Department of Education

SHS
English for Academic and Professional Purposes
(EAPP)
Determining Concept by Definition,
Explication and Clarification
First Quarter: Week 8

Glenn C. Maratas
Writer

Glendle L. Lunar
Dr. Florante C. Marmeto
Dr. Ma. Carmen D. Solayao
Quality Assurance Team

Schools Division Office – Muntinlupa City

Student Center for Life Skills Bldg., Centennial Ave., Brgy. Tunasan, Muntinlupa City
(02) 8805-9935 / (02) 8805-9940
 This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
determine the ways a writer can elucidate on a concept by definition, explication, and
clarification. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many different learning
situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students.
After going through this lesson, the student is expected to:
1. Define concept;
2. Enumerate varieties of ways in elucidating a concept by definition, explica-
tion and clarification.
3. Clarify the specific meaning of a concept by evaluating and breaking down
ideas in detail from a text; and
4. Analyze a concept by looking and understanding at an example and specify-
ing its characteristics to arrive at one working definition, explication or
clarification.

True or False
Directions: Write T if the statement is True, and F if it is False on the line
provided.
1. Concept comes from Latin concipore which means “take in”, conceive, or re-
ceive.
2. Definition is the method of identifying a given term and making its meaning va-
guer.
3. One of the purposes of a concept by definition is to clarify meaning of words, or
to correct misinterpretations, or misuse of a term.
4. The equation for definition is term+genus+differentia.
5. Extended definition is done through a parenthetical or brief explanation.
6. Informal definition is a detailed way of defining a term and is usually composed
of at least one paragraph.
7. This example sentence, “A thermometer measures temperature change.” is a
definition by illustration.
8. Definition by analysis means breaking down wholes into parts, aspects into lev-
els, and a process into steps.
9. This sentence, “Yoga comes from the Sanskrit “to join” is an example of defini-
tion by semantic history.
10. A concept by clarification is a method of explanation in which sentences, vers-
es, quotes, or passages are taken from a literary or academic work and then in-
terpreted and explained in a detailed way.

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A. Concept Mapping
Directions: To create a concept map, choose one from the given topics below. It should
be written in the middle of the page, then jot down different ideas, points, or facts that
are related to or support your topic in the blank nodes.

1. General Academic Strand (GAS)

2. Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
3. Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM)
4. Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
5. Arts and Design
6. Home Economics (HE)

B. Directions: From your final concept map output, construct three (3) sentences
based on your topic and ideas, points, or facts in the nodes.

Sentence1:

Sentence 2:
_ _ _
Sentence 3:

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 A concept is a general idea about a thing or group of things, derived from specif -
ic instances or occurrences. It often applies to a theoretical idea in science: Einstein’s
contribution to the concept of relativity. Concept was borrowed from Late Latin concep-
tus, from Latin concipere “take in”, conceive, receive. A concept is an idea conceived in
the mind (Vocabulary.com Dictionary).

How Do You Explain a Concept?

Before writing your concept paper, you have to learn how to explain your
concept first. You can accomplish this using the following methods:
A. Definition
It is the method of identifying a given term and making its meaning clearer.
This mode of explanation contains the term to be defined and the detailed exposi-
tion of the term using illustrations, examples, and description
Purposes of Concept by Definition
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.
It is specially used in a false banking report to deceptively project an impression of
economic stability or financial growth.
Techniques
1. Formal – follows a pattern or equation: term + genus + differentia (differenti-
ating characteristics). This explains a term by incorporating the term to be
defined (species), the general category of the term (genus), and the quality that
makes the term different from other terms in the same category (differ- entia).

Example 1: A robot is a machine that looks like a human being and per-
forms complex acts of a human being. (Webster)

Example 2. Vitamin E is a light-yellow fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an

antioxidant.

2. Informal- is done through a parenthetical or brief explanation.

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 Example 1: Tocopheral (Vitamin E) is naturally found in vegetable oil, fish
and nuts.

