The following methods of defining are presented with the method in boldface type, followed by an example (contained between parentheses).
The synonym: (English 1213 is a composition class/ is a writing class)
Genus/ difference, or categorical definition: (English 1213 is an English class, but the focus in 1213 is on writing rather than reading works of literature)
What it looks like: (there’s a great deal of writing and practical application in 1213)
How to make it, or how to do it: (to fulfill the requirements of 1213 you will have to attend class, submit all assignments, review the work of your class peers, and collect all your work into a webfolio)
What it does or is supposed to do: (1213 will give you the skills required to face any rhetorical situation with a reasonable degree of competence and confidence)
What it’s made of/ what its parts are: (1213 presents you with nine different rhetorical situations to which you’ll be required to respond appropriately)
Definition by example: (The narration you wrote for your first assignment is an example of a rhetorical situation because for that assignment you presented yourself through the imagination and attention to detail you brought to the assignment [i.e. you constructed an ethos], you demonstrated your awareness of an audience for your work [what you wrote was undoubtedly different than what you would have written for a group of friends back home: thus, you constructed a pathos appeal designed with an English prof in mind], and you constructed a particular text intended to persuade your reader of something [this was your logos appeal: your were trying to persuade the prof to give you a good grade].)
Etymological definition (history of the word): (“Philosophy” means the 'love of wisdom' because the word comes from the conjoining of 'philos' or ‘love,’ with 'sophia' or 'wisdom')
Genetic or historical definition: (the study of English became important in the c19th with the rise of European nationalism. This explains our contemporary tendency to study the literatures of nations: for example, England, America, Canada, Ireland, etc.)
Definition by negation: (English 1213 is NOT the same course, nor even the same kind of course, as English 1413, in which there is much greater emphasis placed on reading works of literature)
Figurative or metaphorical definition: [a creative comparison] (Learning to think for yourself requires you to sail beyond the safety of shore, where you can harbour in the safety of someone else's knowledge, to the open sea of unknown and turbulent ideas.)
Operational definition: [for a specific time, place, or use] a definition you can operate or act on (a writing class is one in which students are expected to write at least 20 pages in a term).