Remember that this is an essay in extended definition.

An extended definition elaborates in significant ways; it gives extra details or contexts, broaden our understanding of personal, cultural, religious, moral, political, historical, economical, or social implications, or otherwise extend our sense of what a term or concept means. Ex. You might decide that too many people misunderstand or misuse dream catchers. So, you would start off by stating what the misunderstanding or shallow understanding of a dream catcher is in the introduction. You might then include a physical description of a dream catcher so that the reader has a shared understanding of what it looks like. Then, you might turn to discussing its function. Then you could discuss the cultural meaning of the object and even discuss the origins and the significance of a dream catcher. By the end of the paper, the reader will have a much clearer idea of what a dream catcher is and what it means. Ex. Perhaps you feel that too many people only have a shallow or stereotypical understanding about Rastafari. An incorrect understanding of Rastafari might be that it is less a religion than a cult, an excuse to wear dreadlocks, listen to reggae music, and smoke cannabis. However, you could look at its historical origins, the core of its religious beliefs, its development as a social protest movement, or its practices. By the end of the essay, the reader should have a much clearer idea of what Rastafari really is. While you may find it appropriate to include or begin with a lexical (dictionary) or stipulative definition,

you must extend the definition through whatever means best suits the topic and your

approach. Stipulative definition: gives new shadings or nuances to accepted usages of a word or concept or places that word or concept in a very specific context. Usually, the reader would not understand the meaning of the term by just understanding the words that make up the term. Ex. The dictionary, lexical, definition of adult and movie would not convey the meanings implied in the term adult movies. Adult movies refers to pornography, sexually explicit films, with little to no plot, meant to arouse viewers sexually. Because this meaning cannot be easily understood with the dictionary definition of adult and movie, you would use a stipulative definition not a lexical definition of this term. Ex. The term white hat has a stipulative definition of a computer hacker who breaks into security systems not to steal from companies but to alert them of security flaws so that they can fix them. Ex. The term black hat has a stipulative definition of a computer hacker who breaks into security systems to steal from companies.

You may choose to narrate an event that helps you to define your subject; you

may choose to define your subject through the accumulation of examples; you may

choose to develop comparisons between your subject and related topics; you may choose

to draw on personal observations and experience. Have in mind a clear sense of your

audience and purpose.

Reminder: You should not need to use secondary sources for this essay other than for the

definition itself. However, if you use any sources other than the class notes, the

definition, and your own brain.

TOPIC: a happy marriage.

The 1st sentence of the introduction is the hook - the misunderstanding/ incorrect/ shallow understanding of the definition. The second sentence gives the stipulative definition of the zombie. The stipulative definition is part of the thesis/argument (the zombie is a monster that projects society's fears). Then, the next three sentences are the thesis breakdown - the main ideas that will be analyzed in 3 separate body paragraphs. The last sentence connects back to the larger insight of the thesis/ argument.