Transcript definition essay

Your Thesis Statement for this
assignment will essentially be a
Sentence definition of the term. It
needs to include the following:
Term
Class
Criteria
The TERM to be defined
You have a choice of 10 from your
assignment sheet.
_________ is the . . .
The CLASS (category)
Group or category of similar terms
in which the term to be defined is
placed.
_______ is a __________ that . . .
The CRITERIA (characteristics)
The essential qualities that set the
term apart from all other terms of
the same class.
Come up with 3 criteria, making it a 3
part thesis!
Examine these definitions.
How effectively do they place
the word defined in a class and
do they adequately differentiate
the word from other members of
the same class through their
criteria?
Examine the following definitions. How
effectively do they place the word defined
in a class and do they adequately
differentiate the word from other members
of the same class through their criteria?
1. A truck is a device on
wheels used for moving
loads.
Examine the following definitions. How
effectively do they place the word defined
in a class and do they adequately
differentiate the word from other members
of the same class through their criteria?
2. A hospital is a large building in
which doctors and nurses work to
cure the sick and injured
Examine the following definitions. How
effectively do they place the word defined
in a class and do they adequately
differentiate the word from other members
of the same class through their criteria?
3. A hero is the protagonist in a
literary work who vanquishes the
antagonist and wins the heroine.
Examine the following definitions. How
effectively do they place the word defined
in a class and do they adequately
differentiate the word from other members
of the same class through their criteria?
4. Honesty is the ability to
tell the truth even when the
truth might endanger one.
Without referring to a dictionary, write
a clear and unambiguous definition of
the following nouns.
The definition need not be technical,
but be sure to place the word in a class
and use criteria to differentiate it from
others members of its class.
ex. A book is a collection of
printed sheets of paper
bound together between two
covers. (so is a magazine) –
a complete or permanent
collection of . . .
1. scissors: be sure to exclude
knives, paper cutters, pliers
2. news: be sure to exclude
gossip and rumors
3. freedom: be sure to exclude
criminal behavior that is
harmful to others, economic
freedom
Evaluate each of your definitions in terms
of these tests:
a. Does it indicate a class that is
neither too broad nor too narrow?
b. Does the definition include all
phenomena of the kind that the word is
used to represent?
c. Does it explain the defined term
clearly enough so that someone
unfamiliar with the term will
understand it?
Your Thesis Statement for this
assignment will essentially be a
Sentence definition of the term. It
needs to include the following:
Term
Class
Criteria
Other ways to approach the thesis
besides using criteria
OR
Some possible types of criteria
Synonyms
Other ways to approach the thesis
besides using criteria
OR
Some possible types of criteria
Examples
Other ways to approach the thesis
besides using criteria
OR
Some possible types of criteria
Origins
Other ways to approach the thesis
besides using criteria
OR
Some possible types of criteria
Comparisons
Other ways to approach the thesis
besides using criteria
OR
Some possible types of criteria
What the word is NOT
Love is not Lust
Other ways to approach the thesis
besides using criteria
OR
Some possible types of criteria
Anecdote showing the word in
action
Your thesis might look like . . .
 (Term
to be defined) is a
(class/category) that is (criteria
1), (criteria 2), and (criteria 3).
Examples of each of these can
be found in Arthur Miller’s
play, The Crucible.
Your thesis might look like . . .
 (Term
to be defined) is a
(class/category) that is (criteria
1), (criteria 2), and (criteria 3).
Examples of how this happens
can be found in Shakespeare’s
play, Hamlet.
Your thesis might look like . . .
 (term)
is a theme that occurs
throughout James Cameron’s
Titanic by (criteria 1), (criteria
2), and (criteria 3).
Make the definition fresh by using
your own understanding and
experience to illuminate the word’s
meaning.
Use specific examples from a source
that your readers can relate to as a
way to illustrate your definition.
When you get stuck . . .
See/e-mail the teacher
Go to the textbook
Ask a friend
Check Grammar handbook
Once you have your thesis, go on to
finish the introductory paragraph.
Use an attention getting device:
 Cite/quote an Authority
 Dictionary Definition
 Origin of the Word
 Anecdote/story
Transition from your attention getter
to your thesis—how are the attn
getter and your thesis related?
Your thesis will be written in an
effective, parallel structure
Parallel Structure:
 Use
a single verb in your thesis
sentence or repeat same verb
 Verbs, if not the same, should
have the same function in the
sentence
Examples:
 Love
is an emotion that
promotes happiness in one’s
life, good will toward others,
and heightened feelings of self
worth.
Examples:
 Hate
is a complex feeling that
causes feelings of unrest in
one’s self, promotes violent
thoughts and actions toward
others, and often results in
criminal behavior.