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4.2: Definitional Writing Activity

  • Page ID
    293557
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    How do these texts differ from how we have heard CRT discussed before?

    When we speak of definitions, usually we think of a dictionary, which we can also refer to as the classical definition. This comprises of identifying both the kind of class the topic belongs to and how it differentiates from others in its class.

    For instance, ice cream is a frozen dessert, right? That is the class in which it belongs. But how does it differ from, say, ice pops, slushies, bananas Foster, snow cones, Italian ice, or sorbet? We understand it’s different because of its creamy texture that usually comes from its (usual) main ingredients of milk and cream and its process of stirring while freezing; that it is heavily sweetened and flavored with a spice such as vanilla, chocolate, and mint; and usually includes additional ingredients such as strawberries, peaches, cookie dough, fudge bits, lemon, chocolate chips, mango, or even bubblegum or peppers.

    To go more general, desserts are a type of food, but they differ from others in that they have no nutritional value, are sweet, and often come after a dinner course.

    The classic definition of dessert may look like this: "A sweet food item consumed for recreation that lacks nutritional value."

    House cats are a type of animal. More specifically, they are mammals that belong to the family Felidae along with lions, leopards, lynxes, tigers, and panthers. How are they distinct from other types of cats, then?

    Humans are primates; how are we different from other apes?

    An example of a classic definition may look like:

    Humans (homo sapiens) are a species of primate that walk upright, have a complex relationship with language, thought, and symbology, and possess an innate grasp of tool making and use.

    Can we compile what we have just read about Critical Race Theory into a working, classical definition?

    Class: ____________________________________;

    Differentiation from others in its class: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


    This page titled 4.2: Definitional Writing Activity is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jason Dye, City Colleges of Chicago.