Lab Activity 24: Definition

Lab Activities
Lab Activity 24: Definition

Objective To practice writing a definition essay.

Step 1: List three examples for each of the following topics. An example has been done for you.

Example:
Topic: A personal disaster

My high school football injury
My failure to be assertive at certain times in my life
My family's move from Indiana to Arizona


		1. Topic: A self-made man or woman To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		2. Recycling To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		3. Topic: Important mistakes or achievements To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 2:* Choose a topic for a definition essay. You may choose your own topic, one from Step 1, or one of the following: A coach or mentor Life-changing opportunities Creativity Conservatives or liberals Good or bad luck Conservation Helping someone else A generous person Your topic: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 3:* Take five or ten minutes for prewriting about your topic to get yourself started. You may want to try a few prewriting strategies to come up with support points that have many details. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 4:* Write a thesis statement for a definition essay. Review your prewriting, be sure you define your term clearly and concisely, and prepare your reader for the support points and examples that will follow Your thesis statement: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 5:* Review the prewriting and thesis statement you wrote in Steps 3 and 4. Next, write your support points and examples or specific details. To gather enough support points and details, draw from your own experiences, other people's experiences, and trusted sources as necessary. Then, organize your support points and details in the type of order (time sequence, emphatic, or spatial) that best suits your topic. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 6:* Now, write a rough draft of an introductory paragraph for your essay. You may want to map out for your reader the main idea and support points of your essay, explaining exactly how you plan to proceed. Or, you may want to begin defining your term right here. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 7:* Next, write a rough draft of the body paragraphs for your essay. Use the support points and details you wrote in Step 5. You may also want to do more prewriting to come up with more support points and details. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 8:* Now, write a rough draft of a concluding paragraph for your essay. You may want to include a summary of your definition. Or, you may choose to add final thoughts or end with a question. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.