EAP Hedging Language in Academic Writing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which frequency adverb functions as a hedging device in academic writing?
- always
- never
- generally (Correct answer)
- completely
Correct answer: generally
'Generally' hedges a claim by acknowledging exceptions, unlike 'always' and 'never,' which make absolute statements.
Question 2: How do reporting verbs contribute to hedging in academic writing?
- They replace the need for in-text citations
- They indicate the writer's level of commitment to a cited claim (Correct answer)
- They are used only in the passive voice to avoid attribution
- They signal that the cited author's argument is incorrect
Correct answer: They indicate the writer's level of commitment to a cited claim
Reporting verbs like 'suggests,' 'argues,' and 'proposes' convey how strongly the citing writer endorses the source's claim.
Question 3: Which sentence uses the passive voice primarily as a hedging strategy?
- The researcher decided to omit outliers from the analysis.
- It has been observed that stress levels increase during exam periods. (Correct answer)
- Students frequently forget to cite their sources.
- The professor assigned three readings for next week.
Correct answer: It has been observed that stress levels increase during exam periods.
The agentless passive 'it has been observed' hedges by distancing the claim from any single observer and implying broader, impersonal evidence.
Question 4: What does the term 'epistemic modality' refer to in the context of academic hedging?
- The use of footnotes to qualify factual statements
- The grammatical expression of a speaker's degree of certainty or knowledge about a proposition (Correct answer)
- A method for structuring argument paragraphs in essays
- The use of first-person pronouns to express personal viewpoints
Correct answer: The grammatical expression of a speaker's degree of certainty or knowledge about a proposition
Epistemic modality involves linguistic markers (modal verbs, adverbs, phrases) that encode the writer's assessment of the likelihood or certainty of a claim.
Question 5: In which section of an academic paper is hedging MOST critical, and why?
- The abstract, because it must be short and use no uncertainty
- The discussion and conclusion, because claims about implications extend beyond the direct data (Correct answer)
- The methodology, because procedures are objective and factual
- The reference list, because sources must be qualified carefully
Correct answer: The discussion and conclusion, because claims about implications extend beyond the direct data
Discussions and conclusions interpret findings and extrapolate implications, making hedging essential to distinguish evidence-based results from reasoned speculation.
Question 6: Which of the following is a problem caused by UNDER-hedging in academic writing?
- The writing appears too tentative and lacks a clear argument
- Claims appear overstated, reducing the writer's academic credibility (Correct answer)
- The text becomes difficult to read because of too many qualifiers
- Reviewers may think the writer is not familiar with hedging conventions
Correct answer: Claims appear overstated, reducing the writer's academic credibility
Under-hedging leads to overgeneralization and absolute claims that expert readers will challenge, undermining the writer's credibility.
Question 7: Which phrase is an example of a 'shield' hedge, attributing a claim to an external source rather than the writer?
- It seems likely that economic growth will slow.
- We tentatively propose a new theoretical framework.
- According to the WHO, global temperatures may rise by 1.5°C. (Correct answer)
- Approximately 60% of participants responded positively.
Correct answer: According to the WHO, global temperatures may rise by 1.5°C.
'According to the WHO' attributes the claim to an external authority, shielding the writer from direct responsibility for its truth.
EAP Hedging Language in Academic Writing 2
Which frequency adverb functions as a hedging device in academic writing?