Purpose of Technical Definitions
Help the reader understand just what the hell is going on. Some words like efficacy can have many different meanings and go to different extents of understanding, by defining it at the beginning it allows the readers to understand what and to what extent the term describes. They help cut down on miss understandings especially in contracts and leases.
Levels of Detail in a Definition
How much detail is necessary.
-parenthetical definition: familiar synonym
-sentence definition: +1 sentences, [1] item [2] class [3] distinction
- expanded definition: depends on the level of understanding needed
Expansion Methods
-etymology: words origin
-history and background
-negation: what it doesn't mean
-operating principle: operation
-analysis of parts: how each individual part works to create the whole
-visuals: show what happens
-comparison and contrast
-required materials or conditions: special handling
-example: demonstrate
Placement of Definitions
make sure they help and are incorporated into the flow of information.
No comments:
Post a Comment