Post on 16-Aug-2015
FORMAL DEFINITIONA formal definition is a one-sentence explanation of the meaning of a word. When you write a formal definition, first assign the term to a class and then explain how it is different from other members of the class.
Parts of Formal Definition
Term Verb Class Characteristics
Modems Are Electronic
Devices
That make possible
the transmission of
data to or from a
computer via
telephone.
Hypertext
Mark-
Up Language
(HTML)
Is A code
Used to make
documents readable
across a variety of
platforms and software.
INFORMAL DEFINITIONInformal Definition is using a familiar word or phrases for an unfamiliar word or phrase. It is also called a parenthetical definition. When defining a word that the reader will easily understand if shown a synonym or alternative phrase, show the synonym in parentheses immediately after the word.
Radar
An acronym for radio
detection and range; a
determining factor in anti-
aircraft defense system.
Stalemate
A contest or competition in
which neither side can gain an
advantage or win.
Hub-bubA noisy, confused mingling of
sounds
EXPANDED, EXTENDED, OR IMPLIFIED
DEFINITION
Etymological
Historical
Negation/Elimination
Operating Principle
Comparison/Contrast
Uses of Examples
Explication
This version of a definition is the longest, offering the freedom to provide insight into the origin of the term, additional meanings, synonyms and antonyms, and more.
Etymological
A more formal statement about the language roots of a word. Technical terms may not have actual roots of this sort. The author explains that they are often acronyms that are better understood when the letters or parts
of the word are explained.
HistoricalAn explanation of where a term comes from, who first used it, or the circumstances in which it was first used.
Comparison/Contrast
A discussion of the term as it compares to a term that has a different meaning.A discussion of the term as it relates to a term similar in meaning.
GENUS:
The class to which
the term to be
explained belongs.
SPECIES:
The class member having characteristics or
distinctive qualities of its own.
BASIS:
The main reason or
principle that causes the
objects to fall into one
class.
A first date can end up being categorized as successful, a clingy, a
boastful or awkward. Successful first dates include both parties
expressing information about what they like, who they are, and so forth.
Usually, these dates will end in tentative plans for a second one. Clingy
dates end up with one of the parties practically begging for information
about the other. However, the non-clinger is not interested. On boastful
dates, one member of the duo talks about all of his or her skills, talents,
and abilities. The listening end of the pair is never asked about his or
her life. Awkward first dates generally involve lots of silence or one or
both of the partners not knowing how to act appropriately. While many
dates occur every day, they can generally fall into one of these
categories.
First Dates
Friendships
Although friendship is something that most people enjoy, friendships are
not all the same. Some friendships are forged from a long-term familiarity
with one another, and other friendships can spring up just by spending
one fun evening together. Not all friendships result in daily or even
weekly time spent together; long-term friendships can be kept afloat
using communication tools like the Internet and telephone, while other
friendships result in sporadic get-togethers sometimes months or even
years apart. People seek different things in friendship, meaning certain
friendships result around trips to a diner or video games while other
friendships may occur due to a work relationship or general common
interests.
Schools
Different students attend various types of schools; however, they can
usually be classified as either public, private religious, private non
religious, or alternative. Public schools are funded by the state, and the
majority of students in the United States attend them. Private religious
schools are based around a particular faith, such as Catholicism,
Judaism, and so forth. The religion is part of the every day lives of the
students and they also learn about the faiths. All types of private schools
do not receive state funding. Therefore, private non religious schools are
simply just that: schools which do not receive state funding and have the
ability to make their own rules. Alternative schools can be made up of a
variety of different categories, such as the Montessori program or
technical schools. Most students who attend class in an actual school
building go to one of these types of institutions.
Literature
The word "literature" evokes the image of a book-lined shelf, or an
evening spent in a chair with a novel. While written literature has been
around since the advent of print, it has always taken on different forms.
At its most basic, literature simply means written work, although some
would argue that the term refers specifically to published works, or
even to works that have garnered some critical acclaim. High literature
connotes literature that has been accepted as academically beneficial.
"Low" literature, like some young adult fiction, doesn't always have the
intellectual value of high literature, but there is some crossover- the
novels of Stevenson and Twain were originally written to a young adult
audience but are considered classics today.
Weight Loss
People looking to lose weight have a few options: exercise, diet, weight
loss pills, and surgery. Exercising involves going to a gym, working out at
home, or joining some sort of class or sports team. Those who are
dieting can talk to a doctor about a plan for them. Weight loss pills can
be taken, if proper precautions and directions are followed. Individuals
who are severely overweight can talk to a doctor about having surgery to
lose the weight that they need.
Religion
The beliefs and practices known as religion can cause unity or
contention, can hold many things in common while promoting very
different values, can be as simple as the Golden Rule or complex as
tradition allows. The Abrahamic religions- Islam, Christianity, and
Judaism- all share a common father, Abraham. Nevertheless, the
teachings of each religion vary to such a degree that many wars and
conflicts have been fought between them. Nevertheless, most religions,
from the Abrahamic beliefs to eastern religions such as Hinduism and
Buddhism, promote loving others, living moral lives, and working toward
the benefit of humanity.
Rock Music
The genre of rock music encompasses many distinct styles under the
same umbrella. While the genre began with guitar - and piano-driven
popular songs, today there are literally hundreds of variations on the
original. Electronic rock contains elements of computer-generated or
synthesized instruments, including drum machines and electronic
guitars, in addition to some of the elements from the original
movement. Heavy metal focuses less on melody and more on heavy
guitars, while folk-rock typically uses a much more acoustic sound with
instruments like banjos and harmonicas. Emerging in the late 1970s
were glam rock and punk rock, which share a stripped-down sound and
emphasize aesthetics, while punk rock tends to be more aggressive
and glam tends to be more theatrical. Even today, rock music tends to
share a distinctive beat with electric or acoustic guitars.
Dogs
Dogs are domesticated animals that have been living with humans for
generations. Dogs can be classified in a number of different ways. For
example, they can be classified by breed. Examples of different breeds
include beagles, basset hounds, poodles and countless others as
defined by the American Kennel Club (AKC). They can also be
classified by their role in the lives of their masters and the work they do.
For example, a dog might be a family pet, a working dog, a show dog,
or a hunting dog. In many cases, dogs are defined both by their breed
and their roll. For example, a dog could be a beagle that is a family pet.