Writing

Definition guidelines

Definition is a mode of writing that explains what a term means to you. It can be used to clarify vague or ambiguous terms, or you can develop it into a full essay. Most papers you write in college will contain some form of definition.

Cicero said, “Every rational discussion of anything whatsoever should begin with a definition in order to make clear what is the subject of dispute.” In short, you need to know what you are writing about before you write about it.

In a definition essay, you explain the meaning of a certain term by giving a detailed description of it and support your definition with clear examples or facts. Such explanations are needed if a term is special, abstract, disputed or does not have a common meaning. For instance, individuals can interpret the definition of the words, ‘freedom’ or ‘abuse’ quite differently.

Arguments revolve around definitions of crucial terms. For example, both sides of the abortion debate define the term in different ways:

Anti-abortion = murder of an unborn child

Pro-abortion = termination of a pregnancy

An extended definition allows you to apply a personal interpretation to a word or phrase. It may run several paragraphs or a few pages.

When you define a term, you need to break it down into component parts. A formal definition consists of the term, class, and characteristics.

Term	Class	Characteristics
A workaholic	is a person	who lives to work rather than works to live
Measles	is a disease	that causes inflamed red spots on the skin

Definition is important because it makes you focus on specific details.

Do not use “when” or “where” when defining terms.

A weak definition is usually lacking one of the component parts:

Weak: College is where you go to learn things.

Still weak: College is a place where you go to learn things.

Better: College is an institution devoted to higher learning.

Weak: A stadium is where they hold sporting events.

Better: A stadium is a large building that hosts sporting events.

Weak: Depression is when you are so sad you can’t do anything in your life.

Better: Depression is a psychiatric disorder characterized by feelings of hopelessness and dejection.

Also, avoid using circular definitions. A circular definition reverts back to its subject without explaining anything:

A bully is a person who bullies other people.

A terrorist tries to terrorize people.

Passive aggression is when people show their aggression passively.

Communism is a form of government run by communists.

Parenthetical definitions

Brief clarification of term or concept within an existing sentence. Often, it is simply a word or phrase set off by parentheses, commas, or introduced by a dash or colon.

EX:

term definition

The computers were infected by a Trojan horse (a destructive virus that appears to be benign).

term definition

Before the metal is plated, it is immersed in the “pickle”: an acid bath that removes scales and oxides from the surface.

term definition

Next, check for blight on the epicotyl, the stem portion above the cotyledons.

· Parenthetical definitions are not meant to be comprehensive: they serve as quick and convenient ways to introduce terms.

Negation

Another way to define a term is through negation. Negation is defining what a word is not. Several words are close in meaning but still not quite the same. Sometimes the best way to define a word is to show how its meaning differs slightly from another word close in meaning.

Ex: Love is not the same as infatuation. Love is a long-term, serious commitment that considers the good and bad qualities of a person and it is grounded in reality. Infatuation is a fantasy that only considers the good or ideal qualities of a person without considering the realities of life. Love is enduring while infatuation is fleeting.

Example and anecdote are other methods of clarifying definition.

A well-chosen example can add meaning to a word.

Ex: Laconic means “concise” or “brief.” For instance, a trial lawyer whose opening argument is very short and to the point, without wasting a word, would be considered laconic.

Ex: Goldbricking is slang for avoiding work by coming up with excuses. For example, you’re goldbricking when you say you can’t work because your allergies are acting up when there’s nothing really wrong with you.

An anecdote, or a short, illuminating story about a term, can also help clarify its meaning.

Ex: My ex-roommate was a neat-freak while I’m just your average, everyday slob. The arrangement did not work out well. Everything on his desk had to be arranged in a certain way. His pens were positioned by color in a neat little box, his books were neatly stacked in alphabetical order by subject on the right side of the desk, and his laptop sat directly in the center of the desk. I know this because I watched him take a tape measure and mark the center with a number two pencil. His clothes were carefully folded, and his closet looked like a photograph from Better Living magazine. To me, this is more than just being organized and clean.

Repetition in Definition Essays

In its narrative form, definition calls for a more casual, flexible style of writing much like the narrative essay. A certain amount of repetition is necessary to drive home the significance of your term. Key terms may be repeated often throughout the essay although you still need to be careful to avoid repeating common language.