Bailey.Academic_Writing

80 Elements of Writing
cross-reference
3.2 Academic Vocabulary
c) An MSc is a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . awarded on completion of
...............................
d) A trades union is a(n) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . which exists to
protect . .......................
e) Malaria is a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . caused by . . . ...............
................................
f) Wheat is a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . used for ....................
..................................
4. Study the following examples and underline the term being
defined.
a) . . . the definition for a failed project . . . ranges from
abandoned projects to projects that do not meet
their full potential or simply have schedule overrun
problems.
b) Development is a socioeconomic–technological
process having the main objective of raising the
standards of living of the people.
c) Electronic commerce is characterised by an absence
of physical proximity between the buyer and seller in
conducting the search, assessment and transaction
stages of a transaction . . .
d) Bowlby (1982) suggested that attachment is an
organised system whose goal is to make individuals
feel safe and secure.
e) . . . the non-linear effect called ‘self-brightening’ in
which large-amplitude waves decay more slowly than
small-amplitude ones.
The examples above illustrate the variety of methods
employed in definitions:
(a) gives various examples which fall into the grouping the
author wishes to examine.
(b), (d) and (e) use category words: process, system, effect.
(c) defines the term in a negative way (an absence).
(d) quotes a definition from another writer.
5. When writing introductions, it is often helpful to define a
term in the title, even when it may be in common use, to
demonstrate that you have thought about it and that you have
a clear idea what it means in your essay.
Title: Higher education should be free and open to all
– discuss.