Definition Essay Examples

The deeper you go into writing, the more you learn of complex assignments. There were simpler times when writing an essay meant stringing together a couple of phrases and adding a personal point of view. However, essays come in all forms and styles, and some are pretty complex. That is no reason to fear, though. The beauty of writing is in the phrases and content, and with the right mindset, you can hack at the most complex of papers.

Definition essay sounds like two words that have been strewn together wrongly. Maybe you think it should be essay introduction, but definition essays are a type of writing. Admittedly, they are slightly more demanding than other forms, but they should be as breezy to write as your favorite day story with a few fundamental guidelines.  

What is a Definition Essay?

One of the questions you are bound to have at the moment is, what is a definition essay? Coming up with a definition for a definition essay sounds like we are going in circles. However, definition essays can be described as an academic yet personal expounding of a single word in an essay. It comes complete with a thesis, body paragraphs, and that crucial personal touch to analyze a word comprehensively. From databases definition essay samples, it is evident that the paper has to be lengthy and well detailed. I know what you are wondering, how can you write an entire paper centring on a single word? It is doable, and that is precisely what we want to guide you to do.

How to Write a Definition Essay: Step by Step Guide

One of the questions you will find yourself pondering is how to write a definition essay. You have your word, you have the time, and now the only thing lacking is how to write about a word. Any definition essay example follows a vague outline where it meets all the basic requirements. These basic requirements help determine the simplest way to write a definition essay step by step. With a keen analysis of the word and information regarding the same, you can write numerous paragraphs on that single word. Here are a few basic steps you need to have in mind;

1. Choose the appropriate word

One of the first things you will need to do is choose a word. Your word shouldn't be something simple that will earn you a two-paragraph subject. It should be abstract and complex in a way that it demands expounding on numerous paragraphs. The definition should go further than simply stating what the word means and is commonly used in sentences. If you pick a word you are familiar with, you will have abundant content to discuss effectively. Other than a dictionary definition and familiarity, the word should also be disputable. The word should apply differently in distinct situations. The disputable nature of the word will be determined by how different people and situations lead to the perception of the same. Therefore, look for a word rich in several aspects to avoid finding yourself with little content.

2. Research all the potential elements for an adequate definition

Here's a secret on how to write a good definition essay, do not simply rely on essential explanations of what the word means. It would be best if you offered a practical definition that spawns across different elements. Your definition should serve as an analysis where you can even divide the word into its different components. For instance, the word relationship can be divided into 'relation' and 'ship'.  This gives you two angles of analysis where you will explain the basic meanings and implications of each part then the significance of joining them. The other element of analysis could be the classification of the word. Ask yourself, is my word a noun? A verb? An adjective? What does it do? What does the dictionary describe it as? All these questions will help you gain the context of use and offer you more discussion points. Other classification elements include offering a historical background of the same, using examples to illustrate, offering negations to what the word doesn't mean and more. Make sure to explore all the various elements possible in explaining precisely what this word is and what it is supposed to do.

3. Think about Statement

Your thesis must be arguable; it must state a claim or refute a claim about your issue. A thesis must have some chance of being true in order to be debatable. It should not, however, be widely recognized as true; instead, it should be a statement that people can disagree with. It's important to remember that a thesis includes both an observation and an opinion:

observation + opinion (the "why") = thesis

Seeing if your thesis creates a powerful antithesis is an excellent approach to determine how strong it is.

Common thesis pitfalls:

A thesis in the form of a fragment.
A thesis that is overly broad.
A thesis that is phrased as a question. (The thesis is usually derived from the solution to the question.)
Extraneous information is included in a thesis.
A thesis that begins with the words "I believe" or "In my opinion."
A thesis that deals with a tired or cliched topic.
A thesis that includes phrases that lead to erroneous generalizations (all, none, always, only, everyone, etc.)

4. Adhere to the definition essay structure

Now that you have your word in mind and all the elements you will be defined, it is time to get to the actual writing. Whether you have experience or not, a free definition essay online will have you on the right track regarding structure. The same should be done to lead the reader to the matter without rushing past every definition element. Therefore, you need a distinction between definition elements throughout your paper in the form of paragraphs. Here are a few essential points to guide with the same;

1. Offer the dictionary and standard definition- the essential part of your structure as it comes in the introduction and introduces your term
2. Write a thesis offering your definition of the word- wraps up the introduction and alludes to your entire paper
3. Each different definition in its paragraph- this is the body, and it has all the elements of the definition
4. Conclude with a review of your main points- the concluding part that aims to offer a highlight of your papers

Writing a Definition Essay Outline

While a definition essay outline will not be part of your final paper, it will help make you aware of all the parts you need to work on. A good outline will highlight all the significant parts, which are the introduction, body and conclusion. However, the nature of definition essays is different, meaning each of the parts needs special attention. Therefore, in how to write a definition essay outline, you will need more additional information than in other essays. Each of the segments needs a brief description of the elements you will discuss. For instance, the body should mention the definitions and expounding to be handled in each paragraph. That way, it will be easier to translate the same to the final writing.

