What Not To Do
Structure
Patterns of Development
Ways to Define a Term
100
Art is a piece of art that people with creative artistic abilities create.
What is repetition?
100
Provides a focus for your definition essay, showing readers your approach to the definition.
What is the thesis statement?
100
Gives the readers examples to explain or define something.
What is exemplification?
100
Connects an unfamiliar term with a familiar concept.
What is an analogy?
200
Is this the correct way to give a formal definition? "Prejudice is when someone forms an irrational bias or negative opinion of a person or group."
False
200
The three part structure of a definition essay includes: _____, _____, _____.
The term, the general class of the term, qualities that make the term unique
200
Some may not know what ping pong is, but you can help them imagine it by saying it’s a lot like tennis.
What is comparison and contrast?
200
Help supplement a description and help readers understand unfamiliar concepts.
What is a visual?
300
True or False: The thesis should simply identify the term.
False. The thesis should go beyond identify and defining the term. It should present the overall purpose for defining.
300
includes a formal definition of topic, background information about the topic, and thesis statement
What is the introduction?
300
Clearly defining each stage of the topic’s process
What is process?
300
What is this an example of?: Do pigs fly?
What is a rhetorical question?
400
True or false: You should always provide a true definition, not just a descriptive statement.
True
400
Expands the definition, by using any one or several of the patterns of development.
What is the body?
400
Defining a broad topic by dividing it into different classifications/subtopics.
What is classification and division?
400
Telling what something is not.
What is negation?
500
Providing a ______ ______ is not always necessary, but is sometimes essential to understanding.
What is a formal definition?
500
Reminds the readers why you have chosen to define the term. Should include brief review of main points.
What is the conclusion?
500
Flag football is a lot less violent than tackle football.
What is compare and contrast?
500
Listing the characteristics of something.
What is enumeration?
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