Part One Approaching Academic English

UNIT 1 Getting Acquainted with Academic English...... 3

1.1 Overall Impression of Academic English..................................4

1.1.1 A Glance over Written Academic English..........................5

1.1.2 A Glimpse of Spoken Academic English............................7

1.2 Salient Features of Academic English...................................10

1.2.1Vocabulary.........................................................10

1.2.2 Hedging..............................................................12

1.3 Differentiating Academic English & General English...........15

1.3.1 Main Features of Spoken Academic English....................16

1.3.2 Main Features of Written Academic English....................20

UNIT 2 Cultivating Academic English Competencies..... 23

2.1 Diagnosing Your Academic English Language Competencies....24

2.1.1 Identifying General Problems with Your Academic

English Communication....................................................25

2.1.2 Understanding Specific Academic English

Communication Language Abilities Scales......................28

2.1.3 Locating the Gap Between Your Language Abilities and

the Standards.....................................................32

2.2 Ways to Improve Academic Communication Competencies....34

2.2.1 Improving Academic Communication Language Abilities....34

2.2.2 Enhancing Academic English Non-language Abilities.....38

2.2.3 Grasping Essential Skills for Communication in the

Main Oral Academic Scenarios........................................39

Part Two Stepping into Academia

UNIT 3 Accessing Academic English Literature........... 45

3.1 Literature Sources and Types...............................................46

3.1.1 Literature Sources......................................................47

3.1.2 Major Literature Types...................................................49

3.2 Retrieval Databases, Methods and Strategies........................51

3.2.1 Retrieval Databases.....................................................51

3.2.2 Search Terms for Retrieval...............................................54

3.2.3 Retrieving Methods.....................................................56

3.2.4 Retrieving Strategies....................................................59

3.3 Tracking and Ordering Literature..........................................61

3.3.1 Literature Tracking and Ordering Tools............................62

3.3.2 Challenges and Precautions..............................................64

UNIT 4 Managing Academic English Literature.......... 67

4.1 Reference Management Tools..................................................68

4.1.1 Some English Literature Management Tools....................68

4.1.2 Main Features of English Literature Management Tools....69

4.2 Principles and Steps to Manage Academic English Documents....71

4.2.1 Following Some Principles to Manage Documents..........71

4.2.2 Managing Documents in Pre-reading...............................72

4.2.3 Managing Documents in Preliminary Reading.................73

4.2.4 Managing Documents in In-depth Reading......................73

4.2.5 Managing Documents in Writing......................................74

4.2.6 Important Tips for Literature Management.......................75

UNIT 5 Reviewing Academic English Literature......... 79

5.1 Selecting Sources......................................................80

5.1.1 Reviewing Literature.................................................81

5.1.2 Evaluating Sources....................................................84

5.2 Structuring a Literature Review.........................................89

5.2.1 Contents of a Literature Review.......................................89

5.2.2 Ways of Grouping a Literature Review............................92

5.3 Citing Sources........................................................94

5.3.1 Plagiarism............................................................95

5.3.2 Summarizing, Paraphrasing and Direct Quotation...........96

5.4 Following Academic Conventions in Referencing................101

5.4.1 Styles of Referencing......................................................101

5.4.2 Verbs of Referencing.......................................................103

Part Three Basic Academic English Communication

UNIT 6 Sitting in English Academic Lectures............ 109

6.1 Be Active Listeners....................................................110

6.1.1 What Is Special of an Academic Lecture?......................111

6.1.2 Focusing on Language Use Strategy in Lectures............112

6.1.3 Taking Notes.......................................................114

6.1.4 Identifying Topic Sentences............................................117

6.2 Evaluating While Listening.................................................120

6.3 Raising Questions for Further Understanding.....................125

6.3.1 Functions of Asking Questions.......................................125

6.3.2 Purposes of Asking Questions........................................127

UNIT 7 Asking and Answering Academic Questions.... 131

7.1 Understanding Questions.................................................132

7.1.1 Reasons for Asking Questions........................................133

7.1.2 Questioning in Q&A Session..........................................133

