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Module C ButtonTopic C3.2: Three Parts of a Definition

Relationships Used As Identifying Characteristics:
Sometimes the condition of a definition will be a relationship. A relationship is the way of connecting the information in the identifying characteristic to the term being defined.

Way - method

Connecting - joined together or linked

Information - word or words

 
When someone asks, "What is this?" and one of the following statements is given, two items of information are being linked or connected. The answer to this question requires giving a relationship between something known and something unknown.

What a student must recognize is the kind of relationship being made between the two items of information. In the following statements notice how one thing, the term being defined, is connected to its identifying characteristic:

"It" is the term being defined.
It is the same as...
comparison
It is the opposite of...
contrast
An illustration of it would be...
example
It results from...
cause
It produces...
effect

What a relationship identifying characteristic does is to connect something known to something unknown. This is done by connecting the unknown term to an example, comparison, contrast, cause, or effect of it that is known.

 

What is required in order to understand a relationship identifying characteristic?
In order to understand the type of definition that has a relationship given as an identifying characteristic, it is necessary to understand all of the terms used in making the relationship.

When using terms that have a relationship as an identifying characteristic, it is important that the terms used to make the relationship are know by the students.

If the student does not know the term that is connected in the definition to the term being defined, they will mechanically repeat the definition without fully understanding it.

A relationship identifying characteristic always requires prerequisite knowledge in order to be understood.

Example Used as an Identifying Characteristic

An example when given in a definition statement gives one or more items that have similar identifying characteristic(s) of the term being defined.

What must be pointed out to students when an example is used as an identifying characteristic is that there can be many different things that appear unrelated which contain or possess the characteristic(s) of the term being defined.

What a student needs to know is what is the common feature of the items that can appear to be unrelated. This can be illustrated using the definition of fuel.  Items such as oil, wood, or gas are quite different. However, they all can be classified as fuel.

Fuel is any material, such as oil, wood, or gas, that when burned will supply heat or power.

The identifying characteristic of fuel "when burned will supply heat or power" can be used as an identifying characteristic of oil, wood or gas. Because of the technical definition of materials that most people would not understand, it is necessary to give examples of material that will burn are given as fuel's identifying characteristic.

When an example is used as an identifying characteristic, the term being defined will be a general term that can serve as the classification for the items that are examples of it. For instance, oil, wood and gas call all be classified as fuel used to keep homes warm in the winter.

 

Cause Used as an Identifying Characteristic

A cause when used as an identifying characteristic  connects something that will happen to produce the term being defined. A cause will always come first in time. Notice in the definition of rust, "oxidation" or "corrosion" must happen first.

Rust is a coating formed on metal due to oxidation or corrosion.

In order to know if the barrel's coating was rust, the color would have to be caused by oxidation or corrosion. If the color was not caused by oxidation or corrosion, the coating could not be called rust.

In order to understand the definition of rust, the definition of oxidation and corrosion would have to be known.

  • Oxidation is the union of a substance by oxygen.
  • Corrosion is the eating or wearing away of a finish by chemicals.

 

Notice in the following definitions, what information in the identifying characteristic happens first.

A finder's fee is a fee paid to anyone for producing a buyer to make a purchase.

A finder's fee is paid to anyone who produces a buyer only after a buyer makes a purchase. Therefore, "producing a buyer to make a purchase" must happen first.

Punch drunk is a mental condition of acting dazed or bewildered that resulted from numerous blows on the head.

" Numerous blows to the head" happened first.  Then the mental condition called punch drunk results.

 

Effect Used as an Identifying Characteristic

An effect when used as an identifying characteristic  connects something that is produced as a result of the term being defined. An effect will always come after the cause in time. Notice in the definition of fire extinguisher the "fire is put out comes" after the "chemicals that are sprayed."

A fire extinguisher is a portable device containing chemicals that are sprayed on a fire to put it out.

Notice in the following definitions, the information in the identifying characteristic happens as a result of the term being defined and/or classification.

A panic is a sudden overwhelming fear that produces irrational behavior.

In the definition of panic, "irrational behavior" happens after a person develops a panic.

Fuel is any material that when consumed will result in energy being produced.

In the definition of fuel "energy being produced" happens after fuel is being consumed.

 

Comparison Used as an Identifying Characteristic

A comparison when used as an identifying characteristic  connects the identifying characteristic(s) of a given item that is similar to the term being defined.

Hurling is an Irish game resembling field hockey.

In order to understand what is "hurling," you must know what are the identifying characteristics of field hockey.

Limaciform is anything similar to a slug or shell-less snails.

This definition requires you to link the identifying characteristics of a "slug," or "shell-less snails" to the term "limaciform."

When using a comparison as an identifying characteristic, the instructor should also give the identifying characteristic(s) of the term used to make the comparison.

When using a comparison identifying characteristic it is easy to identify it as an example identifying characteristic. Term  used to connect the identifying characteristic to the term being defined gives the type of relationship.

If the term used to make the connection states the term's identifying characteristic is similar to the term being defined, the relationship is a comparison.

If the term used to make the connection states the term's identifying characteristic is an illustration or example of the term being defined, the relationship is an example.

 

 

Contrast Used as an Identifying Characteristic

A contrast when used as an identifying characteristic  connects the identifying characteristic(s) of the item as being the opposite or different from the identifying characteristics of the term being defined.

An habitable room is a room used for living purposes as opposed to a bathroom or hallway.

In order to understand what is an "habitable room", you must know what are the identifying characteristics of a "bathroom or hallway." Then, you know that the identifying characteristics of a "habitable room" are different or opposite from the identifying characteristics of a "bathroom or hallway."

Oil is any liquid kind of greasy, combustible substance obtained from animal, vegetable or mineral sources that is soluble in certain organic solvents but not in water. 

The definition of oil tells how oil is different from other substances by emphasizing oil is not soluble in water.

 

 

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