Explaining Concepts: Definition Essay

Assignment

Select a topic about which you are an expert or in which you are interested. Your assignment is to identify a specific audience and define the topic for them in detail (defining unfamiliar terms, providing specific points of evidence, etc.) so that they have a clear understanding of the topic and of your perspective on it. Use one or more of the strategies we discussed in class that are involved in explaining concepts: classifying or dividing, comparing and contrasting, narrating a process, illustrating, and reporting causes or effects--for more information on these, see Reading Critically, Writing Well (190). Clarify your purpose (what you want to show your audience, specifically) in your thesis. If you use sources for this essay, be sure to integrate quotations and set up citations correctly. Present the results in a four-page (double-spaced) essay.

Format

Workshop drafts and final versions of essays should be word processed in a 12-point standard font (Times New Roman, Garamond, Arial, etc.); follow the manuscript format described in A Writer’s Reference. Aim for the length requirement; half a page over or under is acceptable. Please proofread carefully. If you use a source, you must include citations and a works cited list; please use MLA parenthetical documentation format for citing sources--see A Writer’s Reference and the guide to sources in Reading Critically, Writing Well (579-614). When essays are due, please put all drafts, notes, workshop comments, and your criteria sheet with your final version in a folder with pockets.

Things to Consider

• Have I established my purpose and specific audience?
• Have I crafted a clear thesis statement?
• Is my topic manageable?
• Have I used an identifiable introductory strategy?
• Have I organized my essay logically, with good topic sentences and transitions?
• Does the title work with the introduction to engage readers?