Assignment Overview: This formal, multiple-draft essay will allow you to reflect on and synthesize your own definition of an abstract term based on the definition essays and strategies we have reviewed in class.
Purpose: This essay will help you develop your ability to write a definition essay and a direct argument, to focus that definition argument with specific reasons, and to support those reasons with specific evidence from texts and personal experience.
Method: This will be a multiple-draft essay that will include several steps of the writing process: pre-writing, a first draft, a peer workshop, a revised 2nd draft that focuses on content changes, a 1-1 conference with me, and a final edited version. For your pre-writing, you can review strategy readings, in-class personal writing and journal entries that you have already done, consult your notes from small group work and larger class discussions, consult your informal writing assignments, and draw from our in-class practice activities/presentation. You are encouraged to go back and use these to help you in your first draft! For each step of the writing process, you will have guidance and feedback. The final draft will be graded and is worth a fairly large percentage of your grade (including the steps leading up to it).
Essay Prompt: In this assignment, we will be assessing our ability to argue for a certain definition of a term. To do this, you will want to employ ethos (your authority), logos (facts), and pathos (emotion). Answer the following prompt in a formal essay of at least 1000 words, including a proper introduction with thesis statement, organized body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You may draw from outside sources as well to support your definition. If you do, they must be cited in MLA format both in-text and on a Works Cited page.
Prompt:
Choose an abstract term and create your definition for it, using concrete, specific language and specific support from your personal experience. Try to convince your reader to agree with your definition and the terms significance.
*Note: You are NOT allowed to choose the term love because we spent a whole class analyzing it together.
Pre-Writing Thinking and Questions: Consider the questions below to help guide you when you brainstorm ideas for this essay. You do not need to answer all of them or in any order; they are here to help you generate ideas and detailed examples for your paper.
ABSTRACT TERM: expresses a non-corporeal idea such as truth, beauty, justice, racism, etc.; something that exists but is unable to be physically touched or measured
What is an abstract term that has a lot of meaning for you?
What do you think of when you think of this term?
What do you think are the core elements of this term?
What are some personal memories attached to this term?
Requirements for the Final Draft:
1. Write a minimum of 1000 words (fewer than 1000 words is incomplete). Use 12 point, Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins, and double space.
2. Include a header with your name, the class and section, the draft number, and the date. I will not grade a final essay that does not have this!
3. Include a thesis statement at the end of your introductory paragraph.
4. Include specifics that focus your thesis statement in your introductory paragraph.
5. Develop paragraphs to support your reasoning and the prompt with detailed support. This support can be personal, experiential, and/or drawn from reliable outside sources. If you use any outside sources, they should be cited in MLA format and included in a separate Works Cited page. Include examples that illustrate and defend your definition. You may even want to use narrative details, such as those from your life experience, to illustrate your definition. Be sure that you always relate your details clearly back to your thesis.
6. Use good grammar and syntax as well as appropriate tone and academic style (MLA format). Proofread and read your essay aloud to catch any errors you may have missed.
7. Follow specific instructions for Draft #1, #2, and the Final Draft.
8. Must be submitted to the Turnitin Assignment Dropbox on Brightspace on the given due date.
Assignment Overview: This formal, multiple-draft essay will allow you to reflect on and synthesize your own definition of an abstract term based on the definition essays and strategies we have reviewed in class.
Purpose: This essay will help you develop your ability to write a definition essay and a direct argument, to focus that definition argument with specific reasons, and to support those reasons with specific evidence from texts and personal experience.
Method: This will be a multiple-draft essay that will include several steps of the writing process: pre-writing, a first draft, a peer workshop, a revised 2nd draft that focuses on content changes, a 1-1 conference with me, and a final edited version. For your pre-writing, you can review strategy readings, in-class personal writing and journal entries that you have already done, consult your notes from small group work and larger class discussions, consult your informal writing assignments, and draw from our in-class practice activities/presentation. You are encouraged to go back and use these to help you in your first draft! For each step of the writing process, you will have guidance and feedback. The final draft will be graded and is worth a fairly large percentage of your grade (including the steps leading up to it).
Essay Prompt: In this assignment, we will be assessing our ability to argue for a certain definition of a term. To do this, you will want to employ ethos (your authority), logos (facts), and pathos (emotion). Answer the following prompt in a formal essay of at least 1000 words, including a proper introduction with thesis statement, organized body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You may draw from outside sources as well to support your definition. If you do, they must be cited in MLA format both in-text and on a Works Cited page.
Prompt:
Choose an abstract term and create your definition for it, using concrete, specific language and specific support from your personal experience. Try to convince your reader to agree with your definition and the terms significance.
*Note: You are NOT allowed to choose the term love because we spent a whole class analyzing it together.
Pre-Writing Thinking and Questions: Consider the questions below to help guide you when you brainstorm ideas for this essay. You do not need to answer all of them or in any order; they are here to help you generate ideas and detailed examples for your paper.
ABSTRACT TERM: expresses a non-corporeal idea such as truth, beauty, justice, racism, etc.; something that exists but is unable to be physically touched or measured
What is an abstract term that has a lot of meaning for you?
What do you think of when you think of this term?
What do you think are the core elements of this term?
What are some personal memories attached to this term?
Requirements for the Final Draft:
1. Write a minimum of 1000 words (fewer than 1000 words is incomplete). Use 12 point, Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins, and double space.
2. Include a header with your name, the class and section, the draft number, and the date. I will not grade a final essay that does not have this!
3. Include a thesis statement at the end of your introductory paragraph.
4. Include specifics that focus your thesis statement in your introductory paragraph.
5. Develop paragraphs to support your reasoning and the prompt with detailed support. This support can be personal, experiential, and/or drawn from reliable outside sources. If you use any outside sources, they should be cited in MLA format and included in a separate Works Cited page. Include examples that illustrate and defend your definition. You may even want to use narrative details, such as those from your life experience, to illustrate your definition. Be sure that you always relate your details clearly back to your thesis.
6. Use good grammar and syntax as well as appropriate tone and academic style (MLA format). Proofread and read your essay aloud to catch any errors you may have missed.
7. Follow specific instructions for Draft #1, #2, and the Final Draft.
8. Must be submitted to the Turnitin Assignment Dropbox on Brightspace on the given due date.
