1. Definition Essay
ELA
Ms. Mendoza

2. What is a definition Essay?
It is a type of expository essay that EXPLAINS or DEFINES (what a topic means). The goal is to make the concept clearer to the audience. Usually, the concept goes beyond a basic dictionary explanation. An example of a great topic for a definition essay is FRIENDSHIP. What is friendship? This topic is a great topic because one can delve into the concept beyond its definition meaning. Here is the dictionary meaning of friendship: the state of being friends or the quality of being friendly.

3. Beyond the dictionary
One could write a definition essay based on concept “friendship” without much trouble because there is so much room to define it.
For instance, for some, a friend not only someone who is friendly (in my opinion, that is more of an acquaintance), a friend also has to have other elements.
Example, a friend must have these traits:
The ability to forgive
Honesty
loyalty

4. Sample Introductory Paragraph
Friendship; amitie; freundshaft; amistad: no matter what language is used to say the word, friendship means the same thing. Everyone experiences friendship one time or more in his/her life. Webster’s dictionary defines friendship as the state of being friends or the quality of being friendly. However, there is so much more to friendship than this. A friend is a companion, like a brother or sister. One might say that two real friends encompass a single soul that dwells in both bodies. The true definition of friendship is a bond between two people who love and care for each other, no matter what the circumstance.

5. The three strategies used for definition essays
Part of defining any concept is finding ways to describe it in a way that makes it clear to others.
FUNCTION: paragraphs using the function strategy explain how the concept operates in the real world.
The friendship essay is an example …

6. Continued…strategies
2. Definition by examples: Paragraph using the examples strategy use specific examples from texts or the real world.

7. Continued…strategies
Definition by negation. Paragraphs that use this strategy explain what a friendship is NOT. A negation example would be based on what someone else would say IS an example.

8. Let’s classify these paragraphs!
Forgiveness is a trait that all true friendships possess. No relationship is perfect, and friends will still care and stay by one another’s side even if they have offended each other. A friend will see beyond the fact that a person made a mistake and will focus on all of the person has done in the past. Friendships have ups and downs, but without this essential relationship life would be flat out horrible. There is a long list of important traits in a relationship, but friends don’t always follow them and that is why they need to be forgiven. Lack of forgiveness has destroyed many friendships.

9. Answer
Friendship as it functions in the real world.

10. OK…now classify this paragraph!
Funny how non-fiction literature is often described by what it is NOT… as opposed to what it is…it’s not fiction….but then again, it’s not poetry, or technical writing, or libretto. It’s like defining classical music as “non-jazz”!

11. Answer
Negation (it starts out with what it is NOT)

12. Classify this paragraph
(a scene from a eulogy) Mary backed up everything she said with action. You know how many “friends” say they “will be there for you”? But when the time comes when you REALLY need someone to talk to because you’re an emotional wreck…they are nowhere to be seen? They are all of the sudden too busy or don’t answer your text message or phone call? Well, Mary was the type to drop everything in sight just to be a shoulder to cry on or to counsel you during your turmoil. Loyalty was Mary’s best trait. She was a true friend.

13. Answer
Example