Definition Paragraph

A definition explains the meaning of a word or term.

The definition paragraph is a definition sentence that is expanded into a paragraph.

A clear definition can:

1. avoid confusion and mistakes

2. convey what is meant exactly without being misunderstood

3. also help you to understand what other people mean

A good definition:

1. tell the reader what word is being defined

2. present a clear and precise basic definition

3. use specific examples to show what the writer means

4. use words and examples that readers will understand

Types:

1. Denotative – refers to the exact or dictionary meaning of a word.

2. Connotative – refers to the feelings or qualities a reader associates with a word.

3. Stipulative – refers to the specified meaning of a word which is not a standard usage.

Order:

1. Emphatic

2. Spatial

3. Chronological

How to define:

1. Tell what people say about it.

2. Give a dictionary definition.

3. Describe it in detail.

4. Add your personal experiences.

5. Compare it to something.

6. Tell what it is not.

7. Provide examples.

8. Explain the different kinds.

9. Tell the history of the word

10. Use a quotation.

A good definition should include:

1. term – or word being defined

2. class – the (big) group to which the term belongs

3. differentiating features – what makes it different with the others from the same class

Example:

Trivia is a type of information that is unimportant, inconsequential or inessential.

Term – trivia

Class – information

Differentiating features – it is unimportant compared to other types of information

A definition can be brief or extended; it can also be formal or informal. A brief definition can be just a sentence. Extended definition can be a combination of dictionary and special meanings of a term. Extended examples can also contain description, narration and/ or other kinds of paragraph development.

A dictionary definition of a term is an example of a formal definition. Informal definition can be a person’s meaning of a term. Students are usually asked to give their own definition of terms they have studied in class to find out if they have understood the lesson well. Sometimes, an informal definition can be funny, light, or humorous.

Example: Fine is a word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

Examples of brief denotative definition

A symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance. (Merriam-Webster’s On-line Dictionary)

An emoticon is a symbol, usually found in e-mail messages, made up of punctuation marks that resemble a human expression. The word emoticon is a combination of the words emotion and icon.

Male is a sex that denotes an animal which produces sperm cells in order to reproduce. (Webster’s Online Dictionary)

Examples of extended definition

Graveyard shift – In Victorian times, there was an intense fear of being buried alive, so when someone died, a small hole was dug from the casket to the surface. Then a string was tied around the dead person’s finger which was then attached to a small but loud bell that was hung on the surface of the grave. So then, if someone was buried alive, he or she could ring the bell and whoever was on duty would go and dig him or her up. Someone was on the clock 24 hours a day – hence the grave yard shift.

EXAMPLES:

(brief definition)

(extended definition)

(extended definition with narration)

(essay-extended definition combined with description and narration)

Classification and Division Paragraph / Essay

Division deals with one subject only. It divides the subject into its component parts, pieces, or sections for closer examination. An example of this is a movie. A movie can be divided into several books or parts. The movie “The Lord of The Rings” is a trilogy. The story comes in three installments. Another example is a paragraph or an essay which is divided into introduction, body and conclusion.

Writing an effective division shows a subject’s parts, or what a subject is made or composed of. Grade, level, stage, and part are words that indicate division.

Classification, on the other hand, deals with a plural subject. It sorts a group of similar subjects according to some quality or characteristic that they share in common. For example, neighbors can be classified according to their attitudes: friendly, snoopy and aloof. Of course, there are still other ways to classify neighbors. With classification, subjects can be categorized in many ways based on different principles or criteria of classification.

Writing an effective classification should be consistent with the set criteria. In addition, categories should be arranged in logical order, and avoid overlapping of categories.

Ordering of Details:

1. Emphatic

2. Spatial

3. Chronological

(example - division paragraph)
(example - classification paragraph)

Example Paragraph

An example paragraph illustrates a concept in real-world terms and provides readers with an image of a concept that they can relate to.

Examples make general statements specific and more convincing.

Good examples can explain and clarify unfamiliar, abstract, or difficult concepts for the reader.

Use examples that are representatives of the types of situations of your readers.

Clear examples support, clarify, interest and persuade your readers to agree with you.

Sources of Examples:

Personal experiences

Other people’s experiences (friends, relatives, classmates, etc.)

Printed materials like books, magazines, etc.

Media: Radio, TV, and Movies

Environment

Hypothetical situations

Facts, events, statistics, quotations

Kinds of Examples:

Specific – examples that are definite or particular

Typical – examples that show common qualities or characteristics to a group or kind

Hypothetical – examples that present possible events that could happen in the future

Ordering of Details

Emphatic

Spatial

Chronological

Examples:

Nocturnal animals

(emphatic order - from the most familiar to the least familiar )

a. bats

b. owls

c. fox

d. raccoon

e. wombat

People who rose from rags to riches:

(spatial – from local to international)

a. Regine Velasquez (from Bulacan – local, meaning she is from Bulacan and we are from Bulacan) although you can also use her as an example for national)

b. Manny Pacquiao (from the Philippines – national)

c. Yao Ming (international – popular worldwide and comes from another country)

Forms of transportation in the Philippines

(chronological)

a. sleds or karitela

b. bicycles

c. car

Transitional words & phases

for example, for instance, for one thing, as an illustration, to illustrate, illustrated with, as an example, in this case

also, again, as well as, besides, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly

Things to Remember when Writing an Example Paragraph or Essay:

Be sure your examples are relevant.

Be sure that your examples are reasonable and realistic (except for the hypothetical examples)

Be sure that your examples are vivid in details.

Be sure you have enough examples to prove your point.

An Extended Example or Illustration is one that tells a story.

DOs and DON’Ts

1. DO provide enough examples to prove your point. One or two short examples will never satisfy the curiosity of an intelligent reader.

2. DO choose examples that are both specific and relevant. Remember that the quantity of your examples means nothing if the quality of your example is poor.

3. DO understand the purpose of your examples before you write your paragraph. Are you using examples primarily to inform your reader or to persuade your reader—or both?

4. DON’T use a series of slanted examples which may distort the truth. Use unbiased, objective, representative examples.

5. DON’T present a brief example and then move on to the next example without explaining the first. Provide your readers with enough secondary details to make your examples effective.

6. DON’T rely on a single extended example unless that example is comprehensive enough to illustrate your point.

(specific examples)

(typical example)

(hypothetical examples)