Use of Modals in Academic Writing

8/3/2019 Use of Modals in Academic Writing

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f M l in A mif M l in A mi

WritingWriting

ESL WorkshopESL Workshop

,,[email protected]@uis.edu


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Asks ou to:Asks ou to:

AnalyzeAnalyze

yn es zeyn es ze

InterpretInterpret

DiscussDiscuss

ExploreExplore

ExpandExpand

InferInfer


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..Inter ret => make claims => offer ideas,Inter ret => make claims => offer ideas,

possibilities, suggestionspossibilities, suggestions(Present findings which may not be the only way to(Present findings which may not be the only way to

Fact = rovable, certain, re roducibleFact = rovable, certain, re roducible

When interpret, allow for the reader or otherWhen interpret, allow for the reader or other

..possibility of other positions.possibility of other positions.


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While the findin s of this stud seem in line with theWhile the findin s of this stud seem in line with the

studies that have come before there were a number ofstudies that have come before there were a number ofconcerning issues. First, surveys should beconcerning issues. First, surveys should beadministered to eo le actin as artici ants, not badministered to eo le actin as artici ants, not bfriends posing as participantsfriends posing as participants in order toin order to diminish thediminish thenumber of prank responses. In life, some participantsnumber of prank responses. In life, some participantsare ranksters, soare ranksters, so isis chalked u to individual differences.chalked u to individual differences.Second, itSecond, it isis more reliable to have another rater To bemore reliable to have another rater To bemore useful, a study of this naturemore useful, a study of this nature needsneeds further, andfurther, andmore rudent research. That notwithstandin this studmore rudent research. That notwithstandin this stud

shows that pragmatic competence is important andshows that pragmatic competence is important andrelevant to course design.relevant to course design.


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While the findin s of this stud seem in line with theWhile the findin s of this stud seem in line with the

studies that have come before there were a number ofstudies that have come before there were a number ofconcerning issues. First, surveys should beconcerning issues. First, surveys should beadministered to eo le actin as artici ants, not badministered to eo le actin as artici ants, not bfriends posing as participants. Thisfriends posing as participants. This couldcould diminish thediminish thenumber of prank responses. In life, some participantsnumber of prank responses. In life, some participantsare ranksters, so thisare ranksters, so this mi htmi ht be chalked u to individualbe chalked u to individualdifferences. Second, itdifferences. Second, it wouldwould be more reliable to havebe more reliable to haveanother rater To be more useful, a study of this natureanother rater To be more useful, a study of this naturewouldwould need further and more rudent research. Thatneed further and more rudent research. That

notwithstanding, this study is pedagogically interestingnotwithstanding, this study is pedagogically interestingbecause teachersbecause teachers maymay decide instruction in pragmaticdecide instruction in pragmaticcom etencecom etence shouldshould be built into the course desi n.be built into the course desi n.


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WillWill wouldwould cancan couldcould shallshall

ModalsModals

Modals = verbs that offer shades of meaningModals = verbs that offer shades of meaning

Modals express varying degrees of possibility orModals express varying degrees of possibility or

certainly about a statementcertainly about a statement

Modals can improve your credibilityModals can improve your credibility

shouldshould mama mi htmi ht mustmust


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o owe y ase orm o ma n vero owe y ase orm o ma n ver

(should(should dodo) or helping verb + main verb) or helping verb + main verbs ous ou e o nge o ng

Never insert to between modal + verbNever insert to between modal + verb


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1. Modal + not + verb mi ht not attend1. Modal + not + verb mi ht not attend

2. Informal writing2. Informal writing (emails)(emails) contractcontractcan + notcan + not = can t= can t

will + notwill + not = wont= wont should + notshould + not = shouldnt= shouldntcould + notcould + not = couldnt= couldnt

3. Formal writing3. Formal writing (proposals, papers, business letters)(proposals, papers, business letters)u ormu orm

can + notcan + not = cannot= cannot


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Examine your evidence, yourExamine your evidence, your

you are to your interpretation.you are to your interpretation.

Who would say each of the following:Who would say each of the following:

1.1. e eros on may ave een cause y e w n .e eros on may ave een cause y e w n .2.2. The erosion must have been caused by the wind.The erosion must have been caused by the wind.


