......Page 164
8.13 questioning current thinking......Page 165
8.14 evaluating solutions......Page 166
Section 9:: Anticipating possible objections, indicating level of certainty, discussing limitations, hedging, future work......Page 167
9.1 anticipating objections and alternative views......Page 168
9.2 indicating level of certainty 1......Page 169
9.3 indicating level of certainty 2......Page 170
9.4 reducing level of certainty......Page 171
9.6 qualifying what you say......Page 172
9.7 dealing with limitations in your own results: 1......Page 173
9.8 dealing with limitations in your own results: 2......Page 174
9.9 dealing with limitations in your own results: 3......Page 175
9.10 toning down the strength of an affirmation: 1......Page 176
9.11 toning down the strength of an affirmation: 2......Page 177
9.12 toning down the strength of an affirmation: 3......Page 178
9.13 toning down the strength of an affirmation: 4......Page 179
9.14 direct versus hedged statements 1......Page 180
9.15 direct versus hedged statements 2......Page 181
9.16 discussing possible applications and future work......Page 183
Section 10:: Writing each section of a paper......Page 184
10.1 abstracts......Page 185
10.3 creating variety when outlining the structure of the paper......Page 186
10.5 survey of the literature......Page 187
10.6 methodology / experimental......Page 188
10.8 discussion: 1......Page 189
10.9 discussion: 2......Page 190
10.10 differentiating between the abstract and the conclusions: 1......Page 191
10.11 differentiating between the abstract and the conclusions: 2......Page 192
10.13 conclusions: 2......Page 193
10.15 acknowledgements: 2......Page 194
Editing Service for non-native researchers / Mentorship for EAP and EFL teachers......Page 195
Index......Page 196