A definition essay seeks to explain the definition of a term and to elaborate on it.
A definition essay is commonly used in cases where a new term or concept is introduced. It is used in cases where the student has to be brought to terms with the new term or concept. The definition essay seeks to elaborate on the definition of the term or concept. However, a definition essay rarely goes into in-depth details and is usually limited in its span to the definition, classification, characterization, and basic description of the subject of the essay.
A definition essay generally begins by presenting the basic definition of the subject of the essay. This definition is generally either quoted from an authentic source or is based on a class discussion. This approach is adopted in order to ensure that the establishment of the basic definition remains error free. It then moves forth to define the class and category of the subject of the essay without going into extensive details. Often definition essays are small, and concepts in a definition essay are left without clearly elaborating on them. By doing so, the definition essay serves to introduce the new related terms to the student with which the student was previously unaware.
As the definition proceeds, provide information relating to the subject of the essay, such as the origin, the history and other such basic elements. In all events, however, the definition essay does not proceed into areas such as underlying conflicts, paradoxes, complexities and the like. While a definition essay may constitute opinions on the subject of the essay as expressed by varying schools of thought, it does not proceed to provide any form of justification for or against any one of them.