Follow the same 7-step pattern to write body paragraph 2: Step 1- Assertion:  Step 2- Explanation:  Step 3- Evidence:  Step 4- Discussion:  Step 5- Evidence:  Step 6- Discussion:  Step 7- Connection:  Follow the same 7-step pattern to write body paragraph 3: Step 1- Assertion:  Step 2- Explanation:  Step 3- Evidence:  Step 4- Discussion:  Step 5- Evidence:  Step 6- Discussion:  Step 7- Connection:  Psychoactive Drugs 1 A previously healthy 16-years-old girl was found unconscious late at night following a domestic argument. When examined on admission, she was hyperventilating, responded to painful stimuli, and had dilated pupil which responded to light. The rest of the physical examination was unremarkable.  Her urine was negative for glucose and ketone and the rest of the laboratory analysis are in table one. 1) Comment on the clinical picture and the laboratory results 2) Is there are any other laboratory investigations would you consider? Also, why? 3)  What is the most likely diagnosis? Today: • Methods of Definition Homework Q & A S. Zhou S. Zhou Round, red (appearance) Provide vitamin A, keep one healthy (function) Similar to mango – vitamin A (compare ) Different from banana – vitamin C (contrast) Originated in Central Asia (history) More… … 1. Historical origin 2. Contrast/comparison 3. Functions (what it does; why it is important) 4. Causes and/or effects 5. Characteristics or qualities 6. Appearance (what is looks like) 7. Process (How it works) 8. Analogy (metaphor) 9. Connotation (associations and emotions) 10. Examples/stories S. Zhou. Partly adapted from Lecture Notes by Dewsbury, M. 10 Methods of Definition S. Zhou Three Body Paragraphs ( 7 steps for each) • Assertion • Explanation • Evidence 1 • Discussion • Evidence 2 • Discussion • Connection S. Zhou One of the following: • Historical origin • Comparison • Contrast • Assertion • Explanation • Evidence 1 • Discussion • Evidence 2 • Discussion • Connection One of the following: • Function • Cause/effect • Characteristics • Appearance • Assertion • Explanation • Evidence 1 • Discussion • Evidence 2 • Discussion • Connection One of the following: • Process • Analogy • Connotation • Example/story See details in • course pack p. 52 • definition Essay assignment sheet • methods of definition (example-love) S. Zhou 10 Methods of Definition Thesis Statement (detailed) Follow the structure for the basic definition: Term + be + category (RUAH) + that/which + differentiation + through the following methods of definition: roadmap (indication of your assertions methods of definition) Example: Biblical love is God’s wisdom that provides a guide for whole, healthy living both on earth and in heaven through the following methods: comparison, function, and analogy. Writing expressions of RUAH into a thesis If heart… (Term) is an emotional condition that/which… …is a psychological state that/which... I ...

1. Follow the same 7-step pattern to write body paragraph 2:
Step 1- Assertion:
Step 2- Explanation:
Step 3- Evidence:
Step 4- Discussion:
Step 5- Evidence:
Step 6- Discussion:
Step 7- Connection:
Follow the same 7-step pattern to write body paragraph 3:
Step 1- Assertion:
Step 2- Explanation:
Step 3- Evidence:
Step 4- Discussion:
Step 5- Evidence:
Step 6- Discussion:
Step 7- Connection:

2. Psychoactive Drugs 1
A previously healthy 16-years-old girl was found unconscious
late at night following a domestic argument. When examined on
admission, she was hyperventilating, responded to painful
stimuli, and had dilated pupil which responded to light. The rest
of the physical examination was unremarkable. Her urine was
negative for glucose and ketone and the rest of the laboratory
analysis are in table one.
1) Comment on the clinical picture and the laboratory results
2) Is there are any other laboratory investigations would you
consider? Also, why?
3) What is the most likely diagnosis?
Today:
• Methods of Definition
Homework
Q & A
S. Zhou
S. Zhou

