Student Writing Handbook Fifth+Edition

368 / Types of Writing

CHARACTERISTICS

Short-answer definitions usually

• identify the term to be defined,


• identify the class to which this term belongs,


• contrast the term with all others in its class,


• give this information in one sentence.

PRoCESS

In order to develop a definition, use the following process.

STEP 1: Prewriting—Identifying the Class and the

Differences

If asked to define a given term, you must first decide to what larger group, or class,
the term belongs. Next you must show how the term differs from others in its class.
Consider the following:

Term to be defined:

simile

Class:

figure of speech

Difference:

compares one thing to another, using like or as

In other words, the term simile belongs to the larger class called figure of speech. It is
different from other figures of speech in that it compares one thing to another using
“like” or “as.”

STEP 2: Writing—Putting the Definition into a Single

Sentence

Once you have established the class and difference, the rest is simple. Combine the
ideas in a sentence, in this order:

1. Term to be defined


2. Class to which it belongs


3. Difference between the term and others in the class

Example: A simile (term) is a figure of speech (class) that compares one thing

to another using like or as (difference).