Read this blog to learn Unique Ways to Boost Academic Vocabulary and Elevate Your Essays. This blog will provide you with all the knowledge you need about academic writing secrets.
Do you find that academic language makes you feel overwhelmed?
Do you read academic articles and books that are jam-packed with jargon? At times, all of those words might be overpowering. However, the ability to understand academic jargon and utilise it effectively in your writing is critical. Having a strong grasp of academic vocabulary makes it straightforward to find important words for your field as well as words that are appropriate for formal writing. When you have more experience, it is also easier to write essays and articles that will impress your lecturers and other academic readers.
So, what’s the best approach to pick up new academic lingo and integrate it into your writing? There are five effective ways to improve your academic vocabulary and proficiency. Each method for picking up new words is intended to help you acquire any form of academic vocabulary.
Academic Vocabulary Comes in Many Shapes and Sizes
Subject-specific vocabulary and general academic vocabulary are two sorts of academic language that you should use in your writing.
A collection of words specialised to a specific field of study is known as subject–area vocabulary. Technology, science (physics and chemistry), economics (math), psychology (psychology and sociology), and other fields are all represented in this list.
These words can be found in textbooks, academic journal articles, books on your field, blogs on your subject, and anywhere else you read about the courses you’re enrolled in or taking.
This vocabulary includes terminology and phrases that can be found in essays, academic papers, textbooks, and articles from a wide range of areas. Examine, create, derive, source, theorise, and give proof are only a few examples of these phrases.
The AWL is divided into sublists, with Sublist 1 including the most commonly used words. Each term includes a list of the root word as well as other variations. Word families are what we call these groups of words.
Here’s an example of a Sublist 1-word family: sources, sources, sources, sources, sources, sources, sources, sources, sources, sources, sources
There are a few scholarly terminologies, to be sure. You will be able to improve your academic writing if you are familiar with these terminologies. As a result, focus on learning no more than 5-7 new words at a time. Don’t make the mistake of trying to learn a huge number of words in a short amount of time. It’s challenging to keep all of the information in your head!
Learning Academic Vocabulary: 5 Different Approaches
There are five different techniques of learning new academic terminology that are both original and unique. Both subject-area words and common academic words can be used with each technique. They’re made for different types of learners, so try out one or more of them to find which one suits you best.
1. Write down your thoughts in a journal.
A word journal is a location where you record words that you don’t understand (on a notepad, a computer document, or anywhere else). The process for keeping a word journal is as follows:
• Look up the word’s definition and then come up with your own interpretation.
• Come up with your own definition of yourself.
• Write down the exact sentence where you learned the word.
• Draw or write your own illustration or example of the word.
What’s wonderful about this method is that you can always check up on any of the words you’ve learned on the internet if you forget them. Each of your classes may have its own word journal. Following that, you’ll have a place to search up vocabulary words and phrases related to the readings you’ll be doing in class.
If you are a visual learner, you may find that drawing representation of your ideas is more helpful. A tangible notebook will help you to express yourself more freely and be more creative in this scenario.
2. Highlight or underline essential terms in a text and provide definitions.
Highlight or underline the words you don’t recognise or understand in academic publications, papers, blogs, in-depth articles on your topic, classes, and other materials. Reread the line or paragraph a second time, look up the words in the dictionary, and jot down your own interpretation in the margins.
You can do this in a variety of ways, including by reading online. You can use the highlight and comment feature in Adobe Acrobat Reader to make notes on terms. You can do the same thing with e-books on Kindle, Nook, and other electronic devices.
You will remember the words better if you write (or type) definitions in the margins. Those notes can also come in helpful if you need to go back to that article or study it for an exam!
When learning a new term, it is recommended that you write it down by hand rather than typing it. This will help you remember it better. Examine the differences between writing and typing to see which is the most efficient option for you.
3. Make a Vocabulary Map aid in the learning of new words.
A vocabulary map is a writing activity in which you write a word in the middle of a piece of paper (or a computer document) and then connect it to other words or ideas. The following are some words or concepts that you might want to include in your map:
• a list of synonyms
• Synonyms and Antonyms
• Symbolic representations of the term
• A definition for the term (dictionary)
• Come up with your own definition of the term.
• Words that are related to each other
4. Make a set of flashcards for vocabulary.
Instead of writing the words down in a diary as in a word journal, you create flashcards for each word you want to remember. I recommend using index cards that are 5 x 8 inches in size. Write down the following information for each flashcard:
• Write the primary word in capital letters at the top of your flashcard.
• Look up the term’s definition in the dictionary and then write your own definition in the dictionary.
• Write a phrase that includes the term.
• If the term is part of a word family, list the other words in the family beneath it and define them in your own words.
Because flashcards make it easy to flip through your cards and review 5-7 words per day, they are a great tool for practising vocabulary from the Academic Word List (AWL).
5. Make Academic Vocabulary a Part of Your Writing
In your essays and publications, employ scholarly terminology! This is a good moment to start writing the first draught of your academic paper. Have the person who will be reviewing your work look over it during revisions to see if the academic terms are used correctly. Your teacher, tutor, or other students will notice that you used particular words that should be checked when they read your writing.
In essays and research papers, using conventional academic terminology and subject-area academic vocabulary can help you improve your academic writing skills. It communicates to your audience that you are well-versed in the subject area. Furthermore, using these terms allows you to be more specific and clear about what you intend. If you employ the right blend of vocabulary in your works and articles, they will be elevated to a higher level. It’s important to remember that using too many academic words or words you don’t understand is a terrible idea. The most efficient way to avoid this is to have someone else read your writing before you submit it, someone, who can point out where your thoughts and words are unclear.
In academic situations, increase the number of words you utilise.
As a college or university student, having a strong academic vocabulary is essential. It will help you improve your reading comprehension as well as your ability to write exceptional academic essays and articles. Even though these five methods are great for learning academic vocabulary, the most effective way to remember new concepts is to utilise them as much as possible.
Choose one of the methods described above to increase your academic vocabulary, and then start incorporating academic terms into your work. As a result, the quality of your essays and academic papers will improve, making them more persuasive and effective in the long term.
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