Definition / Description Essay Assignment

In this essay, you will provide your individual definition for a person, place, event, or concrete object. Give the audience a full and insightful understanding of what this topic means -- to you.

Minimum essay length: three pages, MLA format.

As you write, focus on the following:

Use detailed description and imagery to communicate important concrete, literal aspects of your topic. Try to engage all five senses as you develop your description. Note: this is important even if your are dicussing an abstract concept

Use connotative diction to describe the personal impressions, feelings, or ideas associated with your concept.

Use figurative language to provide evocative imagery, personal perspective, and revealing comparisons that clarify and develop your description.

Strategies that may help:

Use narration to describe the subject of your discussion. Linking this idea to events that illustrate your experiences with the topic will provide opportunities for insight.

You can take some time to describe what it is not. Contrast your perspective with other views or opinions that help define your personal perspective.

Things to avoid:

*Topics outside of your personal experience. Your focus in this assignment is to clearly communicate what you already know, not to get mired down in research about some new topic you don't fully understand. Pick something you have spent a great deal of time doing, viewing, or thinking about.

*Broad topics. This is similar to the previous item. Do not try to address broad abstractions. Do not try to define the concept of "faith" or "love" or "justice" or "sportsmanship" or "peace." These issues are generally far too broad to be addressed in a brief paper.