Introduction

All examples of definition essays emphasize the need for an introduction. An introduction is the only plausible answer to how to start a definition essay. It introduces your word to the readers, but it also highlights your views regarding the same. The introduction will attract your readers and intrigue them to read the entire length of your paper. The best strategy is to make the definition essay introduction short, precise, and vague enough to make them crave more explanation. The end of your introduction is where you will feature your thesis. This part is the declaration of your perception of the word and what you will be analyzing.

Main Part

If you have been researching a topic for your definition essay, you have come across a sample definition essay. This is crucial because they each offer the basic introduction, body, and conclusion structure to enhance your writing. Additionally, these samples show the need for multiple paragraphs even though the topic of discussion is a single word. In your body, you will be discussing the different elements alluded to in the thesis. Each paragraph should handle a specific element.

 For instance, the first paragraph after the introduction can divide the word into parts and explain the separate meanings and the conjoined meaning. The second paragraph can delve into the background and how the word came to use. The third can go deeper into distinguishing the word from what it does not mean. The fourth would then highlight the word's meaning according to your perception, then finally, the conclusion. Arranging the content in this way makes it easy to read and follow your line of thought.

Conclusion

The critical point on how to conclude a definition essay is to summarize. This point of your paper isn't where you introduce any new information. What you should do, is offer a summary of the aspects that you have already talked about. Review them in two to three sentences in order not to make them too long. It is at this point that you should mention your views on the same. All these contents should connect to your thesis. The need for the conclusion is to offer you the last chance to show how effectively you understood the question and justified the same by elaborately defining your word.

Definition Essay Examples

1. Definition of Poetry

2. Define the term ‘consent’ in adult social care

3. What Is the Meaning of Compensation

Definition Essay Topics

Racism Definition Essays

1. Color in Do the Right Thing
2. Diversity in America
3. Racism & Freedom Writers
4. Neither Black Nor White
5. Is Mark Twain a Racist?
6. Attitude to Racism in Literature
7. Slavery, Racism, and the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
8. Racism in Society
9. Contemporary Racism in Australia: the Experience of Aborigines
10. The Problem of Global Racism in Modern World

Love Definition Essay Topics

1. Definition Essay on Happiness
2. Love Between Parents and Children: What Is It?
3. Chemical Processes Caused by Love
4. Is Love Blind or Not?
5. Describe Your Feelings of Love
6. How Is Love Demonstrated?
7. What Types of Love Do You Face?
8. Do You Believe in Love at First Sight?
9. Reflection on Love: What Is for You?
10. Definition of Love: What Is Love?

Heroes Definition Essay Topics

1. Not All Heroes Wear Capes
2. Miss Tretheway: a Hero Among The Forgotten
3. Batman Superhero
4. Ancient Greece’s Three Types of Heroes
5. What would be Considered a True Hero?
6. Can a Hero have Flaws?
7. The Unknown Heroes Are Around Us
8. Why my Mother is my Hero
9. My Hero is my Grandmother
10. My Hero is Abraham Lincoln

Family Definition Essay Topics

1. Sociology: Definition, Origin and Dilemmas
2. Conceptual Definition of Family
3. The Definition of Family in the Constitution
4. Stone Cold Definitions: What is a Family?
5. Divorce And Its Effect On Family As a Whole
6. Family Therapy and its importance
7. Family Treatment Plan in health centers
8. The effects of poverty on a family
9. An unstable Family
10. Family Breakdown And Its Effect on Children

Definition Essay Tips

Whether you have written such an essay before or not, a few tips are always helpful to make your essay perfect. The following are some that you could use the next time you are writing a definition essay;

• Choose a word you are familiar with
• Do not choose a simple word with no disputable meaning
• Offer different elements of definitions
• Expound on each definition or element fully
• Discuss the word extensively; the more the information, the better

Helpful videos about How to Write an Definition Essay

1. How To Write A Definition Essay [2019]

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