Writing a Definition Essay
EMBEDDED ASSESSMENT 1
8 TH G R A D E S B U N I T 1
Assignment
 You will
write a multi-paragraph essay that defines your
concept of heroism.
 use a variety of strategies of definition (function,
example, and negation) to explain your unique
opinion on the concept.

Prewriting/Planning
 Revisit your responses to the Essential
Question: What defines a hero?
 Ask yourself, “To what extent or to what
degree can a person or an action be
heroic?”
 Categorize your ideas on a tree map by the
strategies of definition, and brainstorm
details that will support your ideas. Details
may come from texts, film, historical or
current events, and your own ideas.
Prewriting/Planning
Heroism
How does it
function?
What are
some
examples?
What is it
not?
Drafting the Introduction
 Introduce your ideas by providing a hook,
context, and a thesis (your ideas should
move from general to specific).
 Ideas:
 Use
a quotation related to the concept
 Contextualize your thesis by discussing
commonly held beliefs about heroism that do
not match your definition. This allows you to
point out the weaknesses in those definitions in
comparison to yours.
Drafting the Body Paragraphs
 Use a variety of definition strategies to define
heroism as you draft your body paragraphs.
Consider organizing each paragraph around a
different strategy.
 Function
strategy paragraphs should demonstrate
how heroism operates in the real world.
 Example strategy paragraphs should use examples
from texts to help the reader understand your
definition.
 Negation strategy paragraphs should contrast your
definition with someone else’s.
Drafting the Conclusion
 Your conclusion should leave the reader
with a final impression about your
definition.
 Definition essays often end by
answering the question: “So what?” It
encourages the reader to accept your
definition.
Revising
 Go back and reread your thesis.
 Does your definition reflect your unique
opinion?
 Is your thesis directly stated in the introduction
of your essay?
 Make sure you have effectively used
various stratgies of definition.
 Can
your reader relate to your examples?
 Do you use enough examples to help the reader
understand your unique point of view?
Revising
 Consider the sequence of your body
paragraphs.
 Will
rearranging them make a greater
impact?
 Look at the rubric.
 Make sure you have met the specific criteria
for grading.
Put three lines under any letter that needs to be
capitalized, and slash through any letter that is
capitalized and should not be.

Editing for
Publication
Carefully edit
your essay for
punctuation
and language
conventions
using the
provided
guidelines.

Correct all capitalization errors.
Add missing punctuation. Check to make sure that
your compound and complex sentences are
punctuated correctly (I,ccI or I;I or D,I or ID).


Combine your simple sentences to make
compound or complex sentences.
Put boxes around every it, this, that, those.


Attempt to replace with nouns.
Circle any word you are not 100% confident is spelled
correctly.


Look up misspelled words in the dictionary.
Cross out got, get, getting, have gotten, have, had,
has.


Attempt to replace with stronger verbs.
Circle any linking verb and –ing word combinations
(i.e. is running, was yelling, has been eating, etc.)


Attempt to replace with action verbs.
Type or rewrite your paper neatly and turn in with
your rubric and all your planning and drafts.