THE CONCEPT PAPER Lesson 1- The Art of Defining Lesson 2- The Art of Defining a Concept Lesson 3- The Art of Writing a Concept Concept Paper
Definitions It is a mode of paragraph development that •
answers the questions: What is it? What does it mean? What are its special features? •
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The word to be defined may be an object, a concept, a person, a place, or a phenomenon. It is important because it clarifies the meaning of a word or a concept and it also limits the scope of that particular word or concept. Limiting the scope controls and avoids
Purposes of Definitions 1. To clarify meaning of words, or to correct misinterpretations, or misuse of a term. 2. To stipulate the meaning of a term by limiting, extending, or redirecting the sense in which a term is usually understood; to use a term, borrowed from another field of knowledge, in a special way. Ex: “Window dressing” – used to make a shop window more attractive to buyers. -stipulatively used in a false banking report to deceptively project an impression of economic stability or financial growth.
Definition Techniques 1. FORMAL DEFINITION
- It is the most common form of defining in which you are
given a term to be defined and you define a term by giving the class where the word/term belongs (the genus) and the characteristics that distinguish the term from other terms, known as the differentia. For example: TERM DEFINITION
ROBOT
=GENUS
+DIFFERENTIA
= a mode of paragraph development
+ that answers the question what is it, what does it mean, or what is its special features
= is a machine
+ that looks like a human being and performs complex acts of a human being
Definition Techniques EXTENDED DEFINITION - is needed to define abstract concepts. It allows the definition to broaden by using analogy, metaphor, comparison and contrast, descriptions, analysis, functions , etymology and semantic origin
Definition Techniques 2. By synonym- using a word or phrase that shares a meaning with the term being defined (Ex : marijuana.)
Hashish
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3. By etymology- define the word by tracing its origin or semantic history (Ex. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit “to join”) 4. By Illustration – defining a term by setting examples (Ex: Known for their shedding their leaves in the fall, deciduous trees include oaks, maples, and beeches.) 5. By function – is stating the term what is for (Ex: A thermometer measures temperature change.) 6. By analysis – is breaking down wholes into parts, aspects into levels, and a process into steps (Ex: The republican form of government has three branches: the executive, the
Definition Techniques
7. By similarity – use of likeness (Ex: Brighter than 100million suns, quasars stand like beacons on the shore of the universe…) 8. By metaphor – is comparing the term to another object/concept/idea that shares characteristics as the term being defined (Ex: The germs and bacteria or antigens are a gang of villains invading our body, attacking our unseen defenders, the layers of macrophages, cytokines, and lymphocytes) 9. By contrast- use of opposites (Ex: Unlike those of gas, the particles of plasma are electrically charged.) 10. By negation – stating what a term is not (Ex: Wild rice, an American delicacy, is not rice at all but the seed of a tall
Defining a Concept
This is a mini concept paper that may consist of the definition of the word; in this case, its origin and changed meaning. The addition of the new uses of the word clarifies the concept further.
Defining a Concept Concepts are words that cannot be defined by formal definition because the words are abstract (ex. love, justice and equality). In defining a concept, provide one or two definitions, and make sure that these definitions are synthesized and analyzed so that a clear definition of a concept can be arrived at. When defining a concept, definitions are also dealt with explanations as well as examples
The Art of Defining a Concept In the previous lesson, you were introduced to the art of defining. You also learned that there are words that cannot be defined by formal definition because the words are abstract. These words are referred to as concepts: they are ideas or principles that are associated with something abstract, and you make sure that these definitions are synthesized and analyzed and analyzed so that you can clearly arrive at clear definition of a concept
The Art of Defining a Concept
In this lesson, you will learn that when you define a concept, you are dealing not just with definitions but with explanations and examples as well.
Defining a Concept Paper The concept paper defines an idea or a concept and explains its essence in order to clarify the “whatness” of the idea or the concept. It answers the questions: what is it and what about it. A concept paper starts with a definition, either formal or informal, of the term or the concept and proceeds with an expanded definition and an analytic description of the aspects of the concept.
Defining a Concept Paper Another purpose of a concept paper is to stipulate the meaning of a term by limiting, extending or redirecting the reference or sense in which the term is commonly understood or to use in a special way a term borrowed from another field in which it is made to apply. In this sense, a concept paper can be subjective because the writer can choose what areas to emphasize, what explanations and analyses to include and exclude, and what complex idea have to be simplified.
Defining a Concept Paper
Even if concept paper tends to be subjective, the writer still has to make sure that concepts are clarified and explained in such a way that the readers can understand and make sense of connections .
Writing a Concept Paper Let us outline Brady’s essay. Outlining can help you come up with a definition or an explanation of what a concept paper is. Thesis Statement:____________________________ I. _____________________________
A. _____________________________ B. _____________________________ II. _____________________________
A. _____________________________ B. _____________________________
III. _____________________________
Writing a Concept Paper
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Introduction- begin with your thesis statement, define the concept, identify those points that need clarification, raise your specific claims Body- it is the main section of the concept. In this part you will elaborate on the specific claims made in your thesis statement . To make the work manageable, consider developing topic sentences for each supporting point from your thesis statement. These topic sentences will then be used as the main idea of each paragraph to make up the body of the essay Conclusion- reemphasizes the thesis statement, provides a summary of the body of the paper, and relates the importance of the concept in a specific field or the world in general. In terms of difficulty, the conclusion is the easiest to write since you will be referring to the previous parts you drafted
