SEE-I is a method of clarification

Clarification

In journalism, a clarification is used to make a statement in a published story more clear. It refers to a statement in a story that, while factually correct, may be subject to a misunderstanding or unfair assumption....

 and understanding. It stands for State, Elaborate, Exemplify, and Illustrate. This method provides a way to better understand and/or clearly communicate a concept or topic. SEE-I also lends itself to a natural descriptive style of writing

Writing

Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...

 where important concepts or topics are described in a clear, repetitive manner. This same method is sometimes referred to as the C-I paradigm.

Overview

SEE-I has the following four steps:

1. State the concept or idea in a single sentence or two.

• Clearly and succinctly state the concept.

2. Elaborate on the concept in your own words. Explain it at greater length in a paragraph or two.

• Clarify the concept in your own words. "In other words,. . ."

3. Exemplify the concept by giving concrete examples (and counter examples) of the concept.

• Specify the concept by giving specific examples. "For example, . . ."

4. Illustrate the concept with a picture, diagram, metaphor, or analogy.

• Generalize the concept. Give a comparison or metaphor or picture-in-words to bring it home. "It's like. . ."

• A counter analogy is often not useful, since the counter to a generalization is often not accurate.

As a process, SEE-I starts with a clear statement of the concept, followed by clarification in the person's own words. Next, the person goes to the specific with examples and counter examples of the concept. Finally, the person ends with a generalization of the concept, typically in the form of a metaphor or analogy. This illustration often represents a mapping to a more common domain of knowledge and helps the reader fully latch onto the concept. As the person works his or her way through the steps, previous steps often require revision. So the process as a whole is iterative, refining, and self-correcting. SEE-I is also an amenable method for small groups. A handful of individuals can work through the process to better understand the given concept and create a clear description for others.

Examples

SEE-I the concept "learning".

State

• Learning is the gaining of knowledge, understanding, or ability.

Elaborate

• In other words, learning is a process by which a person gains specific knowledge, understanding of this knowledge, or a specific skill (ability). Often learning involves gaining all three to varying degrees. The process occurs through a stressful repetitive perception that allows the underlying neural network
  Neural network
  The term neural network was traditionally used to refer to a network or circuit of biological neurons. The modern usage of the term often refers to artificial neural networks, which are composed of artificial neurons or nodes...
  
   of the mind and body to adapt to the repetitive input. True learning involves internalization of the knowledge being learned. When I have learned something, I can not only say it back, I can also explain it, use it, and integrate it with my other knowledge.

Exemplify

• For example, a child slowly learns to ride a bike by being guided, by practicing, and occasionally by falling down.
• A counter example is someone that continues to repeat the same mistakes over and over again.
• Another example: Someone who has learned about the American Civil War
  American Civil War
  The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
  
  can describe many of its main features, discuss alternative accounts of it, and trace out some of its main effects on later society.

Illustrate

• Learning is like a sponge that absorbs whatever liquid it comes in contact with, but hopefully never gets saturated.
• Learning is like eating: what we eat becomes part of us.

SEE-I the concept "cellular metabolism".

State

• Cellular metabolism is the set of chemical reactions inside a cell that maintain life.

Elaborate

• Cellular metabolism is the set of chemical reactions representing the flow of matter and energy through the cell. These chemical reactions maintain homeostasis, allow growth, and keep a relatively constant level of entropy in the cell.

Exemplify

• The citric acid cycle is a part of cellular metabolism.
• Cellular respiration is another part of cellular metabolism.
• A counter example is the production of humus in the soil.

Illustration

• Cellular metabolism is like the activity of the bees in a beehive. The worker bees, drones, and queen perform their separate tasks that together maintain a hive and enable it to grow.