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What are some examples of effective definitions in academic writing?

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Definitions and examples are essential tools for clarifying and illustrating your arguments in academic writing. They help you to communicate your ideas clearly, avoid ambiguity, and support your claims with evidence. However, not all definitions and examples are equally effective. In this article, you will learn how to use definitions and examples strategically in the context of critical thinking, and what to avoid when choosing and presenting them.

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1 Why definitions matter

Definitions are statements that explain the meaning of a term or concept. They can be formal, informal, stipulative, or operational, depending on the purpose and context of your writing. Definitions are important for critical thinking because they help you to establish common ground with your audience, avoid confusion or misunderstanding, and set the scope and criteria of your analysis. For example, if you are writing about democracy, you need to define what you mean by that term, and how you will measure it in different contexts.

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Mary E. Goulet

Patent Attorney
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An undefined abbreviation/acronym can lead to confusion. 1. Recently someone talked about ICE, telling neighbors where to look, triggering confused discussion about immigration because listeners assumed Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a US agency, was the intended meaning. But actually the speaker meant In Case of Emergency, next-of-kin. 2. Long ago, I received communications mentioning LOL and guessed LOL was: Lots Of Luck. But when I made inquiries, turned out LOL actually meant Laughing Out Loud. 3. You write about CMS; you have in mind Content Management System and that's how your immediate colleagues understand CMS. But lots of other people see CMS and only think of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

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2 How to choose effective definitions

In order to choose effective definitions, it’s important to consider the purpose and context of your writing, your intended audience, and the key terms or concepts that you need to define. Definitions should be clear, concise, accurate, and relevant, while matching the level of detail and complexity of your topic. Additionally, they should avoid circularity, vagueness, or bias and be consistent with the accepted usage and standards of your discipline. Furthermore, you should explain or illustrate them in a way that is understandable and persuasive.

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John Ebert

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When establishing a scientific definition, it should always be accompanied by the unit of measurement. This will dispel any and all disputes over what scientific concept is being discussed. For example, in magnetics, surface flux and flux density are very different concepts. Yet, I often witness both definitions being misused interchangeably. The former is measured in units of mVs (milliVolt second) while the latter is measured in Gs (Gauss). By establishing the units along with the definition, during the inspection process, you avoid painful and costly errors in product validation.

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3 How to present definitions

In your writing, you can present definitions in a variety of ways, such as direct quotations, paraphrases, synonyms, examples, or comparisons. Additionally, footnotes, endnotes, glossaries, and appendices can provide extra information or clarification. However, when defining terms or concepts it is important to adhere to certain guidelines. Introduce your definitions early on in the introduction, or in a separate section if necessary. Signal words or phrases should be used to indicate that a definition is being given; such as ‘by’, ‘means’, ‘refers to’ or ‘in this paper’. Additionally, quotation marks, italics or bold font can be used to emphasize the term being defined. If you are using existing definitions from other authors or sources then you should cite them accordingly. Finally, if your definitions are controversial, unconventional or different from the common usage then you should explain and justify them.

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4 Why examples matter

Examples are specific instances or cases that illustrate or support a general statement or claim. They can be factual, hypothetical, anecdotal, or personal, depending on the purpose and context of your writing. Examples are important for critical thinking because they help you to demonstrate your reasoning, provide evidence for your arguments, and appeal to your audience's emotions or values. For example, if you are writing about the effects of climate change, you can use examples to show how it affects different regions, communities, or species.

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John Ebert

Business Manager at Yunsheng USA
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Just as a definition establishes the context of the discussion, a good example establishes the conditions under which the definition is being established. A good example lays the foundation of the supporting arguments or conditions upon which the definition sits and will set specific rather than general conditions. For example, the definition of MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) is required by some suppliers to quote a part unit price. A good example will specify the required minimum quantity, such as minimum Dollar amount (eg. $5,000) or minimum number of parts (eg. 5,000 pieces). Without an example, MOQ could be interpreted to be minimum quantity to fill a shipping container or the minimum dollar mount to cover annual usage.

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5 How to choose effective examples

In order to choose effective examples, they should be relevant, representative, reliable, and varied. Examples should relate directly to the point you are making and be typical of the category or group you are referring to. They should also be based on credible sources and not be biased or selective. When selecting examples, consider the main point or claim you are trying to support or illustrate, what kind of example would best suit your purpose and context, how many examples you need to provide sufficient evidence or explanation, and how you will present or integrate them into your writing.

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6 How to present examples

In your writing, you can use direct quotations, paraphrases, summaries, tables, graphs, charts, diagrams, images, or videos to present examples. Additionally, you can use transitions, connectors, or markers such as “for example” or “for instance” to link your examples to your main points. However, when using any of these methods it is important to introduce your examples clearly and explicitly in your sentences or paragraphs. Additionally, you should use appropriate punctuation, formatting, or captions to separate your examples from your text. Furthermore it is important to explain or analyze your examples in relation to your arguments or objectives and evaluate or compare them if they have different implications or perspectives.

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What are some examples of effective definitions in academic writing?

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1 Why definitions matter

2 How to choose effective definitions

3 How to present definitions

4 Why examples matter

5 How to choose effective examples

6 How to present examples

Critical Thinking

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What are some examples of effective definitions in academic writing?

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2

3

4

5

6

1 Why definitions matter

2 How to choose effective definitions

3 How to present definitions

4 Why examples matter

5 How to choose effective examples

6 How to present examples

Critical Thinking

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