The Art of Definin

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UNIT II (LESSON 1)
 WHY DO WE
NEED TO DEFINE
A CONCEPT?
 WHY DO WE NEED TO DEFINE A
CONCEPT?
-it clarifies the meaning of a word or concept
- limits the scope of that particular word.
-avoid misinterpretations,
-vague notions,
-broad ideas
 What’s in a name? 
Name
- a vocal sound which signifies by agreement,
and which does not have any part that signifies
by itself
-If a vocal sound does not signify something, it is
just gibberish
-Some vocal sounds can signify something
without being considered names or words, such as
a baby’s crying signifying that it is hungry or tired.
Definitions: the best way to underst
and a name
• You can understand a name on its
own, but a definition will help you
understand it better or more perfectly.
 Univocal names used in definition
A univocal name is said of many things with the
same meaning

Example:
“animal” can mean a dog, cat, horse, or pink
fairy armadillo

“animal” ----means the same thing in each case

• This is NOT to be confused with an equivocal name,
which is said of many things with a different meaning
 Genus, species, and difference
• Genus = a univocal name is said of many things
which are different in kind (animal)
• Species = a univocal name is said of many things
which differ as individuals (pink fairy armadillo)
• Difference = the name which separates species under
the same genus • “rational” narrows the genus
“animal” to the species “man”
 EXAMPLE of FORMAL DEFINITION
TERM GENUS DIFFERENTIA

DEFINITION =a mode of paragraph development +that answers the questions

what is it, what does it mean, or what its
special features
COMIC BOOKS =are sequential and narrative publications (class) +consisting of illustrations,
captions, dialogue balloons, and
often focus on super- powered heroes .
 The kinds of definition
Definition = speech signifying what a thing is
-definitions can define a thing, a name, or both
Nominal Definition – only gives an account of what the
name is
ex. President means chief
Essential definition – explains the essence of
something or “what it is to be”
ex. A thermometer is an instrument designed to measure the temperature.
(most definitions contain both nominal and essential elements)
 Extended Definitions
- generally have components of both
informal and formal definitions
however, as the name suggests, the
author uses a number of other
techniques to define a word, concept,
or phrase, including the following:
 Techniques of Extended Definition
1. ETYMOLOGY – explaining origin of the word itself

2. ANALYSIS- is the process of breaking down a concept

into its constituent parts.

3. COMPARISON & CONTRAST- using simlarities &

differences
 Techniques of Extended Definition
4. DESCRIPTION – listing and defining the component
parts.
5. FUNCTIONS- know its purpose, it answers the
question what is it used for?
6. CONTRAST- understanding how atleast two similar
concepts are different from each other.
7. ANALOGY-comparing the term to another object that
shares the same characteristic.
 Techniques of Extended Definition
8. EXAMPLE- defining a term using example.

9. NEGATION- defines the concept by what it is not.

What is a
Concept
Paper?
 CONCEPT PAPER
The concept paper is about a particular project with
its purpose and outcomes, which is usually created
to get the funding from potential sponsors. The main
goal of writing a concept paper is to explain why
this project matters and who will benefit from it.
 PARTS OF A CONCEPT PAPER
1.COVER PAGE
2.INTRODUCTION
3.RATIONALE &
BACKGROUND
4.PROJECT DESCRIPTION
5.PROJECT NEEDS & COST