Jennifer Greer, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Christine Feak, University of Michigan
Grace Canseco, Emory University
Nigel Caplan, University of Delaware
PowerPoints, handouts, and discussion:
http://nigelteacher.wordpress.com/handouts/tesol2012
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“The language of schooling” (Schleppegrell,
2004)
“Junior scholars” (Swales & Feak, 2004)
New genres, “multi-genres” (Paré et al.,
2009), & “occluded genres” (Swales, 1990)
Don’t they know this already?
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how
how
how
how
how
how
how
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
start and where to end
organize writing
evaluate text
be efficient in the writing process
use academic language
target multiple readers
analyze genres
 how to be a “proficient user of English”
Two genres/part-genres/whatever:
 Problem-Solution Texts (Jennifer)
 Data Commentary (Chris)
Two bits of grammar:
 Language Upgrades (Grace)
 Information Structure (Nigel)
Discussion and implementation
Jennifer Greer
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Christine Feak
University of Michigan
Grace Canseco
TESOL 2012
Abstract
Article
Bio Statement
Class Writing
Conference
Presentation
Cover Letter
Critique
Dissertation
Email
Grant
Proposal
Purpose Statement
Summary
Adapted From Inside Academic Writing (2010) by Grace
Canseco
“Simplifying complexity
is not simple.”
Susan Rockwise, Creative Director (worked
for Steve Jobs), NPR Interview (2011)
General
Reader
(GAR)
Image from MS Clip Art
Field-Expert
Reader
(FER)
[Your] research must be made
understandable to non-specialists if the
public and decision makers are to
continue supporting it. [You must] not
only ensure the reader understands the
science, but also remembers it.
From Science as Story in COMPOSE 2006 by Thomas R. O’Donnell
Krell Institute
(www.krellinst.org/csgf/compose/Compose_2006.pdf)
FER
GAR
Filtering Methods
for Image
Restoration
Making Blurry
Images a Thing of
the Past
Chung, Julianne
(unpublished Senior
Thesis)
Chung, J. (2004).
Image from MS Clip Art
COMPOSE:The Department of
Energy’s Computational Science
Graduate Fellowship Annual
Essay Contest Journal. Krell
Institute
A computational method for the
restoration of images with an
unknown, spatially-varying blur
Johnathan Bardsley, Stuart Jefferies, James Nagy, Robert Plemmons
www.umt.edu/math/reports/bardsley/BJNPpaper_final.pdf
Deblurring Images: Matrices, Spectra,
and Filtering
Per Christian Hansen, James G. Nagy, and Dianne P. O’Leary
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. 2006.
Published by Advisor:
In this paper, we present an algorithm for
the restoration of images with an
unknown, spatially-varying blur.
Existing computational methods for image
restoration require the assumption that
the blur is known and/or spatiallyinvariant.
A computational method for the restoration of images with an
unknown, spatially-varying blur
Johnathan Bardsley, Stuart Jefferies,James Nagy, Robert Plemmons
www.umt.edu/math/reports/bardsley/BJNPpaper_fnal.pdf
SIAM (Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics)
© 2006 Optical Society of America
Removing blur is a problem common to
almost all imaging, from home
snapshots to scientific instrumentation.
Mathematically, blurring can be thought
of as a set of mathematical operations
…
New Math Technique Opens Clearer Window On
Universe (ScienceDaily, Dec. 8, 2006)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061208101040.
htm
My research interest is theoretical biophysics, and our goal is to find the
general principles for biological activities and behaviors. As is known to all,
biological science is based on observations. People have discovered many
amazing phenomena about plants, animals, and human bodies. We know in
detail how protein is produced, how gene is reproduced and transferred to
the next generation, and so on. But we know little about the general
principles and the reasons for these activities. Our work is to analyze the
biological observations and try to find the general principles. These general
principles will be very important to predict the influence of the biological
behavior on other systems, such as human bodies, rivers, mountains, and
even the world. If we have a sense of the influences, we will know more
about keeping the sustainability.
To reduce the carbon footprint and try to improve the environment is
something that we all should contribute to. My field of study is adequate
to introduce this topic and encourage students to reduce their footprint
since I am starting my teaching career and this theme could be easily
introduced in a lesson so students can have a discussion about it. The
manner to present this topic to my students would be simple, first I
would give them a text where they learn more about carbon footprint
concept, so they acquire more information for the latter group discussion.
Furthermore, students would complete the test to check their carbon
footprint and share their results in pairs. The aim of this activity would
be not only to compare their results but also to discuss and find solutions
to reduce their carbon footprint.
I am working on physics study since I was an undergraduate.
This field of research promises hope for improving or sustaining
the environment. The study of solar cell is a typically example.
Solar cell is a kind of device which can translate light energy
directly into electrical energy according the principle of
photoelectric effect. Unlike the fossil fuels, solar cells do not
release warming gases like carbon dioxide in the working process.
So this device helps to reduce the greenhouse effect of the earth.
What’s more, scientists studying to use chlorophyll as materials
instead of harmful metal to make solar cell, which makes solar
cell more environmental.
 do
 say
 have
 tell
 get
 show
 let

think
AND MANY
MORE…
 put
Image from MS Clip Art
The molecular process Avoid:
 a few
transforms good
great deal
cells into malignant  a
about
ones.
 a lot of
The molecular process
transforms healthy
cells into malignant
ones.
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Image from MS Clip Art
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amazing
awful
bad
considerable
enough
good
great
hardly
kind of
some
sort of
AND MANY MORE…

