DEFINITION
ESSAY
THE WORLD
ACCORDING TO ME
“I look & I write my book, And I have my say & I draw conclusions” --B. Joel
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*PERSONAL*
UNDERSTANDING
 This essay relates your personal understanding
of a term or idea.
 So, in the end, the reader understands the term
as you do.
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*NO DICTIONARY*
 Thus, we are not concerned with a textbook or
dictionary definition of the term.
 Yes, you may consult your sociology text book
or your Funk and Wagnall’s dictionary or
encyclopedia for introductory comments,
 BUT DO NOT make its definition the focus of
your essay—if I wanted their definitions, I’d
read their books. Your essay = your ideas.
*See the Introduction below.*
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INTRODUCTION
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INTRODUCTION
 Introduce your topic (GQ’S: generalization,
quote, quip, question, stat)
 “Funnel Effect”
 Perhaps the common understanding OR the
textbook definition of the term to set up the
CONTRAST of your version of the term
 Etymology of the word (if it helps illuminate
current meanings and usages)
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INTRODUCTION
 You can perhaps start with an interesting and
relevant quote. For example, if you were to
define the word “music,” you could refer to the
following quote from the opening scene of
Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night:
If music be the food of love, play on,
Give me excess of it; that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken and so die. (1.1.1-3)
 Then you would begin with:
Shakespeare suggests that music is “the
food of love,” and most of us would agree
with him.
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INTRODUCTION
 Contrast (what the term is NOT—
negation—see the “Love Chapter” below)
 Describe the special quality of the term
that CONTRASTS it with the rest of the
class (the 3 traits will serve this purpose)
 Last sentence = thesis
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INTRODUCTION
*THESIS = DEFINITION*
o formula:
TERM + CLASS + 3 CHARACTERISTICS
o A flibbertigibbet (TERM) is a person (CLASS)
who is silly, scatterbrained, and garrulous (3
CHARACTERISTICS).
o Love is a fleeting emotion that results in
pain, temporary insanity, and hate.
o students’ personal understandings of terms
INTRODUCTION
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(sample)
* When asked, most people would define an
alcoholic as a person who drinks too much.
While this may be essentially true, I discovered
that this definition is a bit more complicated
than that. Last year, I came to realize that I
had a dependency on, or a “problem with,”
alcohol, and through this experience I learned
that an alcoholic is a person who is powerless
over his/her addiction, who exhibits
characteristic behaviors beyond simply drinking
too much, and, most of all, who requires the
help of a Higher Power to deal with this lifelong addiction.
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BODY
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BODY
CHARACTERISTICS
 Some students have a difficulty understanding
the concept of “characteristics” or “traits,”
especially when dealing with abstractions.
 It may then be helpful to think of
“characteristics” in medical terms:
o as DNA, genes, of a person or abstraction
o as the symptomology of a condition, as SYMPTOMS
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BODY
CHARACTERISTICS
(1) For example, what are the symptoms of love:
—“Doctor, doctor, I’ve been acting really strange
lately: I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I can’t
concentrate. I think I’ve caught this thing
called ‘love.’ Can you tell me what its
symptoms are to see if I’ve got it?”
(2) The symptoms of an ill person:
—“Doctor , doctor, I’ve been acting really strange
lately….Can you look in the DSM-IV to see if I’m
turning into a hypochondriac?!”
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BODY
CHARACTERISTICS
 “Characteristics” are NOT
o types
o roles
o reasons
 These are for other rhetorical strategies:
o Classification (the types of lovers)
o Division
(the roles of lovers)
o Illustration (the reasons you love him/her)
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BODY
CHARACTERISTIC #1
 Name the trait.
 Explain the trait.
 Illustrate the trait with specific people,
examples, and instances.
*BE SPECIFIC*
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BODY
(SUPPORT)
=
Other Rhetorical Strategies








Description
Examples (specific person/instance)
Extended Example
Narration
Process-Analysis
Comparison/Contrast
Division/Classification
Negation
BODY
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(sample)
* First, an alcoholic is a person who is powerless over his or her
addiction. To be powerless basically means that it is not simply
a matter of will power, or a lack thereof. Rather, the roots of
this addiction involve biological, psychological, and behavioral
factors that must be addressed in order to live a sober lifestyle.
For instance, I realized that my inability to stop drinking was
not due to my being too weak to resist, that I lacked the
necessary will power to stop. It was not a matter of simply
wanting to get better—that was a good place to start—but I
had to realize that my drinking was an addiction and a disease
and that I was utterly powerless to fight it on my own. No
matter how much money I had or how much weight I could lift,
this disease was going to control me unless I got professional
help. The irony is that I had to be in a rehabilitation center in
order to realize that I needed to be in a rehabilitation center.