7.2 Asking Questions.......................................................136

7.2.1 Template of Asking a Question.......................................136

7.2.2 Types of Questions....................................................138

7.3 Answering Questions..................................................142

7.3.1 General Skills for Answering Questions.........................143

7.3.2 Direct Answers.....................................................145

7.3.3 Avoidance........................................................147

UNIT 8 Corresponding for Academic Purposes......... 155

8.1 Introduction of Academic Correspondence..........................156

8.1.1 Definition of Academic Correspondence........................156

8.1.2 Various Purposes of English Academic Correspondence....157

8.2 Features of English Academic Correspondence...................160

8.2.1 Formats of Academic Correspondence...........................160

8.2.2 Language Features of Academic Correspondence..........164

8.3 Writing Strategies in Academic Correspondence................166

8.3.1 Use You-attitude Rather Than I-attitude.........................166

8.3.2 More Communicative Strategies in Correspondence.....167

Part Four Advanced Academic English Communication

Identifying International Conference

UNIT 9 Information................................................... 179

9.1 Benefits of Attending International Academic Conferences....180

9.2 Information Sources on International Academic Conferences....185

9.3 Varieties of Academic Conferences........................................187

9.4 Conference Information and Major Conference Activities.....192

9.4.1 Conference Information..................................................193

9.4.2 Major Conference Activities...........................................195

UNIT 10 Making a Paper Presentation...................... 199

10.1 Structuring a Presentation...............................................200

10.1.1 Opening...................................................................201

10.1.2 Main Body..............................................................204

10.1.3 Ending.................................................................205

10.2 Preparing a Presentation..................................................208

10.2.1 Preparation Procedure.............................................209

10.2.2 PowerPoint Design.................................................212

10.3 Delivering a Presentation.................................................215

10.3.1 Presentation Skills...................................................215

10.3.2 Verbal Expressions..................................................218

UNIT 11 Initiating Free Exchanges with Academics.... 225

11.1 Preparing a Talk with Professionals................................226

11.1.1 Topic Choosing.......................................................227

11.1.2 Information Collecting............................................227

11.1.3 Idea Organizing and Outlining................................228

11.2 Starting a Talk with Professionals...................................230

11.2.1 Talking with Familiar Professionals.......................230

11.2.2 Talking with Strangers............................................231

11.3 Deepening the Topic......................................................231

11.4 Shifting the Topic.......................................................233

UNIT 12 Presiding over a Session............................... 235

12.1 Preparations Before the Session......................................236

12.2 Making an Opening Speech and Introducing a Speaker....239

12.2.1 Making an Opening Speech....................................240

12.2.2 Introducing a Speaker.............................................241

12.3 Q&A Sessions and Thank-You Speeches........................244

Co-constructing a Simulated International

UNIT 13 Conference..................................................... 251

13.1 The Significance of Co-constructing a Simulated

International Conference..............................252

13.1.1 Distinguishing the Varieties of International

Conferences............................................................253

13.1.2 Mastering the Whole Procedures of International

Conferences............................................................254

13.2 Major Sessions of Simulated International Conferences.....255

13.2.1 Organization of an International Conference..........256

13.2.2 Routine Work of Organizing an International

Conference..............................................................256

13.3 How to Co-construct a Simulated International Conference.....257

13.3.1 To-do list at the Very Beginning of a Simulated

International Conference.........................................258

13.3.2 Promoting a Simulated International Conference.....259

13.3.3 Calling for Paper of a Simulated International

Conference..............................................................261

13.3.4 Invitation Letter of a Simulated International

Conference..............................................................262

13.3.5 Agenda of a Simulated International Conference.....262

13.4 The Evaluation of a Simulated International Conference.....264

References................................................................................. 267