INTEGRATING DEFINITION INTO AN ESSAY
Including standard or extended definitions in writing that is based on other patterns of development is common. For example, you may need to include a definition in a response to an essay exam question. Definitions should also be included when terms are likely to be unfamiliar to the reader or when terms may be understood differently than intended. The following kinds of terms usually require definition.
- Judgmental or controversial terms. Define terms that imply a judgment or that may be controversial. If you describe a policy as “fiscally unsound,” for example, make clear whether you mean “spending more money than we earn,” “paying an interest rate that is too high,” or something else.
- Technical terms. When writing for a general audience, define specialized terms that readers may find unfamiliar. In law, for example, you may need to define terms like writ, deposition, hearing, and plea for a general audience.
- Abstract terms. Terms that refer to ideas or concepts, such as loyalty, heroism, and conformity, may need to be defined because they can seem vague or mean different things to different people.
For a reading that uses definition as well as other patterns of development, see “Dating on the Autism Spectrum.”
In general, if you are not sure whether a term needs a definition, include one.
You may choose to provide your definition in a separate sentence or section, or you can incorporate a brief definition or synonym into a sentence, using commas, dashes, or parentheses to set off the definition, as in the following examples.