3. Round, red (appearance)
Provide vitamin A, keep one healthy (function)
Similar to mango – vitamin A (compare )
Different from banana – vitamin C (contrast)
Originated in Central Asia (history)
More… …
1. Historical origin
2. Contrast/comparison
3. Functions (what it does; why it is important)
4. Causes and/or effects
5. Characteristics or qualities
6. Appearance (what is looks like)
7. Process (How it works)
8. Analogy (metaphor)
9. Connotation (associations and emotions)
10. Examples/stories
S. Zhou. Partly adapted from Lecture Notes by Dewsbury, M.
10 Methods of Definition
S. Zhou
Three Body Paragraphs ( 7 steps for each)
• Assertion

4. • Explanation
• Evidence 1
• Discussion
• Evidence 2
• Discussion
• Connection
S. Zhou
One of the following:
• Historical origin
• Comparison
• Contrast
• Assertion
• Explanation
• Evidence 1
• Discussion
• Evidence 2
• Discussion
• Connection
One of the following:
• Function
• Cause/effect
• Characteristics
• Appearance
• Assertion
• Explanation
• Evidence 1
• Discussion
• Evidence 2
• Discussion
• Connection

5. One of the following:
• Process
• Analogy
• Connotation
• Example/story
See details in
• course pack p. 52
• definition Essay assignment sheet
• methods of definition (example-love)
S. Zhou
10 Methods of Definition
Thesis Statement (detailed)
Follow the structure for the basic definition:
Term + be + category (RUAH) + that/which + differentiation +
through the following methods of definition: roadmap
(indication of your assertions methods of definition)
Example:
Biblical love is God’s wisdom that provides a guide for whole,
healthy living both on earth and in heaven through the
following methods: comparison, function, and analogy.
Writing expressions of RUAH into a thesis
If heart…
(Term) is an emotional condition that/which…
…is a psychological state that/which...

6. If strength…
(Term) is a physical condition that/which…
…is an experiential state that/which…
…is a scientific idea that/which…
If mind…
(Term) is a human construct that/which…
….is a system of _________ that/which…
If soul…
(Term) is a spiritual condition…
*If Christian/religious
(Term) is a _____ from God that/which
… is God’s ________ that/which
Differentiation (Thesis key word):
The differentiation should be one word that unifies and
interprets the evidence and methods used in the essay. This can
be a word you think of on your own, or a word/idea that you
have discovered in your research that is commonly associated
with the term. (i.e. in the example above, “guide for living” is
the differentiation). Use this key word accurately (i.e. use the
same word/expression in the thesis and the assertion/connection
sentences of the body paragraphs)
Roadmap (Assertion key words):
4 (or more) methods listed in the course pack should be chosen
that reflect the evidence used in the paragraph (i.e. Historical
origin, comparison/contrast, function, examples, etc.). Use the
key words accurately (i.e. what appears in the course pack
should be what appears in the road map and in the
assertion/connection sentences)
Contents
Expand the Definition

7. Choose one or more ways to continue the definition. One clear
organizational choice is to write with one method per
paragraph.
· Contrast (what it is NOT or how it is different from other
things)
· Comparison (how it is similar to other things; synonyms)
· Characteristics or qualities
· Historical origin
· Analogy
· Appearance (what it looks like)
· Process (HOW it works)
· Causes and/or effects
· Connotation (associations and emotions)
· Functions (what it does; why it is important)
· Examples
Another good option is to use the WH Questions (Who, What,
When, Where, Why, How). With this option, you can write a
paragraph about “what” it is, another about “how” it functions,
and another about “when and where.”
For my essay on “faith,” I could decide to define it by:
· The historical understanding of faith from the Bible
· How faith is misunderstood in modern culture
· A story of a person whose faith grew through hardship
Definition Body Paragraph Pattern (Detailed)
Please follow this pattern for the definition essay which is
closely related to the general body paragraph pattern.
Assertion: State what the paragraph will discuss/prove with the
main key word from the thesis (your differentiation) and an
assertion key word from the roadmap (one method of definition
that supports the differentiation and matches the evidence used).
Transition word/phrase (In more detail, More specifically, In
other words)
Explanation: Explain the assertion in more detail, focusing on

