Sunteți pe pagina 1din 6

What is a Definition Paragraph?

A definition paragraph defines something. The word definition comes from the verb to
define, which means "to state the meaning of a word or to describe the basic qualities of
something." In a definition paragraph, the writer's main purpose is to tell you what
something is.
The starting point for a definition paragraph is a simple definition* which becomes the
topic sentence of the paragraph.
You explain something to the reader: an unfamiliar term, concept, or a cultural event, etc.
You can do this by likening it to something your audience is familiar with, or by giving
synonyms and explanations for it.
a paragraph explaining a term or subject, so your audience comprehends the topic of the
paragraph. This can be done in three different ways: Synonym, Class, and Negation.

What are the three different ways?

Synonym is explaining the term by using the words that mean the same thing.
Example: To procrastinate is to slack
Class is when you put your topic in a larger category to explain your term.
Example: A pineapple is a tropical fruit that has an acidic and sweet taste
Negation means that the writer first says something is not, and then says what it is.
Example: A snowcone is not an ice creamcone, but rather a shredded ice and
syrup treat.

Here are some examples:

Tracks

An amtrack is not a boat; however, it is a military vehicle that moves on the ocean as well as on
land. Its an armored vehicle that weighs twenty-six tons. An amtracks job is to carry troops
from ships off shore onto the beach in an amphibious assault. Its made out of aluminum, with
steel suspension. It has a tracked suspension, much like a bulldozer. Its front end slopes upward
toward the headlights in an effort to give it greater ground clearance. Its propelled on land by its
tracked suspension; however, in the water it uses two water jets. It has a turret that holds a fifty
caliber machine gun, and a forty millimeter, fully automatic, grenade launcher. It has a ramp on
the back that can be raised or lowered for the easy loading and unloading of troops. There is a
door built into this ramp so that when the ramp is up, people can still get in and out through the
back. It has three hatches behind the turret that can be opened to allow the dropping of supplies
into the vehicle, or to allow embarked infantry a means of looking out. The driver looks out of a
hatch on the front left side of the vehicle, while the troop commander sits just behind him. The
vehicle commander, sits in the turret of the vehicle, and mans the machine guns. The amtrack is
fully amphibious. 2005 Kristian Anderson
Racist

A racist can be defined as a prejudiced person who discriminates because of another individuals
outer appearance or race. Racism can all start as a child being raised with negative thoughts, or
can be brought upon by personal reasons. For example, growing up in a racist family will give
adolescent awful thoughts about a race without even experiencing how they really feel first hand.
A different example of how one might unfortunately choose to be racist would be if a person
visits a country, and a negative event took place; this person might become racist toward a group
of people that lived there all because of one personal event that happened. This is not a type of
person that treats people like how they want to treated, but it is a form of hatred toward a set of
people. This kind of person might use mental abuse, or they can even get physically abusive
toward the kind of race they are discriminate towards. They also can have a type of attitude that
thinks that they are better than certain groups and cultures. Racism is a negative concept that put
down people for no real reason. Racism is a form of ignorance and inequity and only one could
wish for this discrimination to stop all together in order for everybody to get along. 2005
Fallon Fauque

Deja vu

Deja vu is a French word meaning "already seen", it has also been described as a feeling or
experience that one has seen or done something before. For example, you are waiting in line to
check out at the grocery store and the lady behind you asks you to hand her a pack of gum.
Suddenly you get an overwhelming feeling that you have been there in that exact same spot,
talking to the same lady, even the same brand of gum. Even though everything seems so familiar
you know there is no way that could have happened before. There are many theories as to why
and how this phenomenon happens. One theory is that deja vu is connected with temporal-lobe
epilepsy, but people without a history of epilepsy have also experienced deja vu. Psychiatrists
believe it is something in your brain that confuses an event that happened in the past with the
present. Another theory is parapsychologist think it is connected with past life experiences.
Whether deja vu is an experience of the paranormal or simply some confusion in the brain, it is a
perplexing feeling of having "already seen." 2005 Courtney Ming

Racism

A racist is not some one that accepts another person for who they are, but rather pre judges them
based on their appearance or their skin color. The vast diversity of society makes it nearly
impossible to eliminate all racial tension. A racist usually has no other reason to hate somebody
except for the fact that the other person may look different or have a different skin color than
them. In the long run, racists are only hurting themselves because they are limiting their
knowledge of different cultures and people and they are not broadening their horizons. Racists
are extremely closed minded individuals and they strictly adhere to their own set of beliefs and
morals without any regard for other people's belief systems. Racists are too selfish and not open
minded enough to accept people for the way they are. 2005 Mike Sullivan

What are its main parts?

Topic Sentence - it has the main idea and gives a simple definition
Supporting Sentences - give more information through the use of examples, description
or explanation
Concluding Sentence - a brief reflection or statement about the main idea (usually
unnecessary)

What are its parts?

