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English
Quarter 4 - Module 2
Technical and Operational Definition
of Words

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English – Grade 10
Self-Learning Module
Quarter 4 – Module 2: Technical and Operational Definition of Words
First Edition, 2021

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Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio
Regional Director: Tolentino G. Aquino
Assistant Regional Director: Ronald B. Castillo
CLMD Chief: Arlene A. Niro
Development Team of the Module
Writers /Layout Artists : Lilet G. Galisim
: Aldrin M. Ortiz
Reviewers : Fe Corazon S. Ladislao (Content)
: Rhodora Kaye O. Cabrera (Language/Layout)
: Jeany V. Barrozo
: Hyacinth L. Balila
: Julius P. Collado
: Judel R. Dones
: Evelyn G. Velasquez
: Christopher L. Infante, EdD
Illustrator : Jay C. Visperas

MANAGEMENT TEAM
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 10
English
Quarter 4 - Module 2
Technical and Operational
Definition of Words

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Introductory Message

For the facilitator:

Welcome to the English – Grade 10 Self-Learning Module on Technical

and Operational Definition of Words.

This module was collaboratively designed, developed, and reviewed by

educators both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher
or facilitator in helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12
Curriculum while overcoming their personal, social, and economic
constraints in schooling.

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.

Notes to the Teacher: This contains helpful tips or strategies that will
help you in guiding the learners.

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.

For the learner: Welcome to the English – Grade 10 Self-Learning Module on

Technical and Operational Definition of Words.

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. This module has the following parts and
corresponding icons:

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 This will give you an idea of the skills or
What I Need to Know
competencies you are expected to learn in the
module!
This part includes an activity that aims to check
what you already know about the lesson to take. If
What I Know
you get all the answers correct (100%), you may
decide to skip this module.

What’s In This is a brief drill or review to help you link the

current lesson with the previous on
In this portion, the new lesson will be introduced to
What’s New you in various ways; a story, a song, a poem, a
problem opener, an activity, or a situation.
This section provides a brief discussion of the lesson.
What Is It This aims to help you discover and understand new
concepts and skills.
This comprises activities for independent practice to
solidify your understanding and skills of the topic.
What’s More
You may check the answers to the exercises using
the Answer Key at the end of the module.
This includes questions or blank
What I Have Learned
sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process what
you learned from the lesson.
This section provides an activity which will help you
What I Can Do transfer your new knowledge or skill into real life
situations or concerns.
Assessment This is a task which aims to evaluate your level of
mastery in achieving the learning competency.
In this portion, another activity will be given to you
Additional Activities
to enrich your knowledge or skill of the lesson
learned.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the module.

At the end of this module, you will also find:

References. This is a list of all sources used in developing this module

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 The following are some reminders in using 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!

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 What I Need to Know

This learning module will provide you with opportunities to enhance the
different competencies in English through a variety of contextualized and
differentiated learning activities.
In this module, you will be guided to give technical and operational
definition of words (Quarter IV MELC no. 2)
After going through this module, you are expected to attain the following
competencies:
a. distinguish technical definition from operational definition of
terms;
b. give technical and operational definition of terms;
b. define terms using technical and operational definition.

What I Know

Pretest
Directions: In the box is a pool of words. Read each definition and then
choose the defined word from the pool. Write your answer in your answer
sheet.

a. Coronavirus d. quarantine g. vulnerable groups h. vaccine

b. face mask e. Protective Personal Equipment i. asymptomatic
c. isolation f. social distancing j. immunity

______ 1. The restriction of movement, or separation from the rest of the

population, of healthy persons who may have been exposed to the
virus, with the objective of monitoring their symptoms and
ensuring early detection of case.

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______ 2. A type of common virus that infects humans leading to upper
respiratory infection.
______ 3. It is a protection from an infectious disease notwithstanding
exposure; a person will not get infected.

_______4. The practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance

such as one (1) meter to avoid contact with other people or object
during the outbreak of contagious disease to minimize exposure
and reduce transmission of infection.

______ 5. A substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and

provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from
the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic
substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the
disease.

______ 6. No signs of disease can be found, or no evidence can be seen of

illness.

______ 7. A piece of polypropylene or cotton fiber for the mouth and nose that
is worn to reduce the spread of infectious agents such as viruses
or bacteria.

______ 8. They are socially disadvantage groups that are most susceptible to
suffer directly from disasters and health events, including senior
citizens immune compromised persons with disabilities, members
of indigenous peoples, internally displaced persons, among others.

______ 9. The separation of ill or infected persons from others to prevent the
spread of infection or contamination.

______ 10. Protective garments or equipment worn by individuals to increase

personal safety from infectious agents.

