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Definition: specifies what, when, where, how and why of the topic
under consideration
Assignment: Your first report is that of definition. Choose a concept that you
are quite familiar with and write a definition report. Your audience is a person who has
little knowledge of your topic.
Types of Definition
Definitions vary greatly in length and detail, from a few words in
parentheses, to one or more complete sentence to multiple paragraphs or pages. Your choice
of definition type depends on what information readers need, and that in turn, depends on
why they need it. "Internet," for instance, could be defined in one sentence,
briefly telling readers what it is and how it works. But this definition would be expanded
for the beginning network engineer who needs to know the origin of the term, how the
network of computers was developed, what it looks like, when can it be used, and how its
parts interact. Thus, audience determines your choice.
Types of definitions:
 | Parenthetical Definition: A parenthetical definition
explains the term in a word or phrase, often as a synonym in parentheses following the
term: Word (a word processor) has been updated. |
Here the "specialized" term is defined immediately in parenthesis.
Another option is to express your definition as a clarifying phrase: The computer
on the site are mostly clones; that is, they are manufactured more cheaply than an IBM or
NEC machine.
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| Sentence Definition: A definition may require one or more
sentences with this structure: (1) the item or term being defined, (2) the class (specific
group) to which the term belongs, and the features that differentiate the term from all
others in its class
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Computer hackers are the nemesis of small business owners who cannot afford extensive
security. The hacker is an expert at computer programming. However, unlike the
professional computer programmer, this person specializes in "breaking" into
other people's computers, causing extensive damage at times or just leaving a trademark,
like the WAZZU virus.
Sentence definition is especially useful if you need to stipulate the precise working
definition of a term that has several possible meanings.
| Classifying the term. Be specific and precise in your
classification. The narrower your class, the more specific your meaning.
"Hacker" is correctly classified as a "computer expert," not as a
"nerd" or a "hobbyist." |
| Differentiating the term. Differentiate the term by
separating the item it names from every other item in its class. Make these distinguishing
features narrow enough to pinpoint the item's unique identity and meaning, yet broad
enough to be inclusive. A definition of "hacker" as "computer user" is
too broad because the definition doesn't differentiate "expert" from all other
users. Conversely, differentiating "hacker" as "professional
programmer" is too narrow because it ignores others who do not use their skills in
such a manner. |
| Expanded Definition: An expanded definition can include
parenthetical and sentence definitions, but it provides greater detail for readers who
need it. An expanded definition may be a single paragraph or may extend to scores of
pages. For our purposes, the expanded definition will include at least five paragraphs. Some
of the common elements of this type of report are:
 | Etymology -- A word's origin (its development and changing meanings)
can clarify its definition. College dictionaries contain etymological information, but
your best bet is The Oxford English Dictionary, and encyclopedic dictionaries of
science, technology, and business. Your textbooks will often contain etymologies. |
| Historical Background -- The meaning of specialized
terms, such as "radar" or "silicon chips," often can be clarified
through a background discussion: discovery or history of the concept development method of
production, applications, and so on. Specialized encyclopedias are a good background
source. |
| Analysis of Parts -- When your subject can be divided into parts,
identity and explain them. |
| Negative -- Sometimes illuminating what your term is not helps readers
understand it. |
| Comparison and Contrast -- Comparisons and contrasts help readers
understand. |
| Examples -- Familiar examples showing types or uses of an item can help
clarify your definition. |
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Questions to help you prewrite for your definition report:
| What is its origin and background? |
| How is it used? |
| Why do you use it? |
| When is it used? |
| Does it require any special conditions? |
| How does it work? |
| What are its parts? |
| What does it look like? |
| Can it be compared to anything familiar? |
What ever you choose to include in your definition report needs to be guided by the thesis statement. Please review thesis statements if you are unsure
about them.
A summary of this handout:
| The type of definition you write is determined by purpose and audience; |
| parenthetical, sentence and expanded definitions require different information; |
| use who, what, when, where, and how to help prewrite for the report; |
| clear thesis statements are a must in report writing. |
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To see definition reports by former students, click here.
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