BODY
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(more specific)
* For instance, I used to have periods in which I did
not drink, and I arrogantly and erroneously thought
that each time I had my dependency beat.
However, all it took was a bad day at work or a
fight with my spouse to find myself drunk in my
favorite dive bar. What would begin with “only one
drink to take the edge off,” repeatedly ended with
me hopelessly and helplessly trapped in my
addictive, destructive, and dangerous cycle again.
Sadly, all that triggered my last binge was an
encounter with an idiot driver. It was after that
experience, not to mention the consequent jail time
and mandatory rehabilitation order, I realized that
I needed professional help.
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BODY
CHARACTERISTIC #2
 name trait,
 explain trait,
 illustrate trait with specifics
CHARACTERISTIC #3
*(Most Important Trait—Emphatic Order)*
 name trait,
 explain trait,
 illustrate trait with specifics
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*REMEMBER*
 PRONOUN REFERENCE
o often better to make your term plural
 WHO vs/ THAT
o who refers to people;
o that refers to animals & objects
 TRANSITIONS
o another, on the other hand,
o in contrast, for instance
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*REMEMBER*
 This is neither a CLASSIFICATION (types)
nor a NARRATION (story) essay
o so follow the proper format for the
DEFINITION (characteristics) essay
o use terms like traits, characteristics,
features, qualities, aspects, attributes
 Define either a person OR an abstraction
o an alcoholic OR alcoholism
o remain consistent throughout essay
o whatever you use in your Introduction
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CONCLUSION
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CONCLUSION
 Refer back to your introduction/
purpose/scenario
 Repeat thesis/definition& traits
 Clincher sentence
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LENGTH
 4-6 PAGES
 No fewer than 4
 To reach this length:
o utilize 2 examples per characteristic
o make those 2 examples detailed and
descriptive
o go to the lower level of specificity: refer to
specific persons in specific instances
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Definition Essay
VS
Other Essays
Definition VS Other Rhetorical Modes
 TRAITS
o Characteristics
o Features
o Qualities
o Aspects
o Attributes
 FOCUS:
o Focuses on only 1 type
o Focuses on 1 term
 SUPPORT: (for each trait)
o Examples
o Narration
o Description
 PURPOSE:
o To define a term through
personal understanding.
 CLASSIFICATION:
o Types
o Focuses on 3 types
 EXAMPLE:
o Reasons (3)
o Focuses on proving a point
o Uses examples to support
reasons
 NARRATION:
o Detailed story
o Focuses on telling a story
 DESCRIPTION
o Sense details
o Focuses on supporting a
Dominant Impression
o Uses sense details, similes
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TOPICS
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TOPICS
(1) Choose an ORIGINAL word (used with
friends or family—just keep it clean,
please)
OR
(2) Choose an EXISTING word (see list
below)
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TOPICS
(3) Put a positive spin on a negative term.
That is, some words carry negative
connotations, so it would original if you
were to twist the meaning of such a
word.
— Examples
of such words include the B-word, the
N-word, and the F-word. See also Hick,
Hayseed, Cracker, Redneck, White Boy, Yank,
Faggot, Homophobe, Catholic?, American?,
Republican?, …
— See
what Meredith Brooks did in her song:
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TOPICS
“Bitch”
I hate the world today
You're so good to me
I know but I can't change
Tried to tell you
But you look at me like maybe
I'm an angel underneath
Innocent and sweet
Yesterday I cried
Must have been relieved to see
The softer side
I can understand how you'd be so
confused
I don't envy you
I'm a little bit of everything
All rolled into one
Chorus:
I'm a bitch, I'm a lover
I'm a child, I'm a mother
I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
I do not feel ashamed
I'm your hell, I'm your dream
I'm nothing in between
You know you wouldn't want it any other
way
So take me as I am
This may mean
You'll have to be a stronger man
Rest assured that
When I start to make you nervous
And I'm going to extremes
Tomorrow I will change
And today won't mean a thing
Chorus
Just when you think, you got me figured out
The season's already changing
I think it's cool, you do what you do
And don't try to save me
Chorus
I'm a bitch, I'm a tease
I'm a goddess on my knees
When you hurt, when you suffer
I'm your angel undercover
I've been numb, I'm revived
Can't say I'm not alive
You know I wouldn't want it any other way
TOPICS
(abstractions 1)
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Crime
Rape
Murder
Alcoholism
Chocoholism
Workaholism
Shopaholism
Slacker-ness
Yuppie-hood
Freak/Geek-ness
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Love/Hate
Family
Family Dysfunct.
Big Bro./Sister-hood
Identity Theft
Role Model (inspir.)
