1 / 13

Unit 3: DEFINITION

Unit 3: DEFINITION. Hammonds-French English 1301. What is DEFINITION?.

jerom
Download Presentation

Unit 3: DEFINITION

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Unit 3: DEFINITION Hammonds-French English 1301

  2. What is DEFINITION? • Lewis Carroll’s Humpty Dumpty says, “When I use a word…it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.” Nice idea, in theory, but for language to communicate, we must have accepted definitions. Our unit will explore the following: • Definition as a mode of writing • Types of Definition • How Definition fits your purpose and audience • Strategies • Sample essay with analysis

  3. DEFINITION as a mode of writing • Words and phrases have denotation (dictionary definition) and connotation. • Words and phrases may also be defined by personal experience, attitude, and values that influence the use or non-use of the language. • Words and phrases may also be defined by the historical time period or the observation of them so that differences occur (pedagogue; hussy; pimp) • As a result, understanding and definition is important.

  4. DEFINITION as a mode of writing… • The writer tries to answer basic questions: • What does _____ mean? • What is the special or true nature of ___? • The writer has at his disposal and will use various strategies for expanding and perfecting definitions.

  5. TYPES of DEFINITION • INFORMAL/FANCIFUL : • This type of definition is usually creative; it will vary based on the individual writer. • The definition may be totally fictionalized or uninformed, but it will make sense to the writer and to the audience. • The definition may be humorous or satirical in nature.

  6. FORMAL: • This type of definition is the actual definition and application of the word/term/phrase. • The definition is expanded and explained through actual denotation and exemplification to reach the audience. • The definition is usually informative in nature, but it will have a goal as determined by its thesis.

  7. How DEFINITION fits your audience and purpose • EXTENDED DEFINITION is the goal. • EXTENDED DEFINITION allows you to apply a personal interpretation to a word, to propose a revisionist view of a commonly accepted meaning, to analyze words representing complex or controversial issues.

  8. STRATEGIES • 1. Stay focused on the essay’s purpose, audience, and tone. • Informal and fanciful definition has the goal to inspire laughter or groans. • Formal definition has the goal to inspire understanding. • 2. Formulate an effective definition. • In formal definition, decide the term, class, and characteristics to include. • In fanciful/informal, decide the goal (humor, satire, entertainment…) • 3. Develop the extended definition. • Determine what format/pattern to use; for example, narrative, descriptive, comparison-contrast, negation… • 4. Organize the material that develops the definition. • 5. Write an effective introduction that allows for further development and explanation of the definition.

  9. Sample Essays for discussion/analysis • “Absolute Zero” – reading aloud • Fanciful or Formal? • Believable or Ridiculous? • Effect? • “Entropy” pp. 443-445 (6th ed.) OR 436-438 (7th ed.) • Fanciful or Formal? • Believable or Ridiculous? • Effect?

  10. Essay Structure for “Entropy” • Paragraphs 1-3 = Introductory examples, Thesis, Formal definition • Examples of entropy from everyday life • Thesis: Disorder is the natural order of the universe. • Formal definition: Entropy is a measure of the amount of disorder in the universe.

  11. Paragraph 4-12 = Extended definition of entropy through comparison-contrast • Extended def: Entropy is loss of purpose, haphazard chaos in people’s lives. • Comparison: As in nature, entropy in everyday life is irreversible. (examples) • Comparison: Entropy results in wasted energy and opportunities in life. (examples) • Comparison: Entropy affects human relationships. (examples) • Contrast: Entropy is not always inevitable. Creation of life is the most profound exception to entropy. (examples) • Contrast: Creation takes harder work than entropy; there are more paths to disorder than to order. (examples)

  12. Paragraphs 13-15 develop extended definition through cause-effect • Entropy is depressing. • Entropy creates distressing disorder in life.

  13. Paragraphs 16-17 conclude the definition essay • Restatement of thesis and author’s pessimistic feelings about entropy. • Final comments/questions about definition as a mode of writing? • See assignment page on your unit outline

More Related