Reading Academic Texts and Locating Main Ideas

Its context is to help the readers comprehend and develop their academic reading skills by learning its content and structure as well as locating its main idea.

Reading Academic Texts 

(Source: library.sumdu.edu.ua)

What is the difference between Academic Texts and Non-academic Texts?

Academic texts are far different from Non-academic texts since they are formal in language whereas Non-academic text is the opposite. Academic texts contain concepts and theories related to the topic in which the readers need complete concentration in order to comprehend the information, key ideas and arguments of the text. Non-academic texts are mainly for entertainment purposes only.

Academic text and Non-academic text are different in terms of structure, content and style. 

*Academic texts are formal in language

*They have introduction, Body and Conclusion

*They have credible sources and

*They include list of references.

While Non-academic texts are informal in language and intended for a lay audience, often without research or sources involved.

Examples of Academic Texts and Non-academic Texts

Academic Texts

1. Thesis or Dissertations -  Personal researches of candidate for graduation in a university.

(Source: Google)

2. Research Articles - These are published in journals and offers result of research and development.

(Source: Google)

3. Review Papers - It provides critique and evaluation of scholarly papers published in journals.

(Source: Google)

4. Conference Papers - It is presented in scholarly conference.

(Source: Google)

Non-academic Texts

1. News Articles - it is composed of different sections such as politics, entertainment, obituary and so much more.

(Source: Google)

2. Fictional Works - the author invents the story and makes up the characters, the plot or storyline, the dialogue and sometimes even the settings.

(Source: Google)

3. Magazines - a periodical publication containing articles an illustrations, typically covering a particular subject or area of interest.

(Source: Google)

4. Memo - it presents a few information such as agenda of meetings and announcements.

(Source: Google)

 When reading an academic text, it is important to have your purpose. Ask yourself in the first place why you're reading this text and what kind of information do you need. 

Once you find your purpose in reading an academic text, remember that there are general purposes for reading an academic text.

For example:

*To comprehend an existing idea

*To gain information 

*To connect new ideas to existing ones

Dont be too worried if you think its challenging when reading an academic text. There are different strategies that can help you understand and critically think.

Examples are:

*The SQ3R and

*KWL

There's more...

When reading academic texts, locating its main idea can help you understand further and can actually make everything easier.

Locating Main Ideas

We have what we call a Thesis Statement which presents and describes the main point of an essay.

Thesis Statement is usually presented in the abstract or executive summary. Also found in the last part of the introduction.

Now a Topic sentence presents or desrcibes the point of the paragraph. This is the main idea of the paragraph. It is located in the beginning, middle and last part of the paragraph. 

Now you may be asking how to locate a Thesis Statement...

• Thesis statement is usually located at the last part of the paragraph.

• If there is no abstract, read the first few paragraphs as the thesis statement is located there.

• If the thesis statement is located at the last part and presents purpose, scope or direction, it starts with signal phrases and its called as Purpose Statement.

What is a Purpose Statement?

A Purpose Statement is a replacement of thesis statement and is found in the last part of an introduction. This usually start with signal phrases such as "The study examined...". These phrase presents the purpose, scope or direction of the text.

How do you locate a Topic Sentence?

*Read carefully the first sentence of the paragraph.

*Locate the BIG WORD which is considered as the topic of the paragraph

*This can be located either beginning, middle or the last part.

Now that you've reached this point, I hope that you understand the principles of reading an academic text and its structure as well as locating the main idea which can definitely help you while reading. 

"Know that everybody is a genius and its up to you whether to develop yourself. Dont mind the struggles that you face, mind the thing that is important which is learning."

-Hans Uzziel C. Clave