FOUN1001: English for

Academic Purposes
Zoom Tutorial Session 8
Unit 8 The Extended Definition
Essay
15th November 2023

Dr. Aleshia Allert

Course Instructor​
 THE EXTENDED DEFINITION ESSAY

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 UNDERSTANDING THE EXTENDED DEFINITION ESSAY

• It is an essay NOT AN EXPOSITORY METHOD.

• It provides an in-depth, comprehensive definition or explanation of a concept.

• It explores various meanings that a concept may capture.

• It is an essay where the writer defines, explores, and explains an abstract concept
that has a complex meaning and is debatable (could mean different things to
different people).

• It allows the writer to use one or more relevant expository methods to facilitate
the definition of the concept.

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 UNDERSTANDING THE EXTENDED DEFINITION ESSAY

• The definition provided in this type of essay, DOES NOT represent a thesis statement
–the thesis statement highlights the main aspects of the concept that you will
expound on in your essay, to facilitate a vivid understanding of that concept.

• This essay IS NOT a one-line definition of a concept – an extended, comprehensive

definition CANNOT be expressed in one line.

• In a given extended definition essay the writer MUST NOT include all expository
writing methods – only the appropriate method(s) should be incorporated as the
writer seeks to explain a given concept.

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 UNDERSTANDING THE EXTENDED DEFINITION ESSAY

To write an effective Extended Definition,

a thorough understanding of the topic

itself

is essential.

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 FOUR BASICS OF A GOOD DEFINITION ESSAY

•#1 •#2
It tells readers It gives a clear
what term is basic
being defined. definition.

It uses
It gives details examples/compariso
about the ns/characteristics/cau
examples that ses/
readers will effects…, to show
what the writer
understand. means.

•#4 •#3
Anker
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 APPROACHES TO CONSTRUCTION THE DEFINITION ESSAY
Note that you should select the expository writing approach that best fits the development of your extended definition essay. It is not necessary to include all expository writing
methods in a given extended definition essay. Use the following questions to guide your selection of the appropriate method for building this essay.

•What is this concept similar or not similar to? (Comparison and Contrast Method)

•How is it used? How did it come into being? What preceded or followed the
coining of the concept? (Process Analysis Method)

•What is it caused by? (Cause-and-effect Analysis Method)

What are the core parts/features/characteristics into which the concept can be
broken down? (Analysis by Division Method)

•What are the categories/classes into which the concept can be grouped?
(Classification Method)

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 APPROACHES TO CONSTRUCTION THE DEFINITION ESSAY

The Introductory Paragraph:

This paragraph should allow the reader to visualize the concept addressed in your essay through a broad and then a narrowed lens
[thesis]. Using your responses to the following questions to develop this crucial paragraph can help to achieve this objective.

•Why is an extended definition of the concept needed? (Answering this question

establishes purpose)

•What is a simple, generalized or obvious definition of the concept?

(Answering this question helps to create a preamble to the comprehensive definition).

•What are the specific (core) areas that you will develop with regards to
the meaning of the concept, in your attempt to explain that concept?
(This is the thesis statement)
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 APPROACHES TO CONSTRUCTION THE DEFINITION ESSAY

The Thesis Statement:

After reading your thesis statement, it should be clear to the reader

which/how many expository methods will be used to facilitate the
definition, and the related points.

Relevant language of the method should signal the method.

The point being developed by a given method should be clearly indicated

by use of relevant language.

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 APPROACHES TO CONSTRUCTION THE DEFINITION ESSAY

The Thesis Statement:

Make clear in your thesis statement how you are going to define your
term:
• Subject + how defined + method

• The definition of your subject is not your thesis statement. Your thesis is
always what you are going to explain about your subject.

A working definition may or may not be a part of the thesis statement.

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 CONSTRUCTING THE DEFINITION THESIS STATEMENT

The Thesis Statement:

The extended definition thesis statement can also include a brief

definition, but must go beyond the definition, to clarify how the subject
will be explained:
Example:
• Performance evaluation is an activity, which assesses the performance
of employees(definition) and involves establishing performance
standards, gathering data on performance and conducting the evaluation
of employees. (how defined/explained)

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 CONSTRUCTING THE DEFINITION THESIS STATEMENT
The Thesis Statement: Additional examples

Example with 2 expository methods

Performance evaluation is an activity, which assesses the conduct of
employees and involves establishing performance standards; it is carried
out first by documenting the employee’s record, followed by evaluating
the employee.
Example with 3 expository methods
•An inclusive classroom is characterized by equal opportunities for
all learners; it is different from self-contained classrooms and is
influenced by the goal to adopt a universal design for learning. [Note
that the working definition is not integrated in this thesis statement. It means that it will be inserted directly
before the thesis statement, in the introductory paragraph.]

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 CONSTRUCTING THE DEFINITION THESIS STATEMENT

The Thesis Statement:

Gonorrhea is described as a communicable disease

characterized by urethral pain; it is caused by sexual contact
with an infected person and its effects are infertility and
neonatal conjunctivitis.

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 CONSTRUCTING THE DEFINITION ESSAY

The Body Paragraphs:

Bear in mind that the thesis statement (found in the introductory paragraph) gave the reader an idea of the
aspects of the concept that each of your body paragraphs will focus on. The first sentence (your topic
sentence) in each body paragraph should therefore emphasize one of the main areas to which you pointed
in the thesis statement.
You should then proceed to develop that point in that given paragraph. Your responses to the following
questions will facilitate development of an acceptable body paragraph. Only one expository method should
be used in a given body paragraph, and it should guide how that paragraph is developed.

•What is the core/specific aspect of the concept are focusing on? (This is your topic sentence)
•What explanation and examples can you share to provide a vivid understanding of the concept?
•What sound, well-supported data can you present to facilitate ease of understanding of the aspect of the
concept indicated in your topic sentence?
What summary statement can you provide to consolidate the meaning of the concept, as conveyed in the
paragraph?

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 CONSTRUCTING THE DEFINITION ESSAY

The Concluding Paragraph:

Remember that no new idea should be presented in this paragraph. Suggestions and recommendations should not be included Your
response to the following question should help you to write an acceptable concluding paragraph.

•How can you concisely reinforce your definition of

the concept as indicated in your thesis statement and in your
body paragraphs?

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 Final words…

ALL essays written or taught in this course are academic essays,

and should maintain a

formal academic tone. Rules of language use: punctuation,

spelling, and

sentence structure should be consistently honored in your essay.

Be

careful to avoid sentence errors. See Marking Code with

Guidelines for Language-Use and the General Marking Code, on

the course page, for more information on the errors.

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 Work Cited

Anker, Susan. Real Essays, With Readings. Bedford’s St. Martins, 2009.

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