Paint a Picture with Verbs
Igniting Revolutions with
Ideas: Science/Art
Collaborations
Sarah Peterson, Meisa Salaita, David Lynn in
Academic Exchange: A Forum for Emory Faculty Work, Life,
and Thought. Fall 2012, Volume 14, Number 1

Substitute Weak Verbs
o
Phrasal Verbs
I look at my daily behavior to be environmentally friendly.
I monitor my daily behavior to be environmentally friendly.
o
Informal, Common Verbs
The best-selling author got a contract to write two more novels.
The best-selling author signed a contract to write two more
novels.
o
Be Forms
The mapping project is an excellent example of the
collaboration of international scientists.
The mapping project furnishes an excellent example of …
Column A
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build up
hold on; hold fast
get rid of; leave behind
go faster; pick up the
speed
get done; carry out
come with; go together
with
get into
Column B
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abandon
accelerate
access
accompany
accomplish
accumulate
adhere
Image from MS
Clip Art
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o
o
o
Synonyms
Exist, live, prevail,
obtain, seem, appear,
look
Remain, stay, last,
continue, endure,
survive, persist
Attend, follow,
accompany
The librarian is at
the library until
8pm.
The librarian
stays…
Simple
Verb
Forms
Active
Voice
Witchcraft was
The women were
altering social
prosecuted for
behavior by using
sorcery and
spells, charms
witchcraft.
and potions.
Witchcraft altered
social behavior
by…
The colonial
viceroyalty
prosecuted the
women for…
Kayla _____is a graduate student in
Chemistry Department at
_____University. She has great passion
for science and is willing to devote
herself to research and exploration in
the field of biomolecular chemistry.
Kayla developed her interest for
chemistry since a very early stage of
life: when she was a little girl, she was
fond of playing with battery,
fluorescence and soap bubbles. Later,
she began to ask herself questions
about these amazing phenomena and
made up her mind to figure out these
questions and unlock the secrets of
nature. Kayla went to Hunan University
for college, of course, as a chemistry
major. During her undergraduate study,
she accumulated a lot of basic
knowledge, gained information and
experience about modern techniques, as
well as exposed herself to the frontier of
chemistry research. In June this year,
Kayla was awarded B.S. degree from
Hunan University.
Kayla ____, a graduate student in the
Chemistry Department at
_____University has great passion for
science and devotes herself to
research and exploration in the field of
biomolecular chemistry. Kayla
developed her interest for chemistry at
a very early stage of life: she amused
herself with batteries, fluorescence
and soap bubbles. Later, she gained
curiosity about these amazing
chemical phenomena and became
determined to unlock the secrets of
nature. Kayla graduated from Hunan
University as a chemistry major.
During her undergraduate study, she
accumulated basic knowledge,
gained information and experience
about modern techniques, as well as
exposed herself to the frontier of
chemistry research. In June this year,
Kayla was awarded a B.S. degree from
Hunan University.
Yun a student in the Chemistry
Department at ______ University,
studies Bio-molecular Chemistry.
Before I studying at ______, I was
awarded a bachelor’s degree in
Chemical Biology at Xiamen University
in 2010. To enrich my academic
background, I worked as volunteer
research assistantship in the
Chemistry Department in Xiamen
University for last year. My research
interest is on Protein Engineer to
fabricate and discover nature enzyme
with new catalysis function or higher
efficiency.
Yun, a first year graduate student in
the Chemistry Department at ______
University, dedicates herself to
exploring the unknown in the
amazing area of Bio-molecular
Chemistry. Yun Zhang’s passion for
chemistry and biology originated in
high school. Her proposal of applying
nitrogen fertilization advanced the
full recovery of the weak ficus bonsai.
In Yun’s undergraduate study in
Xiamen University, she majored in
Chemical Biology without hesitation.
In her second year, she optimized
the method of enriching the tumor
marker protein from biological sample
and developed a phage probe for
targeting Salmonella for her graduate
thesis project.
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Transitions: to map information
First, in summary, consequently, above all
Hedges: to vary strength of statements
This proposal may benefit children’s
Education.
Language from Common Structures:
Problem-Solution & Commentary
Image from MS Clip Art
Cause-and-Effect Relationships:
Image from MS
Clip Art
Green house gas emissions continue to increase, thereby
changing weather patterns.
Conditionals: The proposal would benefit children’s
education if the teachers recognized the importance of
environmental education.
Collocations or Combinations:
Resolve a problem, settle an argument, cause a
crisis, prompt a recommendation, stimulate a
response, produce an outcome

Despite the fact that Rose
makes a convincing
argument…he could have…




By focusing on… the author
neglected to…
In the writer’s impressive
article, he claimed…;
however…
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


acknowledge
affirm
assert
charge
claim
confirm
concur
contend
deny
dispute
doubt
endorse
examine
illustrate
maintain
oppose
predict
refute
Image from MS Clip
Art
Introduction: Moves with Evaluative Words & Phrases

Describe the current issue.

