Definition Essay

 

A Brief Guide to Writing Definition Essays   by Cheryll A. Barker, Writing Tutor

The definition essay defines something, perhaps a particular word or idea. It is often a combination of the cause and effect, the descriptive, the narrative, the process, and the comparison / contrast essays, all working together to create a complete definition of a multifaceted subject.

Let’s say you are taking a test, and on the test you are asked to define the word "feminism." A dictionary, for example, defines the word feminism as “the theory of political, economical, and social equality of the sexes.” There is nothing wrong with this definition, but it does not give the reader a complete understanding of the word because it does not include the connotation of the word--the added meaning that society gives a word over time. Many people, for instance, think of feminists as outspoken and assertive, yet this is not part of the dictionary definition.

To write a successful definition essay you must share all the knowledge you have obtained on the subject. In order for the reader to have an absolute understanding of the word "feminism," you may want to start with the history. From that point you could tell about the men and women who saw the need for equality, and finally how feminism affects us today.

Features

Definition essays can focus on words or phrases which are:

• Obscure, unknown--the definition given is usually formal Do Not Do This Type
• Necessary to a field of study-usually formal definitions are given Do Not Do This Type
• Misunderstood--these essays often focus on the value of a correct understanding or the history of how the word became misunderstood
• Abstract--Often-informal definitions will be given of abstract words like love or beauty with the purpose of making these abstractions more accessible or concrete. Often these definitions are highly personal.
• Commonplace--sometimes definition essays will focus on commonplace words for the purpose of leading readers to a new appreciation of the word or to revitalize the word.

Selecting a Subject

1.    When selecting a subject, remember that most words or ideas have many different meanings. Do not hesitate to explore and use those meanings. A word as simple as "dark" can refer to what happens to the sky when the sun goes down, a shade of a color, the presence of evil, or a person’s mysterious side.

2.    After choosing the subject you want to define, and carefully considering all of its meanings, organize all of your thoughts in the order that would best convey the message you want to get across to the reader. An outline works best for this step.

3.    Decide what style of essay you want to use. If you are breaking your definition into parts, the process method may be your best choice. If you are defining by comparing your subject to another, comparison and contrast may be your approach. You will find the longer your definition is, the greater the chances are of using several of the techniques of writing an essay.

4.    Avoid defining a word by quoting the dictionary. Example: Webster’s dictionary says . . .

5.    Avoid defining with "is when" and "is where." These adverb-phrase introducers only describe words, rather than define them.

Definition Essay Strategies

1. Discuss what “it” is NOT.
2. Highlight its history—only if it is common knowledge to avoid having to cite it.
3. Describe something it causes or something it affects.
4. Explain its process of functioning. 
5. Discuss it by comparing or contrasting it to other things.
6. Classify it and identify its unique properties.
7. Discuss it by describing it physically and/or emotionally.
8. Tell stories about it.
9. Give examples of it.

 

 

DUE DATES:

Your Definition  Essay: Post By Friday, July 26th (Note this is a two-week block, so please make this your best essay!)

Your Comments on Two of your Peer's Essays: Post By Monday, July 29th.

Please note your responses to your peers for this assignment are different than previous requirements.  See Below***

Please be advised of the following:

•  This is a Graded Assignment of Pass/Fail.  No Rubric included; but nonsense writing will not receive credit--and this includes pointless comments to your peers such as: "I really liked your essay" or "I never knew how to change a tire before and now I know." 

• Use Net Etiquette when responding to your peers, i.e., "Dear Kanoe" and "Sincerely Michael."

• Do not adhere to MLA format for your essay, meaning heading, spacing, font, and such; otherwise, your essay will take up too much room on the blog site.  But give your essay a title.

• Include your name and the name of your Academy at the end of the essay.

• Most importantly: Have Fun!  Writing should be fun and not painful.  So find something that makes you want to share it with others.  This way you will be able to do your best work and practice what makes a good writer: Someone who cares deeply and passionately about their subject.  Once you care about your topic/subject, the rest of the essay becomes easy.

