Unit Two: Writing General-Specific Texts

212:190Fall 2011

Reasons to Use a G-S Structure

• An answer to an exam question• An opening paragraph to an assignment• A background/scene-setting paragraph to an

analysis or discussion

Usually Begins With…

• A short or extended definition– Peanut butter is a smooth or crunchy spread derived from

peanuts, oil, and sugar products.• A contrastive or comparative definition

– In comparison to Hebrew, the English written today is fairly new, as it is nothing like that which was written even 500 years ago.

• A statement of fact– General statements are usually broad statements or facts which

do not need citation-general knowledge.– Conklin, New York is a small town in the Southern Tier region of

New York, bordering Montrose, Pennsylvania.

Defining in Academic Writing

• Short definitions/glosses: word or short phrase place with parenthesis or commas; phrasal definitions signaled by devices (known as, defined as, called).

• Sentence definitions: brief• Extended definitions: longer than what would

be found in average dictionary.

Formal Sentence Definitions

• Superordinates-Class words– Technique, method, process, device

• TERM+CLASS+WH+DETAIL• Indefinite article a/an preffered

Restrictive Relative Deletions

• The RR Clause consists only of the r-prounoun, the verb to be, and one or more PPs (that deletions).– In dentistry, enamel is a hard, which inorganic

material that is on the crown of a tooth.• The RR Clause consists of a passive plus some

additional info.– A theater is a building that has been specifically

designed for dramatic performances.

RR Change in WF

• The RRC contains the verb to have.– A parliament is a national governing body which

has the highest level of legislative power within a state.

• The RRC contains an active verb-drops and changes to pres. part. –ing (which/that drop)– A moon is a natural satellite which orbits around a

planet.

Competing Definitions

• Make sure the reader is aware.– As in writing, both definitions need to be

presented when possible, or it must be stated that there is another.

Contrastive Definitions

• Comparisons