ALESA Wk 1 Reading for Academic Style

Read the extract from the book Civic life online: Learning how digital media can engage youth about
perspectives on civic engagement and citizenship for young people both online and offline. Answer the
following questions:

Topic: What does the author want to you know about young people as citizens?

He says this digital age makes a room for young people who is disconnected to politics. In this digital
age, many young people express their interest to society. However, on the other hand, politicians words
and deed, negative expression of adults around them, and so on encourage young people to be less
interested in politics. Then they get to prefer online friendship.

Evidence / reasons: What is / are the main reason(s) that the author gives for his position?

He suggests the opinion from the view point democracy is should to be made by citizen including young
people. Contrary to his idea, young people are affected in terms of negativity about politics, and they want
online friendship.

Applying to your life: Can you think of any examples from your life that support the authors view?

As to the disinterest of young people about politics, in japan the voting rate of 18 and 19 years old of
last house of councilors election was 46.48% (from Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and
Communications) This is the first time that 18 and 19 years old can vote, but the voting rate was low. To
take account of many everyday news about political scandals or negative image, young people are less likely
to be interested in politics.

Academic Writing Do you think this is a good piece of academic writing? Why?

This writing is not academic. I have some question about it. Is it really good focus on young people?
Adults are also affected by negative image of politics? Through disinterest to politics, people get to need
online friendship? Are there other options? What is young people? the detailed definition is lacked.
When we write academically, we should reveal these points or construct text to avoid criticizes.
He should also quote other documents and show his position to others who demonstrate their idea
about the same topic. To show data, this writing become more critical and objective.
ALESA Wk 1 Reading for Academic Style

Now read Generation Z: Who we are. Answer the following questions:

What does the author want to convince you of? Can you see any similarities with Reading 1?

She insists that Gen Z is responsible for future of the society so we should pay attention to Gen Z
and what Gen Z want. Actually, some Gen Z are already acting for their society.
The two writing are similar to each other in that both focus on young generation and expect positive
movement for our society. (there is a little difference: the former imply this and the latter suggest
clearly) The act of the young at present is also referred in both text.

What evidence does the author present?

When she explains WHAT WE WANT, she uses Internet news sites articles. She should change the
resource of the quotation, because the information in the internet and newspapers are not necessarily
true. Of course every academic reference is not correct, but the writers are more careful of scientific
or logic error. Official data or academic references are better to use this writing.

Are there any differences in the language of the two articles?

I cant understand linguistic difference between them (ex. American English, British English) , but the
former has difficult words for me and the latter has relatively easy words overall.
In another points, slangs are used in the latter one such as savvy. This shows she doesnt assume that
this writing are not read academically and formally.

Which do you think is the better piece of academic writing? Why?

Both of them are not academic writing. We should reveal our position toward other writers about
same topics in the past and to show our points we should use data or other academic references. However
these two writing are lack of them.