Academic Writing

2 Complex definitions
䊏
Study the following examples and underline the terms being defined.
(a) The definition for a failed project ranges from abandoned projects to
projects that do not meet their full potential or simply have schedule
overrun problems.

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2.6: Definitions
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(b) Development is a socio-economic-technological process having the main
objective of raising the standards of living of the people.
(c) Bowlby (1982) suggested that attachment is an organised system whose goal is
to make individuals feel safe and secure.
(d) . . . the non-linear effect called ‘self-brightening’ in which large-amplitude
waves decay more slowly than small-amplitude ones . . .
(e) Globalisation, in an economic sense, describes the opening up of national
economies to global markets and global capital, the freer movement and
diffusion of goods, services, finance, people, knowledge and technology
around the world.
These examples illustrate the variety of methods used in giving definitions.
䊏
Which of the above example(s):
(i)
quotes a definition from another writer?
(ii) gives a variety of relevant situations?
(iii) explains a process?
(iv) uses category words?
3 Practice
When writing introductions, it is often useful to define a term in the title, even if it is fairly
common, in order to demonstrate your understanding of its meaning.
Example:
Title:
Higher education should be free and open to all – discuss.
Definition: Higher education usually means university-level study for first or higher
degrees, normally at the age of 18 or above.
䊏
Study the following titles, underline the terms that are worth defining, and write
definitions for three of them.
(a) Capital punishment has no place in the modern legal system – discuss.
(b) How can the management of an entrepreneurial business retain its
entrepreneurial culture as it matures?
(c) E-books are likely to replace printed books in the next 20 years. Do you agree?
(d) As urban areas continue to expand worldwide, will agriculture be able to feed
the growing population of cities?
(e) Given the medical dangers of obesity, what is the best way of reducing its
incidence?

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