Required Prompt (6 Pages) - 8 Hours At The Max. Urgent And Good Work Required
jhayes
HedgingPowerpoint.pptxHedging
Slides courtesy of Kendall Padrick. There is a corresponding handout for students to practice hedging language.
Reasons for Hedging
Being unsure of something
It might rain tomorrow.
The results could indicate a problem, but it is not clear.
Reasons for Hedging
Added politeness or to soften your tone, especially when asking someone to do something.
You might want to change your outfit.
Compare to “You should change your outfit.”
Could you finish the project tomorrow?
Compare to “Finish the project by tomorrow.”
Reasons for Hedging
For academic writing, when you need to avoid directly stating an opinion.
Some people believe smoking should be banned.
Smoking should be banned.
This shows that advertising to children might cause negative effects.
This shows that advertising to children causes negative effects.
Some could argue that eating meat is unhealthy.
Eating meat is unhealthy.
It is possible that chewing gum can help people study.
Chewing gum helps everyone study.
How to Hedge in Academic Writing
Indicate an opinion belongs to someone else, not you.
Some people argue…
Some critics say…
It is argued that…
There are … who say …
Some studies indicate watching television has negative effects on children.
How to Hedge in Academic Writing
Careful verb selection. Use verbs with definitions/connotation that are not forceful.
Suggest
Indicate
Raise a subject
Use the verb softener “help”
Help show
Help prove
How to Hedge in Academic Writing
Careful selection of phrases. Choose adverbs or phrases that indicate uncertainty.
It is possible that …
Possibly…
Potentially…
How to Hedge in Academic Writing
Use of qualifiers before nouns. This makes it clear that it is not always true, meaning there are exceptions.
Some
Many
Much
How to Hedge in Academic Writing
Use certain modals: might/could/may
There might be evidence of negative effects.
You can hedge with “can” if you use other hedging techniques as well.
It is possible that chewing gum can help you study.
Don’t use should/shall/will. These are too strong to hedge with.
You should study. (direct advice)
You might want to study. (suggestion)
How to Hedge in Academic Writing
Combine multiple hedging methods.
There are people who suggest that grades may help lower students’ self-esteem.
It is possible that going to the gym might help some people sleep better at night.