8. the method of definition
Transition word/phrase (In the book of, As ________(biblical
author) records/writes)
Evidence: Biblical evidence (more general than below, if
applicable) make sure to introduce with sufficient context (at
least author/book/context of the passage), “quote” cite (Book
Chapter: Verse(s) + Translation for first citation).
Transition word/phrase (Clearly, This indicates that, It is clear
that, In other words, With this in mind, Considering this,)
Discussion: Explain in your own words how the evidence
supports/proves the assertion/thesis. Can be more than one
sentence.
Transition word/phrase (In addition, Moreover, or In
comparison/contrast or For example/For instance) + (The book
of _____ states, As_______ (biblical author) records/writes)
Evidence: More biblical evidence (more specific than above, if
applicable), OR evidence from an authoritative/credible source
(required for comparison/contrast paragraphs) make sure to
introduce with sufficient context, paraphrase or “quote” cite
(Book Chapter: Verse(s)).
Transition word/phrase (Clearly, This
suggests/reveals/means/highlights that, For this reason, With
this in mind,)
Discussion:Explain in your own words how the evidence proves
the assertion/thesis/evidence above. Can/should be more than
one sentence.
Transition word/phrase
(Therefore,/Thus,/Hence,/Consequently,)
Connection sentence: Using key word (academic concept/word)
from the thesis (differentiation) and the key word (aspect of the
academic concept/word) from the roadmap (method of

9. definition) (same key words from the assertion), summarize in
one sentence how the paragraph proved the assertion/thesis
Another example:
The appearance of the Latin cross is the most familiar and
widely recognized symbol of Christianity today. In more detail,
it was most likely the shape of the structure upon which Jesus
Christ was crucified. In the gospel account of Matthew, he
describes the trip to Jesus’ execution, “As they were going out,
they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him
to carry the cross” (Matt 27:32 NIV). The story continues to tell
how Jesus was nailed to the cross and hung up along with two
other criminals. Clearly, the shape of the cross was significant
because it visually indicated the end of Jesus’ human life, which
would have greatly impacted his followers. Though various
forms of the cross existed, the Latin cross was made of two
pieces of wood crossed to create four right angles. The Roman
Catholic depictions of the cross often reveal the body of Christ
still on the cross (Citation). This is known as the crucifix and
brings emphasis to the sacrifice and suffering of Christ.
Protestant churches tend to portray the empty cross,
emphasizing the resurrected, risen Christ. As Matthew also
records, followers of Christianity identify with the cross
through the words of Jesus, “anyone who does not take his cross
and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matt 10:38). With this in
mind, the appearance of the cross represents a Christian’s
understanding and acceptance of suffering in life, and the cross
today represents Christ's victory over sin and death through the
sacrifice of his own body on the cross. Therefore, the
appearance of the cross is significant because Christians wear
the cross as a symbol that they are “following” Jesus.

10. Worksheet 1: Planning my Definition Essay
My topic (Biblical term) is:
(Make sure it comes from the assignment list)
What is the dictionary definition of the term?
(I recommend using the Merriam Webster Learner’s Online
Dictionary to do this. You can copy/paste):
Usually, the dictionary definition is a secular definition that
is not connected to religions.
The definition in this essay is from a religious (biblical/
Christian) perspective.
Would that be the same as or different from the dictionary
definition?
Now, start discovering! Let’s see what you will find out by the
completion of the essay.
Evidence (Bible verses):
Copy/paste Bible evidence (Bible verses/passages) related to the
term based on the research you have done.
· For each passage, give the citation at the end. i.e. (Book
Chapter: verses Version) or (Book Chapter: verses-verse
Version).
For example: “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we
wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:25 NIV)
The digital sources you can use for researching are:
· Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/
· Open Bible: http://www.openbible.info/topics/
Recommended Bible versions:
· NRSV (New Revised Standard Version - the most common
Bible for academic work), or

11. · NIV (New International Version- the most popular modern
translation of the Bible).
Body Paragraph 1
Find 2 pieces of evidence for one (1) of the following methods.
Historical Origin
Exploring a word in regard to its history, and how its meaning
might have changed through the years, may help to illustrate
your definition.
Evidence 1:
Evidence 2:
Comparison OR
Contrast
How the biblical definition is similar (comparison) or different
(contrast) to other ways in which the word is defined.
Evidence 1:
Evidence 2:
Body Paragraph 2
Find 2 pieces of evidence for one (1) of the following methods.
Function

