Humanities and Social Sciences: Characteristics of Academic Texts

The humanities and social sciences deal with aspects of life and human beings. They utilize specialized organization. These language, lexical, and textual resources can communicate knowledge in a rigorous and diverse way, such as impersonal formulas. The first person of the plural is used as an expression of modesty. Also, exclamation marks or other concepts that introduce subjectivity are avoided. The texts are argued with short phrases. The following summarizes the characteristics of these texts.

Text Types

Test

Discloses knowledge on the topic with brevity. It combines exposition and argumentation, presents some ideas, and establishes their validity.

Exposition

Presents a set of information. The text is clear, brief, and orderly. The use of appropriate terms for the subject and specialized words are essential. To facilitate understanding, definitions are accompanied by examples. Brevity provides concise information to conform to the topic and has an appropriate extension. The selection of information prevents distracting the reader. Order implies announcing the points from the general to the more specific and complex.

Argumentation

Justifies an opinion and/or criticizes other views or contrary theories. The aim is to convince the interlocutor of the defended stance. The validity of the speech organization has a few sections that allow the listener to understand and accept the opinions that the author explains: introduction, body, and conclusion. Connectors are expressions that relate the parties and usually occur at the header or the end of the speech.

Characteristics of the Essay

• Free Organization: The author chooses how to develop their speech and has organizational freedom. They have in mind that they want an agile and entertaining exposition, but without losing clarity and brevity. They can introduce examples, quotes, etc.
• Citations: Must appear in quotation marks with an indication of the source. The use of full citations allows the author to relate their speech and opinion to other traditions.
• Brevity: A fundamental trait. It is not appropriate to give all the information possible; we have to choose. Reading should be moderately fast and intense.
• Variety of Topics: The issue may be a serious and objective exposition or a light and humorous approach.
• Subjectivity: The essay allows the author to present their personal approach. The reader can feel invited to the author's world.

The Essay as a Genre

The essay is an open and flexible genre. Essays deal with ideological, scientific, or artistic issues that criticize, report, or study from a very particular perspective. They usually deal with current issues. The form is between the scientific and the literary. Writing is clear and simple for the general public.