• ****Response to Your Peers

• Discuss the organizational structure they used for their essay.  For example, do they begin with a narrative, then discuss the cause and effects of what they are defining, and follow it with a discussion on what "it" is not with an ending that gives several details on what "it" is? 

• Cite details from your peer's essay that support your discussion.

 

 

 

 

Compare/Contrast Essay

A Comparison/Contrast essay is an essay in which you compare something or contrast something, or do both: compare and contrast.  To compare something means to emphasize the similarities between two or more things, concepts, or emotions.  To contrast something is to emphasize the differences between two or more things, concepts, or emotions.  But explaining something rarely falls into neat little compartments and quite often an author will emphasize how two things, ideas, or concepts are the same and different in order to convey a purpose.

In life we are constantly comparing and contrasting.  We do this in order to argue for what we believe in or what we want.  And we do it about something as benign as a new cell phone app to something very serious such as a relationship.  And while most of us are used to making these comparisons/contrasts verbally, in college and in high school, you will be required to do this on paper about very complex ideas.  In a nutshell, this analytical process—compare/contrast-- helps us make sense of the world in which we live.

There are two classic organizational patterns for a comparison/contrast essay.  One is called block format and the other is called point-by-point.  Below is an outline highlighting both patterns of organization.  Notice that this hypothetical essay would be examining the difference between vacationing in the mountains or at a beach.

Block Arrangement (four paragraphs) I. Introduction Set up the topic on what you will compare and/or contrast.  Refer to your resources on introductions.  End your introduction with a thesis statement that reveals your opinion on what you are comparing and contrasting.  Try to avoid writing a thesis that has a list.  Instead follow this example: Mountain vacations are the best place for people from southern California.   Topic + Opinion=Thesis Statement II. Mountains—One long block paragraph about the mountains A.  Climate B.  Types of Activities C.  Location  III. Beach—One lone block paragraph about the Beach A.  Climate B.  Types of Activities C.  Location  IV. Conclusion-Choose a concluding technique from your resources.   Point-by-Point or Alternating Arrangement (five paragraphs) I. Introduction—Same as above II. First difference between mountains and beaches is climate A.  Mountains B.  Beach III. Second difference between mountains and beaches are types of activities A.  Mountains B.  Beach IV. Third difference between mountains and beaches is the location A.  Mountains B.  Beach V. Conclusion

The above outlines represent a very simplistic strategy.  Remember, most topics do not neatly fall into simple categories and they may require not only a discussion on how they are different, but also how they are the same.  Some authors might discuss a topic’s similarities within an introduction and then use the bodied paragraphs to discuss their differences, or vice versa.  And then some authors may feel the need for a more elaborate discussion where differences and similarities are discussed point-by-point.

Just remember the most basic rule of thumb when writing: A paragraph is created when a new idea is introduced.  You may have several paragraphs to compare/contrast your topic and can even combine the block strategy with the point-by-point strategy.  So let your common sense dictate the organization of your essay.

For more explanations on Compare Contrast Essays, click on this link: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/compcontrast/

DUE DATES:

Your Compare/Contrast  Essay: Post By Friday, July 5th.

Your Comments on Two of your Peer's Essays: Post By Monday, July 8th.

Please be advised of the following:

 

•  This is a Graded Assignment of Pass/Fail.  No Rubric included; but nonsense writing will not receive credit--and this includes pointless comments to your peers such as: "I really liked your essay" or "I never knew how to change a tire before and now I know."  You need to practice noticing details or the lack thereof.  But make your comments supportive and meaningful; otherwise, don't comment and just lose part of the credit.

• Use Net Etiquette when responding to your peers, i.e., "Dear Kanoe" and "Sincerely Michael."

• Do not adhere to MLA format for your essay, meaning heading, spacing, font, and such; otherwise, your essay will take up too much room on the blog site.  But give your essay a title.

 

• Include your name and the name of your Academy at the end of the essay.

 

• Most importantly: Have Fun!  Writing should be fun and not painful.  So find something that makes you want to share it with others.  This way you will be able to do your best work and practice what makes a good writer: Someone who cares deeply and passionately about their subject.  Once you care about your topic/subject, the rest of the essay becomes easy.