The rainbow of definitions: A spectrum of possibilities

As children, we used the mnemonic "Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain" to memorize the sequence of colors in a rainbow. This clever trick led us to believe that there are only seven colors. However, the truth is more nuanced. The number of colors in a rainbow is not fixed; it depends on how we define colors and varies across cultures and traditions from as few as three to infinity. The question is, where do we draw the line and which shades do we include or exclude? It all comes down to how we craft our definitions.

On March 11 the AWC speaker Melvin Hall invited HSE researchers to explore the world of definitions. During the workshop “The invention and structure of definitions in academic writing,” colleagues discussed and practiced fundamental rhetorical structures that help to create definitions. The main takeaway was a practical formula for constructing strong definitions at the sentence and paragraph levels. 

Our colleagues appreciated the relevance of the topic, the depth of the speaker’s approach, and the interactivity:

· “I was impressed by the thorough metaphysical approach to types of definitions and defining concepts and real-life objects.”

· “The topic of the workshop was just what I needed for my current article and a paragraph in my Ph.D. thesis. Now I can structure the article about storytelling in music using the approach I learned.”

· “There was lots of practical information. I liked the flow of the workshop – we all worked on the tasks, but there was no pressure to rush. I appreciated that we could post our answers in the workshop chat. I enjoyed listening to the speaker’s comments on our answers.”

And in a month's time, we invite you to join us for a workshop where we will focus on modality as a key tool for expressing the author’s voice and attitude.