Definition Paragraphs

What is the Purpose? To expand a definition by giving further explanation and examples. When will you write this type of paragraph? As part of an essay, especially in natural & health sciences and humanities As part of a test there may be questions asking for definitions of terms

What does a successful definition paragraph look like? Topic sentence: Topic (term to be defined)+ general noun+ an adjective clause Body –Explanation –Examples Conclusion – refer back to the topic sentence

Example Paragraphs Cholera Cholera is an intestinal infection that can be described according to its cause, symptoms, and treatment. A bacterium, called Vibrio cholera, is the causative agent of cholera. It can be spread through contaminated food, water, or feces. Cholera patients may exhibit different symptoms that can vary from mild to severe. Some symptoms are diarrhea and loss of water and salts. Oral or intravenous replacement of fluids and salts as well as specific antibiotics is a possible treatment for cholera. Patients can be treated with an oral rehydration solution or, in severe cases, an intravenous fluid. Cholera is a serious infection that can only be resolved with medical intervention.

Example Paragraphs Canine Teeth One of the most important types of teeth in the human mouth is the canines which are the long, sharp teeth found in the front corners of the upper and lower rows of teeth, between the incisors and bicuspids. Because they are long and strong and deeply rooted, they have several functions. First, even though canines do not chew food, they guide the jaw during the chewing process. Second, they shape the face. They can also serve as anchors for other teeth when a dentist puts in bridge work. And finally, as the name "canine" suggests, they work like the teeth of a dog to cut and tear food-and to bite. In sum, the purpose of these essential, sharp teeth is manyfold.

Example Paragraphs Assertiveness Assertiveness means standing up for your rights --- politely, but firmly. For example, my friend Teresa is assertive. Once when we were in a restaurant and her hamburger was well done instead of rare, Teresa signaled the waiter and nicely asked if she could return the excellent but well-done burger for one that was a bit rarer. I braced myself for an argument, but the waiter just replaced the burger. Another time as we stood in line for movie tickets, a guy cut in front of Teresa. She tapped him on the shoulder, smiled, and said, "I see there was a gap that looked as if it were the end of the line, but it's really back there." When the guy stared at her and said, "I'll just stay here. You don't mind, right?" She answered, "Well, yes, I do mind." She then made sure the people in back of us were listening and said, "And you're not being fair to all these other people, either." The guy left. Assertiveness helps you get what you want and deserve without creating a scene.

Example Paragraphs Gossip. According to The American Heritage Dictionary, gossip is a “trivial rumor of a personal nature,” but this definition makes gossip sound like an activity that is harmless. At first, gossip might not seem so bad. One person tells a second person something about someone, and that second person tells a third, and so on. The information passes from person to person. However, gossip is much more than just information and rumor. As the rumor continues, it grows and changes. People do not know all the facts. They add information. As gossip goes from one person to the next, the damage continues, and the person who is the subject of the gossip can’t do anything to answer or protect himself or herself. Celebrities and regular people suffer from the negative effects of gossip. For example, a current celebrity might lose custody of her children due to gossip that is currently circulating about her. For these reasons, gossiping is a bad habit.

In-Class Writing Choose one of the following words to define in a paragraph: –Freedom- Terrorism –Discrimination- an Artist –Kindness- Gravity –Global Warming- Plagiarism –Farming- a Zoo Provide your brainstorming and completed paragraph to me by the end of class today.

Example Student Paragraph

Problematic Sentences