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Intro to the Definition Essay

Writing to Define

In college, we do all sorts of writing. One of the more common tools you'll use consistently will be your ability to define concepts.

Definition is a rhetorical style that uses various techniques to impress upon the reader the meaning of a term, idea, or concept. Definition may be used for an entire essay but is often used as a rhetorical style within an essay that mixes styles to get a point across. That is, you may need to use a definition in order to fully explain a concept before you make an argument about that concept.

Take, for example, a word like  alcoholism. The way in which one defines alcoholism depends on its legal, moral, and medical contexts. Lawyers may define alcoholism in terms of its legality; parents may define alcoholism in terms of its morality; and doctors will define alcoholism in terms of symptoms and diagnostic criteria. Think also of terms that people tend to debate in our broader culture. How we define words, such as  marriage and  climate change, has enormous impact on policy decisions and even on daily decisions. Think about conversations couples may have in which words like  commitment,  respect, or  love need clarification.

Defining terms within a relationship, or any other context, can at first be difficult, but once a definition is established between two people or a group of people, it is easier to have productive dialogues. Definitions, then, establish the way in which people communicate ideas. They set parameters for a given discourse, which is why they are so important.

The Definition Essay 

A definition essay is structured around the goal of defining a term, concept, or idea. While you may start off with a simple dictionary definition, your essay will, ultimately, contain an extended definition.

The difference between a simple definition and a definition essay is that a simple definition is a literal definition - the objective meaning of a concept; meanwhile, a definition essay covers all the connotative and denotative definitions and interpretations of a term. 

A definition essay can be deceivingly difficult to write. This type of paper requires you to write a personal yet academic definition of one specific word. The definition must be thorough and lengthy. It is essential that you choose a word that will give you plenty to write about, and there are a few standard tactics you can use to elaborate on the term.

Ways of Defining a Concept

Definition Techniques

Now that you know why defining concepts is an important part of college writing, let's look at how we define concepts.

Below is a brief intro to the different ways we can define a concept. As you'll recognize, there are more complex ways of defining a term than simply using a dictionary. And besides, dictionary definitions may be limiting; they may not offer a cultural, social, or generational interpretation of a term. Think of the word "cool" this word has been defined, redefined, and is re-interpreted every few years. So, simply looking up the definition of the "cool" would not help us fully understand it - that's why there are other techniques that offer a more complex definition of concept.  

Denotation

Denotation is providing the literal or dictionary definition of a term.

Example: Online Class: A course that is taught over the internet

Connotation

Connotation is illustrating the implied meaning of a term or idea.

Example: Class Act: A person who is considerate of others

Enumeration

Enumeration is employing a list to define.

Example: 

Nontraditional Student:

· A person who did not complete college directly out of high school

· A person who took an alternative path to college

· A person who may be older than traditional students (17-23 years old)

· A person who brings various life experiences to the classroom

Analogy

Analogy is implementing a comparison of two things that are similar. 

Example: Discussion Board Posts: Think of Discussion Board posts in an online class as your class discussion. In both cases, you share ideas, thoughts, and insights in a learning environment.

Negation

Negation is defining something by stating what it is not.

Example: Non-Credit Course: A course in which you do not receive college credit

Brief Definition Samples

Examples of Ways Writers Define

Below are three examples that show how some writers define terms and concepts within a larger conversation. Later in the module, you'll see examples of full definition essays. The examples below, I hope, just show you how writes use the techniques described earlier. 

Example #1:  An Argument Against Happiness (by Marc Gellman)

Why is it that bad people can be happy? The reason is that happiness as defined by our culture has become just a synonym for pleasure, and anyone can feel pleasure. A good meal, a winning team, a fabulous vacation can make even the biggest criminal feel just as happy as the most noble hero. The problem is the linkage between happiness and pleasure. Feeling good has no natural connection to doing good. But it does in the teachings of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, as well as in the good and decent lives of those who do not find their life’s guidance from ancient-wisdom traditions. For all these people, happiness is linked to goodness, not pleasure.

This paragraph defines what happiness is. Although it is not a complete definition essay, it is part of a definition essay. Just check how happiness is defined and elaborated in different ways.

Example #2: Beliefs about Families (by Mary Pipher)

Families are the people for whom it matters if you have a cold, are feuding with your mate or training a new puppy. Family members use magnets to fasten newspaper clippings about your bowling team on the refrigerator door. They save your drawings and homemade pottery. They like to hear stories about when you were young. They’ll help you can tomatoes or change the oil in your car. They’re the people who will come visit you in the hospital, will talk to you when you call with ‘a dark night of the soul’ and will loan you money to pay the rent if you lose your job. Whether or not, they are biologically related to each other, the people who do these things are family.

This is a paragraph from Mary Pipher’s essay, which defines several things about families. This is an example of how definitions are further elaborated in a definition essay.

Example #3: The Barrio (by Robert Ramirez)

The barrio is closeness. From the family living unit, familial relationships stretch out to immediate neighbors, down the block, around the corner, and to all parts of barrio. The feeling of family, rare and treasurable sentiment, pervades and accounts for the inability of the people to leave. The barrio is this attitude manifested on the countenances of the people, on the faces of their homes, and in the gaiety of their gardens.

This is a paragraph from the essay of Robert Ramirez in which he defines barrio families living close to each other. The paragraph demonstrates a glimpse of a definition type of essay.