Academic Reading

Elias Sukardi

Decide your purpose of reading

For overview For in-depth study For specific information

Main contents of Academic Writing

Factual information Terminology Concepts Principles Tables (find out the message) Figures (find out the message) Evidence (scientific evidence)

Scanning versus skimming

• To scan To look through it quickly

• To skim To read through it quickly

Scanning

• Scan for main (principal) idea (thought)

• Scan for tables, diagrams, illustrations, graphical representations

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Skimming

• Skimming for key words, concepts, and principles

• Skimming for main messages in the tables, diagrams, illustrations or graphical representations

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Figures

Tables

What are the messages?

Paragraph Reading

• A paragraph is a section or subdivision of a piece of writing; it always begins on a new line and contains at least one sentence.

• Topic sentence

• Types of paragraphs: deductive & inductive

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Types of Paragraph

Deductive Inductive

General

General

Specific

Specific

• Paragraph

• Identify the topic sentence(s) and find out the important message (idea, thought)

• Deductive XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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• Inductive XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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What is a concept?

• Information about objects, events and processes, allowing us to differentiate various things and classes (e.g. identifying axamples and non-examples!)

• Lack of understanding of concepts leads to lack of clarity in thinking

• Example of concepts: mammal, primate, equity, justice, value, democracy, etc

Concept

An abstract or generic idea generalized from particular instances

Bacteria

Acidosis, alkalosis Risk Neurotransmitter, receptor Coma, consciousness, etc

What is a principle?

The combining in relationship of two or more concepts in a statement or sentence.

Principle

A comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption

Scientific principle is general scientific law which explains how something happens or works

Uncontrolled hypertension is associated with greater risk for cardiovascular events.

What is scientific evidence?

Any important &reliable information or data;

main outcomes or conclusions of a study/research Source of evidence: textbook, monograph, review article, and research e.g. experimental studies and clinical trials. Important characteristics of scientific evidence: up-to-datedness, validity, and applicability (best available evidence)

Why evidence is so important?

Explain events Predict consequences Infer causes Control situations Solve problems

Some examples of evidence

When a physician believes a drug to be effective in the management of a disease despite strong scientific evidence to the contrary, this represents irrational prescribing (peresepan). Nonscientific factors can or do influence physician prescribing even though the physician may be unaware of their presence and effort.

…evidence

It is an obvious truism that long-term consequences of new drugs are generally not known when they are introduced; the physician and patient should balance the uncertainty with the potential advantages of using a new drug.

Scan Title of passage

Sections Paragraph title References

Skim Main thought/idea in each paragraph Figures and tables Introduction Conclusions/summary

Read & re-read the whole article/passage Reflect on what you've read and connect with

what you have known