STRATEGIC

INTERVENTION
MATERIAL
(Writing Definitions)
Concept 1?? Term??? Term??

How can I define a term correctly?

Prepared by:
JOSEFINA A. DELA CRUZ
Marcelo H. Del Pilar National High School
Division of City Schools of Malolos
Malolos, Bulacan
 Table of Contents

Guide Card 1-6

Activity Card 7-8
Assessment Card 9-10
Enrichment Card 11-12
Answer Key Card 13-15
Reference Card 16
Acknowledgement 17
GUIDE

CARD
 Strategic Intervention Material
G U I D E CARD

LEARNING COMPETENCIES:
1. Identify sentence patterns used in writing definitions
2. Define terms correctly
3. Write operational and technical definitions

Have you experienced to have run out of words when your teacher asked
you to say something about a word or a concept? You knew you had a lot of
ideas in mind but you couldn’t put them across.

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 Hello guys! I am Daniel and welcome to my
page. Allow me to help you overcome that awkward situation that you seemed
tongue-tied and didn’t know what to do. There is something you can do to save
yourself from intimidation and your teacher from disappointment.

One way to get rid of this embarrassing moment is to give your teacher a
definition of the term or concept under discussion. Defining a term correctly is
one important study skill you have to master. Time and again you will be asked
to define words not just in your English class but as well as in your other
learning areas. You will have an edge over your counterparts if you can define
a term correctly. However, one- sentence definitions you learned in your lower
grade levels are not enough to express your views on a specific term or concept.
To make things clearer, you have to include more ideas to define a term such as
examples or subcategories. You use expanded definitions that contain several
sentences.

Let me remind you that one-sentence definitions include

the following parts:

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 1. Term to be defined + verb + general class word + clause that contains
specific characteristics that make the term different from

the rest of its kind. This definition is called formal definition or definition in
full form.

e.g. Astronomy (term) is a branch of scientific study (class) that is primarily

concerned with celestial objects inside and outside the earth’s atmosphere
(differentiating characteristics),

A variant of this definition is shorter which contains the following parts:

2. Term + verb + general class word + phrase that contains specific

characteristics. The clause in the first pattern is reduced into participial phrase.
This is called compressed form.

e.g. Water (term) is a liquid (class) made up of molecules of hydrogen and

oxygen in the ratio of 2 to 1 (differentiating characteristics).

Another way of putting these parts together in a definition follows this pattern:

3. General Class word + differentiating characteristics + verb + the term

defined.

This pattern is called nominal definition.

e.g. The science dealing with the form and properties of matter and
substances (differentiating characteristic/s) is called Chemistry (term).

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What have you noticed in the patterns given?

YES! You are right. What comes before the verb and what comes after it
are one and the same thing because they are equational sentences.
Definitions are equational sentences.

As what I have stated earlier one sentence definitions may not be enough to
express your views on the term or concept that is why you need to include more
information or details about the term. Now these expanded definitions can
either be technical or operational.

Yes guys, you read it right! Technical definitions are extended definitions
in technical communication describing or explaining technical terminology. In
here you use sources of information as you define the term to avoid ambiguous
understanding of the term or concept.

e.g. “Discrimination Against Women” can be technically defined using the

website as source (http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno9710.ph)

Operational definitions, on the other hand; refers to a detailed explanation of

the technical terms and measurements used during data collection. This is done
to standardize the data. The only way to ensure that the data is consistent is by
means of a detailed operational definition of terms.
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e.g. Weight is the numbers that appear when that object is placed on
weighing scales. According to it, the weight can be any of the numbers shown
on the scale after and including the very moment the object is put on it.
Clearly, the inclusion of the moment when one can start reading the numbers
on the scale would make it fully an operational definition. Please watch the
video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E2_Bqncdo4&feature=share for
further information about operational definitions
 Did I make the lesson harder? I hope that the
additional information about defining terms would be very useful because you
will be into research soon.

Additional Tips for Writing Definitions

 Avoid defining with "X is when" and "X is where" statements. These
introductory adverb phrases should be avoided. Define a noun with a
noun, a verb with a verb, and so forth.
 Do not define a word by mere repetition or merely restating the word.

"Rhyming poetry consists of lines that contain end rhymes."

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Better:

"Rhyming poetry is an art form consisting of lines whose final words

consistently contain identical, final stressed vowel sounds."

 Define a word in simple and familiar terms. Your definition of an

unfamiliar word should not lead your audience towards looking up more
words in order to understand your definition.

 Keep the class portion of your definition small but adequate. It should be
large enough to include all members of the term you are defining but no
larger. Avoid adding personal details to definitions. Although you may
think the story about your Grandfather will perfectly encapsulate the
concept of stinginess, your audience may fail to relate. Offering personal
definitions may only increase the likeliness of misinterpretation that you
are trying to avoid

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ACTIVITY

CARD

ACTIVITY
CARD
 Let us check your understanding on defining
terms. Choose a partner to help you do the following activities:

ACTIVITY 1

Identify which of the following sentences are definitions. Write D on your

answer sheet if they define a term and ND if they don’t.

1. Alliteration is a figure of sound that involves the repetition of initial

consonant sounds in lines of poetry.

2. My friend is tall, fairly good-looking and smart.

3. Computers make our tasks easier and effective.

4. An optometrist is a person who specializes in the management of eye

disorders and prescribes corrective eye glasses for his patients.

5. Simile is a direct comparison between two essentially unlike things

possessing the same qualities with the use of as and like.

Discuss with your partner what makes your choices definitions.

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Activity 2

With the same partner, complete the following chart that contains
information about the given terms.

