PolyU Motto
Centre for Independent Language Learning

CILL Home
A - Z Index
Dictionary
Exercises
Grammar
Help
Listening
Pronunciation
Reading
Search CILL
Sitemap
Speaking
Vocabulary
What's New
Writing
ELC Home

When you write tertiary level coursework assignments or answer examination questions, you will need to pay close attention to the style of the language. This part of the course is designed to help you with this important aspect of academic writing.

These packages introduce you to two key areas of academic style, namely:
 
  1. using appropriate vocabulary
  2. using appropriate grammar
 
When asked to describe the characteristics of the style of academic writing, you would probably come up with words such as:
  • complex
• formal
• objective 		 

So whilst you more than likely have a clear picture of what academic writing is, you may still need to think about how you achieve that style effectively and accurately. We can do this by examining academic writers’ choice of vocabulary and grammar.

Below is an excerpt from an academic essay on the problems faced by new university students when giving oral presentations. Rewrite the text in a more appropriate style in the space provided. Once you have finished, click on the SUBMIT button and compare your answer with the original version.

Students face loads of hassle when they start uni. The independent way people learn is a whole new ball game, just like the teaching which is nothing like secondary school. Nearly everyone is still tested through boring old exams, but they are also expected to do proper presentations and this can scare the living daylights out of some people.

Unlike highschool, undergrads’ve gotta’ do research, plan the body and then speak to their schoolmates and teachers normally using pictures and slides. This isn’t easy ‘coz it presents tonnes of problems to freshmen.

In this essay I will first look at the problems faced by students when delivering presentations in an academic setting before going on to give you some suggestions to sort them out.

One of the main problems that students face when giving presentations is that they are scared stiff. According to Beaver (2012), this is because the Hong Kong education system doesn’t pay much attention to speaking and listening which means students aren’t any good at them. Also, Plankton and Wing (2008) point out that kids at university don’t have any chance to practice their speaking skills outside of class. This is also bad for their confidence and so standing up and presenting in front of 20 or 30 contemporaries as well as professors, can be a really terrifying.

The only way of dealing with this issue is for the Education Department to put more stress on developing the speaking skills of secondary school students (Clandestine, 2011). She reasons that this would lead to increased confidence and brilliant communicative skills when students move to university later.

Another idea from Long, John and Silver (2013) is like doing individual and group presentations in the Diploma of Secondary Education the same as at university. This would also probably bring about an improvement in performance, confidence and organization of oral presentations and hence reduce nerves.

Write your version in the box below and then click on the SUBMIT button. You will then be able to compare your version with the original.




Copyright© 2012-2013 UGC ICOSA Project, Hong Kong. All rights reserved.