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Markel and Selber, Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions (40)
Markel and Selber, Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions (40)
Writing Definitions (5)
Writing Definitions (5)
Clarify a description of a new development or technology
Helps specialists communicate with less knowledgable readers
Recommendations
Use Simplified English and easily recognizable terms
Pay attention to key terms
Use graphics to clarify concepts
Types of definitions
Parenthetical definition (a brief clarification within an existing sentence); quick, convenient, clear, non-comprehensive
Sentence definition (Item = Category + Distinguishing Characteristics); be specific with the category and distinguishing characteristics, but not so specific that you exclude other objects that are equal to the item; should not be circular; category should contain a noun phrase rather than a phrase beginning with when, what, or where
Extended definition includes one or more paragraphs, as well as graphics, examples, principles of operation, partitions, comparisons/contrasts, analogies, negation, etymology
Activity (10)
Activity (10)
Consider the definitions that Boot Coffee provides in a glossary of coffee tasting terminology. How would you classify these definitions, given the typology Markel and Selber provide? Which of these definitions do you find most effective, given the guidelines that Markel and Seller provide? Which do you find less effective? Select 2 of the definitions and rewrite them as sentence definitions according to Markel and Selber’s guidelines. Save your group's work in a Google Doc and share with me.
https://bootcoffee.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/TastersGlossary.pdf
Activity (5)
Activity (5)
Writing Descriptions (5)
Writing Descriptions (5)
Descriptions are verbal and visual representations of physical or operational features of objects, mechanisms, and processes.
State in a title or heading the subject and indicate whether it is general or particular
Introduce the description (20.1)
Provide appropriate detail; for objects/mechanisms, define each part and then describe its function, operating principle, and appearance; for processes, treat each step as if it were separate and explain what the step is, what the function is, when/where/how it occurs (and if the agent changes, announce it)
Mechanism and object descriptions
Choose an appropriate organizational principle (e.g., functional, spatial); use graphics
Process descriptions
Structure the step-by-step description chronologically, explain causal relationships among steps, use the present tense, use graphics, end with a conclusion
Activity (10)
Activity (10)
Consider the examples below. Classify them as mechanism, object, or process descriptions. Which of these descriptions do you find most effective, given the guidelines that Markel and Seller provide? Which do you find less effective? Select 1 of the descriptions and some ways you might revise to adhere to Markel and Selber’s guidelines.
Description 1
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/84/bc/66/84bc661f901f49eddc2f1a83e3b7e2be.jpg
Description 2
Description 3
Description 4
https://vinanhatrang.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Coffee-Processing-Flow-Chart-3-scaled.jpg
Discussion (5)
Discussion (5)
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