Writing Formal Definitions

Clarity and organization are both vital to good expository writing. Many times your purpose is to tell your readers about a subject with which they are not familiar. At other times you want to clarify a topic with which you suspect your readers are not as familiar as they think they are. In order to be precise, you must sometimes use terms your reader may not know. Again, you may use words that have more than one meaning. In each of these cases, you must be sure that your read­ers know what you mean when you use a particular term. Giving a formal definition of a term is an effective way to clarify your meaning.

A formal definition is the kind of definition found in dictionaries. It is a statement or explanation, which gives the precise meaning of a term. This type of definition consists of three parts: the term that is to be defined, the class to which it belongs, and the distinguishing char­acteristics, which make it different from other things in that class.

The first step in writing a formal definition is to place the term in the most specific class into which it fits. For example, a pine should not be placed in the broad class plant, but rather in the narrower, more specif­ic class tree. The class tree, in turn, fits into the broader class plant. The next step is to state, clearly and briefly, the distinguishing characteris­tics that make a pine different from other members of the class tree.

When defining a term, you must be careful not to use words that are so specialized that your readers will be unlikely to know their meaning. In addition, you should avoid using a form of the word you are defin­ing in your definition. For example, do not define dictation as “the act of dictating”.

WORKING WITH THE MODEL

Study the three parts of a formal definition. Then read the formal definition.

Term Class Distinguishing Characteristics

tree plant perennial

woody usually capable of growing to considerable height and size

single self-supporting stem

crowning out with branches and foliage or with foliage alone

some distance from the ground

A tree is a perennial woody plant having a single, self-supporting stem or trunk capable of growing to a considerable height and size, crowning out with branches and foliage or with foliage alone some distance from the ground.

A. Think about the definition of tree.

· Into what class was the term tree put?

· What are the characteristics that make a tree different from other members of the class plants?

· Reread the definition. Which two characteristics of trees are mentioned before the name of the class?

B. Think about the distinguishing characteristics of the class plant.

· Name five other things besides trees that would fit into the class plant.

· Think about how you would define the term flower. Into what class would you put it? What distinguishing characteristics would you mention in your definition?

C. Read the following columns of words. Each column contains one part of a definition. Identify those that can be combined to state a formal definition. Write a definition for each term. You will need to add some words to form complete sentences.

Term Class Characteristics

insect flute long, sharp, hollow; injects poison

fife deer having a head, thorax, abdomen, three pairs of legs, one or two pairs of wings

fang percussion instrument large palmate antlers, lives in Europe, Asia, North America

cymbal invertebrate made of brass or bronze, played in pairs or singly; has a sharp, ringing sound

elk atmospheric disturbance masses of air circulating clockwise in the southern hemisphere and counter-

clockwise in the northern hemisphere around a low-pressure center

tornado tooth high-pitched sound, used in military and marching music

D. Examine each of the following definitions. Tell how each one can be improved by changing the class or adding more specific characteristics.

A palette is a thing on which a painter mixes colors.

A chair is a seat, which is made of wood.

Biology is the study of science.

The decathlon is an athletic event won by Bruce Jenner.

SUMMARY

A formal definition gives the class to which a term belongs and lists the characteristics that distinguish the term from other members of the same class.

DRAFTING

1). Choose an idea, object, or animal to explain by writing a formal definition.

2). Decide on the most specific class into which the term you have chosen fits.

3). Make a list of at least five other things that would fit into the class into which you placed the term you are defining.

4). Think about the term you are defining. List details about its appearance, that it does or is used for, or how it acts.

5). Read over your list of details. Put a check next to those details that distinguish the term you are defining from others in its class. Add any other such details that occur to you.

COMPOSING

Use your list of distinguishing details and the class you have selected to write a definition. State the term you are defining, place it in a specific class, and add at least three distinguishing characteristics.

REVISING

Read your definition carefully and ask yourself the following ques­tions:

· Into what class has the term being defined been placed? What other class, if any, would be more specific?

· Which characteristics, if any, do not distinguish the term being de­fined from others in the same class?

· Which other distinguishing characteristics might be added to the definition?

PROOFREADING

Proofread your definition. Follow the steps in the Proofreading Checklist on page 142. Correct any mistakes you have made in sen­tence structure, capitalization, punctuation, or spelling.

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