Essay Title :
I – Introduction:
- Attention-getter/Hook
B- Background
- Thesis
II – Body Paragraph 1/Point 1 (Topic Sentence)
Support your topic sentence with explanation/examples.
Item A
Item B
Item C
III- Body Paragraph 2/Point 2 (Topic Sentence)
Support your topic sentence with explanation/examples.
Item A
Item B
Item C
IV – Body Paragraph 3/Point 3 (Topic Sentence)
Support your topic sentence with explanation/examples.
Item A
Item B
Item C
Conclusion
Summary of main points
Strong closure
Definition Essay Sample Outline
- Introduction:
- Attention getter
- You may want to include the traditional or dictionary definition here to
provide a basis for your personal definition.
- You may want to open with a contradictory image to what would be your
image to illustrate that definition.
- Thesis:
- State how you define the term. If you can write the definition using specific
points, you will find the definition easier to follow when writing the paper. How
you define the term will then be illustrated in the body with supportive details,
examples, and/or facts/figures.
Example: Happiness is having fun with friends, making memories with
family, and finding some time in between for the enjoyment of personal
hobbies.
- Body Paragraphs (3)
- Point one (having fun with friends: don’t just list examples of what you do, elaborate on why it
makes you happy)
- The first part of your definition of the term (topic sentence).
- Examples to illustrate that point.
- Analysis of how the examples illustrates the point.
- Point two (making memories with family: don’t just list memories, explain how the memories
make you happy)
- The second part of the definition of the term (topic sentence).
- Examples to illustrate that point.
- Analysis of how the examples illustrates the point.
- Point three (finding some time in between for personal hobby enjoyment: don’t just list
examples, elaborate on why they make you happy)
- The third part of the definition (topic sentence).
- Examples to illustrate that point.
- Analysis of how the examples illustrates the point.
III. Conclusion
- Review your definition’s main points
- Closing attention getter
- Sometimes a reference back to the opening attention-getter is a good way of unifying
the entire essay.
- You may want to close with an explanation of how your definition has affected or is significant to you.