3. Extended Definition- Detailed way of defining a term and is usually com-

posed of at least one paragraph. This incorporates various patterns of devel-
opment (e.g. formal and informal definition, synonym, semantic history, il-
lustration, function, analysis, similarity, analogy, contrast, negation, etc.).

a. By synonym- using a word or phrase that shares a meaning with

the term being defined. Ex: vague- unclear
b. By origin or semantic history – Ex. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit
“to join”.
c. By Illustration – Ex: Known for their shedding their leaves in the
fall, deciduous trees include oaks, maples, and beeches.
d. By function – Ex: A thermometer measures temperature change.
e. By analysis (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 legislative, and the judici-
ary.
f. By likeness or similarity – Ex: Brighter than 100million suns, qua-
sars stand like beacons on the shore of the universe…
g. By analogy or metaphor –Ex: The germs and bacteria or antigens
are like a gang of villains invading our body, attacking our unseen
defenders, the layers of macrophages, cytokines, and lymphocytes,
h. By contrast- use of opposites. Ex: Unlike those of gas, the particles
of plasma are electrically charged.
i. By negation – stating what a term is not. Ex: Wild rice, an Ameri-
can delicacy, is not rice at all but the seed of a tall aquatic grass
B. Explication
A method of explanation in which sentences, verses, quotes, or passages are
taken from a literary or academic work and then interpreted and explained in a de-
tailed way. Present your thesis clearly in the introduction & follow it up with a de-
tailed analysis of a passage or text. Begin the body by analyzing & explaining how
the text was constructed. This should end with a concise conclusion by restarting
your thesis and major arguments
Example:
The poem titled “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost is about a man re-
flecting on a choice he once made. While the outcome of this choice us not
implied to be positive or negative the speaker notes that the choice in itself
and the consequences of that choice have made a huge difference in the way
his life has unfolded. The poem is about the importance of choices. The po-
em begins with the speaker regretting that he could not have been two peo-
ple so he could have at some point in his life taken two roads instead of be-
ing confined to one.

C. Clarification
It is a method in which the points are organized from a general abstract idea
to specific and concrete examples. It entails the analysis of the concept by looking
at the examples and specifying some of its characteristics to arrive at one working

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definition which can be used throughout the paper.
Example:
Justice is a broad concept which encompasses a wide set of ideas, most of
which also branch out into similar notions. For instance, it can refer to the
sentencing of a criminal based on due process. When an individual gets
when he deserves, even outside the hands of the law, it is also considered
justice in some contexts. This may come in the form of vigilante justice, in
which a person dissatisfied with the system doles out punishment to wrong-
doers.

(Bumatay-Cruz, R., Laurel, M.M., & Lucero, A. (2016). English for Academic and Professional Purposes: Teachers’
Guide. Department of Education-Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd-BLR). Sun- shine Interlinks Publishing House, Inc.
Quezon City.)

Activity 1
Directions: Identify the technique of the concept by definition through the highlight- ed
terms. (A. Formal B. Extended C. Informal)
1. Bullying is a verb that describes the act of forcing someone to do. Typically, the
bully uses physical power or influence to intimidate the person being bullied
(NROC Development English Foundations, n.d.)
Answer:
2. The sauce that is today called ketchup (or catsup) in Western cultures is a to-
mato-based sauce that is quite distinct from the Eastern ancestors of this
product. A sauce called ke-tiap was use in China at least as early as the seven-
teenth century, but the Chinese version of the sauce spread to Singapore and
Malaysia, where it was called kechap (Bumatay-Cruz, Laure, & Lucero (2016).
Answer:
3. The bagong tao (young man) does not resort to writing letters on linen paper.
He simply gets the guitar, tunes it, and dedicates to his beloved a rain of songs
without story and occasionally without sense. But the man is considered the
happiest on earth (Molina, 1978).
Answer:

Activity 2
Directions: Identify the methods used in explaining the concept.
1. Education is the process of facilitating learning, or acquiring of knowledge,
skills, values, beliefs, and habit. Educational methods include storytelling, dis-
cussion, teaching, training, and directed research. The methodology of teaching
is called methodology (Jakhar, 2017).
Answer:
2. Life under lockdown is not only changing how people live, but also how crime
occurs. The good news is that this fundamental change will see certain crimes
decrease—some areas have already seen recorded crime drop by as much as
20%. But there are worrying signs that offenses like domestic violence and
online fraud are likely to surge and that new offenses are emerging too (Farrell
and Tilley, 2020).
Answer:

