Lecture Essay writing & presentation skills - Lecture 9: Definition Essay

The main contents of the chapter consist of the following: How to write a descriptive essay? steps for writing an descriptive essay, topic selection for descriptive essay, key points to consider, dos and don’ts, common mistakes, example.

Lecture 9

Definition Essay

Recap

- How to Write a Descriptive Essay?

* Steps for Writing an Descriptive Essay

‘ Topic Selection for Descriptive Essay

- Key Points to Consider

- Dos and Don'ts

* Common Mistakes

- Example

Definition Essay

A

How to Write a Definition

Essay?

- In a definition essay, you explain the meaning of a certain term by giving a detailed description of It

' YOU support your definition with clear examples or facts

* Such explanations are needed If a term Is:

Steps for Writing an Definition

Essay

Step # 1: Choose a term that you want to

define and introduce to your readers This can be done in several

ways, but your main goal at the

outset Is to Indicate clearly the

contents of your paper

Step # 2: Use several sources (dictionaries

or encyclopedias) to see how the term you have chosen ts usually defined

Steps for Writing an Definition

Essay

Step # 3: Present the term you’ve chosen

to your readers In the introductory part

of your paper

Step # 4: In the main body paragraphs, provide your readers with information about the term Along with your own

description, you can point out:

- some cases in which this term is used,

- as well as historical information about Its origins

- the evolution of its use tn literature

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Steps for Writing an Definition

Essay

Step # 5: Think of a couple of good examples that will fully illustrate and explain your definition

Topic Selection

- There are plenty of terms that we use every day Many of them are clear to almost everybody, but still there Is a vast body of abstract or scientific terms, that can become a topic of discussion

Topic Selection

Some terms that could be chosenasa

topic for your definition essay are listed

Key Points to Consider

- Remember, that giving a definition is not just copying what has been written In other dictionaries

— If you cannot define a brand new meaning for some concept on your own, then use the definition that already exists, but give your own interpretation of It

- Choose terms that you understand Do not try to define a term that you don't understand else you will confuse your

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Key Points to Consider

- You can define something by explaining Its:

— functions

— structure or

-— nature

- You can also define the term by:

— specifying what It does not mean

- by comparing it with other members of the same class emphasizing the differences.

Key Points to Consider

- Follow the structure of your essay It would

be logical to:

— Present your term in the introduction

- give extended explanations in the main body paragraphs, and

— end with brief conclusions

Dos

Do narrow down the term if it has an

excessively wide meaning

- For instance, you might need to write many pages to define adequately the term ‘fear’, but

if you limit your topic to ‘panic fear’, it will be much easier for you to craft your essay.

Dos

: DO look for good transitions to connect the parts of your essay together

‘- Do proofread your essay carefully to

avoid factual mistakes.

Don'ts

- Don’t use definitions like:

- “X IS when’ or ‘Y is where’

- Try to make you definitions look more

scientific.

Don ts

: DO not write In a superfluously detailed manner However, don’t be too brief either Consider the word limit of your essay before you begin writing

- Don’t repeat the defined term within the

bounds of the definition itself No one will

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Common Mistakes

* Writing about things that are well-known and which do not have conflicting interpretations There is no need to explain terms that everyone Is familiar with

Common Mistakes

- Ignoring the necessity of examples No matter how detailed and clear your definition is, without concrete examples, It may be hard for your readers’ to understand how or when a certain term Should be used

‘ Copying the existing definition word by word Instead, reinterpret the meaning Do

not be afraid to expound your own

Example of Definition Essay

What Is

Democracy?

Introduction Paragraph

Turn on your TV and switch to a news channel Take a pencil and a Sheet of paper and prepare to take notes Your aim is to count the use of one of the most popular words in the

modern world This word IS

1 Supporting Details

Democracy can be understood as a process of people governing their state and managing community affairs all together, based on consensus Though democracy is often

defined as a form of government, to my mind it’s more

reasonable to contemplate it as a process, a _ constant Opportunity by which citizens may bring changes into their

social and political life.

2 Supporting Details

The origins of democracy lie in Ancient Greece This very term was constructed from two Greek words ‘demos’, which means

‘people’, and ‘cratos’, which means ‘power’ A long time ago Greek men used to gather on the town square to make decisions about urgent political issues Greek democracy was direct —

3 Supporting Details

Along with the population’s growth and the complication of political processes, it had become almost impossible to conduct direct democracy This had led to a representative democracy, the model, which is used all

constitutional, parliamentary, or presidential

4 Supporting Details

Modern democracy implies many privileges that ancient Greeks didn’t Know For example, people now can vote regardless of their gender, skin

color, social status or financial

Conclusion

Democracy is a complicated and_ versatile phenomenon that can be studied from different approaches However, as Sir Winston Churchill had said once: “Democracy Is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried”.

Summary

- How to Write a Definition Essay?

* Steps for Writing an Definition Essay

- Topic Selection for Definition Essay

- Key Points to Consider

- Dos and Don'ts

* Common Mistakes

- Example

References

* http://academichelp.net/academic-as

* http://academichelp.net/samples/ess: