Academic Definitions
What are academic definitions?
Academic definitions are statements explaining the meaning of a word or phrase. Definitions show that you understand key terms and ensure that there is no misunderstanding with your audience. Academic definitions are important when your writing contains a term that is key to your audience’s understanding, when there is different interpretations of the meaning and when you feel that you need to display your knowledge.
Academic Definitions Video
A short 6-minute video on how to write an academic definition.
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Academic definitions
This lesson is designed to help students to write short and extended definitions. It contains a prior knowledge discussion, seven guided learning activities, two language reviews, a freer practice writing task, peer feedback checklist, homework task and teacher’s notes and key. All content is based on STEM topics. See worksheet example Time: 120mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Definitions Language Review
Exercise 1
Task: Use different colour pens to illustrate the thing being defined, the definition language and the definition.
- The term ‘cyborg’ refers to an organism which has both biological and technical components.
- The term ‘cyborg’ refers to an organism which has both biological and technical components.
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Exercise 2
Task: Reorder the sentences to make correct definitions. Compare with a partner when you’ve finished.
- that contains an equals symbol an equation a mathematical expression can be defined as.
_____________________________________________________________________________
- An equation can be defined as a mathematical expression that contains an equals symbol.
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Exercise 3
Task: Complete the gaps in the definitions with the language (term and class) from the table and the verb ‘to be’.
| Term being defined | Class |
|
Carbon capture and storage Boyle’s law Dementia |
Chemistry Acronym Neurological condition |
- ___________________________________which states that the pressure (p) of a given quantity of gas varies inversely with its volume (v) at a constant temperature.
- Boyle’s law is a law in chemistry which states that the pressure (p) of a given quantity of gas varies inversely with its volume (v) at a constant temperature.
For a detailed worksheet and more exercises – buy the download below.
Extended Definitions Language Review
Exercise 4
Task 4: Write definitions of the following terms using the prompt in brackets
- 3D printing _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (by which)
- 3D printing is the means by which a physical object is created from a digital design.
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Exercise 5
Task 4: Read the following paragraph on big data. The writer has missed the opportunity to add three definitions. Which words would you have defined? Add the definitions below.
Big data
- Big data can be defined as large volumes of both structured and unstructured data sets which come from a variety of sources at an incredibly fast rate. In analytics, which is the process whereby meaningful patterns of data are discovered, some of its main uses can be found in machine learning and predictive maintenance. The former refers to a branch of artificial intelligence in which computer algorithms learn from the data in order to improve their performance without the need for a human to program it, whereas the latter is characterized by its ability to foresee potential mechanical failures and rectify them before they happen.
For a detailed worksheet and more exercises – buy the download below.
Academic Definitions Download
Academic definitions
This lesson is designed to help students to write short and extended definitions. It contains a prior knowledge discussion, seven guided learning activities, two language reviews, a freer practice writing task, peer feedback checklist, homework task and teacher’s notes and key. All content is based on STEM topics.. see worksheet example Time: 120mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Academic Example Download
Academic Examples: exemplification
This lesson is designed to support students in their understanding and use of exemplification. It includes noticing the language in context, a language review with examples, four guided practice activities, a freer practice paragraph writing task with model answer and teacher’s notes – see worksheet example Time: 120mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP
