DEFINITION

1. DEFINITION EXPOSITORY PATTERN

2. Simple Definitions: • Simple definitions clarify meanings of concrete or noncontroversial terms, by: • Providing a synonym (cinema: motion picture) • Placing a word in a class and showing how it differs from other items in same class: • Metheglin (term): alcoholic liquor (class) made of fermented honey (details)

3. Extended Definitions: • Use when the experiences or knowledge of readers does little to help them with the meaning of a term or idea that is nonetheless a key element of an overall explanation.

4. Why use a Definition Pattern? • When your subject is unfamiliar to your audience. • When your concepts have conflicting or controversial meanings.

5. Types of Definition Essays: • Informative Definition: When your writing focuses on a fashion, artistic trend, social phenomenon, political movement, or ideas/behaviors widespread enough to interest readers but new enough to require definition. • Redefinition Essay: When you feel your readers need to alter their POV about a subject. (What is a pet, for example)

6. Choosing a Strategy: • Informative Definition Essay: begins by explaining the reason for the subject’s current importance and need to define it. • It may then move to a brief, sometimes formal definition… • Continue with a discussion of historical background of it and present instances of it. • Conclude with review of subject’s features.

7. Definition of Kwanzaa Outline: • Introduction: • Tentative Thesis: If you look carefully at your calendar for December, you may come across Kwanzaa, a holiday unfamiliar to you but which is celebrated each year by an increasing number of your friends, coworkers and neighbors. • Current importance:Examples • Definition: • Brief formal definition • Historical background • Features: seven principles, various activities, clothing, participants, meaning of celebration, food, stories, and materials and resources • Present instances: current and growing popularity • Conclusion: Summary and sources for further info, predictions, etc

8. Developing Definitions: • For subjects that can be observed, measured, and known: • What are its features? • What is its history? • What does it do? • What doesn’t it do?

9. Developing Definitions, con’d: • For concepts, values, or terms whose meaning depends on the ways people use them: • How do people use it? • What has its meaning been historically, and how has the meaning changed? • How is the set of values or concepts different from others? Similar?

10. Techniques peculiar to Definition: • Etymology of your subject • Enumeration of characteristics of your subject • Negation or exclusion to show what is not the meaning of your subject

11. Use Other Patterns to Define: • Use Examples from your own experience or from outside sources (online, or from surveys and interviews) • Use Classification sorting your subject into categories • Use Comparison by identifying synonyms, consensus (general agreement about your subject), dissensus (general agreement about how most people disagree on your subject), similes or metaphors • Use Narrative tell a story about your subject • Use Process Analysis to describe any process involving your subject

12. Essay of Definition: “Gypsies” • Meanings and Values: • How would you characterize the tone of this essay? Its purpose? Reflective, reverential, admiring, sympathetic, praising, laudatory, appreciative, impressed, • Estimate the importance of tone in helping the essay achieve its purpose.

13. Expository Techniques: • Tell where the essay makes use of each of the following definition techniques: • Background • Negation • Enumeration • Analogy • Which examples in the body of the essay are most successful at creating admiration/respect Least successful? Why?

14. Diction and Vocabulary: • Study the word choice in Paragraphs 10 and 13 and explain how Welsch uses it to invite sympathy and admiration for his subjects. Pay special attention to repetition and connotations of words.