Question

Hi. One of my science vocab words is paradigm. The definition is a model that provides a framework for interpreting observations. Okay, so I have that definition memorized, but the book doesn't provide any specific examples of paradigms, so I don't REALLY know what it means. Could someone please help? Thanks.

Answers

Ms. Sue
Paradigm is a difficult word to understand. Here are a couple of sentences that use "paradigm."

Google is a <i>paradigm</i> of a search engine company.

Ms. Orange, a <i>paradigm</i> of a great teacher, inspired her students to excell in math.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/paradigm
Mia
Is it the same thing as a paragon?

Can you use paradigm in the science-related context?
Ms. Sue
Paragon and pardigm have similar meanings and in some contexts may be used interchangeably.

Dictionary.com uses this sentence in a scientific contest as an example.

"Since the 1960s, paradigm has been used in science to refer to a theoretical framework, as when Nobel Laureate David Baltimore cited the work of two colleagues that 'really established a new paradigm for our understanding of the causation of cancer.'"
Mia
Gah!! But I need some sort of substantial example. All of the definitions you are giving me seem too abstract.
Ms. Sue
That's because <i>paradigm</i> is an abstract word. All of the examples will be abstract.
Mia
Well, what is a synonym for paradigm?

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