ACEW Lecture 7 Definition

1、Lv Jun Advanced English Writing Page 6 of 6Topic/TitleLecture 7 DefinitionTeaching Aims/ObjectivesStudents learn what the definition is and how to develop the ability to write definition essaysTeaching Points1. What is definition? 2. Nature of definition 3. Types of definition 4. Methods of definiti

2、on 5. Strategies for writing a definition essayTeaching MethodsDiscussionTime Allowance80 minutesTeaching ProceduresI. What is definition?Definition is in fact a form of expository writing. It is a very important form, for to define something is certainly to explain it, and very often in order to ex

3、plain one must first define. So a definition is the effort to distinguish an entity from all other things for the purpose of being able to recognize it or in some way to understand it. Definition may deal either with words or with things, that is, the definition is concerned with apple as word or wi

4、th “apple” as thing. Some definitions focus our attention chiefly upon the thing, no matter whether we call it apple, pomme, or Apfel. This kind of definition attempts to give, as best it can, accurate, factual information about what an apple is, in some particular frame of reference. It is often co

5、ncerned with the analysis of the thing, with its constituent parts, their nature, function, and purpose. It describes the thing in relation to other things. It is called real definition by philosophers and logicians. In contrast, other definitions stress the word or the word-thing relationship. Eith

6、er they call our attention to how a word has been used in the past, or else they explain-by whatever the process-what words mean. This is called nominal definition. II. Nature of definitionThe purpose of providing definitions to develop essay content is to explain the meaning of a word or term in or

7、der to make a point. In writing a definition, you try to answer basic questions: What does it mean? and What is its special or true nature? Such an essay will give more than the sentence definition that is found in the dictionary. It involves extended definition which goes far beyond the concise, fo

8、rmal definition that appears in a dictionary. It explores the nature of something, including the aspects, significances, nuance（细微差别）, or complexities that are not part of what a dictionary takes in. It supplies supporting information such as examples, descriptions or comparison and contrast.Some es

9、says that provide definitions are serious efforts to illustrate a certain type of person or a certain trait（显著的特点, 特性） (freedom, well-educated person). Other essays may be humorous. The approach you take will depend on your topic, your purpose for writing, and your thesis statement.III. Types of def

10、inition1. Consensual（同感的） definitionA writer states the common public definition of the term, what it means by the consensus of its users in the same culture.2. Stipulative（规定的） definitionA writer may assign to a word a meaning more precise or in some other way slightly different from that which it

11、commonly has, for clarity and for convenience.3. Normative（规范的） definitionThe user gives a word a meaning and asserts that he will always use it with that meaning and that so should everyone else, for it and it alone is the proper meaning.IV. Methods of definitionSince there is no one “correct” meth

12、od to define a word or thing, we must say that it all depends upon ones reader and purpose. In other words, the writer may use any method or combination of methods known or devisable so long as he efficiently brings his reader to understand what something is or what a word means.1. Analysis First, p

13、lace a word in a large class called the genus and then differentiating the word from other members of that class.( genus and differentia) Second, listing the most important characteristics of the thing.( division into parts)-Semantics, or semasiology, is the study of the meaning of words.2. Synthesi

14、sOne relates the thing-to-be defined to something already familiar to the reader or listener. It often reveals the thing-to-be-defined as part of some larger whole. It might also be called “relational definition”. For example:-Blue: the color of the sky on a cloudless day.3. Negative definitionThe n

15、egative definition is to define a thing by making clear what is not. For example:-Electricity is not a thing like St. Pauls Cathedral; it is a way in which things behave.4. ExemplificationExemplification is definition by example, which often appears as an aid to definition by analysis or by synthesi

16、s, for one of the best way to define something is to give one or more examples of it. For example:-Anyone who has ever ridden on a railroad train knows how rapidly another train flashes by when it is traveling in the opposite direction, and conversely how it may look almost motionless when it is mov

17、ing in the same direction.5. SynonymsAlmost as familiar as definition by example is definition by synonyms. Dictionaries often define words by listing synonyms of the word-to-be-defined. This method has the advantage of being brief, but unless it is accompanied by some other method of definition, it