Item
Category
Features

Examples:

Item Category Features


A forsythia Is a flowering shrub With yellow bell-shaped
blossoms
Herbivores Are animals Which feed on plants
Change is a type of process Is a type of process Which involves from one state or
phase to another

Possible questions requiring for definition paragraph:

What is venture capital?


Define over-fishing
What are longitudinal dunes?
. What is meant by protein quality?

Sample Paragraph 1

What are longitudinal dunes?

Longitudinal dunes are long low ridges of sand that lie approximately at right angles to
the trend of the sand waves, or parallel to the direction of the wind. Some of the ridges are
almost straight; others are slightly wavy. They range up to about 10 metres in height and 30
metres in width. Many are more than one and one-half kilometres long. Both sides of these dunes
have practically the same slope and are usually covered with grass and shrubs. While the crest is
usually bare of vegetation, on some dunes, even the crest is covered. Where this occurs, it means
that wind action has stopped on this particular dune.

Sample Paragraph 2

What is meant by protein quality? The term protein quality refers to the ratio of essential amino
acids (eaa) in a protein in comparison with the ratio required by the body. A high quality protein
contains eaa in a ratio that matches human requirements. A protein which is lacking or low in
one or more eaa is termed a low quality protein. The eaa which is in the shortest supply is called
the limiting amino acid. In general, animal proteins tend to be high quality while vegetable
proteins tend to be low quality. The exception is soy protein which is quite high quality.

Techniques for Writing Simple Definitions

If you want to define a term without being abrupt and mechanical, you have several alternatives.
All of the following techniques allow you to blend the definition into your developing thought

Basic dictionary meaning. You can quote the dictionarys definition, but if you do, you
are obliged to indicate your source, which you should do directly and explicitly. Always
give the complete title of the dictionary such as American Heritage Dictionary of the
English Language says, Do not write, Websters says, Dozens of dictionaries use the
Websters designation as part of their title.
Synonyms. Although no two words have exactly the same meaning, synonyms often
follow as if in parentheses.
He was guilty of the ancient sin of hubris, of excessive pride.
Direct explanation. You can state the definition
This spontaneous and loyal support of our preconception this process of finding
good reasons to justify our routine beliefs is known to modern psychologists
as rationalizing clearly a new name for a very ancient thing (James Harvey
Robinson, On Various Kinds of Thinking)
Indirect explanation. You can imply the definition.
Trance is a similar abnormality as our society. Even a mild mystic is aberrant in
Western Civilization.
Analytical or formal definition. In using this method, you define by placing the term (the
subject) in a class(genus) and then identifying it with characteristics that show how it
differs from other members of the same class, as the following examples shows:
Subject: A democracy
Class: is a form of government
Characteristics: in which the voters elect representatives to manage society.

Subject: A wolf
Class: is a dog-like mammal
Characteristics: that is large and carnivorous with coarse fur; erect pointed ears;
and a bushy tail.

Avoiding Common Problems

Do not use the expression is where or is when in beginning the main part of a definition.
The verb is (a linking verb) should be followed by a noun, a pronoun, or an adjective
Weak: A stadium is where they hold sports spectaculars.
Better: A stadium is a structure in which sports spectaculars are held.

Weak: Socialism is when the ownership and operation of the means of production
and distribution are vested in the community in a whole.
Better: Socialism is a theory or system of community organization that advocates
that the ownership and control of the means of production, capital, land, and so
forth, be vested in the community as a whole.
Do not use the circular definition, a practice of defining a term with the term itself.
Circular: An aristocracy is a form of government based on rule by the aristocrats.
Direct: An aristocracy is a form of government in which the power resides in the
hands of the best individuals or a small privileged class.
Do not define the subject in more complicated language than the original.
Murky: Surreptitious means clandestine.
Clear: Surreptitious means secret.
Do not substitute the example for the definition; the example may be excellent for
clarification, but it does not completely define.
Weak: Political conservatives are people like John McCain and Sarah Pain.
Better: Political conservatives are people who are dedicated to preserving existing
conditions. Examples of conservatives are John McCain and Sarah Pain.
What is a Denotative?

The direct or dictionary meaning of a word, in contrast to its figurative or associated


meanings (connotations).
Denotative meaning is sometimes called cognitive meaning, referential meaning,
or conceptual meaning.
All words have denotations, which are their strict dictionary meanings or definitions. The
denotative meaning of blood, for example is, a red fluid that circulates through the heart,
veins, and arteries of vertebrates

Heres a list of words that show connotation and denotation differences.

Those who are lonely and detached live in a house. Those who live with loved ones and
in happiness live in a home.
A mother and father have procreated. A mom and a dad are loving parents.
Many wise men have made plans. Many cunning scoundrels have devised a scheme.
Pushy salespeople are to be avoided. Aggressive salespeople make a lot of money.
Im sick and tired of listening to politicians, but give me a good statesman any day of
the week and well get things done.

S-ar putea să vă placă și