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 What’s In

Directions: Read the following statements and take note how some of the
words are defined. Analyze and answer the given questions and write them on
the space provided.
1. Hypothesis is a research terminology which states a tentative
answer showing how two or more variables are related.
How is the word hypothesis defined?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. Questionnaire is a research tool that is commonly used to gather or
collect data.
What word is being defined in the statement above?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) refers to the
implementation of temporary measures imposing stringent
limitations on movements and transportation of people, strict
regulations of operating industries, provision of food and essential
services and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce
community quarantine protocols as defined in DEpEd Order No.011,
S 2020.
What is defined in this sentence? How is it defined?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) is a transition
between General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and New Normal. In
this phase, work resumes in private and public sector at 100%
capacity, public transportation resumes and normal physical classes
may continue but with enforcement of mask and face shield-
wearing, physical distancing, and health protocols.

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 How is Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) is defined? Was
it defined by means of explanation or description? Or was it defined by
process and application?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary a virus is any of a large
group of submicroscopic infectious agents that are usually regarded
as nonliving extremely complex molecules, that typically contain a
protein coat surrounding an RNA or DNA core of genetic material but
no semipermeable membrane, that are capable of growth and
multiplication only in living cells, and that cause various important
diseases in humans, animals, and plants (Merriam-Webster, n.d.)
What word is being defined in the statement above? Is the source stated?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

What’s New

Directions: Observe the conversation in the comic strip below and find out
what the characters are talking about by answering the questions that follow.

What is a diagnosis
Good morning Doctor Doctor?
Jen, how is my mother
?

A “Diagnosis” is a process
to find out a specific health Thank you
problem. We need to know
Doctor Jen.
your mother’s health
history and she must Now I
undergo physical and understand
laboratory examination what
Hello Tom, we must need to
like blood test, etc. diagnosis
make some thorough
is.
diagnosis.

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 1. Who are the two characters in the comic strip? What kind of
relationship does the characters in the comic strip have?
_____________________________________________________________________
2. What was the unfamiliar word mentioned in the comic strip?
_____________________________________________________________________
3. How was the word defined in the story?
_____________________________________________________________________

What Is It?

In writing your research, you need to work on definition of terms. So,

as a research writer, you need to familiarize yourself on how you can define
words in different ways.

A. TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Technical definition is a kind of definition that explains or describes the
details of a certain word to make the meaning completely clear, and the
shorter way possible in the technical sense.
Example:
A car is a moving vehicle that has four wheels and run by a machine that
is fueled by gas. It is primarily for passengers.

Types of Technical Definitions

1. Parenthetical Definitions
Parenthetical definitions are words that quickly explain a term and are
included within the same sentence as the word being defined. These informal
definitions can be a synonym or a short phrase. The definition will be placed
in parentheses immediately following the word being defined.
Parenthetical definitions are used to explain words that need
clarification but are not the focus of the document.

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 Example:
The government has passed Republic Act 9710 (Magna Carta for
Women) to affirm the role of women in nation building and to ensure the
substantive equality of women and men.
Notice that the term being defined, Republic Act 9710, does not need
a lengthy explanation for readers to understand the concept of the sentence.
Instead, a technical term is placed immediately after the word that explains
the concept being defined.

2. Sentence Definitions
It provides additional information needed to make the definition
clearer and understandable. This kind of definition is more formal than
parenthetical definition and it gives more intensive additional information
needed. Sentence definition follows a similar form that includes:
• the word being defined;
• the class to which the word belongs; and
• the feature that distinguishes the term from other words.
Example:
The heart is an organ that pumps blood through the body.
Notice that the word being defined is provided first (heart), then the
word is put into a class or category (organ), and finally, distinguishing features
are explained (pumps blood).

3. Extended Definitions
Extended definitions use a paragraph or more to expand a word that
may be difficult to comprehend. An extended definition almost always starts
with a sentence definition, but then expands on the word by providing
additional sentences about one or more of the following:
• the function of the term;
• the location of the term;
• the physical traits of the term; and
• the causes and effects of the term.

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 Example: Friendship is a state of acquaintance between or among
people characterized by a strong bond of shared concern and caring. In true
friendship the bond is mutually shared. This is, if either one of two friends is
involved in a difficulty, such as problems with failing courses at school,
problems with parents at home, or even problems of a much more serious
nature, the other friend will provide help, encouragement, show concern, and
perhaps even direct intervention.

B. OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
Operational Definition is a kind of definition that explains a word in
detail and in specific way that gives a clear and precise meaning to a subject
- by specifying how the subject is assessed. It gives procedures, action, or
process by which it could be observed. It is a definition that includes
information from the real world.
When we say operational definition, we are talking of ideas or details
that are defined by an individual objectively and measurably, it defines on
how a person sees, feels, and thinks. And there are two important things that
we should consider about an operational definition: First, a precise meaning
must be given to the spoken or written word that could form a common
language within a number of individuals; second, a term should be defined
using word or phrase that is applicable in a specific context. A word may
mean differently when used in various situations.
Example:
Stress is when a person is experiencing a mild headache, feeling
nervous, and having sweaty palms. (Take note that the word is defined in
detail and in a specific way. The meaning is clear and precise. But there is no
source stated because this definition could have been formed based on
observation or experience.)

