Category or class

identifying characteristics
that make the 
term different from other members in that class. What makes 
a 
trout
different from a 
bass,
a 
doll
different from a 
puppet,
a 
shirt
different from a 
sweater?
Here a defi nition can give 
examples. Look back again at the dictionary defi nition of 
family.
Notice that the fi rst meaning gives an example of a 
family: “traditionally two parents rearing their children.” The 
three additional meanings provide suggestions for some other 
variations.
EXERCISE 
1
one of the branches of science.
one form of a culture's literature.
a strong resilient synthetic material
a protozoan.
a vehicle.
a plant.
a form of government.
a fi brous mineral.
a musical instrument.
a division of literature.
an institution of learning.
Sample answers
PART 4
CREATING EFFECTIVE PARAGRAPHS
472
Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part.

---

Identifying Characteristics
Using the same terms as in Exercise 1, give one or two identifying character-
istics that differentiate your term from other terms in the same class. Use a 
dictionary. An example is done for you.
Chemistry is
 
1.
Mythology
2.
Nylon
3.
An amoeba
4.
A tricycle
5.
Cabbage
6.
Democracy
7.
Asbestos
8.
A piccolo
9.
Poetry
10.
A university
DEFINING BY NEGATION
The writer could also have defi ned 
family
by