Academic Writing – Jargon, Complex

Writing, and “Difficult” Writing

ENGL 100 – Mr. Ganter

Everyday Language and Academic Language

“There are times when the more the authors explain

[about ape communication], the less we understand.

Apes certainly seem capable of using language to

communicate. Whether scientists are remains

doubtful.”

-- Douglas Chadwick, New York Times

Academic Writing and Reading

- defining and identifying “jargon”

- general audience vs. specific audience (disciplines)

- difficulty vs. complexity

Forms of “Difficulty”

- word selection/choice

- allusion and emphemism, not specific and concrete

language

- lack of transitions from point-to-point

- disorganization of thought/argument

- disconnect from audience

– William Shakespeare, Hamlet (1598)

– Linus Pauling, General Chemistry (1970)

– Judith Butler, Gender Trouble (1990)

Forms of “Complexity”

- appropriate terminology (discipline)

- explain/define terms and concepts –

then use for analysis

- awareness of history of terms/words/phrases

- taking the “unfamiliar” and relating it to the

“familiar”

- using abstract ideas to establish relationships