Transcript Definition by Class

Chapter 9
Definition
To define is to explain clearly what a word or
term means. As you write, you will sometimes
find it necessary to explain words or terms that
you suspect your reader may not know.
There are many ways to define a word or term.
Three basic ways are definition by synonym,
definition by class, and definition by
negation.
The skill of defining clearly will be useful in such
courses as psychology, business, the sciences,
history, and English.
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Definition by Synonym
The simplest way to define a term is to supply a
synonym, a word that means the same thing. A
good synonym definition always uses an easier
and more familiar word than the one being
defined. For example:
 Gregarious means sociable.
 To procrastinate means to postpone
needlessly.
 A wraith is a ghost or phantom.
 Adroitly means skillfully.
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Definition by Class
The class definition has two parts. First, the
writer places the word to be defined into the
larger category, or class, to which it belongs.
For example:
 Lemonade is a drink …
 An orphan is a child …
 A dictatorship is a form of government …
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Definition by Class
Second, the writer provides the distinguishing
characteristics or details that make this
person, object, or idea different from all others
in that category. For example:
 Lemonade is a drink made of lemons, sugar,
and water.
 An orphan is a child without living parents.
 A dictatorship is a form of government in
which one person has absolute control over
his or her subjects.
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Definition by Negation
A definition by negation means that the writer
first says what something is not, and then says
what it is. For example:
 A good parent does not just feed and clothe a
child but loves, accepts, and supports that
child for who he or she is.
 College is not just a place to have a good
time but a place to grow intellectually and
emotionally.
 Liberty does not mean having the right to do
whatever you please but carries the obligation
to respect the rights of others.
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The Definition Paragraph
Sometimes a single-sentence definition may not
be enough to define a word or term adequately.
In such cases, the writer may need an entire
paragraph in which he or she develops the
definition by means of examples, descriptions,
comparisons, contrasts, and so forth.
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The Definition Paragraph
A flashbulb memory can be defined as a vivid and long-lasting memory
formed at the moment a person experiences a highly emotional event. It is as
though a mental flashbulb pops, preserving the moment in great detail.
Although flashbulb memories can be personal, they often are triggered by
public events. For example, many older Americans recall exactly what they
were doing when they learned that Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941. Time
froze as people crowded around their radios to find out what would happen
next. Many more people recall in detail the shocking moment on November
11, 1963, when they heard that President John F. Kennedy had been
assassinated. Considered the most widely shared flashbulb memory of our
time, the image of Kennedy’s death is burned into the minds of people the
world over. More recently, the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center
became a flashbulb memory for millions. Whether they heard the terrible
news on their morning commute or were awakened by a panicked voice on
the phone telling them to turn on the television, research into memory
suggests that they will never forget that day. As these examples show,
flashbulb memories mark some of our most permanent and haunting
experiences, moments that were scored into our hearts.
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© Cengage Learning 2014
Suggested Topics for Definition Paragraphs
1.
2.
3.
4.
The gossip (or life of the party, Internet addict, co-worker from hell)
Professionalism
Self-esteem
A term from your field of study (like green building, concussion, Oedipus
complex, Harlem Renaissance, Pacific garbage patch, Baroque)
5. A term from popular culture (Spanglish, sampling in music, whistleblower, Twitter, avatar)
6. Unemployed (or uninsured)
7. Family
8. A disability, such as dyslexia, autism, or ADHD
9. A military term or symbol, such as the Purple Heart medal
10. A slang term you or your friends use
11. Urban legend (see http://snopes.com/)
12. Plagiarism
13. A racist (terrorist, artist, sexist, activist, or other -ist)
14. The video-game (or fashion, football, racing car, or other) fanatic
15. Writer’s choice
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EXPLORING ONLINE
http://www.quintcareers.com/jobseeker_glossary.
html
Check out this job seeker’s glossary of career terms
and words.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/compo
sition/definition.htm
Read advice about writing longer definitions and one
student’s essay defining Yankee.
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