Jim Roth’s Website

 

                                    Definition Essay Assignment

(100 points possible)

 

ü Due Date: Beginning of class, Thursday, February 2, 2012

 

C Peer Editing Workshop: Thursday, January 26. (You must have a completed, readable rough draft to attend.)

 

 

Directions:  Write a Definition Essay that conforms to class discussion and the examples presented.  Please word process your final copy and closely follow MLA guidelines

 

!Define one of the following terms by presenting and discussing three important qualities or traits.  For each body paragraph, briefly describe each quality or trait and then follow it with a clear example.

 

 F Ideas: you might define a Nerd, a Geek, a Slob, Street-Cred, a Know-it-all, a Snob, a Con Artist, a Leader, a Pack Rat, a Control Freak, Student

 

     OR

 

!Define the perfect _____________ by presenting and discussing three important qualities or traits.  For each body paragraph, briefly describe each quality or trait and then follow it with a clear example.

 

FChoices: The Perfect boss, pet, wife, woman, husband, man, boyfriend, girlfriend, companion, date, vacation.

 

 

 

(Please flip me over)

 

An Example of an Essay Planning Sheet:

 

Example topic: Define the perfect friend

 

Paragraph 1:  Introduction—a few lead-in sentences followed by your thesis sentence.

       Example thesis sentence: The perfect friend is honest,         trustworthy, and playful.

 

Paragraph 2 (Trait #1)--Honest--discuss the qualities of honesty and then give a specific example of a friend being honest.

         

Paragraph 3 (Trait #2)--Trustworthy--discuss the qualities of trustworthiness and give a specific example of a friend being trustworthy.

         

Paragraph 4 (Trait #3)--Playful--discuss the qualities of playfulness and give a specific example of a friend being playful.

 

Paragraph 5: Conclusion

 

 

Sample Student Essays (Online only)

 

 

You Might Be a Redneck

 

Generation Y Joins the Workforce

 

More Topic Ideas from About.Com: Grammar and Punctuation