English 109—Second Assignment: Concept Paper
Requirements: Three pages in standard MLA Format.
Font: 12-point Times New Roman or its equivalent (Arial, Verdana, Calibri).
Peer Review Date: October 3rd, 2008.
Due Date: October 10th, 2008.
Write an extended definition of a term or concept that interests you, and which you want to
study further. When you have a good understanding of the concept, explain it to your readers,
considering carefully what they already know about it and what your essay might add to their
understanding.
Remember, your Concept Essay will go beyond mere dictionary definition to a clear, concise,
and functional understanding of the concept, based on explanation, illustration, comparison,
anecdote, and example.
Steps:












Discovery
-Select a topic.
Determining Rhetorical Stance
-Define your readers.
-Determine what they need to know and how best to present the material.
-What is your goal in relationship to your readers?
Invention and Pre-Writing
Basics—Writing a Concept Paper:
-Freewrite.
Gathering Data
-Conduct research.
concept.
-Become an expert on your topic.
Planning and Organizing
parts.
-Determine your approach to your topic.
Outlining
-Create an outline of your essay.
anecdotes, comparisons, etc.
Composing/Drafting
-Write the first draft.
you have said.
Reviewing
-Re-read your essay, alone, and in company with others.
-Reconceive the essay.
Revising and Rewriting
-Make adjustments, rewriting parts of your essay where necessary.
Editing
-Read through your essay a sentence at a time.
-Make improvements where necessary, so that every sentence is readily understood.
Proofreading
-Read your work word-by-word, and punctuation mark by punctuation mark.
-Make any necessary adjustments.
Publishing
-Hand in the final draft of your essay.
For a list of possible essay topics, consult Reading Critically, Writing Well, p. 284.
Possible Concept/Definition Topics
 Art
Cubism
Expressionism
Impressionism
Modern Art
Pointillism
Surrealism
 History
Dark Ages
Medieval
Middle Ages
Renaissance
 Music
Hip-Hop
Jazz
Heavy Metal
Rap
Rhythm and Blues
Rock
 Literature
Classicism
Fable
Fairy tale
Mythology
Legend
Naturalism
Poem
Realism
Romanticism
Sonnet
Transcendentalism
 Politics
Communism
Conservatives
Democrats
Liberals
Libertarians
Pacifism
Republicans
Socialism
 Psychology
Ego
Id
Megalomaniac
Rosenthal Effect
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Superego
Schizophrenic
 Religion
Bodhisattva
Buddhism
Catholicism
Chrisitianity
Doctrine
Dogma
Faith
Heaven
Hell
Heretic
Hinduism
Holy Spirit
Justification
Liturgy
Martyr
Monotheism
Mormonism
New Age
Nirvana
Orthodox
Polytheism
Priest
Protestant
Prophet
Reincarnation
Relic
Rite
Rites of passage
Saint
Salvation
Scientology
Sin
Theosophy
 Science
Black holes
Brownian Motion
Evolution
Ockham’s Law
Quantum Physics
String Theory
Wormholes