To explain a concept, state it in one line, attach a concrete example with a detail you can point to, and then link the example back to the concept in a sentence. That is the define, example, link pattern.
This lesson is part of SPM subjects and learning resources. It builds the habit behind the data work in interpreting a small sports-data table.
What does the pattern look like?
Three short parts, each one sentence.
- Define. What the concept means in plain words.
- Example. One person, one activity, one detail.
- Link. Which part of the example shows the concept.
Worked example: progressive overload
Define. Progressive overload means gradually increasing the demand on the body so that it keeps adapting.
Example. An original case: Daniel jogs for 15 minutes each session in week one. He raises it to 18 minutes in week two and 21 minutes in week three, keeping the speed the same.
Link. “The extra 3 minutes each week is a small, planned increase in demand, so Daniel’s body is challenged a little more each time without a sudden jump.”
Put together, the answer reads as one paragraph of three sentences. It includes a number, so the reader can see the increase is gradual.
Weak and strong answers side by side
Take the concept of recovery. Recovery is the time and rest that allow the body to repair and adapt after training.
| Answer | Text | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Weak | “Recovery is important because the body needs rest.” | Says nothing the question did not already imply. No example. |
| Strong | “Recovery is the rest that lets the body repair after training. A student who sprints hard on Monday and does only light stretching on Tuesday gives the legs time to recover before the next hard session.” | Defines, gives a specific pair of days, and links the light day to recovery. |
The strong answer is only one sentence longer, but each part does a job.
The mistake to avoid
Students sometimes choose an example that shows a different concept. A runner who runs faster every week might show progressive overload, but if the example says nothing about how much or how often it changes, the link is weak.
Before you write the link sentence, ask whether you can point to a number or detail in your example that shows the concept. If not, change the example.
Check yourself
Use the define, example, link pattern to explain the concept of a warm-up. Keep it to three sentences.
Answer
A sample: “A warm-up is light activity before exercise that prepares the body for harder work. For example, before a netball match a player jogs for five minutes, then does arm circles and short passes. The gradual rise in effort raises body temperature and prepares the muscles for movement at full speed.”
Check that the example has a detail (five minutes, named activities) and that the last sentence points back to what makes it a warm-up.
What to study next
Practise the pattern across mixed questions in the original Sports Science practice set. Then read distinguishing observations from unsupported claims to learn what your examples are allowed to prove. The structured-answer self-review tool can check whether each of your answers has all three parts.
For a teacher to supply fresh situations and respond to your explanations, see online one-to-one Sports Science tuition.