Definition 2

Focus on extended definition

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE
 Aim
For students to be  The following slide
able to recognize
and produce three
types of definition.
Source
contains material adapted
from the file “Definition”,
courtesy of Mr Terry Dale,
English Language
Department, King Fahd
University of Petroleum
and Minerals.

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 3 Types
Definitions

Synonym / Sentence Extended

Phrase
Shorter Longer

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 Sentence
• Consists of 3 elements:

Term Class
Specific
Differences
• popular online • allows the user to send
• Twitter instant messaging short text messages of
up to 280 characters
system

Term can be written at Be precise! Add as Avoid definitions which

the beginning, or end, many adjectives as you are too general. There
but you must avoid need to specify the should be no doubt in
circularity. class. No thing or the readers mind.
person.
ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE
 3 Types
Definitions
• Often, a single sentence, or even a couple of sentences, is
insufficient.

Synonym /
• Broad abstract terms such as "education" or "success," as well as
Sentence Extended
new terms, like twitter, may require extended definitions.
Phrase
• Any piece of writing consisting of one or more paragraphs, whose
purpose is to define a particular term can be called extended
definition.
Shorter Longer

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 An extended definition
Specific
Term Class Differences
Paragraph

Example
Description
Comparison, etc.
• This sentence isdefinition
An extended then followed by several
often beginsothers
with awhich extend the
formal
definition
sentencebydefinition
exemplifying, partitioning,
which acts asdescribing,
the topicclassifying,
sentence.
comparing, contrasting, and so on.
ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE
 Example: ghutra
Specific
Term Class Differences
Size, shape, colours and texture
Paragraph

How is it worn?
What are its functions?
Are there different types?
Is there are geographical spread for each type?
What is known about its history?

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 Supporting the topic sentence
 Exemplification is one of the commonest and most useful ways.

"entropy"
Specific
Term Class Differences
Paragraph

Example: Ice cubes melting

Example: Iron rusting

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 Supporting the topic sentence
 Description is another common way of extending a definition.

a mechanism
Specific
Term Class Differences
Paragraph

Description of its dimensions

Description of its parts
Description of its functions
Description of its materials

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 Supporting the topic sentence
 Classification or Division is common.

"natural resources"
Specific
Term Class Differences
Paragraph

Renewable Non-renewable

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 Supporting the topic sentence
 Analogy (comparison of the unfamiliar with the
familiar) is another useful tool.
“diode"
Specific
Term Class Differences
Paragraph

 A diode could be compared with a water tap in the way the flow of electrons
(water) is directed
ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE
 There are many ways to extend a definition:
Topic Term Class Specific Differences
sentence
Examples (instances)
(instances)
Illustration (extended
(extended example)
example)
Comparison (similarities)
(similarities)
Contrast (differences)
(differences)
Extensio n

Analogy (comparison
(comparison of of the
the unfamiliar
unfamiliar with
with the
the familiar)
familiar)
Etymology (origin
(origin of
of the
the term)
term)
Exclusion (what
(what the
the term
term is
is not)
not)
Synonyms (single
(single word
word with
with the
the same
same meaning)
meaning)
Classification (division
(division into
into types)
types)
Partition (division
(division into
into parts,
parts, topics,
topics, features,
features, etc.)
etc.)
Chronology (historical
(historical development)
development)
Description (mechanism,
(mechanism, process,
process, place,
place, characteristics,
characteristics, etc.)
etc.)
Causal Analysis (causes,
(causes, effects)
effects)

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 Examples (similarities)
(similarities)

Match up
Illustration (instances)
(instances)
Comparison (comparison
(comparison of
of the
the unfamiliar
unfamiliar with
with the
the familiar)
familiar)
Contrast (mechanism,
(mechanism, process,
process, place,
place, characteristics,
characteristics, etc.)
etc.)
Analogy (what
(what the
the term
term is
is not)
not)
Etymology (differences)
(differences)
Exclusion (division
(division into
into types)
types)
Synonyms (causes,
(causes, effects)
effects)
Classification (division
(division into
into parts,
parts, topics,
topics, features,
features, etc.)
etc.)
Partition (single
(single word
word with
with the
the same
same meaning)
meaning)
Chronology (origin
(origin of
of the
the term)
term)
Description (extended
(extended example)
example)
Causal Analysis (historical
(historical development)
development)
ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE
 Classwork
 Think about which techniques you would use to extend
the following definitions?
1. ghutra 11. podcast
2. smog 12. satellite
3. Youtube 13. mirage
4. shisha 14. invasive species
5. sophomore 15. catch 22
6. photography 16. peer pressure
7. modem 17. classification
8. atom 18. polymer
9. tsunami 19. success
10. peninsula 20. radar
   

