Academic Writing: Describing a text

Study the following steps and vocabulary to describe different texts (articles, scientific papers, studies, reviews, etc).

1. Setting a goal

              ...The chief/general   aim...

              ...central/ key/ ultimate goal...

              ...main/ particular purpose...

              ...major/ primary task  of this paper/ study is …

              ...one of the main/ principal objectives is…

2. Describing the subject

The subject (matter) of this paper/ study/ analysis/ research/ discussion is …

The present paper/ investigation/article  

             … goes (inquires) into…

             … focuses on…

             … deals with…

             ...  is devoted to the questions (problems/ issues) of …

             . .. undertakes to survey/ identify the structure of

             ...  considers what factors/ processes influence …

             … the concluding/ final sections/ comments/ remarks concern/ focus on…      

             ...   In this article/ section the authors aim to determine…

             ...    attempt to explain the mechanisms of…

             ... are intended to give/ show/ develop/ provide/ record

             ... examine the nature/ characteristics/ features/ functions of …

             ... (will) concentrate on/ argue that/ review

3. Sounding personal

-        I want to point to/ review/ introduce...

-        I can/ shall/ should provide …

-        I must emphasize that…

-        I must say a few words about …

-        I should/ would like to illustrate/ suggest/ posit/ stress that

-        I find it necessary to consider …/ to turn our attention to …

4. Going further:

-        One   further   remark…         

-        Two further points …              

-        Further questions…                 

-        A further aim of the paper…    

-        The only step   needed (here) is …

-        The issue that   ought to be raised here concerns…

-        The second point I want to describe here has to do with…

-        This latter point requires justification.

5. Supplying evidence:

-        To lend support to our hypothesis…

-        To base our position…                                   

-        This issue can serve as a basis for …

-        This matter can form a background for a judgment about …

-        This point requires justification/ should be examined in detail/ with accuracy.

-        This question requires (further) remark/ comment/ explanation.

-        This problem presupposes deep study/ minute analysis/ understanding of …

-        This method should be precisely/ clearly/ accurately/ explicitly/ rigidly defined.

-        This approach can be extensively/ properly/ reasonably applied to…

-        This topic should be studied/ investigated closely/ carefully/ thoroughly.

6. References

-        According to…

-        Following…

-        I will refer to…

-        This result was obtained by…

-        Such problems are fully discussed by .. in  …

-        The following passage from… illustrates  that…

-        This aspect has (not) received attention (criticism/ scientific support) in the literature.

-        References should be made to…

7. Positive comments:

This article/book/discussion/study

...is an accurate/ comprehensive/ convincing analysis of …

...is an instructive/ minute/ profound/ thorough description of…

...is a good snapshot of functional analysis…

...supports the theory of…

...sheds new light on …

...allows a principled decision on …

...sounds attractive…

...proved to be successful…

...deals  with the complex subject in an orderly manner…

...shows  very convincingly, that …

...presents a wealth of data about…

...managed  to answer the question with simplicity.

This  approach

...is quite/ highly creative/ effective/ fruitful/

...is more flexible than…

...is the best

... is perfect / valuable for …

...has aroused wide interest

...has been the stimulus for analytic discussion

...opens prospects for further study of…

...casts (a new) light on the question

...gives convincing (direct/ exact/ good/ plausible/ serious/ sound/ strong/        sufficient/valid) reason to think that...

...gives rise to theoretical discussion

...is elaborated/ explained in detail.

8. Criticism and objections:

The study done by…

       ...is still under discussion

       ...does not allow us to answer the question whether…

       ...leaves many questions open.

The solution offered by ..  has been criticized at length.

The approach/ strategy

       ...neglects (ignores)…

       ...has a number of disadvantages

       ...is not accurately formulated

       ...is a hot topic in debates

       ..draws sharp criticism

Objections can be raised...

There are a number of objections that can be raised...

There are counter-examples…

The negative side of the approach/ method…

9. Personal negative remarks:

-        I t seems (a bit) artificial                                

-        It seems unlikely that …                                 .

-        It is nonsensical / an error to regard …

-        It is doubtful / I doubt   that…

-        I am unsure   whether …

-        I am afraid / not sure/ I am not convinced that…

-        I am skeptical / critical / suspicious  of …

Write your description of a text presented in the Reading section using the steps and vocabulary given above.