Transcript Chapter Three Classification and Division

Definition
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I Definition
I What is definition?
• The method of development in which
the writer clarifies the meaning of a
term to support a point.
• A definition tells what a term means
and how it is different from other
terms in its class.
• A definition essay does what it
sounds like: defines a term. However,
it is usually a different definition
than is commonly known or provides
new insight or a new way of looking at
a subject.
• The definition essay defines
something, perhaps a particular word
or idea. It is often a combination of
the cause and effect, the
descriptive, the narrative, the
process, and the comparison /
contrast essays, all working
together to create a complete
definition of a multifaceted subject.
II Features
• 1. When selecting a subject,
remember that most words or ideas
have many different meanings. Do not
hesitate to explore and use those
meanings.
• Eg.
• What does the word “dark” mean?
• A word as simple as "dark" can refer
to what happens to the sky when the
sun goes down, a shade of a color, the
presence of evil, or a person’s
mysterious side.
• 2. After choosing the subject you
want to define, and carefully
considering all of its meanings,
organize all of your thoughts in the
order that would best convey the
message you want to get across to
the reader. An outline works best for
this step.
• 3. Decide what style of essay you
want to use. If you are breaking your
definition into parts, the process
method may be your best choice. If
you are defining by comparing your
subject to another, comparison and
contrast may be your approach. You
will find the longer your definition is,
the greater the chances are of using
several of the techniques of writing
an essay.
• 4. Avoid defining a word by quoting
the dictionary. Example: Webster’s
dictionary says . . .
• 5. Avoid defining with "is when" and
"is where."
• Can you share the reason why we
should avoid defining with “is when”
and “is where”?
• These adverb phrase introducers
only describe words, rather than
define them.
III Why do writers use
definition?
• a. To clarify the meaning of words or
technical terms that may be
unfamiliar to the reader
• b. To define terms that may be new
• c. To fit changing standards or values
• d. To draw the line between relative
or overlapping terms
• e. To explain the essential nature of
a thing or an idea; it answers the
question, "What is the essence of ..."
(good parenting, love, a healthy
family)
IV How can readers and
writers recognize
definition?
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a. The term
b. The purpose
c. The strategies
d. Indicator words such as these:
• Eg. Can you enumerate some
indicators /transitional words that
help us to recognize that it is the
MOD--- definition?
• Means / Is / Signifies / Denotes /
Can be taken to mean / Can be
interpreted as
• Is defined as
• Eg.
Try whatever the MOD that you can
use to define the following words:
• behaviorism / a cell / naturalism /
• mitosis / authority
Formal (Dictionary)
Definitions
• Formular:
• term + class + distinguishing
characteristics
• Behaviorism /is a theory /that
regards the objective facts of a
subject’s actions as the only valid
basis for psychological study.
• A cell/ is a unit of protoplasm/ with a
nucleus, cytoplasm, and an enclosing
membrance.
• Naturalism/ is a literary movement/
whose original adherents believed
that writers should treat life with
scientific objectivity.
• Mitosis/ is the process/ of nuclear
division of cells，consisting of
prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and
telophase.
• Authority/ is the power/ to
command and require obedience.
Extended (Essay-Length)
Definitions
Eg. Please decide which MOD is appropriate to
help define the following five words:
behaviorism / a cell / naturalism /
• mitosis / authority
• Exemplification/ Description /
• Comparison and Contrast /
• Process /Classification
• Exemplification --- behaviorism
• Often, examples can be the clearest
way to explain something unusual,
especially when it is unfamiliar to
your readers.
• Eg. Defining dreams as “the symbolic
representation of mental states”
• Description --- a cell
• Comparison and Contrast --naturalism
• Eg. One way to explain the British
sport of rugby is by contrasting it
with American football, which is not
as violent.
• Cole slaw
• Process --- mitosis
• Classification --- authority
• Then you could divide the class
authority into the subclasses
traditional authority, charismatic
authority, and legal-bureaucratic
authority.
• You can define a term by using
synonyms (using words with similar
meanings).
• Discrimination means discernment.
• You can define a term by using
negation (telling what it is not).
• You can define a term by using
enumeration (listing its
characteristics).
• You can define a term by discussing
its origin and development
(examining the word’s derivation,
original meaning, and usages).
• You can define a term by using cause
and effect – explain what causes it
or what effects it brings about.
• Stress is the body's nonspecific
response to any demand made upon it.
• You can define a term by giving the
surface meaning -- what everybody
assumes it to mean
• You can define a term by offering a
dictionary definition -- use only if it
comes from a specialized dictionary
and only if it raises a key issue or
sums up important points
• You can define a term by tracing the
etymology -- Look at the source of
the word or concept, e.g., leader: the
word lead comes from the Anglo
Saxon "laedan" or "lithan" meaning
"to travel or go," and so a leader can
be described as one who determines
a way of traveling or going
• You can define a term by using
division – sort it into the major
categories that make it up
V How does the thesis for
an extended definition go?
• Thesis pattern: _____ (term) is
not ____ (surface meaning), but
rather, it is ____ (class and
distinguishing characteristics).
• Can you try to define “love”?
• Example: Love is not just an
emotion or feeling that too soon
changes, but rather, the act of
choosing to do what is in the best
interest of the loved one over the
long haul despite the cost and the
difficulties.
• Stress is more than distress.
VI Structuring a definition
essay
• Explain not only what most people
think it means, but also what it really
means. Be sure to:
• 1 Use at least three different
strategies
• 2 Include your own, original definition
by class stated in the thesis pattern
given above.
• 3 Uses an outline like the one below
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I. Introduction
II. The Body
A. Redefinition using strategy 1
B. Redefinition using strategy 2
C. Redefinition using strategy 3 ...
III. Conclusion which states or
restates writer's own class definition
An informal outline for your
essay might look like this:
Introduction
Background
First example
Second example
Third example
Conclusion