Specific Zodiac Sign
Determin./Courage
Commitment/Heart
Energy/Laziness
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TOPICS
(abstractions 2)
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Loneliness
Honesty
Faith
Betrayal
Disillusionment
Will Power
Ambition
Arrogance
Class
Common Sense
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Conscience
Danger
Curiosity
Depression
Equality
Escape
Innocence
Freedom
Fear
Insecurity
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TOPICS
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
(abstractions 3)
Jealousy
Nostalgia
Obsession
Team Spirit
Persistence
Practicality
Rebellion
Responsibility
Self-Control
Holidays
Resentment
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Fairness
Boredom
Excitement
Childhood
Sense of Humor
Violence
Stress
Beauty
Truth
Job Position
Cheating
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TOPICS
(people)
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Couch Potato
Know-it-all/Brainiac
Charmer
Snob
Con Artist
Fair-Weather Friend
Good Sport
Show-Off
Class Clown
Jellyfish
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Leader/Follower
Optimist/Pessimist
Pack rat
Whiner
Control Freak
Mother Hen
Toady/Suck-up
Fusspot
Clotheshorse
Worrywart
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TOPICS
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(even more)
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Daydreamer
Alcoholic
Lover
Friend
Stress-or
Perfect Mate
Jailhouse Shyster
Hockey Player
(goalie, forward,
enforcer)
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Christian
Wiccan
Depressive
Optimist/Pessimist
Perfect Boy/Girlfriend
Great Song (legend)
Hick
Faith
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TOPICS (S’more)
 RELIGION:
–
–
–
–
–
Faith
God (Allah, Jehovah, Yahweh, …)
Christian, Jew, Agnostic, Atheist, Witness, …
Holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving)
*Define your Higher Power
 FAMILY:
–
–
–
–
–
Relationships
Wife/Husband
Big Brother, Little Sister
Adult, Adulthood
Responsibility
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TOPICS (S’more)
 SOCIETY:
–
–
–
–
–
Culture
Civilization
Enlightened Society
Leader
Educator (teacher, facilitator)
 IDOL:
–
–
–
–
Classic
Legend, Icon
Hero, Role Model
Champion
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A
B
S
T
R
A
C
T
I
O
N
S
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P
E
O
P
L
E
T
Y
P
E
S
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POP CULTURE
VS.
A REAL MAN/WOMAN
INTRODUCTION
SAMPLE INTRODUCTION #2
(using CONTRAST)
Unfortunately, in the contemporary American
culture of the early twenty-first century, men
are typically defined through pop-culture media
in terms of …
*adapted from class discussions*
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INTRODUCTION
SAMPLE INTRODUCTION #2
Unfortunately, in the contemporary American
culture of the early twenty-first century,
women are typically defined through pop-culture
media in terms of …
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INTRODUCTION
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SAMPLE INTRODUCTION #2
However, my conceptualization of a true
man/woman remains remarkably different.
Despite the pop-culture mythology, I still
believe that some of the characteristics of a
real man/woman include __, __, and __,
and, for me, the three most significant
traits are __, __, and __.
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LOVE IS…
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suicide
selfish
patient
hell
complicated
paranoid
life
not enough
forever
ephemeral
LOVE — 1 Corinthians 13
(NIV)48
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a
resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am
nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but
have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not
proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record
of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there
are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass
away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the
imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like
a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to
face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully
known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is
love. (1-13)
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“What is Love” Haddaway
What is love
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me no more
Oh, baby don't hurt me
Don't hurt me no more
(chorus)
Whoa whoa whoa, oooh oooh
Whoa whoa whoa, oooh oooh
(repeat)
What is love
Yeah
What is love
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me no more
Oh, I don't know why you're not there
I give you my love, but you don't care
So what is right and what is wrong
Gimme a sign
Don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
What is love
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me no more
What is love
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me no more
I want no other, no other lover
This is your life, our time
When we are together, I need you
forever
Is it love
Whoa whoa whoa, oooh oooh
Whoa whoa whoa, oooh oooh
(chorus)
Oh, I don't know, what can I do
What else can I say, it's up to you
I know we're one, just me and you
I can't go on
(repeat)
What is love?
“Love is Blindness” U2
Love is blindness
I don't want to see
Won't you wrap the night
Around me
Oh my heart
Love is blindness
A little death
Without mourning
No call
And no warning
Baby...a dangerous idea
That almost makes sense
In a parked car
In a crowded street
You see your love
Made complete
Thread is ripping
The knot is slipping
Love is blindness
Love is drowning
In a deep well
All the secrets
And no one to tell
Take the money
Honey
Blindness
Love is clockworks
And cold steel
Fingers too numb to feel
Squeeze the handle
Blow out the candle
Love is blindness
Love is blindness
I don't want to see
Won't you wrap the night
Around me
Oh my love
Blindness
Love is blindness
I don't want to see
Won't you wrap the night
Around me
Oh my love
Blindness
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