18、 runs the risk of misleading the reader, for no two words mean exactly the same thing, and, quite often, approximation are not good enough. This method is useful , if the purpose is simply to clarify the meaning of a word or term in passing. For example:- It would therefore appear as if the idea of

19、congruence, or metrical equality, of two portions of space.V. Strategies for writing a definition essay1. Establishing the writing purpose and toneThe purpose of an essay that uses definitions is usually to inform or to persuade. A straightforward definition of the word conservation, for instance, o

20、r a humorous definition of boredom will inform readers about the meaning of the term. A definition of freedom can be written to persuade readers to support your viewpoint.The purpose you establish for your definition will influence the details you are going to choose. For example, you decide to defi

21、ne fear and wish to give your readers a fresh look on this feeling by persuading him or her to believe the fear is really a positive emotion. Such a purpose might lead you to note that fear is adaptive（适应的） because it ensures our survival. You might also note instances when we would endanger ourselv

22、es needlessly were it not for fear. If, however, your purpose is to inform the reader that fear is a psychological state every person experiences, and of the behaviors then you might include details related to such behaviors and objective description of fear.Just as your purpose in writing will vary

23、, so will your tone. A strictly informative definition will generally assume a detached（不含个人偏见的）, objective tone. (Apathy（缺乏感情或兴趣, 冷漠） is an emotional state characterized by listlessness倦怠, 冷漠，情绪低落 and indifference.) By way of contrast, a definition essay with a persuasive intention might be urgent

24、in tone. (To combat (战斗, 搏斗, 抗击) students apathy, we must design programs that engage students in campus life)2. Writing a thesis statementA good way to generate a thesis statement about a word or term you are defining is to look up the word or term in the dictionary. The dictionary can help you thi

25、nk about your topic in a clear, organized way. It also tells your readers the boundaries or limits of your definition. Remember that if you plan to cite the dictionary definition, do not quote it word for word, which will make your writing boring and dull. Avoid trying openings like the dictionary s

26、ays or according to Websters. Such weak starts lack imagination. Instead, you can write a paraphrase, a re-statement of the definition in your own words. A thesis statement for an essay that provides a definition to develop content should do one or more of the following:i) state the term or idea tha

27、t you will define;ii) put the term in an appropriate defining class;ii) explain how the term differs from other members of the defining class;iv) state why defining the term or idea is useful or necessary.The following sentences are examples of thesis statements for essays that provide a definition.

28、 The example thesis statement is followed by a list showing the term, its defining class, and its differentiating features: Thesis statement: Discipline is not a form of punishment but a process of training and learning that helps children and adults. Term: discipline Defining class: process of trai

29、ning and learning Differentiating features: helps children and adults3. Developing the contentOnce you have chosen a term to define and have identified a defining class and differentiating features for the term, explore strategies you can use to support your thesis statement. There is no customary p

30、attern to develop a definition essay. It depends, in a great part, on what is being defined and what you intend to say about it.But before writing the supporting paragraph(s), try to ask yourself the following questions, which are of great help to generate your idea:i) What are some of the examples

31、of it? (example)ii) How many kinds are there? (classification)iii) What are its parts? (division)iv) What is it similar to or different from? (comparison and contrast)v) How is it done? How does it work? (processes)vi) What causes it? What are its results or effects? (cause and effect)To see how thi

32、s technique for defining a term works, let us examine the possible ways to develop an essay defining socialization(社会化, 社会主义化). This concept is used by sociologists and psychologists to describe the process by which children develop behavior patterns that fit in with the standard of their culture:i)

33、 What are some examples of socialization in our culture? (example)ii) What are the parts or divisions of the socializations? (classification)iii) How is the socialization process similar to or different from other human behavior or processes? (comparison and contrast)iv) How does the socialization p

34、rocess start? How does it work? What are its stages? (processes)v) What causes it? What are its effects? (cause and effect)As you can see, merely answering those questions would provide an abundance of material for an essay defining the term. And as this list of questions also demonstrate, it is usually possible (and advisable) to use more than one method of development when defining a term. By doing so, you present the term in al