Writing a definition essay can seem pretty simple. All you need to do is to pick a word and explain what it means. After all, what can be so hard about it? But wait, it only seems that simple until you start writing. Compared to all other essay types, definition papers can get rather tricky, if not challenging.
To create an A-worthy definition paper, a student needs to look deep into the problem. It is not enough to simply rephrase the standard definition. It is necessary to approach the chosen word from different perspectives, look at it from different angles, consider its origin, and keep an eye for detail. That’s the key to success.
Is that all? Unfortunately, writing itself is not the only problem. A lot depends on whether you can choose an effective topic for definition essay. If you handle this task, you can ensure the success of your essay. But if you fail, no matter how high-quality the content of your essay is, you are most likely to not get a high grade. Thus, it is vital to make the right choice.
Sounds too confusing and complicated? We get you. But, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we are going to tell you about everything you need to know to always choose brilliant topics. Also, here, we will share with you a list of some good definition essay topics to help you find inspiration and get on the right track!
A definition paper is one of the most common essay types, often assigned in schools and colleges. This type of paper has a similar structure to a regular essay. However, it has a different purpose.
In a nutshell, the core goal of a definition paper is to explain a chosen word, phrase, or complex to the reader. To achieve this goal, a student must carefully study the chosen concept and analyze it.
Some of the key things to include in your essay are:
How long should an essay be? This type of paper is rather short. Typically, it has to be around 500 words. Your goal is to explain the chosen concept to the fullest without exceeding the word limit or making your essay too short.
Since the main focus of this type of essay is a single word or concept, the choice of topic is the most important step. Definition essay topics can be very different. They can be more abstract like morality or justice, as well as more specific like computers or music. In many cases, abstract topics are better as they allow more creativity and give you plenty of scope for research.
In this article, we are going to tell you how to pick a perfect topic for your definition essay and share some great topic ideas that you can choose right now.
As you probably already know, a good topic is a key to success in writing any academic paper. A definition paper is not an exception. To create a high-scoring paper, you have to know how to choose the right topics for a definition essay. After all, how can you possibly create an A-level essay if your topic does not engage the readers?
Okay, that’s clear, but how can you define what is a good topic for a definition essay and what isn’t? No matter how easy it may seem, choosing the right topic can be pretty troublesome. It shouldn’t be boring. At the same time, it has to give you enough scope for research and be clear.
Finding the right combination can be hard. But, we are here to land you a helping hand! We gathered some of the handiest do’s and don’ts that will help you find good topics for a definition essay at ease.
Do’s:
Don’ts:
These are the basic tips that will help you identify the right topic. But, let us give you one more piece of advice. To ensure that your topic is truly engaging, you should pay close attention to details. Namely, here are the main things you have to learn about the chosen word or term:
All definition essay topics can be divided into several categories based on the purpose and nature of the essay you are going to write. To write a top-notch paper, you have to choose the right topic category that goes in line with your purpose.
In this section of our article, we are going to take a closer look at the 7 most common definition essay topics and provide high-quality definition essay topics examples for each:
In a nutshell, this type of work is pretty much the same standard definition paper. The core goal stays the same - your task is to explain a particular word, phrase, or concept. The only key difference is that it requires you to make an even deeper analysis. Also, this type of work allows you to showcase your personal opinion as well.
A perfect topic for this type of work has to be complex enough to let you analyze it deeply. You should pick terms that have a broad meaning.
Now that you know about the key features of this type of paper, here are a few good extended definition essay topic ideas for you to try:
A definition argument essay does not only explain a concept but also strives to persuade the reader of something. It requires you to find the argument of definition essay topics that focus on an ill-defined or controversial concept. Then, you need to define your stance on a particular matter and convince readers of your perspective.
Here are some good definition argument essay topics to consider:
College definition papers have the same purpose and overall requirements as a standard definition essay. The main difference is that they have to be deeper, show a solid understanding of the concept being defined, and masterfully written.
To help you get on the right track, we have prepared 10 great definition essay topics for college:
While there is no place for humor in most essay types, a definition paper allows you to showcase your sense of humor by choosing a funny concept to define or offering readers an amusing viewpoint on something.
Here a funny definition essay topics list to help you find inspiration:
Definition essay topics that have a controversy to them may be hard to disclose in a paper, but they are really fun to write about. Here are a few controversial topics examples to think about:
While more specific words and terms are easier to define, more abstract topics can give you more space for creativity. Abstract topics with multiple meanings allow you to interpret a chosen word or concept in your own way.
Here is a list of some good abstract topics to choose from:
It is great if you are willing to explore a complex concept in your essay. But, remember that it is also okay if you are looking more into easy topics. Easy definition essay topics are only different because you can explain them based on a dictionary definition.
Typically, words, phrases, and concepts that are easy to define are pretty specific and narrowed, here are a few ideas:
If you didn’t find your perfect topic yet, don’t worry! We’ve prepared a list of additional definition essay example topics for you divided by popular categories:
To wrap up everything we’ve discussed in this article, let’s take a look at the key rules of choosing a good definition essay topic once more:
Choosing a topic for a definition essay is hard. But writing the paper itself is even harder. It takes solid skills, an in-depth understanding of the subject matter, and quite a lot of time to create an A-worthy essay.
However, don’t get stressed if you are feeling stuck! If you lack time for writing a definition paper or simply have no idea how to do it, the team of PaperWriter is always here to help you! Trust real pros to write your paper and get an A+ with ease!