PORTFOLIO ENTRY #14

 THE IMPORTANCE OF HEDGING

This video defines the concept of hedging, explains its 

 importance in  academic research writing and offers an 

overview of  three common hedging  strategies complete 

with examples.

Example 1º

Categorical claim.

The issues highlighted in this study are applicable to all participating institutions. 

Hedged claim

The issues highlighted in this study may be applicable to many participating institutions.

Example 2º

Categorical claim

Government support will assure the spread of new knowledge and the skills necessary to use the internet to thousands of people in rural areas.

Hedged claim

Government support many help with  the spread of new knowledge and the skills necessary to use the internet to thousands of people in rural areas.

EXAMPLE 3º

Categorical claim.

The study proves the link between smooking and lung disease 

Hedged claim

The study indicates/suggests a (possible) link between smoking and lung disease

EXAMPLE  4º

Categorical claim

The number of unemployed people will continue to raise as the poor economic situation persists.

Hedged claim

The number of unemployed people will probably continue to raise as the poor economic situation persist.

EXAMPLE  5º

Categorical claim

This ( and subsequent) studies led to the conclusion that the GPT itself must be the elusive base, and therefore to the proposal of the GTP - as base mechanism.

Hedged claim

This ( and subsequent) studies led to the conclusion that the GPT itself may be the elusive base, and therefore to the proposal of the GTP - as base mechanism.

THE 

IMPORTANCE OF BOOSTING.

Boosting is basically the opposite of hedging. 

It strengthens statements. 

Examples:

Clearly, these sales figures show a definite increase in consumer confidence, which will undoubtedly  have an impact on our share price.

The highlighted words are used to show a strong point of you  and to persuade the reader of the autohor's point .

Other typical expressions used in boosting includes: 

➞ ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY LIKE ALWAYS OR NEVER.

Employees will always respond positively in such circumstances 

➞ ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY LIKE ALWAYS OR NEVER.

Employees will always respond positively in such circumstances.

➞ ADVERBS OR ADJECTIVES OF CERTAINTY

Certainly, this has had an impact on learning outcomes.

This certainly has had an impact on learning outcomes 

This obviously has an impact on learning outcomes.

➞ MODAL VERBS

This will have an impact on future research in the field

➞ OTHER VERBS
These figures prove that there has been strong growth as a result of policy change.

EXTRA INFO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O71U3jUi1Ic&t=19s

PARAGRAPH.

There are several characteristics which distinguish hedging from boosting in academic writing. Hedging is the use of linguistic devices to express hesitation or uncertainty as well as to demonstrate politeness and indirectness. In contrast, boosting express doubt, boosters demonstrate confidence. Hedging has its benefits; hedges suggest that the writer is careful, nuanced, and keen to avoid generalizations. A text that contains hedging is an open text, a text that invites debate and further research. On the other hand, the danger with boosters is that they can make you seem cocky and pompous. However, if you use them sparingly they can convey the right amount of self-assurance. The use of boosters will convince your reader that you know your stuff and are an expert in your field. Hedges and boosters affect the tone of our writing, and good writers use them effectively.

PODCASTS

PODCAST.

https://youtu.be/O71U3jUi1Ic

   

PORTFOLIO ENTRY #13

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PORTFOLIO ENTRY #12.

NOMINALIZATION: FOR or AGAINST?

What is nominalization in English grammar?

Nominalizations are nouns that are created from adjectives (words that describe nouns) or verbs (action words). For example, “interference” is a nominalization of “interfere,” “decision” is a nominalization of “decide,” and “argument” is a nominalization of “argue.”

TS

Are nominalizations always a bad choice?

No. Sometimes, nominalizations can be useful:

• When the nominalization is familiar to your reader as a character (happiness), it can be treated as a character. Example: Happiness has many causes and effects.

• When you are making a general statement that focuses more on the idea than the actual actors in the sentence. Example: The distribution of the pizzas was fair.

Be sure to remember that even in a case where a nominalization is appropriate, you should not use them too often in too short of space.

Examples of nominalization from Video 1

We need to keep the park so children have somewhere to play

OR

We need to keep the park for children's recreation

Because the President failed to remove the troops, many deaths occurred.

OR

The failure to remove the troops resulted in many death

We also nominalized using the verb present participle form of the verb (singing, running, illing) or add suffixes such as:

 frustrate - tion

argue- ment

propose- al

He sang his heart put

OR

The heartfelt singing

She ran very fast

OR

Her fast running

VIDEO 2: AGAINST NOMINALIZATION.

Nouns formed from other parts of speech are called nominalizations. Academics love them; so do lawyers, bureaucrats, and business writers.  The author calls them “zombie nouns” because they cannibalize active verbs, suck the lifeblood from adjectives and substitute abstract entities for human beings:

Example: 

The proliferation of nominalizations in a discursive formation may be an indication of a tendency toward pomposity and abstraction.

The sentence above contains no fewer than seven nominalizations, each formed from a verb or an adjective. Yet it fails to tell us who is doing what. When we eliminate or reanimate most of the zombie nouns (tendency becomes tend, abstraction becomes abstract) and add a human subject and some active verbs, the sentence springs back to life:

At their best, nominalizations help us express complex ideas: perception, intelligence, epistemology. At their worst, they impede clear communication.

A paragraph heavily populated by nominalizations will send your readers straight to sleep. Wake them up with vigorous, verb-driven sentences that are concrete, clearly structured and blissfully zombie-free.

PORFOLIO ENTRY # 11

Discourse and Context in Language Teaching.

A guide for language teachers

Chapter 8: Writing.