English For Academic and Professional Purposes: Quarter 1 - Module 5: Explaining Concepts
English For Academic and Professional Purposes: Quarter 1 - Module 5: Explaining Concepts
English For Academic and Professional Purposes: Quarter 1 - Module 5: Explaining Concepts
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English For Academic and
Professional Purposes
Quarter 1 – Module 5:
Explaining Concepts
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:
This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration
their needs and circumstances.
In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:
As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist
the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities
for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be
enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while being an active
learner.
What I Need to Know This will give you an idea of the skills or
competencies you are expected to learn in
the module.
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check what you already know about the
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correct (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.
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References This is a list of all sources used in
developing this module.
1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of
the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.
We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning
and gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!
Great day to you dear learner! In this module, you will learn different ways
in explaining a concept.
Before writing a concept paper, being able to explain a concept is a very
important skill that you should know in order to become effective and efficient
writer. May you find this module helpful as you improve yourself of becoming good
communicator of English language.
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What I Know
DIRECTIONS: Read each question carefully and select the appropriate answer from
among the options given. Write the letter of your choice on your answer sheet.
*Read the formal definition statement below and answer the questions for nos.
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A.2 B. 1 C. 3 D. none
8. Which of the choices is called a class?
A.2 B. 1 C. 3 D. 2 & 3
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9. Which of the underlined word or phrases is called differentiating
characteristics?
A.2 B. 1 C. 3 D. 1 & 3
10. Which of the options below is not true about extended definition?
A. It is a detailed way of explaining a term.
B. It is usually composed of at least one paragraph.
12. What do you call a method of explanation which involves analysis of concept
by looking at the examples?
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Lesson
1 Explaining Concepts
Explaining an idea or concept is very essential not just in writing but also in
interacting with others so that effective communication will take place.
What’s In
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What’s New
This time, we will read some texts. Let us analyze them carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
Text 1
Text 2
Fernando Maramag’s poem titled “The Rural Maid” is about a man who has
been in love with a fair maid. He fell in love with her the first time they met. Their
eyes glanced at each other and he was smitten by her charm. But despite his
endearment to her, her heart doesn’t belong to him-this left some pain in his
heart.The poem revolves in a hopeless dreamer’s passion for a girl he could, and
never would, own. They parted and never crossed paths again.
Text 3
Noise is much more than just an annoyance. In fact, noise can be a type of
pollution that produces hearing impairment, prevents people from getting adequate
rest, contributes to high blood pressure, interferes with productivity, and reduces
our overall quality of life.
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How is the concept presented in each text?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
What is It
The texts that you just read follow the three ways in explaining a concept
namely, definition, explication, and clarification.
1. Definition is used to provide the meaning of a given word or term and making its
meaning clearer. Definitions can be presented in three ways: formal, informal, or extended.
1. a Formal definition is a one-sentence explanation that includes the term, class,
and distinguishing features or characteristics. The term is the word or phrase to be defined,
class refers to which the term belongs or the general category of the term and distinguishing
characteristics are the qualities that make the term different from other terms in the same
category.
Example:
1.bInformal definitionis a brief explanation of the given term. It may also include
known words or examples to explain an unknown term. The definition may be synonym or
antonym introduced by or, in other words, or like.
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Examples:
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Signal Words for Definition
The poem titled "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is about a man
reflecting on a choice he once made. While the outcome of this choice is not
implied to be positive or negative the speaker notes that the choices in itself
and the consequences of that choice have made a huge difference in the
way his life has unfolded.
The poem is about the importance of choices. The poem begins with the
speaker regretting that he could not have been two people so he could have
at some point in his life taken two roads instead of being confined to one.
He looked as far as he could to see what was ahead on one of the roads he
could have taken, but he was limited to seeing only as far as where it
turned and disappeared in the bushes. In the second stanza he says he
took the other road because it was grassy and was possibly better because
it was less travelled, though not much more than the other road. The third
stanza says both roads were covered in leaves that had been walked on
infrequently, to the extent that the leaves covering them had not been made
black from tramping feet. He also says he continued on the road he chose,
and because he knew that one thing leads to another ("way leads on to
way") he doubted he would ever return to this part of the road. Finally, he
says he will tell the story when he is much older ("Somewhere ages and ages
hence") that he had the choice of taking one road over another, and having
taken the one he did made a big difference in his life.
Adding to development of the theme is the element of color. It is a
yellow wood, not green, which suggests the fall season when leaves turn
colors. Seasons are frequently associated with periods in people's lives,
such as spring for youth, and autumn for late middle age. So this is the
"fall" of his life, or possibly around middle age. Therefore, he is a speaker
who has had enough experiences to realize how important some decisions
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can be and that he must live with the consequences.
Source: “Sample Poetry Explication”, HCC Learning Web, accessed June 08, 2020,
https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/ronique.hinchen/engl1302/sample-poetry-explication/view.
