Clarifying Your Meaning:
Stipulative Definitions



a.) What does the word, family, mean to you?  Who do you consider to be members
of your family?

b.) What does the phrase, "meaningful work," mean to you?  What do you consider
to be examples of "meaningful work"?

c.) What does the phrase, "economic hardship," mean to you?  What are some
examples of "economic hardship"?

d.) What does the phrase, "family entertainment," mean to you?  What are some
examples of "family entertainment?"












Stipulative Definitions
a)  establish the writer’s definition for a word or word phrase in a specific context
b)  remain consistent throughout the text (ie. essay, business contract)
c)  contain one to three sentences (usually)
d)  feature a word (or phrase), a link, and a meaning.

Samples:

SAMPLE WORD DEFINITION:
Family refers to a group of people, related by blood.

SAMPLE PHRASE DEFINITION:
Novice voters are individuals, regardless of age, voting for the first time in the November 2008 election

SAMPLE THESIS WITH FORECASTING STATEMENT:
Novice voters are individuals, regardless of age, voting for the first time in the November 2008 election;
major types include the suddenly eligible voter,  newly passionate voter, and slightly pressured voter.  

SAMPLE TOPIC SENTENCES:
a. First, the suddenly eligible voter refers to an individual, voting for the first time, because of a qualifying
change in age or citizenship.

b. Second, the newly passionate voter is an individual who has developed a desire to vote for the first time
although he or she was previously eligible to do so.

c. Third, the slightly pressured voter is an individual who has agreed to vote for the first time because a
family member or other influential person has pushed him or her to do so

Examples on the web: Identify the word or phrase, the link, and the meaning.
Who are responsible parties in a clinical trial? (Government Document)
What is a social network? (Business publication)
What does medical billing and coding salary refer to? (Blog)
What is salary?  (Court Document)
What is base salary? (Indiana University: Salary Policy)
Practice With Stipulative Definitions:

Stipulative Definitions
a)  establish the writer’s definition for a word or word phrase in a specific
context
b)  remain consistent throughout the text (ie. essay, business contract)
c)  contain one to three sentences (usually)
d)  feature a word (or phrase), a link, and a meaning



Practice Words
Practice Phrases


Stipulative Definition or Bust












Practice Words
Life                Work               positive
Bomb        Paper        Light
Money        Rich        Poor
Student            Travel
Partner        Muggle        Snitch

Phrases
meaningful work        family member
good salary        ideal date
Right Minder        city life