Term General Class Specific Characteristic/s

shares common
ancestors, goals and
 1. Family ----- values and resides
usually in the same
dwelling
2. Computer electronic device ----
3. Teacher ---- facilitates learning in a
physical or virtual
classroom
4. Library building/room
5. Legend ---- explains the origin of
something

ACTIVITY 3

After completing the chart in Activity 2 you may now write your definitions
of the terms given.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Congrats! You’ve started it well!

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ASSESSMENT

CARD

ASSESSMENT
CARD
 Since you have performed well in your Activity
Card, let us do more challenging tasks. This time I want you to work on your
own. Good luck!!

ACTIVITY 1

I have here faulty definitions. Improve and rewrite them using the guidelines
given to you.

1. Mathematics is all about numbers, shapes and patterns.

2. Research is trying to establish facts and reach new conclusions by systematic

investigation and study of materials and sources.

3. Devaluation or a downward direction of fixed exchange rate due to change.

4. Body Mass Index (BMI) is also based on that weight must be proportion to
the height and is rough measure of body composition that is useful for
classifying health risks of body weight.

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5. Poetry employs rhyme and meter and is a type of literature based on the
interplays of rhyme and meter.

ACTIVITY 2
 This time I would like you to define the following terms using formal
definition (Please refer to the pattern given in your Guide Card).

1. Cellular phone

2. Online Gaming

3. Google

4. Video Streaming

5. Vlogger

ACTIVITY 3

Using the same terms in Activity 2, write nominal definitions.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Wow! Your performance here is superb. Better get going to

the next level of challenges.
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ENRICHMENT

CARD

ENRICHMENT
CARD
 This level will challenge you more to write good
definitions. After all the hurdles that you have overcome I know you are more
than equipped to write. This time you are allowed to use references for a more
concrete set of information about the given terms or concepts. Start impressing
your teacher with your writing prowess.

ACTIVITY 1
Define the following concepts using equational sentences. Your sentences
may vary from formal, compressed, or nominal pattern.
1. Love
2. Peace
3. Freedom
4. Justice
5. Courage

ACTIVITY 2
Expand the definitions of each of the following terms by giving their
technical or operational definitions.
1. Vaccination

2. Covid 19
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3. Pandemic

4. Physical Distancing

5. Hygiene

ACTIVITY 3

Write a two-paragraph essay defining one of the given terms:

 A. Health B. Religion C. Social Media D. Brotherhood

Reminder guys that writing good definitions

enables you to prepare for a more demanding and taxing research papers. I hope
that I have prepared you for the bigger world.

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S!! You did a great job here.

FIn
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 ANSWER KEY

ANSWER KEY CARD

Key to Correction:

ACTIVITY CARD
 Activity 1:

1. D 2. ND 3. ND 4. D 5. D

Activity 2:

1. social group
2. stores, retrieves, processes, and manipulates data or info.
3. professional
4. provides learning materials and quiet areas for studying
5. short story

Activity 3:
1. Family is a social group that shares common ancestors,
goals and values and resides usually in the same dwelling.
2. Computer is an electronic device that stores, retrieves,
processes and manipulates data or information.
3. A teacher is a professional who facilitates learning physically
or virtually.
4. A library is a building that provides learning materials and
quiet areas for studying.
5. Legend is a short story that explains the origin of something.

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ASSESSMENT CARD

ACTIVITY 1
1. Mathematics is the study of numbers, shapes and patterns.
2. Research is the systematic investigation and study of
materials and sources into order to establish facts and
reach new conclusion.
3. Devaluation is a change in the level of a fixed exchange
rate in a downward direction.
4. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a rough measure of body compo-
 sition that is useful for classifying health risk of body weight
and emphasizes that weight must be in proportion to the
height.
5. Poetry is a type of literature based on the interplay of words
and rhythm.

ACTIVITY 2
(Free Reply)
Suggested Answers:
1. Cellular phone is a telecommunication device that uses
radio waves over a networked area enabling cells to
transmit wirelessly.
2. Online gaming is playing video game over some form of
computer network.
3. Google is one of the search engines in the internet that
provides a great deal of information.
4. Video streaming is sending contents in compressed form
over the internet and displayed by the viewer in real
time.
5. Vlogger is a person who regularly posts short videos to a
vlog channel in the net.

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ACTIVITY 3
(Free Reply)
Suggested Answers:
1. A telecommunication device that uses radio waves over
a networked area enabling cells to transmit wirelessly
is called cellular phone.
2. Playing video game over some form of computer net-
work is called online gaming.
3. One of the search engines in the internet that provides
a great deal of information is called Google.
4. Sending contents in compressed form over the internet
 and displayed by the viewer in real time is called video
streaming.
5. A person who regularly posts short videos in vlog is a
vlogger.

ENRICHMENT CARD
Activities 1, 2 , 3 (Free Replies)

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REFERENCE

CARD

REFERENCES
Almonte, Liza, et.al. 2015. Celebrating Diversity through World
Literature-Grade 10 Learner’s Material. Quezon City, Phil.:
Rex Bookstore, Inc.

Dadufalsa, Corazon, et.al. 2000. Functional English for Today.

Quezon City, Philippines: Dane Publishing House.

Magpayo, Erlinda, et.al. 1996. Developing Writing Skills for College

Freshmen. Manila: Ready Set Printing Company.

http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno9710.ph

www.google.com

www.youtube.joshknapp https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=6E2_Bqncdo4&feature=share

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

For this simple handiwork, I lift the highest honor and glory
to God who is the Source of all good things.

Special Thanks is due to:

Purificacion D. Paguiligan
English Department Head

Marco Rhonel M. Eusebio

Junior HS Assistant Principal

Madonna R. Estacio
Junior HS Assistant Principal

Ma. Victoria C. Vivo, Ed D

Principal IV

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