Definition
The rhetorical style of definition deals with the description of a person, place, or thing so that it can be better understood. There are two distinct ways to describe anything—denotatively or connotatively.
Denotation, according to Dictionary.com, focuses on “The most specific or direct meaning of a word, in contrast to its figurative or associated meanings.” This type of definition is literal, it tells us what a topic is; yet, it oftentimes does not offer us the real meaning of the topic. In other words, just like its definition, denotation is objective, and often boring.
This is where Connotative description comes in. This is the meaning of a topic, whatever that topic is, that creates some sort of reaction in us. This reaction can be mental, physical, emotional—anything—as long as the reaction creates in us a meaning beyond the denotative. Connotative meanings are subjective, meaning that they come from you, and are based upon your experiences. This is the best kind of description because it is directly related to your life.
You may ask: How can a subjective definition be understood by an objective reader? The answer is simple.
Find
a common experience shared by both you and your reader.
If
you can find a common thread that runs between your and your reader's lives, you
will be able to allow them to understand your connotative definition. For
example, you may not know anything about the feeling of anticipation associated
with waiting for a homemade bagel to bake so that you can taste one for the
first time, but you will probably be able to understand the concept of sitting
in front of the oven, peeking through the glass window, watching something bake,
whatever it may have been. Along this same line, you may not know anything at
all about a bowl of authentic Ramen from
There are many ways to begin a definition paper. Here are some good approaches / ideas / structures to first present in the introduction, and then utilize throughout the paper:
Synonymous Definition: Focus on words, ideas, or things that are similar to the word, idea, or thing you are trying to define to show similarities between them all, so that your reader will more easily identify with your topic.
Appearance/Operational Definition: Focus on what your topic looks like, what its parts are, what it is made of, what it does or is supposed to do, how to make or do it, or a combination of any of these approaches.
Historical Definition: Focus on the origin, shaping, and growth of the topic you are trying to define, throughout its lifetime, so that you eventually end up with your present, connotative definition.
Geographical / Regional Definition: Focus on what your topic is or stands for across regional, national, or international boundaries. Focus also on how your topic changes or has changed across boundaries or distance.
Cultural Definition: Focus on what your topic means, how it is interpreted, or the impact it has on one or more cultures. Culture is made up of, but is not limited to, gender, sexuality, educational, economic, geographic, ethnic, racial, and countless other issues. Any one, or a combination, of these could also be an approach to definition.
Genus / Difference Definition: Focus on all the different types of the topic you are trying to define, so that all that is left is the type you want to focus on (much like negative definition).
Negative Definition: Focus on all that your topic cannot be, so that through the process of elimination, all that is left is the definition of your topic that you want to work with.
or
Any
combination you'd like!
Most importantly, you must use examples. Show your reader exactly what you mean when you describe your topic, through vivid description. Examples can appear in narrative, comparison & contrast, process analysis, cause & effect, or division / classification form—all will work. The main thing to remember is that the examples must accurately illustrate your definition.
While they function well everywhere, the most common place for examples to appear is in the body of the paper. Structure your definition paper around these examples—they are invaluable to your cause. You want your reader to understand exactly what your topic means to you—and they will be able to do this if they are able to understand and visualize your examples.
The contents of your conclusion are up to you. Ideally, your conclusion may focus on your definition's place in the world around you. Show your reader that your definition has earned a place among all the others—because it is important to you.
Remember: Any and all rhetorical strategies can be used in the construction of a definition—simply choose which ones will benefit your specific topic.
Please click here to see student-written examples of definition papers.
Work Cited
“Denotation.” Dictionary.com. 2006. 29 May 2006. <http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Denotation>.