Hi, guys! How are you? Aren’t so sure about how to use Academic English collocations in the right context? Read this post and spell out all your doubts!

20 Academic English Collocations in Context

Read carefully this text where you will find academic English collocations in context and then complete the quiz.

Starting your Paper

First of all, before you begin writing a paper, it’s a good idea to make an outline (a list of points in an organized order) of the main points you plan to present. The next step is to gather evidence to support your claims because your work won’t be credible if you propose a theory (or try to challenge or refute a theory – argue against an existing theory) without some proof. 

Conversely, if your paper is going to touch on several issues (talk about several topics) then you’ll need to be especially organized. You can also draw a distinction between topics that are different or draw parallels between examples that are similar. Another way to organize your ideas is to show how they fall into different categories. 

Afterwards, once you have made your outline and gathering the supporting evidence you’ll use to make your case (present your argument), you can write a first draft (a first version of the paper) in which you go into detail on the topic. Then, you revise the paper (make improvements to it) until finishing with the final draft. 

Nailing Your Paper

Let’s say you’re carrying out a study on market trends in developing countries. So you can analyze the key factors (important factors) that are influencing the economy, showing how local politics play a role/part (have an effect) in shaping the country’s financial future. For instance, including some specific items that are perfect examples and clear illustrations of your ideas will help prove your points. 

Finally, at the end of your paper, you should briefly summarize the material you presented and draw conclusions based on your research. After all, the end of the article is also a good place to raise questions (present questions) for further study. 

Do you know any other collocation or expression related to Academic English? Share with us!… and in short, go on learning more collocations in context or 25 more relationship collocations in context!

Quiz on Academic English Collocations

Circle the best word to complete each sentence with the right academic English collocation in context: 

1. I wasn’t convinced by the article because I didn’t think the author adequately helped / provided / supported his claims. 

2. In her book, Clara Jones aims to refute / refuse / revise the dominant theory using five main counter-arguments. 

3. Steve Jobs’ leadership was a brief / key / perfect factor in Apple’s success. 

4. The first case / draft / try of his report was full of factual errors. 

5. The reasons for the war fall into two main categories / summaries / theories: political reasons and economic reasons. 

6. The trajectory of the country after 1930 is a clear / obvious / main illustration of Smith’s theory in action. 

7. These thought-provoking poems draw / make / raise questions about what it means to love unconditionally. 

8. This essay draws / goes / proves parallels between the main character in the novel and the author’s life. 

9. This paragraph has nothing to do with any of your main cases / outlines / points, you should get rid of it. 

10. We’d like to carry out / fall into / touch on several issues in today’s meeting. 

Hope now you can use academic English collocations with confidence and go on learning about the Use of English and about passing your First Certificate Exam with flying colors!

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Answer Key to Quiz on Academic English Collocations

Circle the best word to complete each sentence with the right academic English collocation in context: 

1. I wasn’t convinced by the article because I didn’t think the author adequately supported his claims. 

2. In her book, Clara Jones aims to refute the dominant theory using five main counter-arguments. 

3. Steve Jobs’ leadership was a key factor in Apple’s success. 

4. The first draft of his report was full of factual errors. 

5. The reasons for the war fall into two main categories: political reasons and economic reasons. 

6. The trajectory of the country after 1930 is a clear illustration of Smith’s theory in action. 

7. These thought-provoking poems raise questions about what it means to love unconditionally. 

8. This essay draws parallels between the main character in the novel and the author’s life. 

9. This paragraph has nothing to do with any of your main points, you should get rid of it. 

10. We’d like to touch on several issues in today’s meeting.