The Neglected Writing Style of Mathematical Modeling Essays

Abstract

In modern society, academic exchanges are mainly processed in the style of English for Academic Purposes. Western countries have long been attaching importance to EAP teaching, while China just begins to teach EAP in the recent decade. With the purpose to enhance the quality of EAP teaching in China, Chinese publishers have published several sets of textbooks on EAP, most of which illustrate the following language features: formality, complexity and objectivity. However, those textbooks seldom discuss the unique writing style of mathematical modeling essays. Despite the fact that these essays are also written in a formal style, complexity and objectivity do not seem to be their focus. In fact, simplicity and subjectivity are considered as the two accepted unique stylistic features of mathematical modeling essays. This leads to the embarrassing result that most of mathematical modeling essays by Chinese authors are written according to the common features of other academic essays. It may deter academic exchanges of Chinese scholars with their counterparts from foreign countries. Therefore, Chinese teachers who teach EAP are required to be aware of the differences between mathematical modeling essays and other common academic essays.