《英语科学写作》课程教学资源：Lecture 2 Purposes in Academic Writing

Lecture 2 PURPOSES IN ACADEMIC WRITING 1. The fundamental purposes in university writing are (1)to express (2)to describe )to ex plain (4)to inform (5) to persuade (or convince These purpose form a hierarchy of increasing complexity, from the simplest to the most complex. This chart reflects this Most Logically Persuading Complex Informing Explaining Describing Simplest Expressing In the chart, each purpose logically supports the one above it Essays and papers in which persuasion is the primary purpose may or will use all the purposes in argumentation to convince a reader or prove a point e. g. Studying in england is better than stud ying in us

1 Lecture 2 PURPOSES IN ACADEMIC WRITING 1. The fundamental purposes in university writing are: (1)to express (2)to describe (3)to explain (4)to inform (5) to persuade (or convince ) These purpose form a hierarchy of increasing complexity, from the simplest to the most complex . This chart reflects this: Most Logically Persuading Complex Informing Explaining Describing Simplest Expressing In the chart, each purpose logically supports the one above it. Essays and papers in which persuasion is the primary purpose may or will use all the purposes in argumentation to convince a reader or prove a point. e.g. Studying in England is better than studying in US

One uses description, explaining and informing about the education system in England and us, finally he uses this information to persuade or convince the audience of the validity or truth of the thesis Persuasion is the principal form of all purposes. It is the also the main purpose of all scientific papers and theses 2. Introduction body and conclusion The formal parts(sections )of academic essays or papers consists of Introduction, Body(development), and Conclusion The Introduction allows the writer to present the topic and precisely what the writer wants to say about the topic

2 One uses description, explaining and informing about the education system in England and US, Finally he uses this information to persuade or convince the audience of the validity or truth of the thesis. Persuasion is the “principal” form of all purposes. It is the also the main purpose of all scientific papers and theses. 2. Introduction, Body and Conclusion The formal parts (sections) of academic essays or papers consists of Introduction, Body (development), and Conclusion The Introduction allows the writer to present the topic and precisely what the writer wants to say about the topic

Many writers suggest the paper may be presented in the following way 3. THE ACADMIC/ TECHNICAL PYRAMID a Common organizational Pattern INTRO BACKGROUND DISCUSSIONS DESCRIPTIONS. ALTERNATIVES FINDINGS. METHODS IMPLICATIONS AND INFERENCES CONCLUSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS

3 Many writers suggest the paper may be presented in the following way: 3. THE ACADMIC/ TECHNICAL PYRAMID A Common Organizational Pattern INTRO BACKGROUND DISCUSSIONS DESCRIPTIONS , ALTERNATIVES FINDINGS, METHODS IMPLICATIONS AND INFERENCES CONCLUSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1 Introduction There are various ways to introduce a topic The most common way for a scientific paper is to (a) start with general background information about the topic leading down to problem or issues that you set yourselves to solve 3.2 Body or Development: The body is where we develop our arguments to support our theses to solve the problem or question/questions raised in the introduction Data and information gathered will be presented to supp our theses 3.3 Conclusions: Conclusions serve two purposes: (1)to provide a resolution or closure for the logical development of the paper(2)to offer the reader a sense of ending to the discussion at hand

4 3.1 Introduction: There are various ways to introduce a topic: The most common way for a scientific paper is to: (a) Start with general background information about the topic leading down to problem or issues that you set yourselves to solve 3.2 Body or Development: The body is where we develop our arguments to support our theses to solve the problem or question/questions raised in the introduction. Data and information gathered will be presented to support our theses. 3.3 Conclusions: Conclusions serve two purposes: (1) to provide a resolution or closure for the logical development of the paper (2) to offer the reader a sense of ending to the discussion at hand