Explaining a Concept Essay
Format: 750 words using APA documentation style
The Assignment: Final Essay due Friday, February 1
Write an essay that explains a concept based on clear definition(s). Choose a concept that
interests you and that you and that you want to study further, or that you know well
enough to explain it. Consider carefully what your readers already know about it and
how your essay might add to what they know. To inform your readers, you must make
choices about what to include, what to emphasize, and what to omit because you may not
possibly say everything about the concept you choose.
Plan: due Wednesday, January 23
With your choices, develop a plan that presents new material step-by-step in logical
order and then write an essay which should be carefully organized and defined, and
which gives readers all the obvious cues they need, such as a forecasting statement, topic
sentences, transitions, and summaries.
Possible Topics for “explaining a concept” essay
Concept: love and hate, happiness, justice, wisdom, personality, soul, bravery, racism,
friendship, being a college/high school student, growing up
Methods: How to make a good friend(s). How to be a millionaire. How to succeed in school.
Diseases: Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatism
Interesting hobbies: Sky diving, scuba diving, balloon or hot air travel, body building
Sports: Squeeze play, hit and run, power play, zone defense, full (all) court pressing, hot volley,
net play
Biology: Fittest for survival, cell, hybrid, ecosystem
Environment: Ozone depletion, endangered species, acid rain
Physics: Big bang theory, quark theory
Government: democracy, imperialism, socialism, communism, federalism
Psychology: Oedipus complex, collective unconsciousness, short-term/long-term memory, effect
of dreams
Suggestions for Pre-writing
Here are some questions that help you check your readiness for your
selected topic.
Do you know your concept well enough to explain it?
Have you discovered a focus for writing about this concept?
Have you found enough information for an essay with such a focus?
What new information do you want to present about the concept?
How do you want to organize your essay so that your reader can follow it easily?
Sample Organization
The beginning
 Open with an interesting quotation, with a general statement about the concept,
with a surprising fact, or with a question

Briefly describe your concept and then define the concept in your own way

Have a thesis statement

Forecast your plan; how will you explain your concept
The body
In each body paragraph use the following, if needed:
 Definition
 Classification
 Comparison and contrast
 Narrative process
 Cause and effect
The conclusion
Frame the essay by relating the end to the beginning
End with a memorable quote