Helpful Tips
For Writing an In-class Definition Essay
1. Always remember your purpose: to define a given term. Don’t lose your focus. The goal of every sentence in your essay is to define that term. You give examples or make contrasts only to further define the term.
2. The term you are defining must be in your thesis.
3. The thesis needs to be a broad definition of the term. If you simply list examples in your thesis you aren’t really defining the term. A thesis with a list will score less points than a thesis that defines the term. The latter is harder to do, but much better for the overall success of your essay.
4. Your topic sentences – the first sentences of your paragraphs and the P in “PIE” are like a mini-definition of one type/kind/etc. of the term. They will probably contain the term, but they are narrowing it to whatever the topic of your paragraph is.
5. The connection between each paragraph and the term that is being defined needs to be crystal clear to the reader. Make it broad in the first sentence of each paragraph (the P).
6. Then give illustrations/examples of the topic of each paragraph (the I in PIE). One at a time!
7. Super important: explain how each example demonstrates and/or defines your key term. The point of your explanations (E) is that you must show your readers how your examples define the term. This should be a few sentences.
8. Limit yourself to 2-3 examples per paragraph. Do. Not. List.
9. Do not ask questions anywhere in your essay.
10. Do not use “you” or “I” anywhere in your essay.
11. Do not use vague terms such as “everyone,” “everything,” “good,” etc.
12. Overall scope: the thesis could stand alone and could define the term. Each body paragraph is a new, smaller definition that supports the thesis – but it’s connected to the thesis. Your explanation is what shows the reader how they’re connected. You could do: thesis à body 1 (one def) body 2 (another def) body 3 (another def) OR thesis plus 2 defs and one contrast. Don’t start with contrast. Don’t have 2 contrasts and only one def. Don’t have only one def in the whole paper – you will very likely veer off topic.
13. Do not use pronouns as subjects in your thesis or in your topic sentences. Be specific and clear.
14. Explain your examples.
15. Read the directions. No one underlined their thesis and I required it!