Page 152 - English for Writing Research Papers

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The extract highlights that using a mixture of we and passive enables you to choose
the focus of your phrase. The candidates were divided puts the focus on the candi-
dates, whereas We then used the results focuses on what we did (i.e. our role is being
emphasized). Mixing we and the passive also creates variety for the reader. Note
also that the active is also sometimes used ( Candidates then underwent a second
test ), thus highlighting that in some cases it is still possible to write in an impersonal
way using active forms.

7.9 Make good use of references

The following extract is another example from Wordsworth’s paper (see 7.6 ) where

the reader has little or no idea which author made which finding. The principal
problem in the OV is not connected with problems of tense usage, but of lack of
references to the literature and the failure to use we / our .

original version (ov) revised version (rv)
Measurements (1) were made of the speed In a previous paper [Anderson and
with which bilingual adults performed Wordsworth, 2008] we made measurements
simultaneous translations of politicians’ of the speed with which bilingual adults
speeches because politicians tend to performed simultaneous translations of
use formal language [Anderson and politicians’ speeches. We chose politicians
Wordsworth, 2008]. (2) Similar tests with because it is well known that they tend to use
Nobel prize winners’ acceptance speeches formal language. In the same study [Anderson
gave similar values of speed. This fi nding and Wordsworth, 2008] we conducted similar
strongly suggests that formal language tests with Nobel prize winners’ acceptance
represents an easier element for translation speeches, which gave similar values of speed.

than informal language. The performance These two findings strongly suggest that
of teenagers (3) in analogous situations formal language represents an easier element
also confirms the above fi nding. for translation than informal language. The

Considering that informal language, performance of teenagers in analogous
in particular slang, (4) intensifi es the situations also confirms the above fi nding

stress levels of subjects undertaking [ Williams , 2009]. Williams found that informal
simultaneous translation (5) the lack of language, in particular slang, intensifi es
changes in stress levels of the bilingual the stress levels of subjects undertaking
adults with respect to bilingual teenagers simultaneous translation.
when simultaneously translating extracts
from a teenage soap opera, would seem Therefore the lack of changes that we found
to indicate that experience plays an in our present research in the stress levels of
important role. Consequently, stress levels bilingual adults with respect to bilingual
in bilingual subjects tend (6) to decrease teenagers when simultaneously translating
with age. extracts from a teenage soap opera, would
seem to indicate that experience plays an
important role. As a consequence of our latest
findings, we conclude that stress levels in

bilingual subjects tend to decrease with age.