ENGL 104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Standard-Definition Television, Thesis Statement
25 May 2018
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Chapter 18: (Argument of) Definition
A definition explains what a term means or which meaning is intended when a word has several
different meanings. You use definitions every day in a variety of situations. If you call a friend
a nonconformist, for example, she might ask you what you mean. If you and a friend disagree
over whether you are feminists, you might need to define the term in order to resolve your
dispute.
Often a definition is intended for someone who is unfamiliar with the thing or idea being
defined. Many academic and work situation require you write your learn definitions, as the
example in the box below indicate. (See page 430 green chart)
Characteristics of Extended Definitions
If you wanted to define the term happiness, you would probably have trouble coming up with a
brief definition because the emotion is experienced in a variety of situation. However, you
could explore the term in an essay and explain all that it means to you. Such a lengthy, detailed
definition is called an extended definition.
Eteded defiitios are partiularl useful i eplorig a topi’s arious eaigs ad
applications. In some instances, an extended definition may begin with a brief standard
defiitio that ahors the essa’s thesis stateet. At other times, an extended definition
may begin by introducing a new way of thinking about the term. Whatever approach is used,
the remainder of the definition then clarifies the term by using one or more other patterns of
development (page 430-431)
An Extended Definition is Focused and Detailed: An extended definition focuses on a specific
term and discusses it in detail (page 431)
An Extended Definition Often Includes a Standard Definition of the Term: In an essay that
provides an extended definition of a term, readers often find it useful to have a brief definition
to help them begin to grasp the concept. A brief or standard definition is the kind found in a
dictionary and consists of three parts:
• The term itself
• The class to which the term belongs
• The characteristics or details that distinguish the term from all others in its class
For eaple, a eddig ad is a piee of jeelr. Jeelr is the lass or group of ojets
that includes wedding bands. To show how a wedding band differs from other members of
that class, you would need to provide it is distinguishing characteristics- the details that make it
different from other types of jewelry; it is a ring, often made of gold, that the groom gives to
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
A definition explains what a term means or which meaning is intended when a word has several different meanings. You use definitions every day in a variety of situations. If you call a friend a nonconformist, for example, she might ask you what you mean. If you and a friend disagree over whether you are feminists, you might need to define the term in order to resolve your dispute. Often a definition is intended for someone who is unfamiliar with the thing or idea being defined. Many academic and work situation require you write your learn definitions, as the example in the box below indicate. (see page 430 green chart) If you wanted to define the term happiness, you would probably have trouble coming up with a brief definition because the emotion is experienced in a variety of situation. However, you could explore the term in an essay and explain all that it means to you.
