Extended Definition

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Extended Definition Essay
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• Definition
• Examples A definition essay may try and define .
  . .
• the meaning of an abstract concept, like love
• the true meaning and importance of honesty
• how the meaning of family goes deeper than just
  your blood relatives.
• A definition essay attempts to define a specific
  term. It could try to pin down the meaning of a
  specific word, or define an abstract concept. The
  analysis goes deeper than a simple dictionary
  definition it should attempt to explain why the
  term is defined as such. It could define the term
  directly, giving no information other than the
  explanation of the term. Or, it could imply the
  definition of the term, telling a story that
  requires the reader to infer the meaning.

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• def-i-ni-tion (def' e-nish' en) n. 1. The act of
  defining a word, phrase, or term. 2. The act of
  making clear and distinct. 3. A determining of
  outline, extent, or limits.
• Consider the following guidelines as you write
  your definition essay
• Make your essay personal, amusing, vigorous,
  stimulating, memorable.
• Choose a generic topic rather than a specific
  topic. For example, write about churches but not
  Westminster Abbey.
• Your task is to make the definition
• fresh by using your own understanding
• and experience to illuminate the words meaning.

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• DEFINITION ESSAY -- PLANNING GUIDE
• What is the term to be defined?
• 2. Who is the intended audience for the writing?
  Is this a general audience for which terms must
  be broken down in laymen's terms or is it a
  specific/specialized audience that will know
  technical terms and will not require further
  definition?
• 3. What is the purpose for the intended
  definition?

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• Three Steps to Effective Definition
• 1. Tell readers what term is being defined.
• 2. Present clear and basic information.
• 3. Use facts, examples, or anecdotes that
  readers will understand.
• Choosing a Definition
• Choosing a definition is a key step in writing a
  definition essay. You need to understand the term
  before you can define it for others. Read the
  dictionary, but don't just copy the definition.
  Explain the term briefly in your own words. Also,
  it's important to limit your term before you
  start defining it. For example, you could write
  forever on the term "love." To limit it, you
  would write about either "romantic love,"
  "platonic love," or "first love."

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• DEFINITION THEME OUTLINE FORMAT
• Introduction Attention getter
• 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 illustrate what that term is not.

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• B. INTRODUCTION Thesis
• Your thesis should include the following
  information
• A. The term to be defined.
• B. Sentence definition of the term.
• C. Reason(s) for giving a more detailed
  definition
• D. The kinds of additional information that will
  be used to extend the definition

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• II. BODY
• The body of an extended definition may use one or
  more of the patterns of organization to assist in
  a fuller explanation of the term.
• Process        
• Description 
• Comparison/Contrast        
• Classification   
• Cause/Effect        
• Narrative
• Anecdotal Illustration

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• Types of Definitions Traditionally Used in
  Definition Essays
• Any combination of these traditional types of
  definitions can help clarify meaning for the
  reader of your definition essay
• Analysis Divide the subject into parts and
  define each part separately.
• Classification According to dictionary
  definitions, what classes does the subject belong
  to?
• Examples and Incidents Narrate illustrations
  that can clarify a group, theory, or object.
• Origins and Causes Where did the subject come
  from? What is the background information? What is
  the history of the subject?
• Results, Effects, and Uses Discuss the
  consequences and uses of the subject.

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• Compare and contrast  What similarities and/or
  differences can you identify when compared to
  something else
• Concrete details  What are the physical
  characteristics?  What is remarkable and unique? 
  
• Counterpoint  What is it NOT?  What can't it
  do?  What are its limitations?
• Future  What does the future hold for the
  subject?  Speculate on its effectiveness and
  duration into the future.

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• III. CONCLUSION
• Review your definitions main points
• B. Closing attention getter
• 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.
• 3. It might end with a description, a
  comparison/contrast, a process analysis, etc.
  However, a comment about the term, or a
  summarizing statement regarding the paper itself,
  may often be included.

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'What is the point of the paper? To see if you
can write at length about some topic, in a
focused and sustained way. Focused -- not
rambling disconnectedly on "everything I know
about X", but discussing a specific topic or
cluster of interrelated topics in an integrated
way. Sustained -- following through some clear
line(s) of argument in some depth. That still
leaves options. You may go 'vertically' and dig
more deeply into one particular issue or you may
go 'horizontally' and be concerned to make
connections, and show how different parts of the
philosophical landscape fit together -- or a bit
of both. But whichever way you go, you should aim
for a clearly structured essay and some meaty
arguments.  
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• A definition essay defines a word, term, or
  concept in depth by providing a personal
  commentary on what the specific subject means.
• Most physical objects have a definition about
  which most people agree.
• Most people will agree on what trees, windows,
  computers, and pencils are in general.
• 2. These objects all have specific physical
  properties that most people can agree on through
  the use of their physical senses.

 
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B. However, abstract terms, such as love, pain,
or patriotism, have different meanings for
different individuals since such terms play on
peoples feelings more than their physical
senses. C. The definition essay provides a
personal, extended definition of such terms by
linking or comparing the term to a previous
definition and by illustrating how that term
should be applied.
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• Setting up the definition essay
• Select a subject carefully.
• Since such essays are personal in nature,
• select your subject based on your own
• need to clarify the term.
• For example, if you feel that the word marriage
  should be defined in a limited manner, that term
  would make a good subject for a definition essay.
• b. Perhaps as a student, you want to define what
  the term education means from your point of view.

