Paragraphs of Extended Definition Are Usually Written for One Or More of the Following Reasons

UNIT 3

DEFINITIONS

In formal writing, it is sometimes necessary to write a paragraph to explain what a term means or how you are using it in a particular situation. This is called a paragraph of definition. A paragraph of definition may be either a formal definition, which explains the meaning as you might find it in the dictionary, or a stipulated definition, which explains how you are using a particular term within a specific context. In both cases, you will notice that definition often involves a combination of other kinds of development as will be discussed later.

Paragraphs of extended definition are usually written for one or more of the following reasons:

1. to provide an interpretation of a vague, controversial, or misunderstood term (such as “obscenity”, “welfare”, or “euthanasia”)
2. to explain an abstract term or concept (such as “heroic”, “success”, or “jealousy”)
3. to define a new or unusual term, often found in slang, dialect, or the jargon of a particular field of study or industry (such as “floppy disc”)
4. to offer an objective definition of an unfamiliar term for use by a particular audience (“electron processor”, “soft contact lenses”)
5. to entertain by presenting the interesting history, uses, effects, etc., of a common word or expression (“phobia”, “rock” and “roll”, or “science fiction”)

1. The Formal Definition

1. Model Definition

A wristwatch is a mechanical time-telling device which is worn on a band about the wrist.

A formal definition includes three kinds of things: the term to be defined, the class to which a thing belongs, and the features which distinguish it from other things in that class. In the case of a wristwatch:

Term: wristwatch

Class: device

Distinguishing features: (1) mechanical

(2) for telling time

(3) worn on a band about the wrist

1. Structures of Formal Definition

There are certain basic structures commonly used in writing definitions. They can be divided into two basic groups: those associated with distinguishing features and those associated with the choice of verbs.

1. structures which identify distinguishing features

1)adjectives and adjective clauses

A wristwatch is a mechanical timetelling device which is worn on a band about the wrist.

2)reduced adjective clauses

A wristwatch is a mechanical time-telling deviceworn on a band about the wrist.

A wristwatch is a mechanical time- telling device having a band so that it can be worn about the wrist.

1. verbs used in definitions.

1)A wristwatch is a mechanical, time-telling device which is worn about the wrist.

2)The term wristwatch means a mechanical time-telling device worn about the

word signifieswrist.

refers to

designates

3) A mechanical, time-telling device (which is ) worn about the wrist is called

is known as

a wrist watch.

Exercise 1.

Use the elements in the following chart to construct definitions, as has been done in the example. Try to use a variety of structures definition.

Example: A wristwatch is a mechanical time-telling device (which is) worn on a band about the wrist.

TERMGENERAL CLASS DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

1. wristwatch liquidHe has never been married
2. orphan medical doctorPeople don’t work then
3. academic period of timeHis/her parents are dead

adviser

1. waterpersonlarge; we can buy food and other items

there

1. holiday degreeHe/she is trained to talk to students

about their academic problems

1. psychiatrist storeclear; colorless; it consists of two parts of hydrogen and one part of oxygen
2. bachelor devicePeople consult him/her about their

emotional problems

1. Ph.D. manmechanical; time-telling; it is worn on

a band about the wrist

1. supermarket childmost advanced; graduate; a university

student can receive it.

1. The Extended Definition

When the general class and distinguishing features have been given, the writer may then go to expand or extend a formal definition by giving additional information about the term being defined. This might include such things as a physical description or a list of the advantages of the item. In the case of wristwatch, for instance, the writer might want to comment on variety in appearance and popularity. Notice that in the following paragraph on the wristwatch, all of this information has been included.

Example:

A wristwatch is a mechanical device (which is) used for telling time. Its main advantage over other types of time-telling devices (such things as clocks, sundials, or hourglasses) is that it is small enough to be worn on the wrist, so that one can easily know the time by looking down. Wristwatches come in various shapes and sizes, but all have one thing in common: a band or strap with which they may be attached to the wrist. In the Unites States, where time is money, practically everyone wears a wristwatch.

Exercise 2.

Referring back to exercise 1, choose one of the formal definition as you wrote and develop it into a short paragraph of extended definition.

1. The Stipulated Definition/ Personal Definition

The third type of definition which you may be required to write is one in which can explain how you are using a term for a particular purpose, or in which you explain particular interpretation of the term. The word, in the sense in which you understand it, may differ from its usual definition. Like the extended formal definition, the stipulated definition is usually longer than a single sentence.

The kinds of words which require this type of definition are generally abstract ideas or qualities such as friendship, poverty, justice, and so on. For instance, you may have to begin a longer paragraph by defining exactly how you will be using a term in that particular paper:

1. Of all the possible dictionary meanings of the term, you will be using only one. And definitely not the others; or
2. You will be using the term in a very special sense, not to be found in the dictionary (in a personal essay, this may mean making clear your own interpretation of a word; in a philosophy course, it may mean giving a clear explanation of how a particular philosopher uses them).

Example:

The American concept of success has not changed much over the two centuries of its existence. The average American thinks about personal success in term quite different from the rest of the world. First, it has always meant providing your family with a decent standard of living with some margin of comfort. Second, it means ending your life in a higher and more prosperous position than you began it. To an American, it is clear that success is the result of hard work, self-reliance, and is “God’s reward” for American virtue. The lesson that success lay in your own hands became ingrained because it was within the reach of any free person. Because Americans have consistently been “successful” within this meaning of the term, they have not altered this view substantially.

A final note about stipulated definitions is in order. You have no doubt noticed that the stipulated or personal definition lends itself very easily to various kinds of paragraph development, this may mean, for example, that the writer:

1. will be using the term in several different ways (listing and/ or contrast)
2. will be using the term in a way which differs significantly from the dictionary definitions (contrast)
3. will be showing that the explanation of the term has several different parts (listings)
4. will be showing how the meaning of the term has changed (chronological order and/or contrast)
5. will be writing of causes or of effect in the course of the explanation.

Exercise 3.

Plan a paragraph in which you will stipulate your personal interpretation of the word’s meaning. In planning your paragraph, you will have to consider which method of paragraph development best suits your intended meaning of the word. (choose one of these topics)

General TermsAcademic Terms

SuccessScientific inquiry

FriendshipLanguage Learning

IntelligenceSocialism

1. Problems in Definition
2. The circular definition

The first problem in the circular definition, in which the term being defined is repeated in the definition (either the word from the same family). For example, if you define economics as the study of the economy, you have written a circular definition.

Economics = the study of the economy.

1. The overextended definition

The second problem is overextended definition, in which the definition can be applied to more things than just the term being defined. If you define lemonade as a refreshing drink, for example, you have overextended your definition because there are many other other things which fall into this category.

Lemonade = refreshing drink.

1. The overrestricted definition.

The third problem area in definition writing is that of overrestriction. An overrestricted definition is one in which the term being defined is more comprehensive than the definition (that is, you restrict the item to only a part of its total definition). For example, defining table as a place where one eats is overly restrictive, because a table may be used for many other purposes.

Table = a place where one eats.

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