Identify the authors involved in the debate.
Summarize the literature and their claims.
In the writer’s impressive article, Dr. X… claimed…
With Rose’s innovative, yet unconvincing report, he
illustrates…

Establish a gap in one of the claims
By focusing on … the authors neglected to …
Although it is true that …

State your claim:
Despite the fact that Wagner makes a convincing argument, she
could have…
Nigel A. Caplan
Assistant Professor
University of Delaware
English Language Institute
We commonly assume that children’s development
is in our hands. (2) Such a view is reasonable enough,
and it is shared by many psychologist. (3)
Psychologists use more scientific language, but they
too assume that parents, teachers, and others
structure the child’s thought and behavior. (4) When
they see a child engaging in a new bit of behavior,
their first guess is that it has been taught. (5) If, for
example, a two-year-old girl shows an intense
interest in putting objects into place, they assume
that someone taught her to do this, for she is a
product of her social environment. (6) There is,
however, another tradition is psychology that looks at
development quite differently. (7) These writers …
(1)
(Crain, 2000, p. xi)
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Children’s development is commonly
believed to be in our hands. (2) Many
psychologists share this view, which is
reasonable enough. (3) More scientific
language is used by psychologists, parents,
teachers, and others are assumed by them
too to structure the child’s thought and
behavior. (4) When a child is seen engaging
in a new bit of behavior, that it has been
taught is their first guess.

Children’s development is commonly
believed to be in our hands. (2) Many
psychologists share this view, which is
reasonable enough. (3) More scientific
language is used by psychologists, parents,
teachers, and others are assumed by them
too to structure the child’s thought and
behavior. (4) When a child is seen engaging
in a new bit of behavior, that it has been
taught is their first guess.
Clause 1
Theme
New information
Clause 2
Theme (old)
New information
Clause 3
Theme (old)
New information
(Eggins, 2004, p. 324)
In response to Google's 2004 announcement of
Gmail and its huge storage capabilities, the
California State Senate passed Senate Bill 1822,
popularly known as the anti-Gmail bill. Senator
Liz Figueroa, sponsor of the bill, was concerned
that e-mail users, given virtually unlimited
storage capabilities, would retain all of their old
e-mail messages, making their entire e-mail
history available to the e-mail provider. "This new
technology has the horrible potential to use our
emails to create profiles on us based on our most
personal and intimate thoughts," she said.
Freeman, E.H. (2006). Gmail and privacy issues. Information Systems Security, 15(4), 2-6
Theme …..
Theme ….
Theme …
(Weissberg, 1984)
The anti-Gmail bill would forbid the technology
from being used other than as a real-time
analysis that would leave no trace or record.
Specifically, the measure forbids an e-mail
provider from retaining personally identifiable
information derived from the use of the
technology. It also forbids human access to such
information and forbids the transfer of such
information to third parties. The bill also requires
that when a consumer deletes an e-mail, it must
be physically, permanently deleted so no person
or machine can ever retrieve it.
Freeman, E.H. (2006). Gmail and privacy issues. Information Systems Security, 15(4), 2-6
Super Theme
Theme 1
Theme 2
Theme 3
(Weissberg, 1984)
a.k.a. “hyper theme”
One of the biggest trend shifts in China is the rise
of e-commerce. As recently as 2007, many online
consumers were wary of online purchasing and
China’s apparent lack of enforcement or payment
mechanisms. Business-to-business transactions
accounted for most of China’s e-commerce
activities. But things have changed significantly in
the last few years. While business-to-business is
still the largest e-commerce segment by total
transaction value, consumer-to-consumer and
business-to-consumer transactions are
experiencing the fastest growth.
Source: Michael & Zhou (2011). Understand and tap into China’s digital generation. China Business Review.
Clause 1
a
b
c
Clause 2
Theme (a)New information
Clause 3
Theme (b)New information
Clause 4
Theme (c) New information
(Eggins, 2004, p. 325)
In Weissberg’s (1984) study, over 20% of the
paragraphs he analyzed combined two or
patterns, leading him to conclude that there is
“great flexibility” in paragraph structure in
academic writing.
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Linking theme
Repeated theme
Super theme
Theme preview
or a combination of the above
Hint: If you’re not sure, focus on the
OLD-NEW pattern
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Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics
Experiential ~ Interpersonal ~ Textual
Old/New & Theme/Rheme
Grammatical resources for organizing
discourse
◦ Passive voice
◦ Moving “adjuncts” to clause-initial position
◦ Nominalization
(Caplan, Grammar Choices, in press)
Jennifer Greer (jlgreer1@uab.edu)
Chris Feak (cfeak@umich.edu)
Grace Canseco (gcansec@emory.edu)
Nigel Caplan (nacaplan@udel.edu)
PowerPoints, handouts,
and discussion:
http://nigelteacher.wordpress.com/handouts/tesol2012