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• 2. Select a term or subject that you know well
  enough so that you can provide specific examples
  to illustrate your definition.
• For example, if you arent familiar with the term
  platonic love, dont attempt to define it in an
  extended essay.
• b. The subject of the essay must be familiar
  enough to you that you can readily supply
  specific examples.

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• 3. Dont select a subject either too broad or too
  narrow to fit the parameters of your essay.
• For example, the word hat may be too narrow for
  you to define in an extended essay.
• b. On the other hand, the term love may be too
  broad or general since pinning it down to a
  single definition is very difficult.

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Complete the following steps in the process of
collecting details for your definition essay 1.
Select a word that you plan to investigate. The
word should have some interest, importance, or
meaning to you personally. Example Beauty,
persistence, enlightenment, punishment etc. 2.
Begin by writing down a few simple statements
about your word "Laughter is ......" 3. Now
record the word's dictionary definition 4.
Classify your word Part of Speech noun, verb,
adjective, adverb General Type character trait,
political term, value, religion, literary term,
etc. Connotations 5. In a thesaurus, discover
words that have similar meanings. 6.
Differentiate a. Write out a series of negative
definitions (Laughter is not.....) b. Make a
list of subtle and borderline comparisons
(Laughter may seem similar to humor, but ....)
7. Identify at least two extended examples which
illustrate the word. a. b. 8. After your
research, determine a particular thesis or main
idea about your word.
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• Sample (very brief)What is a woman?  A woman
  is a female by denotation, but the connotations
  are almost limitless.  A woman is a marvelous
  creation designed for multiple applications. 
  From her controversial beginnings in the Garden
  of Eden, to her place in modern culture, woman
  has never been without her critics.  Despite
  being blamed for the downfall of man, woman has
  managed to survive right along with her male
  counterpart.  A woman may be classified in many
  ways  as a mother, a daughter, a sister or
  friend as a laborer or a professional but, in
  recent years, women have become harder and harder
  to classify by their roles or their careers. 
  Instead, a woman may be described as nurturing,
  but she is also competitive and a risk-taker. 
  She must be tough and resilient as well as living
  up to her reputation for tenderness and
  softness.  She has fought to overcome old
  stereotypes of hysteria and emotional outbursts. 
  Modern culture requires women to be savvy,
  well-educated, nurturing and self-supporting.  No
  free rides for this modern female.  A woman,
  however, no matter how accomplished and
  well-rounded is not a man.  She does not crave
  the remote control, she does not engage in
  "testosterone tests" shouldering her opponents
  out of the way!  No, though able to compete with
  the best, she is always conscious of bringing
  friends (and enemies) to a higher level.  The
  future looks good for woman.  She is a
  traditional part of the past, a worthy
  participant in the present, and a dynamic force
  for the future.

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• What is This Thing Called Love? Sample Definition
  Essay
• A wise man once said that love is a wonderful
  thing. Although this statement leaves sparse room
  for argument, it does little to define what love
  is beyond the vague realm of wonderful. It is my
  duty as a devout romantic to embark upon the
  seemingly difficult task of defining love by
  looking at the history, explaining what love is
  not, and examining the uses of love and the
  results of that usage.

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(Origin and Causes) The origin of the word is
probably the most logical place to start. As with
many words in the English language, love is a
derivative of the Latin word "causemajoraproblemus
" which means "You're miserable when you got it
and miserable when you don't." The word was
created to explain the biological phenomenon that
existed when certain individuals came into
contact with each other and either remained
together or went about their lives separately.
Regardless of the outcome, the relationship was
usually characteristic of throat lumps, knotted
stomaches, weak knees, temporary loss of
language, sweaty palms, dizzyness, sneezing, and
occasional nausea. Belligerent insanity also
resulted. History clearly illustrates this. Can
we ever forget the face that launched a thousand
ships? Federally expressing Van Gogh's ear? The
construction of Le Tour Eiffel? All of these were
results of love and love lost.
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• (Negation)
• Star-crossed lovers have stated that love is not
  hand nor foot nor any part belonging to a man.
  Matrimonial ceremonies also claim that love is
  not jealous or boastful. Let it be stated here
  that love also is not a gourmet dish, a
  domesticated animal, or a latest trend. Love is
  not a strategic defense mechanism nor the best
  kept secret at the Pentagon. Love is not another
  seasoning to bottle and stick on the dust-lined
  shelves of the spice rack. Love is not to be
  confused with adhesive tape.
• Instead, love is a great counterpart to late,
  evening thunder storms on hot July nights. Love
  goes well with cold pizza on picnic blankets.
  Love is cold, wet sand between bare toes. Love is
  a capitalistic sell-all for novels, Top-40 pop
  songs, summer movies, and greeting cards.
• In its simplest terms, love is a four-letter
  word. Much like other words of similar letter
  make up, when expressed it can evoke laughter,
  pleasure, pain, anger, and virtually any wave of
  reaction. Love also can be confused with feelings
  of indigestion and gas. Houses have been built,
  burned, and banished because of love.

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Topics

• 1.  Write an essay defining a food--but include a
  thesis statement that paints a very favorable
  portrait of a much-maligned food (for example,
  Spam or Brussels sprouts) or a very negative
  picture of a popular food (for example, chocolate
  or ice cream).
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• 2. Write an essay in which you define burden at a
  personal level, by giving examples of the kinds
  of things you consider burdens.  You might want
  to develop your definition essay with comparison
  and contrast, exploring the differences between a
  burden and a responsibility.
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• 3.  Write an essay in which you define a family
  role, for example, the role of a stepmother. 
  Make sure to include the duties of this person.

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The End