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 An Extended Definition
Term etymology of the term

The class Exposition

Exposition (from
(from thethe Latin
Latin exponere,
exponere, meaningmeaning "to"to
make
make known"
known" or or "to
"to reveal")
reveal") is is aa type
type of
of writing
writing formal definition
examples whose
whose primary
primary purpose
purpose is is to
to inform
inform andand explain,
explain, (topic sentence)
rather
rather than
than to to entertain
entertain or or to to persuade.
persuade. For For
example,
example, in in writing
writing aa composition,
composition, you you might
might have
have
to
exclusion
to define
define aa technical
technical term
term forfor the
the benefit
benefit of
of your
your
"audience"
"audience" (reader).
(reader). YouYou might
might have have toto classify
classify aa (what the term is not)
number
number of of concepts
concepts into into one
one or or two
two basic
basic types,
types, synonym definition
exemplification and
and then
then describe
describe and and exemplify
exemplify each each type.
type.
Another
Another composition
composition mightmight require
require you you to
to compare
compare
and
and contrast
contrast two two processes,
processes, or or toto examine
examine the the
causes
causes ofof aa particular
particular problem
problem and and then
then to
to analyze
analyze
the
the resulting
resulting effects.
effects. InIn all
all these
these cases,
cases, your
your
primary
primary purpose
purpose in in writing
writing isis to
to impart
impart knowledge
knowledge conclusion
to
to your
your reader.
reader. (not always necessary)
ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE
 Examples: Examples
You will see some model Extended Illustration
Definitions. Analyze them carefully. Comparison
Contrast
In each case, identify: Analogy
Etymology
(a) the three elements of the formal
sentence definition; Exclusion
Synonyms
Specific
Term Class Differences Classification
Partition
Chronology
(b) the patterns of development used to
Description
extend the definition.
Causal Analysis
ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE
 Analyze the following text:
Specific
Examples Term Class Differences
Illustration
Comparison
Contrast A
A transmission
transmission is is aa system
system which
which carries
carries force
force from
from one
one
Analogy place
place to
to another
another or or changes
changes its its direction.
direction. Transmissions
Transmissions
Etymology are
are used
used to
to carry
carry force
force and
and motion
motion from
from thethe engine
engine of
of aa
Exclusion power
power system
system to to the
the object
object toto bebe moved
moved (the
(the load).
load). They
They
Synonyms can
can bebe mechanical,
mechanical, using using parts
parts such
such asas gears,
gears, pulleys,
pulleys,
Classification cams
cams andand levers
levers to to transmit
transmit force;
force; hydraulic,
hydraulic, using
using
Partition pressure
pressure onon aa fluid
fluid such
such as as water;
water; or
or electrical,
electrical, using
using
Chronology wires
wires to
to carry
carry current
current from
from its
its place
place of
of generation
generation to to the
the
Description point
point where
where itit will
will be
be used.
used.
Causal Analysis

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 Analyze the following text:
Specific
Examples Term Class Differences
Illustration
Comparison
AA solution
solution is is aa homogeneous
homogeneous mixture mixture of of aa solute
solute
Contrast
(substance
(substance being
being dissolved)
dissolved) distributed
distributed through
through aa solvent
solvent
Analogy
(substance
(substance doing
doing the
the dissolving).
dissolving). Solutions
Solutions exist
exist in
in any
any of
of
Etymology
the
the three
three physical
physical states:
states: gas,
gas, liquid,
liquid, or
or solid.
solid. For
For
Exclusion
example,
example, air,
air, the
the most
most common
common gaseous
gaseous solution,
solution, isis aa
Synonyms
mixture
mixture ofof nitrogen,
nitrogen, oxygen,
oxygen, andand lesser
lesser amounts
amounts of of other
other
Classification
gases.
gases. Many
Many metal
metal alloys
alloys are
are solid
solid solutions.
solutions. An An example
example
Partition is
is the
the US
US "nickel"
"nickel" coin,
coin, which
which isis 25%
25% Ni Ni and
and 75%75% Cu.Cu.
Chronology However,
However, the the most
most familiar
familiar solutions
solutions are
are those
those in in the
the
Description liquid
liquid state,
state, especially
especially ones
ones in
in which
which water
water is
is the
the solvent.
solvent.
Causal Analysis

