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ENG333 Week 8
The document discusses hedging language and cautious language used in academic writing. It provides examples of cautious versus non-cautious language and explains why hedging is important. Specifically: - Sentence 2 from the first example uses more cautious language by saying water shortages "may" trigger conflict rather than stating it definitively. - Hedging language avoids making absolute claims and reflects uncertainties, as research is continually evolving. It reduces criticism, shows humility, and aligns with academic writing conventions. - Examples of hedging words include tentative verbs like "suggest", modal verbs like "may", and adverbs of frequency. Removing these and using strong claims makes statements less cautious. The
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ENG333 Week 8
- 1. Which of thetwo sentences below use cautious language? 1. Water shortages trigger conflict between nations. 2. Water shortages may trigger conflict between nations.
- 2.
- 3. Learning Outcome 1. Usehedging or cautious language in research paper writing
- 4. Hedging Because researchand theories are being developed and updated all the time, writers tend to use cautious or tentative language. This is sometimes called “Hedging” The language used in academic writing should reflect the amount of strength of evidence to support a topic or claim. Which sentence is an example of “hedging”? 1. The data in Figure 1 suggest that tertiary students tend not to speak English very frequently outside class . 2. It is obvious that students never speak English outside class. Which sentence is an example of “hedging”? 1. The data in Figure 1 suggest that tertiary students tend not to speak English very frequently outside class . 2. It is obvious that students never speak English outside class.
- 5. 1. The firewas probably caused by a fault in the engine temperature gauge. 2. The fire could have been caused by a fault in the engine temperature gauge. The use of the word ‘probably’ in the sentence above indicates that the evidence is fairly strong. In the second sentence, the more tentative word ‘could’ was selected, indicating that the evidence is weak. Paying due attention to accuracy helps to avoid, or at least reduce, criticism of your work. Viewed from this perspective, hedging has a persuasive function.
- 6. Four reasons tohedge Hedging…. 1. reduces the risk of opposition. 2. is more precise in reporting results. 3. shows the writer as humble rather than arrogant or all-knowing. 4. shows awareness of academic writing style in English.
- 7. Using cautious language/ Hedging When you discuss ideas or data in your written assignments, you should use cautious rather than assertive language. This means that you should avoid adverbs such as: clearly obviously without a doubt certainly undoubtedly definitely there is no doubt that absolutely (result / evidence) is / shows that / says that / proves Or verbs like
- 8. Cautious language Language thatis not cautious There is no doubt that Jennings’ (2010) research shows that smoking tobacco causes lung cancer. Smith’s (2011) evidence proves that greenhouse gases definitely have an effect on the climate. Cautious language Jennings’ (2010) research would appear to show that smoking tobacco may cause lung cancer. Smith’s (2011) evidence suggests that greenhouse gases may have an effect on the climate.
- 9. 9 Language used inhedging Type Examples Introductory verbs: doubt, be sure, indicate, think, believe, suggest, seem, tend, look like, appear to be Certain modal verbs: will, must, would, may, might, could Certain lexical verbs: suggest, believe, assume
- 10. 10 Cont… Language usedin hedging Modal adjectives: certain, definite, clear, probable, possible Adverbs of frequency: often, sometimes, usually Modal adverbs: certainly, definitely, clearly, probably, possibly, perhaps, conceivably,
- 11. 11 Cont…Language used inhedging Modal nouns assumption, possibility, probability That clauses It could be the case that . It might be suggested that . There is every hope that . To-clause + adjective It may be possible to obtain . It is important to develop . It is useful to study . Source: http://www.uefap.com/writing/feature/hedge.htm
- 12. 12 Hedging language: Lookingat it again A wide range of words and phrases can be used in hedging: Modal auxiliary verbs: can, could, may, might, should, would Other modal verbs: appear, look, seem, tend Probability adjectives: likely, possible, probable, unlikely Probability adverbs: perhaps, possibly, probably, presumably Frequency adverbs: generally, occasionally, often, seldom, usually www.ncl.ac.uk › ... › Learning resources › Academic language & style
- 13. Practice 1: Identifythe hedges 1. It may be said that the commitment to some of the social and economic concepts was less strong than it is now. 2. The lives they chose may seem overly ascetic and self-denying to most women today. 3. Weismann suggested that animals become old because, if they did not, there could be no successive replacement of individuals and hence no evolution. 1. The commitment to some of the social and economic concepts was less strong than it is now. 2. The lives they chose are overly ascetic and self-denying to most women today. 3. Weismann proved that animals become old because, if they did not, there could be no successive replacement of individuals and hence no evolution. (Consider the difference meaning?) 13 1. It may be said that the commitment to some of the social and economic concepts was less strong than it is now. 2. The lives they chose may seem overly ascetic and self-denying to most women today. 3. Weismann suggested that animals become old because, if they did not, there could be no successive replacement of individuals and hence no evolution.
- 14. Exercise 1: Highlightcautious language in the below paragraph on Alcohol Use among College Students
- 15. Exercise 2: Look theparagraph below (from the same article). Cross out the words/parts that are not hedged enough (not written cautiously enough). Improve the sentences.
- 16. Apply hedging inthe following sentences 1. There is no doubt that forests are the most important thing in the world. 2. Research clearly proves that it is much better for your health to drink red wine than beer. 3. Organic food obviously tastes better. 4. Marijuana is definitely not a beneficial choice in our lives. 5. As we all know, plastic surgery always has many negative side effects.
- 17. Sample Answers: 1. Forestsseem to be the most important things in the world. 2. Research suggests that it is much better for your health to drink red wine than beer. 3. Organic food generally tastes better. 4. Marijuana appears not a beneficial choice in our lives. 5. Plastic surgery usually has many negative side effects.
- 18. Week 8 Assignment Rewritethese sentences using hedging language. 1. Playing violent video games causes more aggression, bullying, and fighting 2. Mars is the focus of much scientific study and the foremost planet for human colonization. 3. News reports can never be trusted because of media bias, journalist interpretation and agenda setting. 4. The main concerns for the future generations are global food supplies and population growth. Both of these have to be addressed by international leaders within the next five years 5. Most people think that Climate Change is caused by human activities. 6. The key factor of divorce is gender hierarchy and gender inequality. 7. The impact of the UK’s ageing population will lead to increased welfare costs. Consequently, this will result in higher taxes and an increased retirement age for younger people. 8. Everybody agrees that the main cause of the financial crash was subprime mortgage lending.
- 19. Rewrite the paragraphbelow using hedging language Let’s now talk about the data in Figure 1. First and foremost, it’s crystal clear that students don’t have many opportunities to speak English outside the classroom. You can tell this because all the means are under 3.00. Clearly, PolyU students don’t have any need to speak to parents, etc. in English. This is undoubtedly because their family members are Cantonese speakers. Obviously, there’s no point in speaking English when everyone can speak Cantonese. As you can see, PolyU students never speak to their grandparents in English. This is not surprising because, as we all know, old people in Hong Kong can’t speak English. That’s because the education system wasn’t very good in the past. You can see, though, that there are a few situations (overseas holidays and so on) where students do get a golden opportunity to use their English, even though this is not really very often. In a nutshell, then, the data in Figure 1 prove that PolyU students don’t speak English much outside the classroom.
- 20. Follow-up assignment Nowwrite a paragraph you might want to use (or have already used) in your own literature review, making sure your language is cautious. Peer-check
- 21.