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could/mightcould/might weak inference/ low possibilityweak inference/ low possibility

,,

shouldshould strong/ moderate possibility, probablestrong/ moderate possibility, probablemustmust very strong/ certainlyvery strong/ certainlywillwill strongest/ very certainlystrongest/ very certainly

It ______ rain today.It ______ rain today.

could/mightcould/might

maymay

shouldshould

mustmust

willwill


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mightmight low possibilitylow possibility

maymay

wont/ wouldntwont/ wouldntcant/couldntcant/couldnt ImpossibilityImpossibility


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time, use:time, use:

, , , ,, , , ,

If the results had come in sooner, it might have made a difference.If the results had come in sooner, it might have made a difference.

vs.vs.

If the results come tomorrow, it may make a difference.If the results come tomorrow, it may make a difference.


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ExerciseExerciseUse a modal verb in place of the underlined words and phrases. YouUse a modal verb in place of the underlined words and phrases. You

might need to reconstruct the sentence rather than substitute words.might need to reconstruct the sentence rather than substitute words.

Example:Example: It is certainIt is certain that the sales taxthat the sales tax is going tois going to increase next year.increase next year.Answer:Answer: Sales tax will increase next year.Sales tax will increase next year.

1.1. The scientistThe scientist found it impossiblefound it impossible to present her analysis because she hadto present her analysis because she hadnot collected all her data.not collected all her data.

2.2. There is a low possibility thatThere is a low possibility that the shipment arrived yesterday afternoon.the shipment arrived yesterday afternoon.3.3. It is quite likely thatIt is quite likely that locallylocally--grown tomatoesgrown tomatoes areare available at the farmersavailable at the farmers

market.market.4.4. It is surely not possible thatIt is surely not possible that hehe isis the person they hired!the person they hired!5.5. It has rained for four days, soIt has rained for four days, so it is highly probably thatit is highly probably that the groundthe ground isis veryvery

soggy.soggy.

6.6. HeHe is likely to see benefitsis likely to see benefits from his exercise program.from his exercise program.7.7. The winds are increasing at an alarming rate soThe winds are increasing at an alarming rate so there is a high probabilitythere is a high probability

thatthat a tornadoa tornado isis on the way.on the way.

Raimes, Ann.Raimes, Ann. Grammar TroublespotsGrammar Troublespots. New York: Cambridge University Press,. New York: Cambridge University Press,

2004. 75.2004. 75.


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1.1. The scientistThe scientist couldnt presentcouldnt present her analysisher analysis2.2. The shipmentThe shipment might have arrivedmight have arrived yesterday afternoon.yesterday afternoon.3.3. Locally grown tomatoesLocally grown tomatoes should beshould be availableavailable

.. 5.5. so the groundso the ground must bemust be very soggy.very soggy.

6.6. HeHe should seeshould see benefits from his exercise programbenefits from his exercise program.. ..

Raimes, Ann.Raimes, Ann. Grammar TroublespotsGrammar Troublespots. New York:. New York:Cambrid e Universit Press, 2004. 178.Cambrid e Universit Press, 2004. 178.


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Su estSu est This studThis stud su estssu ests that .that .

SeemSeem CisnerosCisneros seemsseems to implyto implyA earA ear The resultsThe results a eara ear to show to show

IndicateIndicate This high passage rateThis high passage rate indicatesindicates ..

Use Use II I believeI believe this evidence points to .this evidence points to .

WhileWhile, sentences, sentences While I conclude X,While I conclude X,others might conclude Yothers might conclude Y..


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any contexts request ng, recommen ng,any contexts request ng, recommen ng,

expressing ability, academic writing)expressing ability, academic writing)

Modal + VerbModal + Verb

NeverNever modal + modal +verbmodal + modal +verb oror modal + to +verbmodal + to +verb


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.. . .. .

lintro.htmllintro.html.. . . .. . .

chive/modal_verbs01.htmlchive/modal_verbs01.html.. p: en.w pe a.org w ng s _mo ap: en.w pe a.org w ng s _mo a_auxiliary_verb_auxiliary_verb

4. Your writing handbook4. Your writing handbook

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Use of Modals in Academic Writing