Academic word list (AWL) and collocationsTHERESA CLEMENTSON

Improving style and readability

Use appropriate academic vocabulary

Use collocations correctly

Academic Word List (AWL) 10 sublists – the most frequent words used in academic texts

https://www.victoria.ac.nz/lals/resources/academicwordlist/most-frequent

AWL highlighter and gapfill activities

https://www.eapfoundation.com/vocab/academic/highlighter/

How many words from sublist 1 can you find?Evidence-based practice can be defined as an approach based particularly on the use of the best available scientific evidence in order to support clinical practice (Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group 1992, cited in Culham 1998, p.65). This method emerged in medicine and was first introduced as ‘evidence-based medicine’ in 1992 by a team of doctors at the University of McMaster in Canada (Herbert et al, 2005; Law & MacDermid, 2008). Since then, many health care professions, including physiotherapy, have tried to incorporate this approach to their clinical practice (Dawes et al. 2005).

Evidence-based practice can be defined as an approach based particularly on the use of the best available scientific evidence in order to support clinical practice (Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group 1992, cited in Culham 1998, p.65). This method emerged in medicine and was first introduced as ‘evidence-based medicine’ in 1992 by a team of doctors at the University of McMaster in Canada (Herbert et al, 2005; Law & MacDermid, 2008). Since then, many health care professions, including physiotherapy, have tried to incorporate this approach to their clinical practice (Dawes et al. 2005).

Self study website

UEFAP.com vocabulary in EAP: • frequent words• definitions• different forms• collocations• exercisesTry these exercises: http://uefap.com/vocab/vocframex.htm

A useful app: Quizlet https://quizlet.com/subject/AWL/

Different types of collocation

noun + noun

noun + preposition

verb + noun

verb + preposition

adjective + noun

verb + adverb

preposition + noun

emerge from

financial crisis

interest rate

in advance

rise sharply

observe behaviour

increase in

Different types of collocation

noun + noun noun + preposition verb + noun verb + preposition adjective + noun verb + adverb preposition + noun

interest rate (an) increase inobserve behaviouremerge fromfinancial crisisrise sharplyin advance

Using collocationsWord:

• problem (noun)

Adjectives used with the word:

• fundamental, major, real, serious

Verbs used with the word

• face, solve, create, pose

• pose a major problem

• solve a fundamental problem

• face a real problem

• create a serious problem

•

Identify the collocations

Today most psychologists agree not only that both nature and nurture play important roles but

that they interact continuously to guide development. For example, we shall see that the

development of many personality traits, such as sociability and emotional stability, appear to be

influenced about equally by heredity and environment; similarly, we shall see that psychiatric

illnesses can have both genetic and environmental determinants.

Atkinson, R.L., Atkinson, R.C., Smith, E.E., Bem, D.J. & Nolen-Hoeksema, S., 1999. Hilgard’s Introduction to

Psychology. California, CA: Wadsworth Pub Co.

Notice the collocations

Today most psychologists agree not only that both nature and nurture play

important roles but that they interact continuously to guide development. For

example, we shall see that the development of many personality traits, such as

sociability and emotional stability, appear to be influenced about equally by

heredity and environment; similarly, we shall see that psychiatric illnesses can

have both genetic and environmental determinants. Atkinson, R.L., Atkinson, R.C., Smith, E.E., Bem, D.J. & Nolen-Hoeksema, S., 1999. Hilgard’s Introduction to

Psychology. California, CA: Wadsworth Pub Co.

Academic Collocations List (ACL)• https://www.eapfoundation.com/vocab/academic/acl/

• Find academic collocations in an extract of your own work

Academic Formulas List (AFL)https://www.eapfoundation.com/vocab/academic/afl/

Verb + pressure/doubt/opportunity + prepositionTom’s family are putting pressure … him to accept the job offer.

There is great pressure … the UN to take action.

The government is coming under pressure … hold a public enquiry into the alleged corruption of some ministers.

I have no doubts at all … the new PA’s ability to do the job.

Some people have expressed serious doubts … the government’s economic policy.

There are still some doubts … the applicant’s suitability for a senior position.

I am delighted to have the opportunity … present my ideas to such a distinguished audience.

There are now more opportunities … Eastern Europeans to find work in Western Europe.

I’d like to take this opportunity … thank you for your help in this matter.

Verb + pressure/doubt/opportunity + prepositionTom’s family are putting pressure on him to accept the job offer.

There is great pressure on the UN to take action.

The government is coming under pressure to hold a public enquiry into the alleged corruption of some ministers.

I have no doubts at all about the new PA’s ability to do the job.

Some people have expressed serious doubts about the government’s economic policy.

There are still some doubts about the applicant’s suitability for a senior position.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to present my ideas to such a distinguished audience.

There are now more opportunities for Eastern Europeans to find work in Western Europe.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your help in this matter.

Verb + noun + prepositionThe team are having a lot of trouble … the new software.

There is a widening gap … rich and poor countries.

Tariffs on agricultural products have a major impact/influence … farmers in the developing world.

There is a great deal of concern … the continuing drought in parts of Africa.

Another dry winter could have a serious effect … this year’s harvest.

Some people fail to see a connection … subsidies to farmers in the West and poverty in the developing world.

Doing business directly … the people producing the goods is more cost-effective.

Verb + noun + prepositionThe team are having a lot of trouble with the new software.

There is a widening gap between rich and poor countries.

Tariffs on agricultural products have a major impact/influence on farmers in the developing world.

There is a great deal of concern over the continuing drought in parts of Africa.

Another dry winter could have a serious effect on this year’s harvest.

Some people fail to see a connection between subsidies to farmers in the West and poverty in the developing world.

Doing business directly with the people producing the goods is more cost-effective.

Task

Put an extract from your work into ‘Highlighter’

How many words are from the AWL?

Can you identify any words which are not academic? Can you find academic synonyms for those words?

Task Look at a partner’s work

Identify words from Sublists 1 and 2

Identify words which are not academic Try to find more academic synonyms for those words

Identify strong collocations

Are they accurate? academic?

Collocation tasks adapted from:

Campbell, C. 2012. English for Academic Study: Vocabulary. Reading: Garnet Education.