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STUDENT’S EDUCATIONAL PACKET

ENGLISH for ACADEMIC and PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES
Level: Grade 12

1st Quarter - Week Eight

MODULE 3 : LESSON 2

Three Ways of Elucidating a Concept

Objectives: After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. Define what a concept paper is and identify its uses and structure.
2. Determine the ways a writer can elucidate on a concept.
3. Compare and contrast various kinds of concept paper.
4. Present a novel concept or project with accompanying visuals/graphic aids.:

INTRODUCTION
In the previous lesson, you have learned what a concept paper is and eventually
understood its uses. You also need to know that a concept of your project or research
must be well explained in order for it to be sensible. As a writer, your next step is to
learn the different ways in explaining the nature of a concept.

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 Warm-up!
Task 1: Fix Me!
Directions: Arrange the jumbled letters to form word. Use the synonym in
parenthesis as your guide in unlocking the word. Write your answer in your activity
notebook.

1. T I O N F I D E N I ___________________ Hint: meaning

2. R I F I T I O N C L A C A __________________ Hint: clearing up
3. C A E X P L I T I O N __________________ Hint: explanation
Answer: DEFINITION
EXFLICATION
CLARIFICATION

DISCUSSION
Three Ways in Elucidating a Concept
Before writing a concept paper, you must first learn how to explain your
concept of your project or research. Basically, there are three ways of explaining a
concept.
1. Definition – explaining the concept by answering, “What does it mean?” This
makes of an illustrations, examples, and description to clarify the term. A
definition can be done in three ways:

a. Informal Definition – giving of a parenthetical or brief explanation.

Example: Tocopherol (Vitamin E) is naturally found in vegetable oil, fish,

and nuts.

b. Formal Definition - giving of the term to be defined, the category, and the
quality that makes the term different from other terms in the same category

Example:
Vitamin E is a light-yellow fat-soluble vitamin that acts as anti-oxidant.
(term defined) (category of the term) (quality)
Biology is a branch of science that studies living organisms.
(term defined) (category of the term) (quality)

c. Extended Definition – is a detailed way of defining a term and is usually a

one paragraph. It incorporates various patterns of formal, informal, comparison
and contrasts, narration, description, classification, cause and effect to explain
a concept.

Example:

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 First described in 1907 by Also Alzheimer, a German physician,
Alzheimer’s disease is an adult-onset neurological disorder of unknown
etiology (cause) manifested by loss of memory, impaired thought processes,
and abnormal behavior. When the illness begins before the age of 65, it is
termed Alzheimer’s disease; when onset is after 65, it is referred to as senile
dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.

Signal Words for Definition

The following signal words are useful when explaining a concept by definition.

as defined, for example, for instance, is defined as, means,

such as, to define, to illustrate

1. Explication – is a method of explanation in which sentences, verses, quotes,

or phrases are taken from a literary or academic work then interpreted and
explained in a detailed way. You may begin by analyzing how the text was
constructed and end with a concise conclusion by restating your major
arguments. Explication not only illuminates a piece of literature, but also serves to
remind the readers about its historical setting and formal properties of style and
language.

Example:
In the final stanza of his poem The Road Not Taken, Frost talks about
his dilemma of coming upon two diverging paths, and not knowing which one to
choose. The third line is very important, as it delivers an idea of choosing
between the two divergent paths.

The tone in this stanza shifts from regretful to optimistic. The two roads
symbolically represent individual choices. The mood is neither depressed nor
unhappy, but the poet sighs because he knows what the complexities our life
may have for him. Whether he has chosen a right or a wrong path, it has a
compelling impact on his life. The phrase “less traveled” suggests the theme of
individualism. From: The Road Not Taken (by Robert Frost

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2. Clarification – it is a method of explanation in which the points are organized
from a general abstract idea to specific and concrete examples. The analysis of
the concept is done by looking at the examples and specifying its characteristics.

Signal Words for Clarification

After all for instance namely that is
As an example in other words put another way to be specific
Consider the following example in particular specifically
To clarify for example in short stated
differently

Example:
Justice is a broad concept which encompasses a wide set of ideas, most of
which also branch out into smaller notions. For instance, it can refer to the
sentencing of a criminal based on due process. When an individual gets what he
deserves, even outside the hands of the law, it is also considered justice in some
context. This may come in the form of vigilante justice, in which a person
dissatisfied with the system doles out punishing to wrong-doers. Poetic justice is
also another related concept which is used in literature to show how the good is
always rewarded while bad forces always meet a grim end. In the context of this
paper, justice will be clearly delineated into any instance in which the law is
successfully and fairly applied to an individual, resulting in either an arrest or a
release. To illustrate, if a theft is caught and tried in court through due process,
and is found to be guilty and then sentenced accordingly, it can be said that
justice was served. However, if the same thief is caught in the act by a band of
villagers and was beaten right then and there, it will be considered justice in the
context of the paper, as the process has not undergone due process.
Source: English for Academic & Professional Purposes for SHS page

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 Let’s Practice
Task 2. Hate Me Not!
Directions: Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow.

Anger is having a feeling of hatred toward someone or something. It is

one of our basic emotions and can be most dangerous if it is not carefully
controlled. A person can become angry when he cannot fulfill some basic needs
or desire that is important to him. For example, a child may become angry when
he cannot play outside with his friends. An adult may become angry when he does
not receive a raise in pay that he expected. Mentally, anger can interfere with our
thoughts, making it difficult to think clearly. Physically, it may cause violent
reactions in our muscles and in the nervous system. This causes an angry person
to flush and tremble and to show other signs of disturbance. A person can be
dangerous if he is in an angry mood because he can develop feelings of hostility
and hatred toward another person, which can then often turn violent.

Source:
https://www.sinclair.edu/centers/tlc/pub/handouts_worksheets/english/
075sample_paragraph_definition.pdf

Questions:
1. What concept is being explained in the above paragraph?
2. What examples are given to explain the concept?
3. Do these examples reflect realities in life?
4. In what way is the concept of the paragraph being explained?

Answer:
1. Anger
2. A child become angry when he cannot play outside with his friends.
An adult may become angry when he does not receive a raise in pay that he
expected.
3. Yes
4. Extended Definition

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Task 3: Let’s Get Formal

Write a formal definition of the following terms: (Answer may vary)

1. Internet
Answer. an electronic communications network that connects computer
networks and organizational computer facilities around the world —used with the
except when being used attributively doing research on the Internetan Internet
search.

2. Social media
Answer. Social media refers to the means of interactions among people in
which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual
communities and networks. The Office of Communications and Marketing
manages the main Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube
accounts.

EVALUATION: Concept Building

Directions: Think of any topic of your interest. Explain your idea or concept using one
of these ways: by definition, explication or clarification. Provide an illustration or
drawing of that concept you want to expound. Your concept presentation will be
rated using the rubric below.

Rubrics for Rating Your Concept Presentation

Partially
Evident
Features of the Concept Presentation Evident
5 pts.
2 pts.
The introduction covers the background for the concept
and the thesis statement.
The paragraphs of the body explain, explicate, or define
the concepts.
Each paragraph uses at least two supporting details to
clarify the concept.
The conclusion presents the summary of the concept
paper and restates the thesis.
Adequate transitions make sure that paragraphs and ideas
in the sentences are connected and organized.

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Uses simple language in order for the reader to easily
understand the piece.
The essay is free of grammatical errors and all sources
were listed in the reference.
The illustration presented enhances the concept
explanation.
(Adapted from: EAPP ADM)