3. Clarification is another way of explaining a concept wherein the points are arranged from
a general abstract concept to specific concrete examples. It involves the analysis of the
concept by looking at the examples and specifying a number of its features to reach at
one working definition.
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Sample Clarification Text
Definition
Explication
Clarification
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Definition
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________.
Explication
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________.
Clarification
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________.
Text 1
Evidence/s:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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Text 2
Evidence/s:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Text 3
Evidence/s:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________.
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What I Can Do
DIRECTIONS: Read each question carefully and select the appropriate answer among the
options given. Write the letter of your choice on your answer sheet.
1. Which type of definition includes the term, class, and distinguishing features?
A. Formal B. Informal C. Extended D. Both A & C
2. Which type of definition is an essay length and uses different rhetorical patterns to
show the meaning of a particular concept.
A. Formal B. Informal C. Extended D.Both B & C
3. Which type of definition involves brief explanation of a given term?
A.Formal B. Informal C.Extended D.Both A & B
4. What do we call the underlined phrase in the formal definition statement below?
“Charisma is a special quality which gives an individual influence or authority.”
A. Term B. Class C.Concept D.Differentiating features
5. What is the term being defined in the statement below?
Biology is a branch of science that deals with living organisms and their vital processes.
A. Biology B.Science C. Vital processes D. Living organisms
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6. Which one is not an example of informal definition?
A. Physics is a branch of science.
B. Corpora are writings or works on a particular subject.
C. Corporation refers to a group of merchants or traders.
D. Electronic mail or email is a system for sending messages via telecommunication.
7. Which among the options below is not a method of explaining concepts?
A. Definition B. Narration C. Explication D. Clarification
8. Which type of presenting concepts involves critical interpretation through the use of
verses, quotes, and passages?
A. Definition B. Explication C. Clarification D. All of the choices
9. Which of the options below explains concept through giving meaning of the term and
making its meaning clearer.
A. B & C B. Definition C. Explication D. Clarification
10. What is another way of explaining a concept in which points are arranged from
a general abstract concept to specific concrete examples?
A. Definition B. Clarification C. Explication D. All of the choices
11. Alex explained the concept by providing its meaning first. What way of explaining
concept did Alex apply?
A. A & B B. Definition C. Explication D. Clarification
12. Maria explained the topic by including a passage from a literary work which gives
another perspective of the concept. What method did Maria use in explaining concept?
A. Both B & C B. Definition C. Clarification D. Explication
13. Which way of explaining concept is applied in the text below?
Cholera is an intestinal infection which is caused by a bacterium, called Vibrio
cholera. Contaminated food, water, or faeces can result in the rapid spread of this
disease. Patients who have been exposed to the disease may exhibit mild to extreme
symptoms.
A. Definition B. Explication C.Clarification D. None of the choices
14. What is the concept being explained in the paragraph above?
A. Cholera B. Bacterium C. Vibrio cholera D. Intestinal infection
15. Which way of explaining concept is applied in the text below?
Fat is important for a healthy diet but one’s intake of it should be always taken note
of. For instance, inadequate intake of fats can cause several problems in the body
particularly, the decrease of the body’s insulation. When the body is not insulated
enough, this could cause one to feel cold immediately whenever there is a slight drop in
the environment’s temperature.
A. Both B & C B. Definition C. Explication D. Clarification
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Additional Activities
Applying the three ways in explaining concept, discuss the topic following the parts
below:
First paragraph- Definition of the term
Second paragraph- Explication (relate the concept to a passage/verse/quote/any literary
work)
Third paragraph - Clarification (provide concrete/specific examples that will support your
idea/concept)
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Answer Key
1.D 1.A
2.A 2.C
3.B 3.B
4.C 4.B
5.D 5.A
6.D 6.D
7.B 7.B
8.A 8.B
9.C 9.B
10.C 10.B
11.D 11.B
12.D 12.D
13.C 13.A
14.B 14.A
15.A 15.D
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References
Barrot, Jessie S. and Sipacio, Philippe John F. Communicate Today: English for Academic
& Professional Purposes for Senior High School Quezon City: C& Publishing Inc,
2016.
HCC Learning Web. “Sample Poetry Explication.” Accessed June 08,
2020.https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/ronique.hinchen/engl1302/sample-poetry-
explication/view
McMurrey, David. “Extended Definition: Just What Does That Mean?” Accessed June 06,
2020, https://www.prismnet.com/~hcexres/textbook/def.html
Scribd. “Project in Literature.” Accessed June 08,
2020.https://www.scribd.com/doc/84656945/Analysis-on-Philippine-Poetry-Short-
stories-and-Dramas
Valdez, Paolo Niño M. English for the Globalized Classroom Series: English for Academic &
Professional Purposes. Quezon City: The Phoenix Publishing House Inc, 2016.
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