What Is It?

 

Definition Arguments/

 

Explaining a Concept (WOW ch. 7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Sample Essays:

"Just a Waitress"

"Boredom: Solitary Confinement"

 

Sample humorous/creative definition essay:

"Caring for Your Introvert"

 

 

Definition Fundamentals Handout 

 

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Essay II Rubric 

 

Assignment Specifics:

• 150 points
• 2-4 pages
• MLA format and style

 

 

 

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Invention

 

 

The need for definition arises when people have diverging ideas about what a term means or an audience has difficulty understanding a concept. The purpose of this assignment is to define something—a condition or a concept you know well—either to change an audience’s thinking about its meaning or to help them understand it better. You will need to have some purpose for arguing this definition, and you will need to direct your writing to some audience whose thinking you want to influence.

 

 

Description

 

A Definition essay will share your special understanding about some idea or thing.

It is an argument and must contain a clear thesis.

 

First, don't rely on that old cliché of the dictionary or encyclopedia definition. Even if your intent is to show how inadequate or wrong-headed the dictionary might be, this device has been used far too often to be effective. The point of your essay is to provide your reader with a new way of looking at things — your way, not Noah Webster's.

 

One way of defining something is to say what it is not. If you're defining the idea of "home," you could begin by suggesting that the old saying "There's no place like home" is silly because there are, in fact, many places like home — or you could insist that home is really not a place at all. The opportunity to define is an opportunity to exercise your poetic imagination, to show how most people's sense of something is faulty or inadequate and that there is a better understanding (yours!) to consider.

 

In selecting a topic to define, look for something that you can define within your own experience and that will allow your poetic imagination some room to play.

 

If you try to define something that is beyond the comprehension of your paper or your own experience, the task will become overwhelming and get mired down in details or abstractions. You could write a book trying to define a concept such as conservatism or liberalism and you still wouldn't have said anything that more than two other people would agree with. Students would be wise to avoid abstract notions such as patriotism, beauty, justice, love, or being a good sport.

 

On the other hand, it can be useful — even fun — to take a rather abstract notion and put a spin on it. There doesn't appear to be much point in defining a student, for example, but defining what we mean by a good student could be interesting. Push that definition to the limit to make a special point. A good student is not necessarily one that earns good grades or even one that does his or her best; a good student is one that makes the teacher feel like a good teacher. Or try defining a good teacher, a good parent, a good doctor, a good lover. In any case, if you are going to define something that everyone else has some idea about, you will need to shed fresh, even surprising light upon your subject.

 

(source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/definition.htm)

 

 

Composition

Remember your credibility is important here, as it is in all arguments. Take care to present yourself as someone who is reasonably well-informed about the issue you’ll discuss. If you have any established ethos with the audience, be sure to draw on that.

 

 

 

Thesis Statements for your Definition

 

Essays:

 

Definition arguments set out criteria and then argue that whatever is being defined meets or does not meet those criteria.

 

 

Skeleton for Thesis Statement (2 Ways):

 

Something is a X because it has features A, B, and C (or more).

 

Something is not a X because it does not have features A, B, and C.

 

You try:

 

Playing video games is not a productive hobby because...

(identify criteria for "productive hobby")

 

or

 

Playing video games is a productive hobby because...

 

 

A substitute teacher is technically not a "real" teacher because...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More general examples following the skeleton:

 

Flirting with the waitstaff in a restaurant should be considered sexual harassment when the activity is repeated, obviously offensive, unsolicited, and unappreciated.

 

Giving college admission preference to children of alumni is an example of class discrimination because most such policies privilege families that are rich and already advantaged.

 

Assisting a gravely ill person to commit suicide should not be considered murder when the motive behind the act is to ease a person's suffering, not to do harm or benefit from the death.

 

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Outlining: pg. 194 in WOW

 

 

 

 

I. Introduction

A. Attention getter

1. You may want to include the traditional or dictionary definition here to provide a basis for your personal definition.

2. You may want to open with a contradictory image to what would be your image to illustrate that definition.

3. Exigency: What is motivating you to write this definition? Enter the conversation. Why does this term need to be redefined?

B. Thesis: State how you define the term. If you can write the definition using specific points, you will find the definition easier to follow when writing the paper. Your thesis can be more than one sentence.

II. Body

A. Background information:

1. Often unnecessary in this type of paper

2. However, you may need to provide some background about the term or your connection to the term.

 

B. Point one

1. The first part of your definition of the term (follow order of thesis)

2. Example to illustrate that point.

3. Analysis of how the example illustrates the point.

C. Point two

1. The second part of the definition of the term.

2. Example to illustrate that point.

3. Analysis of how the example illustrates the point.

D. Point three

1. The third part of the definition (if there is one)

2. Example to illustrate that point.

3. Analysis of how the example illustrates the point.

E. Point four, etc.

III. Conclusion

A. Review your definition’s main points in a new way

B. Closing attention getter

1. Sometimes a reference back to the opening attention-getter is a good way of unifying the entire essay.

2. You may want to close with an explanation of how your definition has affected you or why readers should adopt your view of this term or concept.

 

 

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