1. Week 9 Definition paragraphs
Let’s define!

2. Reminders
You can get inspiration from articles, try out a new word, phrase or sentence structure you found, but don’t plagiarize!

3. English The person who yells first is a loser.
The person who yells first is the loser.
Both are correct but the meaning is different. “A loser” is an uncool, maybe unsuccessful person. “The loser” means the loser of a game/match/competition.
After entering college, most of female students…
After entering college most female students…
“Of” is not necessary, and unnatural.

4. First, make a weight loss goal, setting benchmarks…
You need to make a plan about your goal of losing weight in a certain period of time
First, make a weight loss goal, setting benchmarks…
Both are correct but the first one is a little wordy. If you see of/about/etc. many times then you might want to tighten up your language.
Using more precise words like “benchmark” instead of “a certain period of time” makes your writing more interesting.

5. At most, At least, At best, At Worst
At best – least detrimental
This job is annoying at best.
At worst – most detrimental
At worst this job is downright destructive.
At most – maximum
You will be paid at most $100. ($50-$100 but no more)
At least – minimum
You will be paid at least $100. ($100-$200+ but not less than $100)
Sentence: “Try to arrive early twice a week at best.”
I would change “at best” to “at least/most” depending on the writer’s intention. Here, the writer wanted to say, “Don’t arrive earlier more than twice a week” so “at most” would be the better choice.

6. Definition Paragraphs
Put a word or concept into a general class
And then…
Provides enough details to distinguish it from other members in the same class
A saw is a tool that cuts boards in half.
Happiness is an emotion that makes people feel…

7. Questions to ask about the topic
Is this subject unique, or are there others of its kind? How is it similar to others? How is it different?
In what different ways does it occur, while keeping its own identity?
When and where do we find it?
How do we define it presently?
What does it do? What are its functions and activities?
How is it put together? What parts make it up? Wh at holds these parts together?

8. Topic sentence /thesis on envy
People think Envy = desire
Envy ≠ desire
Envy = emptiness
Envy = selective blindness
Nice use of the original Latin meaning
Last sentence provides nice wrap up
Envy is so integral and so painful a part of what animates behavior in market societies that many people have forgotten the full meaning of the word, simplifying it into one of the synonyms of desire. But envy is more or less than desire. It begins with an almost frantic sense of emptiness inside oneself, as if the pump of one’s heart were sucking on air. One has to be blind to perceive the emptiness, of course, but that’s just what envy is, a selective blindness. Invidia, Latin for envy, translates as “non-sight.” What they are blind to is what they have, god-given and humanly nurtured, in themselves.
Envy and how the definition is forgotten is the subject. (in red)
The definition is expanded throughout the paragraph (in purple)
The final sentence further explains why “blindness” can be used to describe envy.

9. Anger is having a feeling of hatred toward someone or something
Anger is having a feeling of hatred toward someone or something. It is one of our basic emotions and can be most dangerous if it is not carefully controlled. A person can become angry when he cannot fulfill some basic need or desire that is important to him. For example, a child may become angry when he cannot play outside with his friends. An adult may become angry when he does not receive a raise in pay that he expected. Mentally, anger can interfere with our thoughts, making it difficult to think clearly. Physically, it may cause violent reactions in the muscles and in the nervous system. This causes an angry person to flush and tremble and to show other signs of disturbance. A person can be dangerous if he is in an angry mood because he can develop feelings of hostility and hatred toward another person, which can then often turn violent.
Topic sentence /thesis on envy
People think Anger= hatred
Explanation
Example: child
adult
Effect of anger:
Mentally
Physically
More info
Concluding sentence – warning about anger
The topic sentence clearly states the author’s definition of anger. (in red)
Anger is further defined/explained in the 2-3 sentences
Examples are used to further explain anger
Peoples’ reactions
Children
Adults
The body’s reactions
Mental
Physical
The author explains more about anger in the final sentence (in blue)

10. Topic sentence /thesis on envy
People think Civil liberties = freedoms
More details: US Bill of Rights
Historical definition: Magna Carta
Concluding sentence – civil liberty laws define a free country from a dictatorship
Civil liberties are the freedoms that individuals have against state intrusion. Laws protecting civil liberties limit or prohibit government action. The US Constitution’s Bill of Rights guarantees any of these liberties, including freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. Historically, the protection of civil liberties was established before the US Constitution in documents such as the English Magna Carta (1215). Since that time, free countries have defined themselves against authoritarian countries by their respect for – and legal protections of – these freedoms.

11. Civil Liberties Paragraph 2 – extended definition
While most people agree that civil liberties are essential to a free state, there is some controversy surrounding their meaning.
Paragraph 3 – point by point contrast
People often confuse civil liberties with civil rights.

12. How to make a definition paragraph
Define the emotion and give some examples
Happiness is an emotion that makes me/people feel __________.
Satisfied/ Relaxed /Makes me smile Makes people want to continue living
Define and explain happiness more in 2-3 sentences
I feel happy when I see my parents. Their smiles make me feel ______.
When a child sees his mom after being away for a long time, he feels ___.
Happiness is not __________.
If you do this you should easily get 3-5 sentences

13. Topics Other Than Happiness
Brainstorming…
Marriage
Love
Friendship
Education
As long as your topic isn’t too simple, you should be able to define it well and think of some stories related to it.

14. Homework
In 5-10 sentences write a definition paragraph over the topic of your choice.
If you’re struggling to find a topic, one idea is to write about what “beauty,” “tolerance,” “communicative English class” or even “forgiveness” is.