12. Explaining the purpose of the defined term
Evidence 1:
Evidence 2:
Cause/Effect
Explaining how the term begins an
action/phenomenon/condition (cause) or the results of the term
(effect).
Evidence 1:
Evidence 2:
Characteristics/
qualities
Demonstrating the different attributes or aspects that
characterize the word defined.
Evidence 1:
Evidence 2:
Appearance
Demonstrating what the word looks like using images, symbols,
and examples

13. Evidence 1:
Evidence 2:
Body Paragraph 3
Find 2 pieces of evidence for one (1) of the following methods.
Process
Demonstrating how the word might work with detailed
explanation and examples.
Evidence 1:
Evidence 2:
Analogy
Drawing similarities between things that are otherwise
dissimilar.
Evidence 1:
Evidence 2:
Connotation
Demonstrating the association of secondary meanings or
emotions to the word being defined
Evidence 1:

14. Evidence 2:
Examples
Sharing a few of the more significant people/stories that help
explain the term.
In this essay, using an example could be done in two ways.
First, using one example from the Bible, provide two pieces of
evidence that demonstrate the differentiation. Alternatively, you
could use two examples from the Bible that have a close
relationship to the differentiation. In this case, only quote the
most meaningful line from the story, introduced with concise
context to support your differentiation.
Because your paragraph cannot exceed one page in writing, DO
NOT retell the story in the paragraph. Instead, give only
sufficient context from the story, including a quotation, to
support your differentiation. It is much more important to
DISCUSS how the example supports your differentiation than to
summarize what the story is about.
Evidence 1:
Evidence 2:
Worksheet 2: Thesis Statement
Follow the pattern below to write your thesis statement
Pattern:

15. (Term) is
(Perspective)
that (differentiation)
through
the following methods of definition
(method),
(method),
(method).
My thesis statement:
Worksheet 3: Body Paragraph
Follow the 7 steps to write your body paragraph(s)
Step 1
Assertion
This should be only one simple sentence. Please don’t forget to
use the thesis key word (differentiation) and paragraph key
word (method of definition) as they are written in your thesis.
Write here:

16. Step 2
Explanation
Write your explanation sentence focusing on explaining your
assertion key word. Don’t forget to begin the sentence with a
transition word/phrase as suggested in the course pack. This
should be only one sentence.
Write here:
Step 3
Evidence
Share evidence from the Bible that supports your key words
(Unless you are writing comparison/contrast paragraph, in
which case you must share credible evidence from what you are
comparing/contrasting here). Don’t forget to introduce with a
transition as suggested in the course pack, as well as context for
the quotation (as indicated in the course pack).
Write here:
Step 4
Discussion
Explain how the evidence supports the key words (thesis and
assertion). This should be at least 2 sentences. Try to rely on
your own thoughts/ideas in the discussion as much as possible.
Write here:
Step 5

17. Evidence
Share evidence from the Bible that supports your key words.
Don’t forget to introduce with a transition as suggested in the
course pack, as well as context for the quotation (as indicated in
the course pack).
Write here:
Step 6
Discussion
Explain how the evidence supports the key words (thesis and
paragraph). This should be several sentences. In particular,
focus on how the method (paragraph key word) you chose is
revealed in the evidence, and how it explains your chosen
differentiation (thesis key word). Try to rely on your own
thoughts/ideas in the discussion as much as possible.
Write here:
Step 7
Connection
Don’t forget to begin with a transition as suggested in the
course pack, as well as include the same key words from your
assertion, and a summary of what the paragraph discussed. This
should be one sentence only.
Write here:

18. Follow the same 7-step pattern to write body paragraph 2:
Step 1- Assertion:
Step 2- Explanation:
Step 3- Evidence:
Step 4- Discussion:
Step 5- Evidence:
Step 6- Discussion:
Step 7- Connection:
Follow the same 7-step pattern to write body paragraph 3:
Step 1- Assertion:
Step 2- Explanation:
Step 3- Evidence:
Step 4- Discussion:
Step 5- Evidence:
Step 6- Discussion:
Step 7- Connection: