Extended Definition Essay

Assignment Explained-2

You are required to write a two to three page essay defining a term (word). 

You are required to use two sources (no more than four) in the essay and prepare a works cited page.  You will use paraphrasing or quoting from the two sources in the text of your essay.  One of the sources will be a definition from a dictionary. Use these sources to support YOUR ideas.

You will define the term in a minimum of four different ways based on one definition of the term. Consider ideas such as where the term comes from, examples, origin, what it is, personal experience, compare/contrast, how-to, etc. You will be 'explaining' the term.

As you read the sample essays, make a list of ways in which the author defines the term. Some additional examples of ways to define might be: personal history, how popular culture views the term, how society uses the term, types, etc.

Example - If I am writing an essay about the term sister, I might define in the following ways: a personal example of my relationship with my sisters, the types of sisters (full, half, step, adopted, etc.), other ways society uses the term (Catholic Church, other religions, slang), and comparing contrasting a brother to a sister.

An organization for the essay might look like this:

If my term is sister, I can define like this:

Body Paragraph One: Types of sisters - full, half, step

Body Paragraph Two: Compare/Contrast a sister to a brother

Body Paragraph Three: Slang/Society's use of the term sister - religion, etc.

Body Paragraph Four: Characteristics of a 'good' sister with an example of my sisters

I, of course, would also need an introduction and conclusion.