Module 8: Mastering Academic Tone and Formality

Objective: Equip learners with the ability to write essays that demonstrate a high level of formality and an academic tone, essential for achieving Band 8+ in IELTS Writing Task 2.

Key Skills

1. Writing in an Appropriate Academic Style with Formality

1. • Replace casual phrases (e.g., “kids”) with formal equivalents (“children”).
   • Avoid personal language like “I believe”. Use impersonal structures such as “It is widely believed…”.
   • Ensure sentences are precise and concise, eliminating redundancies.

2. Avoiding Informal Language, Contractions, and Slang

1. • Avoid contractions like “don’t” or “won’t”. Write “do not” or “will not” instead.
   • Exclude idiomatic expressions or slang. Replace “a lot of” with “a significant number of”.

Practical Activities

1. Exercises on Replacing Informal Expressions with Formal Equivalents

1. • Example: Transform the sentence, “Nowadays, lots of people think it’s okay to skip college”, into:
     “Currently, many individuals consider bypassing tertiary education acceptable.”

2. Comparing Essays to Highlight Differences in Tone

1. • Provide two versions of a paragraph (one informal, one formal).
   • Example:
     • Informal: “Everyone knows pollution is a big deal these days.”
     • Formal: “Environmental pollution is increasingly recognized as a critical global issue.”

3. Editing Practice to Achieve Polished and Formal Language

1. • Provide a sample essay with informal language for learners to refine.
   • Example:
     • Original: “People should know that smoking’s bad for their health.”
     • Edited: “Individuals must recognize the detrimental health impacts of smoking.”

Examples from Real IELTS Exam Essays

1. Informal vs. Formal

1. • Prompt: “Some people think public transport is better than private cars. Discuss both views and give your opinion.”
   • Informal: “I think buses and trains are better because they’re cheaper and less stressful.”
   • Formal: “Public transportation offers advantages such as cost-effectiveness and reduced stress, making it preferable to private vehicles.”

2. Use of Academic Tone

1. • Prompt: “What are the benefits and drawbacks of living in a big city?”
   • Band 8+ Response:
     “Urban living provides access to superior educational and healthcare facilities. However, it is often accompanied by challenges such as overcrowding and elevated living costs.”

Final Tips

• Always proofread for tone and style consistency.
• Use a thesaurus wisely; prioritize clarity over overly complex words.
• Maintain a balance: formality should not compromise readability.

By mastering academic tone and formality, learners can ensure their essays convey professionalism and intellectual depth, essential for achieving Band 8+.