Elucidating a Concept

by Definition, Explication,
and Clarification
Module 8
Explaining Concepts
There are three ways to
explain a concept: definition,
explication, and clarification.
 I. Definition
is a “mode of paragraph development that answers the
questions: What is it? What does it mean? What are its
special features?” (Saqueton and Uychoco 2016, p.80) When
you define a word, idea or concept, you clarify its meaning
and you control the scope to avoid misinterpretations and
vague ideas.

The word to be defined may be a person, a place, an object, a

concept, or an event/phenomenon.
 A. Formal Definition
This is the most common form and follows
a pattern:
Term = genus + differentia
or Definition = general category +
differentiating characteristics
A. Formal Definition
TERM GENUS DIFFERENTIATING
CHARACTERISTICS
ARTIST A PERSON WHO CREATES ART
USING CONSCIOUS
SKILL AND CREATIVE
IMAGINATION
 A. Formal Definition
A triangle is a plane
figure with three straight
bounding sides.
 B. Informal Definition
In this type of definition, the writer uses known words or
examples to explain an unknown term.
Examples:
a. Freedom, also referred to as liberty or independence, is a
state people reach when they are free to think and do
whatever they please.
b. Bullying occurs when someone uses his or her power or
prestige to intimidate and terrorize another person.
B. Informal Definition
TERM CLASS

Facebook Is a social networking website

 C. Extended Definition

It is used to define abstract

concepts that cannot be formally
defined.
Signal Words for
Definition
 is defined as
 means
 to define
 as defined
 refers to
 to illustrate
 II. Clarification
Cambridge Dictionary defines clarification as
“an explanation or more details that makes
something clear or easier to understand.” In
reading and writing, you can use several
strategies to clarify a point and avoid
misconceptions or miscommunication.
 Signal Words for
Clarification
After all Namely
in particular To illustrate
To be specific For instance
As an example Specifically
In short Consider the
To clarify following

For example
 III. EXPLICATION
Explication is a deductive process where you
take a general concept, refine it, determine
how to test for it and then carry out the test. It
is also known as exegesis. The term is of
French origin, derived from explication de texte
(explanation of text) the practice in French
literary studies of closely examining the
language of a text to determine meaning
Directions: Identify the term
being described in each item.
1. In this type of definition,
the writer uses known
words or examples to
explain an unknown term.
 2. It is a mode of paragraph
development that answers the
questions: What is it? What
does it mean? What are its
special features?”
 3. It is used to define
abstract concepts that
cannot be formally
defined.
 4. It refers to using a
similar term or phrase
to define a word.
5. This definition type
means stating what the
word or term is for.
6. This entails breaking
down wholes into parts,
aspects into levels, and a
process into steps.
7. This is the most
common form of
definition.
 8. This means drawing a
comparison between the
topic and another concept
already familiar to
readers.
 9. This means
defining a term by
stating what it is
not.
 10. This means
defining by the use
of opposites.
 11. This means giving
examples or narrating
incidences that can further
explain an abstract or
complicated topic.
12. This means stating
the similarity of one
concept with another.
 13. This refers to an
explanation or more
details that makes
something clear or easier
to understand.
14. This type of definition
explains the origin or the
place where the term
comes from.
15. This type of definition
provides a graphic
representation of the
concept to be defined.
 Identify whether the statement
describes formal, informal, or
extended definition. Write F for
formal, I for informal, and E for
extended. Write your answer on the
space before each number.
 16. A table is a
furniture that has a
flat top and one or
more legs.
 17. Yoga comes
from the Sanskrit
“to join.”
 18. A whale shark
is not a whale but a
shark.
19. Bullying occurs when
someone uses his or her
power or prestige to
intimidate and terrorize
another person.
20. A robot is a machine
that looks like a human
being and performs
complex acts of a human
being. (Webster)
 21. A rose is a flower
with a sweet smell that
grows on a bush which
has thorns on the stems.
22. Liberty, also referred to
as freedom or independence,
is a state or condition of
people who are able to speak
freely.
 23. Thermometer
measures temperature
change.
 24. A family is a
group of wonderful
flowers.
25. Freedom, also referred to
as liberty or independence, is
a state people reach when
they are free to think and do
whatever they please.