Informative/ Definition Essays

1. Informative/ Definition Essays

2. How would you explain the relationship between and among these people?

3. What is a definition/ information essay? • Way of explaining a term, relationship, or idea that might be unfamiliar to the intended audience. • You may define a term (gaming addiction) • Thing (perfume pills) • Relationship (how businesses are utilizing virtual world technology) • Idea/ Philosophy (Ethics of using drone technology in the military)

4. Purpose • Inform • the audience about something they do not already understand • Persuade • Your audience of the importance of your topic/ idea/ etc.

5. Extended Definitions • Define the term/ idea/ object/ philosophy itself • Fork • Dalmatian • The class to which it belongs • Utensil • Breed of dog • Distinguishing Characteristics • Two or more prongs • Used for eating or serving food • Originated in Dalmatia • Has short, smooth coat with black or dark brown spots

6. An Extended Definition is Specific and Focused • Focus on a specific term, idea, relationship, or object • Discuss that one thing in great detail • Relate it to the audience using description and illustration

7. It Makes A Point- Thesis • Thesis usually includes a brief definition of the term and why it is worth reading about. • Use of drones, or unmanned aircraft used by the military for espionage or attacking purposes by the military, is a highly unethical. • The act of giving students computers which can be taken home is a practice that only distracts students from their classwork.

8. Use other Patterns of Development to Clarify • Narrate • Illustrate- use stories and examples • Process- How it works • Compare and Contrast- define what it is and what it is not • Classify it into a category • Divide- show all of its parts • Cause and Effect • Argue its value or ethics

9. Sufficient Distinguishing Characteristics and Details • Use Vivid Language • Make the Reader Fully Understand what the term is • Mention many characteristics of what the term is • Address misconceptions so the reader can distinguish it from similar ideas • How online college classes are different from on campus classes

10. Writing the Essay- Prewriting • Read Information • Generate Ideas • Narrow the topic to a specific term • Find specific information and examples • Brainstorm with a friend • Consider your purpose • Audience • Point of View • Identify Distinguishing Characteristics and supporting Details

11. Thesis and Organizing • Develop a working thesis statement • Briefly defines term and tells why it is important • Evaluate your ideas • Do you have enough information • Facts, descriptions, expert testimony • Decide on the reader’s journey • What order should you present information • Outline it all

12. Writing the Draft • Include enough details and information • Consider including history or etymology of the term- where it came from • Use transitions • Write an effective introduction • Get the reader’s attention • Make sure the thesis is complex enough to be discussed for the entire paper • Write a Conclusive Conclusion • Reinforce the thesis • Draw essay to a satisfying close

13. Re-Vision • Concentrate on ideas and organization • This improves grades by letters • Grammar and spelling improves grades by + • Think of other terms/ ideas that could be defined by your essay • If there is one, you must change something • Exceptions • How do you deal with what does not “fit” your defintion?

14. Edit and Proofread • Only do this after a well revised essay as been made • CUPS (Capitalization, Usage, Punctuation, Spelling) • Improve wording and awkwardness • Check In-text Citations and Works Cited • Double check formatting etc. on turnitin and Word