defining terms

In scholarly writing, it is often necessary to define the terms we are using as we write. This is important for two reasons:

definitions of key terms make it easier for non-expert readers to understand and follow your writing
scholarship is often a process of defining and mediating between contesting definitions of technical or controversial terms

LANGUAGE FOR GIVING DEFINITIONS:

1. Giving your own full sentence definitions:

[term] can be defined as a [class] that/which + vb. + obj.
[term] describes/means/refers to a [class] which + vb. + obj.
[term] is a [class] which + vb. + obj.
[term] is a [class] in which/whereby + fs. / for –ing + n. phr.
[term] is the process of + ger. phr. (-ing x)
[term] is the tendency/ability + inf. phr. (to do x)
[term] is not + n. phr. but + n. phr.
[theory] posits/suggests that + fs.
[theory] is the statement/idea/belief that + fs.

2. Giving others’ definitions:

X defines [term] as + n. phr.
… , what X terms a [term], …
… [term], or , as X defines it, n. phr.
… [term], or , in X’s words, “n. phr“ (X YYYY, p).

3. Giving brief, in-line definitions:

… [term]; or, in other words, n. phr., …
… [term]; that is to say, n. phr., …
… [term], namely, n. phr., …
… [term], which means / meaning n. phr. , …
… [term], which can be defined as n. phr. , …
… [term]; i.e., n. phr., …
… [term] (i.e., n. phr.) …
…. [term], or + n. phr., …
…. [term], + n. phr., …

Notes:

For the purposes of this course:

you are expected to include discussions of contested terms in your essay and research paper, and definitions are assessed as part of your argument;
you may also need to give brief definitions of technical terms to help guide a non-expert reader through your discussion