Writing the Concept Paper

Developing Concepts
 CONCEPTS
are understood because
terms are used in a specific
concept or process
 Central to developing
concept papers is writing
DEFINITIONS.
 DEFINITIONS
are used to provide the
meaning of a particular
word or term
FORMAL INFORMAL
EXTENDED
FORMAL DEFINITIONS

Formal Definitions include the term,

class, and distinguishing features.
FORMAL DEFINITIONS
Example:

A bicycle is a made of transport

that has two wheels and is powered
through the pedaling effort of the
rider.
FORMAL DEFINITIONS
Example:

Love is a kind of feeling

that shows strong or constant
affection for a person
FORMAL DEFINITIONS

In Formal Definitions, avoid using

the same term to be defined.

Example:
“A cell phone is a phone ….”
INFORMAL DEFINITIONS

Informal Definitions do not include

distinguishing features.
INFORMAL DEFINITIONS
Example:

A chair is a piece of furniture.

A father is a male parent.

EXTENDED DEFINITIONS

Extended Definitions are essay length

texts that use different rhetorical
patterns to show the meaning of a
particular term
TAKE NOTE:
In writing definitions, make sure that
the features of the term do not
overlap with other similar concepts of
the same class
Example:
“A skateboard is a mode of transportation that
has four wheels.”
ACTIVITY

Write a formal definition of the

following terms:
1. Smartphone
2. Blog
3. Social Networking
ACTIVITY

Write an informal definition of the

following terms:
4. Mountaineering
5. Exercise
ACTIVITY
Rewrite the following formal definitions
to make them clearer:
1. A guitar is a musical instrument that
uses strings to produce sound.
2. A sun is a heavenly body that gives
light to the earth.