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 3. The novel entitled Scarlet Letter’ by Nathaniel Hawthorne opens with a para-
graph depicting a crowd assembled in front of a prison door, waiting for Hester
Prynne to show up and her scarlet letter “A”. The author the crowd as “throng”
suggesting a mob-like and densely packed group. The mood is not pleasant but
somber displayed their “sad-colored” garment, hoods and gray hats (Encyclope-
dia.com, 2020).
Answer:

Activity 3

Directions: Look or search for the definition of the following terms. Identify what technique
of definition is used for your searched definition.

1. Art
2. Business
3. Law
4. Philosophy
5. Politics
6. Religion
7. Science
8. Sports
9. Home Economics
10. Agri-fishery

1. What is the importance of defining?

2. What are the three (3) methods of writing a concept paper?

a.
b.
c.

3. What are the three (3) techniques of defining?

a.
b.
c.

4. What are the nine (9) various patterns of development in writing an ex-
tended definition concept?

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 a. f.
b. g.
c. h.
d. i.
e.

Directions: Write at least one paragraph for each method of explaining a con- cept/idea
about the Senior High School English Subjects (Oral Communication, Eng- lish for
Academic and Professional Purposes, Reading and Writing, and 21 st Century Literature
from the Philippines and the World).

Concept by Definition

Concept by Explication

Concept by Clarification

Criteria
Content: 3
Organization: 3
Language: 2
Mechanics: 2
TOTAL: 10

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 Modified True or False

Directions: Copy and answer. Write True if the statement is true. If it False, un-
derline the word or phrase which make it false and write the correct one before the
number.

1. A concept by explication is a method in which the points are organized

from a general abstract idea to specific and concrete examples.
2. Signal words are important to identify the concept of definition.
3. Before writing a concept paper it is important to know the concept first.
4. The other term for clarification is classification.
5. Concept paper is an academic paper that the students must learn to
read and write critically, and a document written to convince potential funders to
sponsor a product, program or services.
6. Concept is come from Latin concipore which means “take in”, conceive,
or receive.
7. Definition is the method of identifying a given term and making its
meaning vaguer.
8. One of the purposes of a concept by definition is to clarify meaning of
words, or to correct misinterpretations, or misuse of a term.
9. The equation for definition is term+genus+differentia.
10. A concept by clarification is a method of explanation in which sentences,
verses, quotes, or passages are taken from a literary or academic work and then
interpreted and explained in a detailed way.

REFERENCES

Bumatay-Cruz, R., Laurel, M.M., & Lucero, A. (2016). English for Academic and Pro-
fessional Purposes Reader. Department of Education-Bureau of Learning Resources
(DepEd-BLR). Sunshine Interlinks Publishing House, Inc. Quezon City.

Bumatay-Cruz, R., Laurel, M.M., & Lucero, A. (2016). English for Academic and Pro-
fessional Purposes: Teachers’ Guide. Department of Education-Bureau of Learning Re-
sources (DepEd-BLR). Sunshine Interlinks Publishing House, Inc. Quezon City.

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Encyclopedia.com, (2020). The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Retrieved
from https://www/encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/scarlet-letter
English for Academic and Professional Purposes, (2019). How do you explain the
concept? Retrieved from
https://www.facebook.com/1089317027899402/posts/12516214383 35626/
Farrel, G. & Tilley, N. (2020). Coronavirus: how crime changes during a lockdown.
Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/coronavirus- how-crime-changes-
during-a-lockdown-134948
Jakhar, K. (2107). Education is the process of facilitating… Retrieved from
https://medium.com/@kjakhar35/education-is-the-process-of-facilitating-learning-
or-the-acquisition-of-knowlegde-skills-values-f031d62a0a55
Molina, A. (1978). “The Sentiments of Kundiman” in Filipino Heritage: The Making of a
Nation. Lahing Pilipino Publishing Inc.

NROC Developmental English Foundations, (n.d). Retrieved from

http://conten,nroc.org/DevelopementalEnglish/unit05/Foundations/identifying-
types-of-definitions.html.

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