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 Analyze the following text:
Specific
Term Class Differences
Examples AA thobe
thobe (Arabic:
(Arabic:‫وب‬AAA‫)ث‬,
‫وب‬AAA‫)ث‬, is
is aa full
full length
length item
item ofof clothing,
clothing, usually
usually with
with sleeves,
sleeves, wornworn
Illustration traditionally
traditionally by Arab men in the states of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula. ItIt is
by Arab men in the states of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula. is
traditionally
traditionally made
made of of cotton,
cotton, but but inin colder
colder climates
climates theythey can
can also
also bebe made
made from from wool.
wool.
Comparison
Recently,
Recently, however,
however, itit is
is possible
possible to to find
find blends
blends of of cotton
cotton and
and other
other synthetic
synthetic materials
materials
Contrast such
such asas polyester.
polyester. TheyThey comecome in in different
different lengths;
lengths; shorter
shorter representing
representing modesty,
modesty, whilewhile
Analogy longer
longer ones
ones indicate
indicate elevated
elevated status. status. Thobe
Thobe is is the
the Arabic
Arabic word
word forfor garment,
garment, but but is
is also
also
known in some parts as a dishdasha, or
known in some parts as a dishdasha, or kandura, or gandora.kandura, or gandora.
Etymology The
The style
style varies
varies from
from region
region to to region,
region, andand the
the collar
collar and
and sleeves
sleeves can can be be made
made stiff
stiff to
to
Exclusion increase
increase formality. In Morocco for example, the sleeves are shorter and it looks more like
formality. In Morocco for example, the sleeves are shorter and it looks more like
aa long
long t-shirt,
t-shirt, and
and the
the neck
neck is is more
more open,
open, andand areare often
often embroidered
embroidered with with aa pattern.
pattern.
Synonyms
Saudi
Saudi thobes,
thobes, on on the
the other
other hand,
hand, usually
usually have
have longer
longer sleeves,
sleeves, tighter
tighter necks,
necks, andand are
are
Classification usually without decorations.
usually without decorations.
Partition The
The term
term thobe
thobe cancan also
also be be used
used to to refer
refer to
to women’s
women’s garments,
garments, for for example
example the the
traditional Palestinian women’s garment
traditional Palestinian women’s garment is named a thawb. is named a thawb.
Chronology
Thobes
Thobes are are often
often worn
worn in in conjunction
conjunction with with aa ghutra
ghutra andand anan agal,
agal, thethe cloth
cloth head
head dress
dress
Description and fastener, and can also be accompanied by a besht,
and fastener, and can also be accompanied by a besht, which is a more formal robe which is a more formal robe
Causal Analysis usually
usually worn
worn on on special
special occasions,
occasions, and and which
which can can generally
generally refer
refer toto the
the status
status ofof the
the
individual
individual whowho wears
wears them.
them.

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 How would you e x t e n d it?
Specific
Examples Term Class Differences
Illustration
Comparison
Contrast 1. ghutra 9. tsunami 16. p
2. smog 10. peninsula 17. c
Analogy
3. Youtube   18. p
Etymology 4. shisha 11. podcast 19. s
Exclusion 5. sophomore 12. satellite 20. ra
Synonyms 6. photography 13. mirage  
7. modem 14. invasive species
Classification
8. atom 15. catch 22
Partition
Chronology
Description
Causal Analysis

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 How would you e x t e n d it?:
Specific
Examples Term Class Differences
Illustration
Comparison
Contrast
Analogy

invasive
peer
classification
photography
sophomore
peninsula
Youtube
catch
success
polymer
podcast
tsunami
satellite
modem
mirage
ghutra
smog
radar
atompressure
22species
Etymology
Exclusion
Synonyms
Classification
Partition
Chronology
Description
Causal Analysis

ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

 Homework D2: Extended definition
Write extended definitions for some of the following.
Begin with a sentence definition; then add support.
You may need to research your topic using an
encyclopedia, a textbook or an internet search
engine such as Google (but do not copy!).
 

Stress
ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE
 Submitting Homework
 BLACKBOARD
 Go to the icon that says
“Homework D2: Extended
definition”
 Attach a WORD
document containing your
definitions.
 Click submit.
ENGLISH 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE