EXTENDED

DEFINITIONS
 PURPOSE OF EXTENDED
DEFINITIONS

• Extended definitons are very important in academic writing because

writers need to fully develop an idea, object, process, etc which the
reading audience may not be familiar with. An extended definition
informs the audience and tries to clarify what the “thing” is and how
it is relevant to the context of the topic that the essay is discussing, or
even allow the reader to see that “thing” in a different light.
 WHAT IS AN EXTENDED
DEFINITION?

• "An extended definition may explain the word's etymology or

historical roots, describe sensory characteristics of something (how it
looks, feels, sounds, tastes, smells), identify its parts, indicate how
something is used, explain what it is not, provide an example of it,
and/or note similarities or differences between this term and other
words or things," notes Stephen Reid in "The Prentice Hall Guide for
College Writers.“
• Taken from
https://www.thoughtco.com/extended-definition-essays-and-speeche
s-1690696
CAN YOU GUESS WHAT THE OBJECT
IS?
• an implement for writing, drawing, or marking consisting of or
containing a slender cylinder or strip of a solid marking substance.

• an instrument for writing or drawing, consisting of a thin stick of

graphite or a similar substance enclosed in a long thin piece of wood
or fixed in a cylindrical case.

• Which definition do you think is better and why? What could the
definitions include?
 Are the following definitions sufficient to explain Happiness?

• a state of well-being and contentment : JOY

• Happiness is that feeling that comes over you when you know life is good and you
can't help but smile. It's the opposite of sadness.
• Happiness is a sense of well-being, joy, or contentment. When people are
successful, or safe, or lucky, they feel happiness. The "pursuit of happiness" is
something this country is based on, and different people feel happiness for
different reasons. Whenever doing something causes happiness, people usually
want to do more of it. No one ever complained about feeling too much happiness.
What do the above definitions lack to fully describe “Happiness”?
Do you think the following extended definition is sufficient?
https://www.123helpme.com/essay/The-Definition-of-Happiness-68701
According to Webster dictionary the word Happiness in defined as enjoying, showing, or
marked by pleasure, satisfaction, or joy. People when they think of happiness, they think
about having to good feeling inside. There are many types of happiness, which are expressed
in many ways. Happiness is something that you can't just get it comes form your soul.
Happiness is can be changed through many things that happen in our every day lives.

Happiness according scientific studies comes from dopamine taking chemicals around the brain, which is
a transmitter in the brain that controls the nervous system. These chemicals in the brain make us happy
and sad. Happiness means different things to different people, so say Happiness comes from peace and
other happiness comes from your expectations from being fulfilled. Happiness is like being sad or angry,
it’s an emotion. Some people can get happiness from the simplest things such as reading your favorite
book; other people are more complicated they see happiness as some thing that doesn’t really happen to
them, but that’s not true because every person is different; some people are happy all the time or at least
most of the time, while some people say that they are not happy and are really just happy for a short
period of time, whether it means just laughing at a joke, your happy for that couple of seconds.

People show there happiness in many ways, some people smile and there face just glows in pleasure and
enjoyment, while others just don’t show there happy emotions physically they keep that feeling inside
themselves. Even dogs have a way of showing there happiness, they show it by shaking there tail. One of
the main reasons there are so many unhappy people in our society is because many have never taken
the time to discover what it is that makes them happy. Chances are if you were to ask someone else what
would make them happy you'd get a list of the same thing I mentioned above. The truth is, most people
have a difficult time stating exactly what would make them happy for the simple reason they've never
really thought about it.

What kind of information does the above extended definition

Read the following extended definitions. Discuss with a partner the kind of
information that has been included. Does the definition mainly discuss
components, applications, history, examples, or something else?

• A microscope is an optical instrument with which the apparent size of an

object can be enhanced. A simple microscope consists of a double convex
lens and a magnifying glass. A compound microscope, on the other hand,
will contain more than one of each of these lenses, which are situated at
the ends of a cylinder.
 
• Pollution is a form of environmental contamination which results from
human activity. Some common forms of pollution are wastes from the
burning of fossil fuels and sewage running into rivers. Even litter and
excessive noise or light can be considered forms of pollution because of
the impact they can have on the environment.
Read the following extended definitions. Discuss with a partner the kind of
information that has been included. Does the definition mainly discuss
components, applications, history, examples, or something else?

• Perspective is a technique in art that is used to represent three dimensional objects and
depth relationships on a flat surface. Modern linear perspective relationships (which
involves making objects seem smaller the more distant they are from the observer) was
probably first used in the 1400s by the artist Masaccio and the architects Filippo
Brunelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti in Florence, Italy. Before this time, artists paid
little attention to realistic perspective. In recent decades, many modern artists have
returned to the practices of early artists and have abandoned realistic perspective.
• An acrylic plastic is a polymer which can take a high polish, is clear and transparent, and
can be shaped while hot. Because of these and other characteristics, acrylic plastic is
used in situations where is glass is not suitable or desirable, for instance, in certain
types of windshields.
• Taken from Academic Writing for Graduate Students, 3rd Edition, John M Swales and
Christine B. Freak., 2012
Read the following extended definitions. Discuss with a partner the
kind of information that has been included. Does the definition
mainly discuss components, applications, history, examples, or
something else?
• Cholera is an intestinal infection that can seriously harm or even kill its
victim. It can be described according to its cause, symptoms, and
treatment. Cholera is caused by a bacterium, called Vibrio cholera.
Contaminated food, water, or faeces can result in the rapid spread of this
disease. Patients who have been exposed to the disease may exhibit mild to
extreme symptoms. The primary signs are watery diarrhoea and loss of water
and salts. Other symptoms include clammy skin, wrinkled hands and feet,
sunken eyes and a dry mouth. If the severe diarrhoea is not treated, it can be
life-threatening because of dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Possible
treatments for cholera can include oral or intravenous replacement of fluids
and salts as well as certain antibiotics. Prompt and appropriate treatment
appears to significantly reduce the mortality rate and suffering.
Read the following extended definitions. Discuss with a partner the kind of
information that has been included. Does the definition mainly discuss
components, applications, history, examples, or something else?

• Bravery is the mindset one takes when facing a challenge that could be
dangerous or difficult. The task could be objectively dangerous, such as
engaging in battle or driving in adverse conditions. A person could also
perceive a seemingly harmless situation as challenging, such as climbing a
flight of stairs or talking to someone they’d like to date. A brave act requires
one to face and embrace the task rather than withdraw from it. There are
examples of bravery in every community. Look no farther than your local fire
station or police station to see acts of bravery. Community heroes help
others in small and large ways every day, often at great risk to their own
lives. Students are brave when they stand up to a bully or present a project
in front of the whole class. Practicing small acts of bravery can prepare a
person to lead a heroic life.
WRITE AN EXTENDED DEFINITION
• Students will write an extended definition of one of the following
objects. The definition must have 5 sentences. Use a different
element in each sentence. Try and include an example in your
extended definition.
• Cell-Phone
• Toilet
• Quarantine
• Micro-wave oven
 TASK: WRITE AN EXTENDED
DEFINITION
• Instructions:  
• First, watch the Content Video in Bloque Neon about Definitions.
• Second, watch the Language Video in Bloque Neon about Relative Clauses
• Think of a term, concept, or key innovation or discovery in your field of study. 
• Write a one-sentence definition of the term.  
• Then write five sentences more giving details of the term using the different
elements of an extended definition 
• You might consider adding up details such as when the innovation came
about, its importance, the problem that it addressed, how it changed your
field, in other words its history.
• Present it in Friday’s class.