definition essay
Guidelines
Structure of content:
Preface
? Explication (definitions and meanings, denotation vs. connotation, breakdown of word parts, uses, parts of speech, etc.)
? Etymology (history and origins, first use, changes in spelling, pronunciation, etc.)
? Comparison (the likeness of synonyms and their subtle differences)
? Quotation (famous if possible, certainly useful, and hopefully interesting)
? Wild Question (about the future or any kind of possibility; wild questions yield tame answers and are supported by concrete ideas and truthful notions)
This form moves away from the thesis-based writing of previous assignments.
Word Choice: ”CULTURE”.
Etymology:
What is the origin of the word? Knowing where it comes from and when it was first used is critical. Perhaps your word originally comes from another language; this will
work if it is now considered a word absorbed into the English language. Find the date of its first appearance—maybe in a publication—and then try to find that
publication to use as a reference. Use the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) at the LRC in Winona.
Breakdown:
Does the word have multiple parts? Is it a compound word, e.g. forecast, spaceship, or one that contains a prefix (-di, -in, -pre, etc.) or a suffix (-ing, -ology, –
tion, etc.)? Make sure you discuss each part of the word; this could lead you in many different directions.
Uses/Definitions:
What did the word originally mean? How is it used today? The evolution of a word is always interesting. How was the word originally spelled? Is it a noun? If so, then
what other parts of speech stem from it? Does this word mean different things to different people? Also, the word might even be used in other languages where is has
other meanings. This might be tricky to know unless you speak that language.
Research process/References:
Use the Oxford English Dictionary as a starting point, then move on to related materials. Write down the critical information of each source you consult—name of
author, title of article, name of publication, date and place it was published, etc
Be precise.