1. Academic English Vanessa Russell
Academic Word List
Academic English Vanessa Russell
Vanessa Russell

2. What is AWL? Averil Coxhead 570 words from 3,500,000 list
From journals, textbooks, course workbooks, lab manuals and course notes.
Divided into sub-lists from the most frequent
60/sub-list
Sub-list 10 = 30
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3. Why learn AWL? Academic words used across disciplines
Used in newspapers, magazines and novels
Used in televisions, movies and conversations
ESL learners
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4. Advantages of AWL (Subtechnical) Words
You can improve the level of your writing by choosing words that are clear and specific.
Academic Words will help you express increasingly complex thoughts in a precise and interesting way.
Increase your vocabulary exponentially by familiarizing yourself with the word forms.
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5. Examples of Precise Word Choices for the Writer
Non-Academic Words
Live
Try
Academic Words
(AWL)
Survive
Persist
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6. What differences do academic words add to these sentences?
While hiking alone in Utah, Aron Ralston, of 127 Hours, was hit by a falling boulder which pinned his right arm and trapped him for five days.
In order to survive (the hiking accident), he amputated his arm.
He is a survivor.
His survival is remarkable.
In order to live, he amputated his own arm.
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7. What differences do academic words add to these sentences?
In 2005, Brian O’Driscol, captain of the Irish rugby team, was spear tackled in a game in New Zealand leaving him with a dislocated shoulder. He desperately wanted to be back in shape again to be able to play in the coming World Cup.
After the injury, he persisted in training his shoulders with intensity to strengthen the muscles.
He was very persistent about strengthening his shoulder muscles.
His persistence has made him one of the best rugby players of his time.
Since the injury he has tried to train his shoulders with intensity to strengthen the muscles.
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8. Practice
Select 1 word from the following AWL words. Write 3 sentences with this word.
-analyze -occur
-assume -compatible
-define -require
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9. Word Forms
Most academic words can take prefixes and suffixes that alters meaning – that is they can have different meaning with slight change.
Example: Analyze (v), analyzable (adj), analyzer (n), analysis (n).
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10. Word Forms Noun Verb Adverb Adjective Analyzer/analysis Analyze
analyzable
Assume
Define
Occur
Compatible
Require
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