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Definitional
Techniques
by Professor Merrill Whitburn
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
In the course
of developing a report, essay, memo, etc. writers are often
called upon to define their terms. Some of the more common
definitional techniques used in professional and academic
writing are described below.
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An
Aristotelian or formal definition assigns a thing to a
genus or class and then indicates the differences between
the thing and other members of the class. Example: Craps
is a gambling game played with two dice in which a first
throw of 7 or 11 wins the bet; a first throw of 2, 3,
or 12 loses; and a first throw of any other number (a
point) must be repeated to win before a 7 is thrown--otherwise,
the player loses both the bet and the dice.
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An explication defines the meaning of key words in an
Aristotelian or formal definition. An example that might
follow the above definition: Dice are small cubes marked
on each side with a number of small dots, varying from
1 to 6. The number of dots on opposite sides always add
up to 7.
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An operational definition refers individuals to a location
or situation where they might observe a phenomenon. Example:
If you are driving south along a highway, you will experience
the Doppler effect if you listen to the sound of a car
heading north that approaches and then passes you.
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An analysis separates a whole into its component parts.
Example: Air is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous
mixture containing nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, neon,
and helium.
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An example suggests one member of a class of objects to
convey an accurate impression of the entire class. Example:
The maple is an example of a deciduous tree.
Graphics provide a pictorial representation where lines,
dots, arrows, etc. are configured into representational
patterns.
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Comparisons and contrasts suggest ways in which objects
or concepts are similar to or different from one another.
Example: Both the maple and the pine are trees; but the
former is deciduous, the latter coniferous.
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An elimination indicates what something is not to clarify
what it is. Example: Clear-cutting is not the removal
of only a few trees in a forest area.
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An etymology explores the origin and historical development
of a word. Example: Synchronism can be better understood
if we realize that the original meaning of syn was together,
and that of chronism was time.
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History records the events in the development of something.
Example: It will be easier to understand what is meant
by the discipline of technical communication if we explore
how it evolved.
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