Portfolio Entry #11: Writing strategies: Hedging and Boosting

via GIPHY

The following videos define some concepts of hedging and boosting and the importance of academic research writing.

Video #1: The importance of Hedging:

Example 1 

Categorical claim 

The issues highlighted in this study are applicable to all participating institutions.

Hedged claim 

The issues highlighted in this study may be applicable to many participating institutions.

Example 2

Categorical claim 

Government support will assure the spread of new knowledge and the skills necessary to use the internet to thousands of people in rural areas.

Hedged claim 

Government support may help with the spread of new knowledge and the skills necessary to use the internet to thousands of people in rural areas.

Example 3 

Categorical claim

The study proves the link between smoking and lung disease.

Hedged claim

The study indicates/suggests a (possible) link between smoking and lung disease. 

Example 4 

Categorical claim

The number of unemployed people will continue to raise as the poor economic situation persists.

Hedged claim 

The number of unemployed people will probably continue to raise as the poor economic situation persists.

Example 5 

Categorical claim

This (and subsequent) studies led to the conclusion that the GTP itself must be the elusive base, and therefore to the proposal of the GTP-as-base mechanism (Schweins et al 1994, 1995).

Hedged claim

This (and subsequent) studies led to the conclusion that the GTP itself may be the elusive base, and therefore to the proposal of the GTP-as-base mechanism (Schweins et al 1994, 1995).

Study notes:

1. Hedging represents the absence of certainty and it is used to describe any linguistic item or strategy employed to indicate either a lack of commitment to the true value of an accompanying preposition or desire not expressed.

2. Hedging allows writers/researchers to submit new arguments/claims into an ongoing dialogue while acknowledging that there might be other, equally valid, or perhaps better points of view.

3. Hedging allows writers/ researchers to have the flexibility to avoid making absolute/ categorical statements which claim that the writer/researcher has found the perfect and only answer

4. Hedging allows writers/researchers to offer something new and establish him/herself as a possible authority on a topic while leaving room for other voices and perspectives.

5. Without hedging the world is purely propositional

Video #2:Hedging and Boosting:

Example 1:

Clearly, these sale figures show a definite increase in consumer confidence, which will undoubtedly have an impact on our share price.

Example 2: 

Employees will always respond positively to such circumstances.

Example 3: 

Certainly, this has had an impact on learning outcomes.

Example 4:

This will have an impact on future research in the field.

Example 5:

These figures prove that there has been strong growth as a result of policy change.

Study notes: 

1. We use Hedging when we want to soften what we assigned to avoid making too strong at the time 

2. Boosting is the opposite of hedging (present a strong point of view)

3. General statements are not always true

4. A qualified claim is not an absolute claim.

Podcast:

Ver en Vocaroo >>

Sources:

AWUC (August 18th, 2015) Hedging in Academic Writing. Video retrieved from YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_gM_GNU0Rw&feature=emb_logo

Griffith University (August 26th, 2015) Learn English - Hedging and Boosting. Video retrieved from YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU-KgiVsAxY&feature=emb_logo

Metacognitive Analysis:

 Since we should know how to position ourselves while writing and having conversations by feeling ok about being imprecise, I consider it highly important to learn about the use of hedging. Even though I knew all the words presented in the video as examples, while writing academic texts I do not tend to use them. Sometimes, as a student, I think that I should be as precise as I could be, that is why I have the tendency to go to the main idea instead of sharing different points of view. Besides, when I search for information about something, I prefer to avoid the data which seems not to coincide with my opinion. However, here, I learnt that it is important to place myself for or against what I read or listen to by clarifying that I am not a hundred percent in accordance with some ideas or that I do not have the necessary information to be sure about them. 

Boosting is other significant tool to bear in mind while writing due to the fact that if we want to present a strong idea, it is relevant to use certain words to support and empower it. Although I use some of the words shared as examples in the video, I sometimes forget how necessary is to affirm my point of view firmly. Fortunately, these videos make me rethink the way I should write in order to improve my productions by adding words that show the strength of what I believe.