We Define something to give it meaning. Often used as a supporting rhetorical mode in essays and papers, key terms and difficult concepts are defined to provide a common frame of reference between the author and reader. Terms that are subject to various opinions as to their meaning or when meanings may become changed or altered over time must always be defined for the reader within the context of your essay. This is especially important if the author intends to persuade the reader to think of or use the term a certain way.

After providing a general or common definition, the author may provide more specific examples, descriptions, instances, or comparisons to clarify and refine the definition. It is also usually effective to tell the reader what the definition is not or what is excluded from the defined class or term.

The more difficult or abstract the term to be defined, the more description and supporting examples are required to make the definition understandable to the reader. It is especially important to make the examples concrete if the term is abstract, like: What is eternity? What is love? or How should we define beauty? More typically we would attempt to define things like: What is Rock-n-Roll music? What constitutes a good book? How do we define a good friend?

In this exercise you are instructed to define the following two terms in separate extended definitions: "What is Literature?" and "What is Poetry?" Each definition should be about 1 page typed and double spaced. Your definition of "What is Poetry" will be revised, expanded further, and used as part of your second essay. (More about that later.)

1. presenting the word or term in its normal context
2. differentiating the word or term from other terms in the same topic or classification
3. making reference to the origins of the word and conventional uses or definitions
4. making reference to connotations and denotations of the term (Be able to define these terms.)
5. providing limited or extended uses or opposite (negative) uses of the term (what it is not)

Assignment: Using a general dictionary (as a starting point) and your basic knowledge of the terms, develop an expanded definition of the terms as the terms would apply to the basic study of literature and poetry. It will be necessary for you to do additional research by consulting several literary glossaries and journal articles. In your definition, be sure to use description, comparisons, and examples to support your definition. Use of emphatic organization (arranging your best or strongest examples last) is helpful. (See handout example of extended definitions.)