The definition essay is one of the most important modes of discourse, or essay types, that we will study this year. They are so important, in fact, that we will return to this study later in the year in Everything's an Argument. Definitions are important when writing essays and when shaping arguments.
Just think about it this way: How can you make a case for free speech without defining what constitutes that right? How can you explain peace without giving examples of people who lack such?
If you have to write a definition essay, you should start by looking up the word in the dictionary, even if you think you know what that word means. It seems like an elementary beginning, but I've seen many students surprised in the past by their discoveries.
There are many ways to define a thing -- by what it does, how it behaves, or what it is not. Apply all of these situations to your case and see if that produces an interesting situation to write about. If it does, you may want to consider it as a direction for your essay.
You can find more help from these sites:
| LEO | Doyle OWL | Michigan Tips |
| CCC | Bedford's Site | An Example |
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