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 What’s More

Directions: Define the following terms using technical and operational

definitions. Accomplish the chart below.

Terms Technical Definition Operational Definition

Hospital

Patient

Trending

Subscribers

Reading

What I Have Learned

Directions: Complete the illustration below with your own statements.

From this module, we have learned that . . .

technical definition is…

operational definition is…

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 What I Can Do

Directions: You are representing your school in an essay writing contest. The
topic is about avoiding the spread of COVID-19. In a separate sheet of paper,
write an introduction for your essay stating the operational and/or technical
definition of Covid-19.

Assessment

Directions: TRUE OR FALSE: Write TRUE if the statement is true and FALSE
if otherwise.
1. A word may mean differently when used in various situations.
2. Technical definition gives procedures, action, or process by which it could
be observed.
3. Extended definitions are the use of a paragraph or more to expand on a
word that may be difficult to comprehend.
4. Sentence definition is more formal than parenthetical definition.
5. The extended definition will be placed in parentheses immediately
following the word being defined.
6. Parenthetical definitions are used to explain words that need
clarification but are not the main focus of the document.
7. Operational definition includes information from the real world.
8. When we say operational definition, we are talking of ideas or details that
are defined by an individual objectively and measurably.
9. A flower is a part of a plant that blooms and produces pollen and seeds
and is usually colorful. This is a technical definition of flower.
10. The flower is the specialized part of an angiospermous plant that occurs
singly or in clusters, possesses whorls of often colorful petals or sepals,
and bears the reproductive structures (such as stamens or pistils)

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 involved in the development of seeds and fruit. The statement you just
read is in technical term. This is a technical definition of flower.

Additional Activity

Directions: Determine how you can relate from the scenario reflected in the given
images below. Write the term in column B and give each definition in column C.
(For instance, you see yourself as a gardener. Then, give the term’s technical and
operational definitions accordingly.)

Image Term Definition

Technical

Operational

Technical

Operational

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 Answer Key
What I What I What I Can Assessment Additional
Know Have Do 1. t 6.t Activity
1. d 6.i Learned 2. f 7. t
2. a 7. b Answers 3. t 8. t Answers
3. j 8. g Answers may vary. 4. t 9. f may vary.
4. f 9. c may vary. 5. f 10. t
5. h 10. e
What’sMore

Terms Technical Definition Operational

Definition
Hospital is a healthcare institution providing the Answers may
Hospital sick and injured treatment with specialized vary.
medication. (Merriam-Webster, 1828)

Patient is an individual awaiting or under medical

Patient care treatment. ( Merriam-Webster, 1828)

Trending is showing a current style or preference

Trending (Meeriam-Webster, 1598)
Subscribers are persons who have access to
Subscribers something (such as a periodical or service) as part
of an arrangement to receive a certain number of
regular deliveries on a certain period of continuous
access especially by prepayment. (Merriam-
Webster, n.d.)

Reading is uttering aloud the printed or written

Reading words. (Merriam-Webster, n.d.)

REFERENCES:

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ou.edu/englhale/extdef.html

(n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2021, from Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VtSFAQIfGs
Merriam-Webster. (1828). Retrieved from https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/patient
American Psychological Association. (2018, June). Retrieved 2018, from
@2020 American Psychological Association.
DepEd Order No 14, s 2020. (2020, June 25). Retrieved from Department of
Education: https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-
content/uploads/2020/06/DO_s2020_014.pdf

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DepEd Order No. 11, s 2020. (2020, June 15). Retrieved from Department of
Education: https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-
content/uploads/2020/06/DO_s2020_011-Revised-Guidelines-on-
Alternative-Work-Arrangements.pdf
Editage Insights. (2019, March 25). Retrieved from Editage Insights Global
Sites: https://www.editage.com/insights/how-to-write-operational-
definition-of-
terms#:~:text=Operational%20definition%20of%20terms%20refers,ho
w%20to%20collect%20the%20data
Gatmaitan, S. S. (2020, May 13). Lexology. Retrieved from SyCip Salazar:
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=6bfbd258-706a-
4019-bd4c-378051f87ac9
IEduNote. (2021, April 12). Retrieved 2021, from
https://www.ou.edu/englhale/extdef.html.
LIVESCIENCE. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Best of Live Science:
https://www.livescience.com/quarantine.html
Merriam- Webster. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/hospital
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Retrieved 2021, from @2021Meriam-Webster
Incorporated.
Merriam-Webster.com. (2021, April 13). Retrieved April 10, 2021, from
Merriam-Webster. Com: https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/social%20distancing
Ranada, P. (2020, May 12). Rappler IQ. Retrieved from
[email protected]:
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/explainer-what-is-modified-
ecq-gcq
UVA Health. (2020). Retrieved from @2021 Rector and Visitors of the
University of Virginia.

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