EXAMINATION CARD 10. 1) What critical thinking skills do you need to develop in academic writing?

1) What critical thinking skills do you need to develop in academic writing?

Critical thinking means reading what experts have said and presenting a general summary of their ideas.
Challenge:Do not be afraid of questioning what ‘experts’ and scholars have written about a particular topic. They are not always right.

Consider:Reflect on what you have read, and identify what your po s it io nis. As the second text in part B shows, good academic writing is analytical rather than just descriptive (i.e., it says why and how, not just what, when and where).

Combine:Having read a range of sources, you need to synthesize your ideas. Good academic writing analyzes the issues from all angles and is based on a wide range of evidence and sources.
Expanding your objection:you might criticize the evidence or methodology which the author used - or you might present c o u n t e r - ev id en c ewhich strengthens your opposition.
Offering a concession:you might try to explain the reason why the writer came to a wrong decision.

2) What language should you use to interpret tables and graphs?

The idea of connotation is very important when interpreting tables and graphs. For example, while stagnate and remain constant may be synonyms, the former has a negative connotation whereas the latter has a neutral one.
Language notes

Words which discuss extremes cannot generally be intensified (e.g., you cannot say complete apex or absolute nadir). These would be TAUTOLOGIES.

Choose adjectives and adverbs carefully. While they can add detail, accuracy and analysis to your writing, they can also be unnecessary.

Collocation is a particularly important issue in this field.
(Interpretation of graph

1. The company’s value rose sharply/markedly/dramatically/suddenly/considerably between 2002 and 2003.

2. The company’s value increased slightly between 2003 and 2004.

3. The company’s value reached its zenith/summit/highest point/apex/peak in 2004.

4. There was a sharp/significant fall in the company’s value between 2004 and 2005. Its price tumbled/collapsed/plummeted.

5. The company’s nadir/lowest point/all-time low was in 2005.

6. The company experienced gradual/steady/moderate growth between 2006 and 2007.

7. The company’s value stagnated / flatlined between 2008 and 2009.)

3) Paraphrase the following text

CONFIRMED»

at the meeting of «Socio - economic disciplines» department

Minute № 15 from the 1^st of April 2014 y.

by the acting head of «Socio - economic disciplines» department

__________________А.O. Sultanbekova

Discipline: Academic Writing