Using well-chosen, real-life examples to illustrate your definition, define and explain the meaning of a particular concept or phrase to someone unfamiliar with it (or unfamiliar with your understanding of it).
HOW:
Separate the concept or phrase into parts and discuss them as sections of the larger whole. For example, if you decided to write about the concept of “friend,” you could teach a reader about the term by describing two or three different types of friends, giving examples of each.
BRAINSTORM (Links to an external site.): After you decide on the concept you will write about for this essay, brainstorm what you already know (and what you’d like to know) about the concept.
THESIS: Write a thesis statement of your definition and explanation.
RHETORICAL STRUCTURE: You can organize your essay as follows:
Start with a paragraph that introduces the concept of “friend” and provides a summary of the word. Your introductory paragraph would also contain your thesis statement that informs the reader of the specific types of friends you will discuss in the essay’s body paragraphs: best friend, family friend, and Facebook friend.
Define the types of friends in your essay’s body paragraphs, giving examples to illustrate the types. For a five-page essay, one or two paragraphs might be devoted to each descriiption of each type of friend.
Conclude your essay by summarizing the types of friends described in the project, connecting to the introduction’s thesis statement.
